Don't you wonder how the days seem to fly by so fast and sometimes the moments drag on so slow.  I guess it's best to savor the short times than keep my head shaking over the loss of the long days of summer.  And those moments have been grand this summer.  The Art of the Lakes Tour at Cal deRuyter's studio at Lake Christina was fun and adventuresome although I was surprised that plein-air painting was not part of my experience this year.  However, now that I am back in the Twin Cities, I am fired up again to get out and paint while the weather is what I would call perfect.  Our Wednesday paint-out group is drawing painters from as far away as Burnsville, Eagan, Richfield, Roseville, and Edina.  Here are some of my Best ones, the others are headed to oblivion.