New Years Resolution

I’ve been thinking about the fact that I don’t make New Year’s resolutions,  I commend all the people that do though.  However,  I know me; I know there is slim to no chance that I would keep up with the resolution.  But! Then this thought popped into my head.  This is something that is totally “doable” for me !!!!!  Yes, I do like to consume a fair amount of coffee each morning because I get up fairly early.  I commend all the people who do make New Year’s resolutions but that just isn’t me.  

I made myself into a cartoon character and I’m drinking from my most favourite mug (that looks like a beer glass to me) that I bought in Southampton (Ontario) this summer.  I love it because of the cardinal, a favourite bird at our feeder during the winter. 

Best wishes to all to have an enjoyable evening and an even better time in 2023! 

Yeah, okay, I know this is silly but no matter, I made a page in my sketchbook.  

New Years Eve

I’ve begun watching the lessons.  I was intrigued by the way Shelley sniped the sheets of paper in her sketchbook.  I’m not attempting a “no-buy” art supply but I do want to do a “low buy” year.  I have lots of supplies (I hope I’m not the only one) and I’m determined to ”SHOP MY STASH”!  I found this sketchbook by the Bee Paper Co.  I don’t recall where or when I bought it but it has clearly been languishing in my pile of sketchbooks waiting to be filled.  It is 140 LB 100% cotton paper.  I think the real reason I have never used it is due to the spiral binding, I’ve realised that I prefer a hard bound book.  However,  I can see how useful it can be in this instance.  

I did have a Grumbacher sketchbook some time back where you could take out and pop the pages back in but I have cannibalism it long ago.  I didn’t really like the mixed media paper that was in it.  So cool to learn how to do this myself. 

Sketching in the big city

We have spent a week of the festive season with our family and will be heading home today.  I did this drawing a bit at a time as time allowed.  It is the view from our granddaughters room at the back of the house.  Painting/colouring the two page spread also took a few days.  I finally finished it yesterday. 

It was a true challenge and it was a direct in with pen so when I made a mistake I just kept going.  I’ve tried this one before but this is the best version I’ve ever done. 

If you’re wondering, those are grapevines along the path to the garage. 

The flag is at the school on the next street over. 

Stormy Day

It was a stormy day outside but so far NOT the storm that was expected.  We are here with our family so we spent some time making our own gingerbread houses.  We aren’t very good at it and probably should have read  the directions on the snow/icing package.  Our daughter wants to make her own gingerbread next year and I’ll go to bulk barn for the candy decorations; these were horribly inedible! 

I took my cue from our daughter and granddaughter and applied the white “caulking” with a knife at first.  Then it was some spit and my finger (oh gawd the icing was awfully tasteless). 

I have to laugh at my skintones, they suck but no matter,  I recorded the fun and the laughs we had making our first houses. 

No hydro

We are out of power (again) and the hydro was supposed to be back on at 10:15 hrs but it isn’t and there is no information on the anticipated time it will be back on.  It is widespread so we had to drive south to town to grab a coffee and something to eat at McDee’s.  At least they have Wi-Fi.  We met some other folks from the township and they are here for the same reason.  I have my little sketchbook that I made in my purse so I had something to keep me busy while I sipped my coffee.  

Our house

This is a prototype of sorts of a Christmas present for our daughter.  I’ve been putting off making this painting for many many years, I would say at least an eon.  

I started with Prussian Blue watercolour in my sketchbook and decided to use acrylic Prussian Blue ink over top since I used traditional gouache paint.  I now know that I don’t really love how dark this scene is so I’ll sit with it for a day or two to make up my mind;  to change or not to change before I make the final painting. 

This is a fairly close representation of our old story and a half farmhouse built in 1892 and it’s environs.  We don’t have that much snow right now but a storm is on its way tomorrow.  

