I’ve often thought that painting landscapes with a box of watercolors or drawing on a sketchpad with a tin full of colored pencils to be an ideal pastime. Tuck those artist’s tools into a backpack and head outdoors on a warm sunny day and it becomes the perfect summer activity. That’s what a select group of artists will be doing downtown for the Easels in Frederick plein-air painting competition later this month. Writer Karen Gardner talks with artists who are involved with organizing this five-day event. Karen also contributed the story on some old summer kitchens that have been repurposed for use in the 21st century.

Writer Krista Brick follows the volunteers and dogs of Wags for Hope. This group brings smiles to the faces of youngsters, the ailing and the lonely with the wag of a tail. Blair Ames profiles City Carillonneur John Widmann.

Last summer, when the thermometer was hovering around 100 degrees, photographer Sam Yu and I took a moonlight float on the Potomac River, along with a group of students from Shenandoah University and some families looking for a cool way to spend some time together.

And if the temperature isn’t hot enough for you this Fourth of July, head down to Baker Park for the city’s Independence Day celebration. Writer Nicholas Stern has a story on the annual chili cook-off, a spicy highlight of Fourth of July activities.

I do have that sketchbook and colored pencils, and hope to get some drawing time under a blue sky this summer. I’ll not give up on that dream.

I hope you keep your dreams alive or, better yet, make them a reality.

We love hearing from our readers. You can contact me at sguynn@newspost.com or 240-215-8605.

Susan Guynn, Editor