The tulips are blooming, the trees are back in bud and the weather is finally warming up. It has been a record winter with rain and snow topping 300% of normal in some places in the state. School is winding down and my favorite time of year is now here. I look so forward to summer all year. I love teaching but I am so happy when school ends and I am free to travel, wander and paint. I am headed to Italy for ten days in June and will pack my sketchbook and paints and try to capture some of the local sites. After that, I am off to Midway, Utah for their plein air event and then Driggs, Idaho for more outdoor painting.