Christmas tree memories

A tad late, we finally put our tree up yesterday.  That’s okay, we still put up a real one and I leave it up until the Epiphany.  Christmas is definitely a time of reflecting on the past and how much has changed.  This is a story that I have heard our daughter recounting to her friends.  I hadn’t realized until then that this mundane crafty act would be intilled into her memory. 

 I used a Elegant Writer 1.3 pen for the drawing and added water.

Christmas Cactus Part 2

Good morning to all!  I have to go to the post office today so I thought I’d best hurry up and get this envelope ready for mailing.  You may not know this about me but I HATE white envelopes so I thought I’d pretty it up with my drawing.  This is how my Christmas cactus bloom looks today.  Isn’t it a beauty!!!  If the other bud bloom too, I’m going to be thrilled! 

Because this drawing is on an envelope, I used a Derwent Inkense watercolour pan set #1 because the paint is permanent once dried.  The pencil crayons are brand new to me as I just received them yesterday!  Sweet!  They are lovely as I had hoped they would be.  I saw them in a supply video on Utube (not a haul video) where the artist said how great they were.  Derwent Drawing Pencils (set of 12) Professional are soft and have a nice thick core. I’m happy I got them even though they were pricey. 

Christmas card

Christmas card I’m sending to our granddaughter because she makes us the very best roasted marshmallows!  I’m sure she would love to make this cupcake too.  I bought her a cupcake cookbook magazine for Christmas.  I saw this cupcake in a local free magazine and thought the idea would be perfect painting for my “not so little anymore” granddaughter (she is only 11 but she wears the same shoe size as I do).  I like it when things come full circle. 

Imaginary Cardinal stamp

I was watching an art class on line this afternoon but didn’t participate in it.  I got this idea in my head and had to bring it to fruition.  The class began with some images of stamp art and I thought I would work on an imaginary stamp issued by Canada Post.  Now Canada post did Issue Cardinal stamps this year but I switched it up to meld it with the Christmas song, The 12 Days of Christmas.  I didn’t think that my idea of changing the words wouldn’t work but then I was reminded of the version by Canadians Bob and Doug McKenzie!  So it could be possible to sing, my true love gave to me - a cardinal in a snow tree!  It isn’t fabulous but it’s okay.

I use to love a snow apple but I haven’t seen them in the stores for absolutely ages.  I guess their popularity waned over the decades as consumers opt for different varieties.  I hadn’t really thought out my choice of apple in the beginning and then when I added the snow (the glitter) in the sky I was reminded of this apple variety.  I just had to make the change. 

Christmas Cactus

Inspired by a friend to paint our Christmas cactus!  I’ve been waiting weeks and weeks for it to get this far but the biggest bud is getting bigger.  It has new growth and some more buds.  I think mine might be waiting for Santa Claus though, kinda bummed about that.  I must learn patience! 

My hubby kindly repotted it this autumn so I guess it is happy with its new digs.  Have I mentioned that I DO NOT have a green thumb and I’m thrilled that this plant continues to survive?!  My hubby also said that this is his favourite painting I’ve done in this sketchbook!  He doesn’t normally comment so I was tickled that he did. 

FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar

We were spending time with our family in the big city; it was our granddaughters 11th birthday yesterday.  Very fun!  Before we headed home today, we watched the soccer match between Canada and Morocco.   It was an exciting although disappointing game.   Sadly, the Canadian team played hard but lost.  Don’t mind my stick men drawing, I’ve never tried to draw this before (and perhaps never will again!)

I used my cheap woodless watercolour pencils.  I really like using them for this type of activity, quick to get colour on the page.  Less perfectionism is a good thing.

Tomorrow I’ll fill in the edge with journaling. 

Handmade stencils on envelopes

Someone asked me how I would use my handmade stencils.  Two are playing cards and some are plastic packaging and of course the bread tags.   The bread bag stamp was first so I can’t actually see them underneath.  That’s okay, I know it’s there.  I used everything shown here including two ”around the house” mark making tools to cover this envelope.  You may not know this but I hate (yes hate) white envelopes.  This one will be heading stateside later today. 

