Key West sunset sail

We've been enjoying a few days here with friends. Lots of walking, visiting historic sites and eating delicious food. The Audubon House had all the beautiful prints on display.

In Paint the Beach mode.....

Third day of PTB and Sundowner tonight is much anticipated.  I've written out instructions and tried to think of everything, have several lined up to help and headed by Helma, who will do a good job keeping it straight.  Because this is new to us, I don't quite know what to expect, but hopefully it will go as smoothly as check-in has so far.

I was able to paint yesterday and woke up way to early in anticipation of the day.  Off I went at 6:45 to get situated at the little café.  Because I had visited there while hanging posters, I knew what and how I wanted to paint.  Oils, instead of pastels, for the bright colors.  I think I did a passable job on it and will make a few adjustments today while on the island then frame it for Friday.  I started another of the view where I am painting in the photo but quit about 2.  I was pooped!!  Finishing will have to wait for another day.

Tonight I'll get out the pastels and see what I can do.  I can work fast with them and make changes easily.  Wish me luck!!

 Tuck Away Bagel & Wafel Café  on the easel

Beautiful.....

Dinner at Matanzas was lovely.  Sitting by the bay with the warm breeze blowing...can't get much better.  

Our water was turned on Monday morning, thank goodness!  We had to turn the hose on each time we needed some to shower, flush or rinse.  Really makes one appreciate indoor plumbing and having water available at a touch.  Such a tough life, I know.

We spent the day catching up and shopping at Costco to load up with supplies.  Now I need to repackage the meat and freeze then go to Publix for the smaller stuff in less than King Kong size.

I'm trying to follow my favorite Sonoma Diet to take off a few ##s so that was the last dinner out for a while I think.     Good fresh, home made Mediterranean style cooking is always delicious but takes time to do.  George likes the food too and always sheds a few as well.   We signed up for the Rec center lifetime passes.  $10 ea for life.  Such a deal!!  They have indoor and outdoor pickleball and other classes.  I was interested in Zumba but they always meet during my painting times.  Maybe I can jiggle while I paint..will I look nuts?!!!

Sunny Florida

After a smooth trip from SC to FM we have been working to get the house dusted and ready to enjoy. A small glitch..no water due to lack of a phone call, keeps us from a few tasks. We are using a neighbor's for the minimum and hope to be fully functioning tomorrow.

It's beautiful here, no sign of the storms, but in the 90's. We are going to FMB for dinner on the beachside and to pick  up mail and check the art association. Receiving for a exhibit is Wednesday so I need to find some art to enter. No judging this time and since we can't show a piece more than once per season it needs some thought. Our work from Maine will be exhibited in the next show.

Nice to be here and I am looking forward to studio time.

From Maine to Fort Myers

  Cape Cod Marsh

 Atlantic Shore

 Monticello

 

 

Leaving Maine, we drove an easy route to Plymouth to stay a couple nights with Penny and Dirk, friends from Kzoo who moved home several years ago.  It was so nice to visit with them again and see the beautiful Cape Cod area they live in and love.  Their home is beautiful and filled with antiques they have found  and placed lovingly in their home.  We hope to see them again in Florida this winter and perhaps one of these days we'll get back to Plymouth to explore more with them.

 

 

From the cape we drove through New York city to Charlottesville, Va.  While wending our way through the confusing expressways I did catch a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty, perhaps that made the confusion worth while.  And the tolls!! yikes.  Last one was $16. !!!!  I'd love to see the city but think I'll wait until Dennis does a tour!

 

 

Monticello and Charlottesville were lovely and we enjoyed seeing the home of Jefferson.  It brought to life the stories I had just read in America's First Daughter.  Thanks, Judy, for recommending I read it before our visit.  Good book and beautiful and interesting home.

 

 

Now we are staying with my sister, Dana, and her husband Tom for a couple of nights which will probably turn into three due to the hurricane.  Right now it looks like we can leave on Saturday after it turns up the coast.  It wouldn't be fun to drive in windy rain with this small car, let alone the mess we might encounter.  I hope everyone evacuates as they recommend and everyone stays safe.  We have several friends in the east coast who are in the path.

