Nasturtiums from Sarah's garden

We had friends for dinner this weekend and after a 4 mile chilly walk along the bay we settled in for a delicious meal and lively conversation. Sarah brought some of the last of the tomatoes, green beans and herbs from their garden along with this sweet nasturtium bouquet. I had to work fast because when I finally got around to getting out the paints, the petals were starting to wilt. Thanks Sarah.

I think I "sketchercised"

Yesterday my energy was quite low, so instead of pounding my body into the ground with a run to the bridge, I headed out on a fast walk with Sophie. A walk with her is never quite as fast as I would like because she is very busy being a dog—we stop a lot. I do, however, manage to tug her along so we can get our heart rates up. At the last minute, I decided to jam my small Moleskine watercolor sketchbook, a pen, bijou box and a waterbrush in the pocket of my fleece. Not at all confident that after all the effort to get it all in the pockets, I would actually sketch. However, I saw a granite bench overlooking the bay so after agonizing about stopping and quite a bit of tugging, I finally got the sketchbook out of my pocket and did a quick sketch of a tanker across the bay while Sophie watched. We then walked home and I told Sophie I think we just "sketchercised". 

The wrong place at the wrong time

A few days ago, at the last minute, I decided to go out for a run instead of going to the the gym. It was a beautiful day so I thought a nice run along the water to the bridge and back would be the perfect solution to my stress...

As I came up over the knoll, I saw movement in front of me and as I got closer I realized it was a woodchuck wandering blindly along the running path throwing its head from side to side. As I looked closer, I could see this woodchuck had his head stuck into a Mason jar. My first thought was, "oh my god, this poor creature and I have got to help him".

So, I grabbed the jar, which was plastic, and started to pull thinking it would pop right off. I pulled and pulled, but it wouldn't budge. I actually lifted the woodchuck off the ground (see illustration above) as I continued to try to pry this jar off his head. I shook him up and down a bit, but still, it wouldn't budge. Other people were running, biking and walking past me as I was trying to free this poor woodchuck from his "Mason jar hell". Clearly no one else was going to help me. I was on my own...
I then thought I could twist the jar off his head (see above). So, I grabbed the jar, turned to the right, then to the left, but again, I could not get this jar off his head. It was stuck!!! With tears in my eyes, I finally had to say "I have tried my hardest, but I can't help you".  Reluctantly I left him and ran home. Jerry tried to make me feel better by saying he would find a way to get it off, "like Winnie the Pooh", I said?  I know, I know, but I wanted to believe he would find a way.

I told all my friends about this incident and some said "you could have been scratched or bitten". Bitten? I don't think so...hello, he had a jar on his head! Then others said "like Winnie the Pooh?" and all I could say was "well, sort of"...

Such a sad little story that I don't even know why I sketched and posted it. I wish I had gone to the gym.

EDM #241—view from my kitchen window

A quick sketch before heading out for a day of being "landlord girl". Our 5th floor kitchen window looks over the roof tops in Portland's "Old Port". There is usually a mama seagull perched on the chimney on the hotel next door. She stands watching and protecting her babies who sit on the roof behind her. I have watched them run along the roof after her flapping their wings learning to fly. One tumbled off the roof and for several days walked around the square and our parking lot. I kept hoping that it would figure out how to get airborne...soon.

It takes a cupcake

Cupcakes were the latest challenge from Karin Jurik's Different Strokes from Different Folks. Not having used oils in quite a while, I finally managed to squeeze paint onto the palette for the painting of OP and Martha (below). I hate to waste paint so I always move what I can to a fresh palette and and try to put it to good use. This seemed like a good challenge for leftover paint.

Walking to the "Beach Club" in Northeast Harbor

This weekend we are on our way "downeast" to visit our friends, OP and Martha, on Mount Desert Island. Their renovated turn of the century "cottage" sits on a ridge that over looks Northeast Harbor on the left and Southwest Harbor on the right. A mile up the road is Acadia National Park with miles of old carriage trails for biking, hiking and walking. There is usually a boat ride to Little Cranberry Island for a dinner on Isleford Dock and a walk to the "Beach Club" for lunch. It's just so Northeast!

Around town

Since arriving home from bootcamp at Disney, I've had a hard time getting back into drawing, painting and blogging. Seems like the last weeks of summer have been spent outdoors enjoying these last wonderful days of summer. I drag an old sketchbook around and manage a few contour drawings a day along with my "daily dog draw", but that's about it.

My good friend, Elizabeth.

Sadie with baby Quintin and her brother Zeke.
Jerry and I having an outdoor lunch at the Front Room after a long walk along the waterfront and around Portland. He works from his iphone and I draw. 

A perfect evening for outside dining at one of our favorite sushi restaurants. Jerry on the iphone emailing with Indonesia, me sketching the other patrons, a plate of the most delicious sushi and hot sake.