Fibre Art postcard

This postcard will be winging its way to Australia tomorrow.  It’s a UFO which stands for Un-Finished Object.  The colours seem to be seasonal but there was no intent as I started this earlier in the year bin February or March.

I painted some cotton fabric (I ripped up an old shirt of my husband’s),  I used Derwent Inktense paint palette # 1.  I wasn’t terribly fond of my results back then so left it to languish after stitching the contour of the flower.  I have finished with the simple stitches, some beading and French knots.  I hope the recipient likes my fibre art postcard. 

Making stencils from trash

Good morning!  I hadn’t intended to do this today but I needed a pokey tool for a project I’m working on and opened a box of push pins from the dollar store.  Of course I ripped the box and the pins could no longer be secure in it so I found another container for them.  Then I had two pieces of plastic and thought that I could make a stencil.  It is the type of project that I need to do NOW rather than later or else it just wouldn’t get done and the plastic would be thrown in the garbage (this type is not recyclable).  So I got out my recently purchased craft tool and got to work.  Bit took some patience but not as long as I had originally thought. 

Are the two stencils and masks on the right fabulous? Nope but I’m really happy with my results as you can see on the left.  For me, I made them and that is enough.  I’m looking forward to using them in my upcoming projects.

Cityscape Christmas card

Thanks Lucia @wildinksketch  over on IG for the fun and festive Christmas card class @wildink_artclass  We were spending time with the family in Canada’s largest city (Toronto Ontario) so I made a cityscape card.  I didn’t have lots of art supplies with me but I scrounged some paper and used my pens.  This is a prototype as I intend to use a black background instead with the gold and silver.  I had fun making this.  The class was quite enjoyable even though I couldn’t attend the live session.  I didn’t use any reference images for the CN tower or the Rogers centre (Skydome),  I just wanted to get the shapes in.  Looking forward to making more. 

Special find at the Sally Ann

I had to go to town yesterday to get my winter coat out of hawk at the dry cleaners.  On the way, I stopped at the Sally Ann and scored this craft knife.  I peeled off the price and stuck it on my page.  What a pleasure to use!  I made a stencil inspired by Kellee’s Wynn’s video!  Very fun.  The neck on my one-hole punch is short so I couldn’t get to the centre but I’m happy with it regardless.  

T.M.I. Dude

I decided that I should record this because it was such an odd and unanticipated conversation to have with a stranger waiting in line. 

I don’t normally talk to strangers when I’m in the big city.  I’m not sure how it came about really but I was sure happy to get back out on the street (and take my mask off too) and get away from this unnamed fella.  Dude! This is an over the top conversation and contains way too much information!! 

So the whole time he was yammering, I was marvelling the ornamental elements on the building on the other side of the street.  When I was free out on the sidewalk, I realized that the bumps were actually rousting pigeons.  It made me chuckle to think that there is such a huge difference from what I thought to actual reality. 

Useless Farm

I’m visiting the family to help out since there had been a strike by the Educational workers (educational assistants, office staff and custodians) on Monday.  Tomorrow I take our granddaughter to the dentist and then I can head north for home. 

Meanwhile I’ve been exposed to this new Utube phenomenon.  She is actually a TikTok sensation with a zillion followers.  My granddaughter likes it but only the full videos and not the shorts on Utube. 

Just for your info,  Karen hates Amanda and often “attacks” her.  Anyway, this is a fun entertainment.

Red All Stars

We are in the big city with the family this weekend.  We came down on Wednesday to take her to an orthodontist appointment to get her braces adjusted.  Our daughter and son-in-law couldn’t get time off work so Grammie and Grand-dad to the rescue. 

I didn’t bring my favourite graphite pencils (Blackwing or Staedtler) so I used what I had; a cheap BIC mechanical pencil.  These are my granddaughters old Converse All Stars (they are too small now).  I wanted to draw them cuz they are red!  I didn’t have a red pencil but I found one in her pencil case and a blue one. 

