Live Everyday as if It is Your Last!

Harbor Springs, 4th of July Show

 
“Sisters on the Beach” now has a new home!
 
Harbor Springs, MI, is a magical place to be, especially in the Summer.  But more so, is being in Harbor Springs on the 4th of July.

The town is transformed into a Norman Rockwell painting.  Main Street is lined for a couple miles heading into downtown, with chairs, red, white and blue banners, shiny foil streamers and of course hundreds of American Flags.
They are all ready - believe it or not - as early as 4:30 in the morning - in anticipation of the Annual 4th of July Parade.

I have been celebrating the 4th of July in Harbor Springs for over 30 years now, it is one of my favorite places to be during the summer months, with many fond memories of vacationing with my two girls as they grew and thier grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousins, and now significant partner.  Last year, 2011, the way I celebrated the Fourth of July in Harbor Springs changed for me.

Along with the Annual Parade, Harbor Springs also holds an Annual Art Fair with over 125 artists.  I had always dreamed of being a part of it.  Finally decided to be a participant and applied.   It is a little rough as it is a one day show.  Set up begins at 6:00 a.m. and you have to be ready for business by 8:45.  This year, we were lucky!  We had two young men who were staying with us who volunteered to get up and come and help set up.  WOW!  Now we’re spoiled.  Not only were they tall enough so that we didn’t need ladders, we had everything set up with 45 minutes to spare.  A little relaxation, before the crowd. 

It was a scorcher!  90 degrees and not much wind.  There was  a good crowd considering it was extremely hot and muggy,  There was a lot of traffic before the parade and then during the parade it thins out, until the parade is over.
During the day, a couple who live downstate and have a vacation home up here, stopped by and admired the painting “Sisters on the Beach”.  It reminded them of thier two daughters.  They stopped back several times, asking questions, wanting the overall measurements, and to contemplate where it would find a place in thier home.

At the end of the day, they returned to my booth to let me know that they wanted to buy it. They told me they really loved it and didn’t want to pass it up and regret it later.  I was thrilled to have that painting find a home, especially with a couple who truly loved it.  It’s always so good for me when a painting sells.  It’s validation and reinforcement for me that I need to keep doing what I am doing, keep following my dreams, my heart and my passion for painting as long as I can.

It was a very Happy Fourth of July - I hope yours was as Happy for you!
Sunday, July 8, 2012