Welcome to my blog
I also love walking, taking digital photos, and most recently, have rediscovered an old love...bike riding! I purchased an amazing new bike, a comfy Townie by Electra this summer, and have been having a grand time exploring the area as though for the first time. It's like being a kid again!
If you enjoy any of these things too, pour a cup of coffee and tea, sit down, and join me.
Friday, September 22, 2023
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Sunday, September 17, 2023
Thursday, September 14, 2023
Monday, July 24, 2023
New Intex Challenger K1 Inflatable Kayak
My New Kayak is Awesome!
Today I took my new Intex Challenger K1 inflatable kayak out for the first time. It didn't take long to blow up (maybe 10 minutes), and the included pump worked great for the actual kayak, but it did not fit the seat piece or the little corner piece that fits inside. I have asthma and was able to blow up the seat piece OK, but the little corner piece was hard.I went to Mark's Bay and it was my first time seeing Mark's Bay from this perspective; I'm usually on the shore, looking out
It was a gorgeous late afternoon/early evening. I went for a swim first, for about an hour, then put the kayak together while I was nice and cool from the lake. It was my first time swimming at Mark's Bay; I usually go to Pointe Des Chenes to swim, but that beach is far from the parking lot, and Mark's Bay is nice and close.
I had got to the beach at around 4:30, quarter to five, and stayed until almost about 9.
The kayak was comfy but my feet rubbed right up against the edge. I'm only 5'4" and I don't think this would suit anyone taller.
It was nice and stable and very comfy, and surprisingly fast.
I haven't kayaked in years, and have only actually tried it a few times in my life. I am more used to rowboats and canoes. I really love kayaking though.
Mark's Bay is perfect because it is a sandy beach, and pretty shallow. The water was calm and I made it around the bay quickly.
I saw a cool bird with a big wing span, but it was too far away to make out what type of bird it was. I didn't have my good camera with the zoom lens, just my phone (which took these pics).
I met a nice lady named Debbie while I was out there and we swam together. She waited for me while I kayaked, which was nice of her. There she is on the shore (below).
I kayaked until the sun dropped below the tree line, and then I figured I should stop as I wasn't sure how long it would take to dry off, let the air out, and pack up.
The sunset was gorgeous.
The kayak was very hard to get out of and I ended up just rolling out into the water, lol. I got some water in the kayak getting out so I'll have to learn how to get out better. It was hard to get the air out because I had screwed on the lids too tightly and couldn't get them open. Thankfully a young man came and helped me out. I didn't bother deflating it all the way; I just waited for the air to come out enough to fold it in half and shove it in my back seat. I plan to go back out again tomorrow.
Friday, July 14, 2023
July is World Watercolor Month, here is Week 1, completed (watercolor, gouache, painting)
World Watercolor Month
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Himi Gouache |
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Maimeriblu Venezia paint on dollarama paper, lol; 19 year old paint! |
"sunlit", but I just happened to paint this, based on a photo my friend Nancy took while out kayaking. It was Canada Day, July 1st and I wanted to paint a Canadian scene (this is Lake Superior).
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First time trying Plein Air painting, Belleview Park, the wind turned the page and made a mess, lol |
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Redoing the scene from Belleview Park at home, with a photo I took while out trying to plein air paint. |
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"burst" |
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"startle" |
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My second try at plein air, Cotmans in tiny sketchbook, Whitefish Island |
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"flavor", watercolors |
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Misty Lake Acrylic Painting for my Neighbor Lucille
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Misty Lake following tutorial by #Joony Art |
So I can't write "Today's Art" Anymore...
Because this took me several days to paint. Pretty soon I'll have to do "this week's art" instead.
I chose this tutorial after looking at hundreds of tutorials because I wanted something special, something beautiful but soothing to look at, and meaningful. My best friend's brother passed away suddenly and her Mom is devastated. He was 65 and battling cancer, but still had time left when he had a massive heart attack. We are all happy that he didn't suffer and go slowly, the way the cancer would have taken him, but it is still sad, and no mother wants to outlive her child. She lost her husband a few years ago too. I chose this picture because their whole family loves fishing, and I wanted to paint Larry and Louis fishing together in heaven. The original artwork had a different style boat (rowboat, no motor) and only one person, so I changed the boat a bit, and added a motor and another person to represent Larry and Louis.
I have only done a few paintings before this, and felt comfortable with the sky and water and trees, but was worried about how to do the fog, the boat, the people, and the geese. I spent more time worried about it than it took me to finally do it; most of my problem is building up the courage to keep going, because at every step I was sure I'd ruin what I had so far. I need to get over that. I'm not usually as timid as I was with this painting; I think it's because I was attempting it as a gift for someone other than my parents. When I just paint for me there's no pressure.
I'm going to give the painting, a card, and a box of chocolates to my neighbor tomorrow, hopefully. I hope she'll like it.
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Spring Lake Landscape Painting in Acrylics
Spring Lake, Acrylics on Canvas Board
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Spring Lake, acrylics on canvas board, following a tutorial by Joony Arts on Youtube |
It came out great even though I followed the wrong tutorial, lol.
I added some darker and lighter spots to the water. I hated doing this because i really liked the water in the first section but I figured I'd better follow the tutorial.
It was at this point, adding the greens and yellows, that i FINALLY realized I was following a different tutorial and not the one I had prewatched, LOLOL.
I was terrified to add the long grasses, but they came out nicely. I used a fan brush.
Finally added the flowers and the sun. I didn't want to add the sun and the rays because I thought they looked strange and not sunray like at all, on the tutorial, but the tutorial is way better than mine, lol.
Rose Acrylic Painting
Rose(s) in Acrylics
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Roses in acrylics (left is on watercolor paper, right is on a canvas board) |
So, I have been learning how to paint with acrylics...
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Acrylic paint on dollar store watercolor paper |
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Second try, acrylics on canvas board, following tutorial by Aham Art |
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Red rose, acrylics on canvas board. |
Tuesday, January 3, 2023
All the Acrylic Ornaments I Painted for Christmas
Acrylic Painting: Christmas Ornaments
I decided to learn how to paint with acrylics and started with some simple landscapes painted on wooden ornaments.
Little Acrylic Painted Christmas Ornaments. |
I used Monte Marte Acrylic Paint, plus cheap dollar store paint for the base (first coat). I sealed them with triple thick gloss from deco art, and am so pleased by how they came out.
The greens |
I followed a Youtube tutorial by Jasmine, which you can find here: Wood Slice Painting on Ornaments
Crocheted Christmas Gifts: Little Cars
These are the crocheted items I made for Christmas this year
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I made a series of cars; the smaller ones were keychains, and the larger ones were not. |
Here's my cousin Johnny with his; I made it to look like his racecar. |
My 91 year old Uncle Buck loved his. |
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I had to look at a pic to try to make Johnny's car, lol. |
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My best friend's Grandson loved his car. |
Even my Dad loved his car keyring. |
I wasn't able to get a pic of my cousin Andie with his car, unfortunately.