I got lost in those laces but I’m not going to make any further negative comments about this spread because I so enjoyed myself.  My daughter will be selling them soon so I’m glad I got to document them before they are gone. 

Municipal Election

Last night was municipal election results night here in Ontario. I don’t post on politics so I didn’t post this page when I made it the other day.  Besides unless you live in my area, you wouldn’t find this interesting.  I just had to post to say that my candidates in fact won! What a relief!  It was worth standing in the long queue to vote!  It has been a difficult time here locally due to some of policies of the old guard.  I mean really, no internet voting!  In this day and age?!?!!!!  In our county, our township was the last to post official results because of the mail-in ballots! Ridiculous!  

Voting gives power to the people! 

Burn and stitch

I took a free class called Wanderlust Live weekend.  I followed a session with Claudette Hasenjager from South Africa.  I’ve never thought of burning a hole (or rather holes) in my sketchbook pages before.  Exciting and scary.  I have used stitching before but applying a flame to the page made me nervous.   

I didn’t think about page layout before I started the burn; I do wish I would have spent a bit more time thinking beforehand.  Oh well, it was certainly fun to do!

Shibori dyed paper

No prompt- yesterday I got messy with Acrylic ink and rice paper.  The ink is Liquitex Pyrrole Red and Dr Ph Martin Spectralite Gold.  I also made a couple of papers using Prussian Blue with the gold.  Loads of fun folding and dipping the paper in the watered down ink. 

I wanted to document it in my sketchbook but my attempt was horrid so I laid the small sheet (this is a quarter sheet) of ink dyed paper on the next page. 

Hydro outage

Today’s spread.  I actually had to put my alarm on to get up early to fill the thermos with hot water.  The power went off at 07:05 and came back on ahead of schedule.  Yippee! My fingers were getting chilly so I was extremely happy.  My hubby decided to take a nap even though he had just had breakfast.  Since we were notified in advance, we were prepared for the outage: pails of water for the toilet, battery pack back-up just in case.  I took the food out of the fridge before hand that we would need for brunch. 

My this Thermos is the best!  

Well I hope that they can keep the hydro on all winter!  Life sure sucks without it. 

Painting with Textiles

My Mark Rothko-  I move at a snail’s pace when it comes to hand stitching but that is okay with me.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  I didn’t measure anything, just eye-balled everything.  That creates a wonky piece.  

I used what I had and I had some cotton and organza.  The yellow ochre ”fabric” is a painted dryer sheet that I had waiting in the wings - time to use it! 

I’m not quite finished but on the home stretch.  Sadly my photo doesn’t show my stitches well in the red square but they are there nevertheless.  I really enjoyed the “sprinkle” stitching on the dryer sheet!  They were easy, quick and fun. 

Hand stitched butterfly

Part 1/2- This card is almost ready for mailing to Chantal in France. I think I posted the finished butterfly already but now it is mounted to a card that I made from card stock.  I just have to use my friendly translator on google and pop my letter in the envelope. 

This is my first hand stitched butterfly! 

Part 2/2 - Envelope mail art.  I hate white envelopes!! I had this envelope with some paint from a gel plate session.  Not really satisfied with it so I added my silhouette that I made using a sheet of plastic.  I got a package of transparent film at a thrift store so it came in handy.  The original image is from a fashion magazine that I’ve used on my gel plate.  I haven’t used it in a very long time (I’m glad I didn’t throw it out, I stored it with my plate). 

Funeral for Queen Elizabeth II

Watched the funeral of the Queen this morning.  I finished my journal page as tribute to her and her many visits to Canada.  My page was inspired by Canadian contemporary artist, Charles Pachter, and his painting titled “Love Pat”.  I invite you to checkout his art on line and in particular all his paintings of the Queen.  My favourite is the one where the Queen’s stead is actually a moose. 

