3 Snowmen Paintings

I woke up to big flakes of softly falling snow this morning. It was very peaceful and mesmerizing as I drove Sienna to work. It reminded me of these cute little aceo paintings I have on Ebay right now.

http://stores.ebay.com/Cape-Cod-Artist

I really enjoy painting snowmen. I like to make them glow and give them a personality. In the beginning, I never intended to paint as many as I have, but then people kept asking for more, so I kept painting them (and having fun!).

Art doesn't always have to be so serious. It is really just an outer, creative expression of what's going on inside.

Fun art means a light heart!

Cape Cod Cottages

"Seaside Cottage" 2.5"x3.5" http://stores.ebay.com/Cape-Cod-Artist

Even though it's still February and the wind is blowing, and the snow is still on the ground, I'm thinking spring...or summer even.

2.5"x3.5"

I'm thinking about little Cape Cod cottages covered with roses and white picket fences. I'm thinking about the varying shades of Hydrangeas, and Geraniums that bloom and bloom.

And now I'm thinking about turning up the thermostat. It's feeeeeezing in here!

Sandy Neck Lighthouse

Sandy Neck Lighthouse in the snow. http://stores.ebay.com/Cape-Cod-Artist 2.5"x3.5"
More snow today? Possibly. It's about 38 degrees, so it might just rain instead (hopefully) but it certainly is overcast.


Yesterday was a good day. I got the rejection sticker taken off my windshield. (a big "R") Yes, my car got REJECTED when I went to get my yearly inspection because the 'check engine' light was on. That light had been on for almost a year and a mechanic had already looked at it and told me it was just the light (not the engine itself) but apparently, a car will automatically fail inspection if any of the lights are on. Who knew? Well, I do now. So, $200 dollars later, my light is off and my car passed. Yipee.

You know, I believe that everything that happens in our lives is a reflection of our inner world. For example, in some way I must have been feeling rejected - (or not good enough) that day I got the R sticker. It's amazing when you just look around and see what your thoughts are projecting onto the screen of life. It's actually very empowering - at least you know what it is that you need to fix.

Pilgrim Monument, Provincetown

Here's another painting I did last week of the Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown. This view is from the National Seashore Area, not from in town. I liked it because the dunes and the monument are really the 2 things that come to mind when you say Provincetown (at least to a non-townie). As you can see it's an ACEO and it's on Ebay right now. http://stores.ebay.com/Cape-Cod-Artist

Welfleet Painting

http://stores.ebay.com/Cape-Cod-Artist

I just finished this ACEO painting of Welfleet and Tom's Bridge. I'm pleased with how it came out. It's only the size of a baseball card- smaller than the photo you are looking at. I love painting the ACEO's (art card editions and originals 2.5"x3.5"). I feel free to follow my intuition and paint whatever I want because if it doesn't work out I can just scrap it. It's not like I spent days on it. I generally can paint one in anywhere from 1-3 hours, then sell them for $10-$20 on average. I definitely won't be getting rich off of them any time soon, but they are so fun to paint, who cares?

If you want to see what I have in stock for ACEO's just click on the link to my Ebay store: http://stores.ebay.com/Cape-Cod-Artist
I have about 80 of them, either in my store (which you can buy immediately) or on auction. Some are going for as low at .97 cents right now! I'm doing a little spring cleaning, so take advantage! Also, if you see something you like but don't have an Ebay account just email me at : bretenb@yahoo.com.

Winter Landscapes on Cape Cod

It's an uneventful Thursday on school vacation and all is quiet in the house. Sienna is still sleeping (at 10am) so it's just me and the cats enjoying the momentary silence. I thought I'd share a few photo's of the area that were taken this past week.

Mill Lane in Yarmouth.

Going over the bridge always freaks me out for some reason. It's just a little one-laner, old bridge, with fast moving, icy cold water underneath.

Barnstable Harbor in the middle of winter.

This is one of my favorites. It's sunset at Paynes Creek in Brewster. As you can see, the snow is still stuck on all the north sides of the trees from our recent Nor'easter. It makes them look really neat.

721 Michigan Ave, Saginaw Michigan

Ps: If anyone reading this at ANY TIME  has any other information about this property ,or my long lost relatives, or great grandpa Charles Lewis Benjamin please contact me: bretenb@yahoo.com. I'd love to hear from you!

721 South Michigan Ave, Saginaw Michigan. This was the (rather large!) home of my Great Grandfather, Charles Lewis Benjamin. (pictured here with his family) Click on for a bigger view.

