Creative Juice Spring Retreat

Last weekend I attended the Creative Juice Retreat in Adams County.  Creative Juice is a group of freelancers that meets once a week to discuss creative endeavors and last week we took a trip to the country to decompress, hike, create, and relax. 

The trip was amazing and I can't put into words how much I love these women.  As I started looking through the photos, words kept popping into my head to describe both the weekend and the women so I added them to the photos.

On our trip we enjoyed hiking and exploring the property on the farm.

It was also a weekend for crafting and creating.  Terri brought these beautiful cigar boxes to make plein air pochade boxes. 

We also made ribbon flowers while chatting about boys.  There is nothing better than having good conversation while your hands are busy creating.

On our hikes we collected specimens for still life watercolors, but  I ended up drawing Christina while she sketched me.  You can see my sketch below and Christina's sketch here.

These weekends are also known for good eating.  Below you can see the beautiful kebabs Christina made for our dinner.

I had to include this short video of the tadpoles we found.  There were so many of them and just staring down at them moving around and gulping for air filled me with awe, wonder and a sense of being alive.

We weren't sure if it was still morel season, but Margot-the-Morel-Finder had keen eyes and found two.  Terri, who used to be a personal chef, chopped them and sauteed them in butter and they were delicious!

Every time I have ever gone on a retreat I am amazed at the deep connections that are possible to make with this world, with others, and with myself. The experience can be life changing if you allow it.


“What I want is to open up. I want to know what’s inside me. I want everybody to open up. I’m like an imbecile with a can-opener in his hand, wondering where to begin – to open up the earth. I know that underneath the mess everything is marvelous. I’m sure of it.

I know it because I feel so marvelous myself most of the time. And when I feel that way everybody seems marvelous… everybody and everything… even pebbles and pieces of cardboard… a match stick lying in the gutter… anything… a goat’s beard, if you like. That’s what I want to write about… and then we’re all going to see clearly, see what a staggering, wonderful, beautiful world it is.” -Henry Miller