I saw on a television address where the Queen was wearing a beautiful maple leaf pin.  For the life of me, I couldn’t seem to get it to look like a leaf.  It reminds me more of an “inukshuk” (a statue of stones in the shape of a human figure).   I have to say that I like that image too. 

I decided that my moose, a majestic gentle beast, deserved to have some glitter on his crown (his rack) in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II.  Thank you your Majesty for your service. There will never be anyone like you. 

Rose of Sharon

Today would have been my fathers birthday.  We have been nursing this Rose of Sharon bush for the last few years.  My dad gave it to me as a birthday gift. It was hit hard this winter and began blooming last week.  The flowers are smaller and weak looking.  This morning it is so cold none of the buds opened up at all.  Anyway, thinking of my father on this gloomy wet Friday.  Hope that the bush will survive another winter.

 

Queen Elizabeth II Lying in state

Paying my respects to Queen Elizabeth II “in my own way” while watching television. The marks are the beats of the drum then the slow “in/out” steps of the coffin bearers; finally the flowing marks to show the choir singing. 

Brown bunny

I saw this brown bunny on the Museum app and it reminded me that we have our own brown bunnies.  If there is one bunny out on the lawn, there will be many others hiding elsewhere. 

Coffee perk or corn pot

This happened yesterday as we prepared our supper.  It worked perfectly. 

We’ve had this coffee perk for a very long time and it has been exposed to many campfires.  This is its first foray as a corn pot.  I’m sure it wasn’t happy. 

I used watercolour crayons and watercolour pencils but I’m not adding water.  Yes, my pot ended up being wonky but I’m okay with it! 

Camp fire

When we are at the cabin there is no television and the internet is less than stellar but we alway have a camp fire if it isn’t raining. 

I started this just after the sunset and got the main drawing done that included the trees. I added a bit of colour to fire then it just got too dark.  I finally finished it today.  I’m looking at another beautiful camp fire just like this one as I post this.

Lyra watercolour crayons.  No pen or pencils were harmed creating this two page spread.

We saw loons fishing

Our family has left for home as they have to work tomorrow and school starts.  We have a couple of days here without them.  We miss them but like the quiet. We went for a walk on a trail in the bush along the lake today.  My husband fished and got frustrated that he didn’t get anything.  We watched 3 loons (the common loon is our provincial bird) fish and I think (know)  they were doing better than him! I used some watercolour (Lyra) crayons that I have had for ages.  Don’t recall buying them but I have had loads of fun using them this summer!  I sketched in using a grey pencil crayon but stopped when I realized it wasn’t water soluble. Now I’m kinda chicken to add water to the crayon drawing. 

Fishing on a hot day

Bancroft Legion

WE have a portable wifi device that usually works everywhere we go in Canada but this summer the delivery was as inconsistent at our favourite vacation spot. My hubby complained to the almighty Bell and tried to cancel the service.  They are sending us out a new SIM card in the hopes we will continue paying them. We’ll see if that works.  The device is only 13 months old and the software is up-to-date.  Quite maddening when it worked just fine last summer. 

My hubby had a report due so what to do, what to do?! We packed up his laptop and drove the 23 kms to town.  We bought a beverage at the local Legion Hall and he worked on his report.  

I read my emails on my iPad and drew some of the locals playing pool.  I don’t know what game they were playing but I imagined that it was “spots and stripes”.  The locals enjoyed seeing my progress! 

I used pen for the drawing, no pencil (just like euchre, a card laid is a card played).  For the colour, I used some cheap woodless watercolour pencils I bought at home sense. 

I enjoyed myself while my hubby worked. 

Silent Lake Log cabin

I haven’t been posting because we were in an area that doesn’t have a consistent strong cell signal.  We returned home from there for a few days now and are leaving again today and heading back to our cabin in the woods in eastern Ontario.  It’s a 3.5 hour drive east because a portion of the road is closed and the detour is long. I’m hoping that it is open this time, if not my navigator (my hubby) will have to pull out the trusty map again.  It isn’t easy using the phone app in this case since we are driving out in the boondocks. 