 

 

As for me, I am weary of the vagabond life and today am taking a "sea day".  Anyone who cruises knows this is a lay about day with no "must do" items.  Tonight we'll join Dana's friends for dinner and that 's it, except this communication work of course.  I have a huge to do list for FM and PTB but I'll worry about that next week.

 

 

Stay save all you travelers and Florida residents.  Love to my family too.

Fwd: Schoodic

Painting at Schoodic Point

My work this week....

 

These studies need a bit more work to be finished.....

 

 

 

 

 

A few of the paintings done this week at Schoodic......

A Day in Corea

Thursday was a beautiful day with just a northeast wind blowing in the morning.  Everyone rushed to breakfast to be sure to get some fruit before the kids ate it all...again!  Plans were made and after eating we scattered to paint.

George and Henry decided to play golf and Helma and I took off for Corea and the harbor there.  We scouted out Cranberry Point, which had a beautiful view of the sea and cottages but was blustery and cold.  Returning to the little "Eat lunch on the wharf" place we set up our easels close to an old stack of lobster traps.  They provided a bit of shelter from the wind and we had a wonderful view.

Breaking for lunch, we walked to the lunch counter and ordered the famous lobster roll everyone had raved about.  It can't get much fresher than just caught!!  It was sunny enough to finally remove our jackets and lovely on the wharf.  Of course people had seen us painting and asked many questions including "how much do you sell these for?"

We were just packing up when the men showed up with grins on their faces from a great game, or at least fun. Big rocks and trees challenged the golfers on the course.  Pickled Wrinkle was the perfect spot, nay, only spot, to top off the afternoon with a beer before heading back to Schoodic for happy hour and dinner.

 Cranberry Point

  Wharf view

  Fresh Lobster lunches

  Enjoying the sunshine and lobster rolls

 

 

 A palette has many uses!!!!!

 

Fwd: Bar Harbor and Acadia and more!!!

 Kathy Taylor

After a rainy Tuesday morning spent inside working on paintings, we took a drive to Corea  nearby.  There was a funky restaurant out on the pier with a view of the harbor and lobster boats that looks likely for some painting time in the future.  Driving further we saw homes and a bit of the shore but not much more.  A quick stop at the Pickled Winkle to see if they had blueberry pie was fruitless, ha ha, so it was back to the dining hall for dinner after all.  A bunch of 8^th graders have joined us here and gobble up all the food if we don’t get in first…seniors scramble now!!

Today, George and I ventured to the larger part of Acadia on Desert Mount Island and took the loop tour up to Cadillac Mountain and Jordan Pond.  We had a nice lunch at Jordan house restaurant, huge servings that we couldn’t finish.  I had a vegetable risotto which was a nice change from the food here.  (Last night mac and cheese made from the leftover noodles from the night before!!)  This is  like camp, people!!!

The views were beautiful from the summits and shore roads we drove in the park.  Bar Harbor was a pretty town full of tourists shopping the stores for T-shirts to tea.  We walked the main street and the shore walk and enjoyed it a lot.  A stop for that pie was a nice treat before starting back.  Julie and Joan came around the corner and found us munching…they craved a change of food too and were having dinner there in town.

Maine is known for its wild blueberries.  They are tiny and delicious.  We have had them every day here in pancakes, muffins, scones, crisp, and as a topping for our fruit or yogurt.  We love the berries and eat them all summer in Michigan where they are nearly 4 times larger.    Lobster and blueberries, the food of Maine!!!

On the way back we took a detour down to see the town of Sorrento and the harbor there.  Pretty, with the mountain in the distance, and a favorite spot to paint.   Finally back home we had a bit of cheese and crackers, folded our laundry and vegged out for a while.

Tomorrow is another painting day for me but I don’t plan to stand for 5 hours again…way too much!!

                                 

  Watercolor by Kathy Taylor       Julie and Floyd with no heads, Kathy and Ann working.

  Lobsters for your lunch!!

  Top of Cadillac Mountain

  Bar Harbor..no cruise ships today!!