My daughter Chelsea and I hiked up Chimney Mountain in the central Adirondacks a few weeks ago. It was a steep climb right from the start. Interesting rock formations surrounded us at the summit, but we could only glimpse the distant mountains between the rocks, and there was nowhere to sit.

We quickly made the return trip down the same path we had struggled to climb. While we felt great after the physical challenge and the fresh mountain air, we decided the hike wasn't worth repeating in the future.

The next day I took my usual morning walk down the road I've been walking for years. I saw something black and shiny come out of the woods right in front of me. I soon realized that it was too large to be a dog and in the next moment I saw that it was a beautiful (baby) black bear! We were both really surprised and stared at each other for quite a long time. Eventually the bear decided to continue on its way, and ran back into the woods. Luckily its mama was nowhere to be seen! 

The experience has stayed with me. I think about it every day. It was a moment in time that will never be repeated and I feel very privileged to have had the experience. 

As I think about my adventures this summer, I have concluded that we often search for excitement and inspiration in unfamiliar places, when most often, life's greatest gifts are right in front of us.

I'm looking forward to returning to my studio. It's been a summer full of family, friends, travel and art show openings, and I'm looking forward to settling down to work again. Below you will find a few of the things I have planned for the coming year.

Hope you are also having an enjoyable summer.

Liz