We are meeting our family again and we are staying in this log cabin (it sleeps 5).  I drew this because there isn’t tv here and wanted something relaxing to do because it began to rain. Pen only and watercolour added throughout the next day. Be assured I’m not one-legged, the other one was tucked up.  

I’m glad these cabins are warm because our furnace was on this morning when I got up. Warm days and chilly nights!  Looking forward to our camp fire tonight.  My granddaughter makes me the very best toasted and gooey marshmallows!!

Maple Cream Ale

I don’t know about you but normally, I just want to pay for my purchases and escape from the store (mostly because I’m still wearing a mask indoors).  Mostly, I just think it’s rude and crosses the boundary between employees and customers.  Then again, I know this cashier (from going to the store for years and years) in the sense that she is very outgoing and boisterous.  But I was still surprised at how much discussion this small bottle of pop created at the register.  Even the dude that was bagging my groceries got in on the action.  So much so, he forgot to bag my purchases until the very last moment. 

Quayles Brewery

I took my tiny palette out for a test drive when my hubby and I drove to Quayles Brewery on Sunday.  Yup, it was a “Sunday drive” kind of day.

I’m not really a beer drinker but I enjoyed the two I had, Line 12 and the salted lime saison.  They were both light enough for this gal.  It was fun seeing all of the hops growing around the brewery. 

I sketch in public to enjoy my surroundings and in this case it was the couple at the bottom left.  He never stopped talking; it was not a dialogue but a monologue.  All about him! Ugh!  I was glad we finished our beverages so didn’t have to eavesdrop anymore.  I decided she needed a thought bubble.   

Anyway, we enjoyed ourselves and my palette worked fine. 

Charity Shop donation

It has taken a few days to finish this page.

Regrettably I’ll be taking this purse to the charity shop, I don’t wear this style anymore.  This really is a very lovely leather bag.  Although it’s leather, it isn’t heavy like others I have.  I paid an arm and leg for it 15 or so years ago.  It is very good condition so I’m sure someone else can enjoy it.  I think I’ll add a note inside to say that I saw a similar one on line selling for $40 CDN (used of course).  I recall waffling to pay the $179.00  it was a huge expense for me because I’m kind of cheap.   

I lost my way in the drawing as it was a direct in with pen exercise.  I did the best I could to finish it up; the addition of paint makes a difference.

Souvenirs from Southampton

I finally recorded my souvenir purchases from our holiday with the family. 

I’ve heard it said that some artists put a bird in their art to make the piece better.  I’m not so sure about that but I do know I bought my new coffee mug because it had a Cardinal on it! I love listening to our resident Cardinal sing his song. 

I am a sucker for a Christmas pickle and just loved this knitted Christmas ornament. Thanks to Josie Bethune of Southampton @bethunejosieknits on IG 

I belong to Postcrossing and I’m looking forward to sending my card to someone in Southampton England.  I would be so tickled to be able to do that. 

We have driven by the art gallery so often but never had the time to stop.  They had some very lovely art works!  It was worth the visit and I got another souvenir there.  I wore my new earrings yesterday!  Never tire of new earrings!!

I made a new sketchbook

It’s just after 10 am and it’s 27C!  What was I thinking!!! I don’t usually bind books in the summer because my hands get all sweaty.  I washed my hands a couple of times during the process so I hope my finger tips didn’t secret unwanted oils on the paper.

This is what I fondly term a UFO or unfinished object.  I found it again a few days ago.  Since it has been languishing under some paper pads I didn’t even recall what paper I had measured and cut.  Thankfully there was a watermark- Strathmore Aquarius watercolour paper.  I like it because it has minimal texture and is easy to sew. It is cellulose paper so the price point is good too. 

I painted the canvas cover with acrylic paint on this “hard bound” book yesterday.  The flower motif comes from a cheap fibre coaster from a dollar store.  The cover had been made using a cereal box and reinforced with another cardboard layer.  I picked up yesterday from where I had left off.  

I wish I would have seen the black thread before I started with the white.  Oh well.  This is actually waxed linen beading thread that I got at Michael’s (with a coupon).  

I made so many mistakes but the outcome looks pretty good regardless.  I have 2 pages left in my current book so I look forward to getting into this one. 

Stitching a butterfly

So strange, but I often seem to forget to photograph my small fibre art pieces prior to mailing.  Decided to create a sketchbook entry so if I forget again I have a drawing.  I’m glad I added some of my actual materials that I used too! 

I have enjoyed hand stitching and surprisingly it seems that I have joined the slow stitch movement.  

This will eventually be a card front that will be mailed out to Chantal in France.   I haven’t figured out how I’m going to design the card yet.  One step at a time,  I’ll think about while I finish the stitching. 

Vogue magazine-British edition

Page created from a memory brought about by the cover of the British edition of Vogue.  It seems we get the magazine from across the pond 2 months after the fact.  I don’t alway journal heaps with my pages but this time I thought this spread would need some explanation because it isn’t about my current daily mundane life.  Well, it is in a way as it was sparked by a magazine cover I saw at a bookstore I visited sometime ago! 

My mother had enrolled me in skating and that means participating in the ICE CAPADES!!!  We were living in Labrador at the time so mothers who could were expected to sew the costumes we wore.  What I learned is that when your mother can sew, there can be an upside and a downside to that skill.  This moment was a definite bummer in my humble opinion!  

I did not want to be the lead Sunflower!! 

Inverhuron Provincial Park

We have been on holiday where the internet was lousy but then came home and the internet here is more of the same.  Switching providers a.s.a.p.

We drove three hours west last week to Inverhuron Provincial Park (Bruce County) to meet up with the family.   I used the cardboard toilet paper roll to make the circle for a close up of our clothesline. I loved my granddaughters painted rock so much I added it to my page. 

We finally found a radio station we liked so I added the information in the waters of Lake Huron.   

This is not an exact replica of the map we were given when we arrived.  

We found out that this park had been closed for 40 years while the Bruce Nuclear plant was being built.  Then they had to ensure the safety of the environment for people before it could be re-opened to the public. 

Thieving gulls

 I got this cool shot of a gull grabbing a slice of bread from someone behind me!  Then there was the aftermath of his “friends” creating a ruckus on the beach!  He flew in front of me trying to escape with his prize!  My recommendation is that you don’t eat on the beach.  These birds are voracious and persistent!! 

Land of sun and fun Sauble Beach

A day late posting this 

At the beach

I spent a few hours at the beach and I just loved the colour of the water and the sound of the waves!

I love watching people at the beach, they are always interesting.  I had to laugh when I was watching my husband, our son-in-law and granddaughter off in the distance.  At that time, she seemed to be always doing hand stands in the water.

I loved the two little kids that had on similar outfits being watched by their grandmother.  I just thought their outfits were an unusual colour but it certainly went well with her hat! 

I tried to get the silly gull to look like one.  This one was hoping for a morsel.  I never eat at the beach.  Back in the day we always called them dump ducks because they sometimes inadvertently dump some fo-do on you!! 

Sheep farm

I finally had some down time and since it’s Friday the highway is busy with cottagers heading out of the big city.  So, I took a very short drive to a small farm two concession roads north of us.  I was so happy to park my car in the shade of a huge maple tree. 

I was thinking that these sheep need to get their winter coats cut off soon.  I couldn’t get them to pose for me but that’s okay.  I enjoyed trying to make them look like sheep with their dirty winter fleece. 

I used a 24 pack of Faber Castell oil pastels that I got in a clearance bin.  I really really enjoyed using them even if they spit nasty crumbs all over the place.  Thankfully I was standing outside and had no trouble getting rid.  I didn’t have a rag to clean the tips but I’m okay with it.

Drawing in my Royal Talens Art Creations sketchbook.