I just got an email from a woman who's relative bought the house years after he died. She said it burned down in 1917 but was rebuilt, and today stands as law offices. I've always had an interest in my genealogy so this was very interesting. One day I wanted to go see the house since it was so grand, but now....I don't know. It wouldn't have any of their energy in it really.

This is great grandfather Charles Benjamin. He's not actually a blood relative because he adopted my grandmother. I think she may have come as a package deal with his 2nd wife (my great grandmother Myra Story Benjamin) but I'm not even sure. I'm having a hard time finding any records about that.

Anyway, I have a lot of neat photo's because they seemed to be able to afford them in that day. He was actually the mayor of Saginaw in 1884-5, and the head of police for 35 years prior, then the state oil inspector. He also raised thorough bred race horses apparently and owned land that is now a golf course. It sure makes me wonder how none of this money ever trickled down to me. Darn! lol But seriously- even my dad never saw any of it. His mom died when he was 8yrs old and the other relatives seemed to 'disown' him when he went to visit and learn about his roots when he was older. Hmmm I wonder why?

This is my grandmother, Marguerite Kaeselau. What a cutie!
This is my grandmother (left) and ? someone who is in quite a few photos. I haven't figured it out who yet. This house is in a few photo's too. Maybe this was the play house in the back yard for the kids. lol Come to think of it, the trim and the architecture matches..... Oh it's such fun going back and imagining what life was like back then. But, I'm very happy with all my modern conveniences just the same.

Valentines Day 2010

Happy Valentines Day!

We are all connected and one with the whole, which is love. We are love. If we just get in touch with that, life will unfold beautifully.


So Valentines Day; It's a day that some people can't wait for and some people dread. In my house there are 3 girls, and it has brought a little anxiety for all of us this year. Sienna and I are single so we weren't looking forward to the day, but Brielle has a boyfriend and even she was feeling a little negative about it. She thinks it's just another day that you have to give presents (not being so easy with a college students pocket book.)

However, it can be a good time to reflect on love, and how we should love ourselves first and foremost. You can't give away what you don't have within you. Fill yourself up so it can overflow out to the world.

Look who's home for the weekend! My sweet Brielley. :) Last night we had Thanks-Give-Valentines Day. It was Thanks Giving (because we had turkey and the family was together) and Valentines Day all rolled into one. Brielle, Sienna and I spent about 2 hours making Valentines cards before we went. It was a lot of fun to sit around the table with my (almost) adult girls making the cards while talking and laughing.

Then we went over to Auntie Grethe's house for the yummy dinner and conversation. Of course, since I'm a vegetarian (6 months now!) I didn't have the turkey (my mom too).

And speaking of my mom, she brought us all little Valentines gifts! (stuff like: hand lotion, scotch tape, a chocolate rose and an orange!) Hey, I'm not knocking it because it looks like that is the extent of my Valentines Day this year.
And of course, here's my little precious niece. We all fight over who gets to hold her first. I think I snapped her up first last night, as you can tell by my pose. (I think I was saying "She's mine! Back off!) lol Yes, I definitely was!

Paynes Creek and Osprey

We were supposed to get a bad Nor'easter yesterday but it really didn't amount to much. I only had to shovel about 4" of wet snow this morning before the bus, but I'm not complaining because it could have been worse.
This was the scene at Paynes Creek in Brewster around dinner time. It looked so pretty.

Then I took a drive over to Sesuit Harbor and as I was driving I saw this magnificent bird sitting on the telephone wires.


I stopped, backed up, took some pictures, and he still just sat there looking down. I was surprised that he didn't fly off.

Osprey's are very big birds that eat fish. There are several high platforms on poles built around the local marshes so that the Osprey can nest there. One is at Sesuit Harbor (on the back side) and the couple that nested there had 2 babies. I think this may be one of them because the young have spots on them. Isn't he/she cute?! (Look at those talons!) You can click on the photo to see it close up.
Anyway, I was very excited to get these amazing photo's!

When I got home I noticed there was a lone Mourning Dove on my front step eating some bird seed I put there because of the snow. I sat in the car for a few minutes to give him time to finish before I got out and scared him away. Well, when I finally got out, I didn't scare him away- which is unusual for M. Doves because they are so skiddish and scared of every little noise or movement. I actually walked almost 3 feet away and it still stayed right there! It just looked at me, then continued to eat. Either this little guy was starving, or suicidal, or just trusted me, I don't know, but I decided that I'd just go in the back door and let him be.

What struck me as weird was that; 2 birds, within a very short span of time, didn't feel afraid of me at all. Hmmm what does that mean?

Bed Wars

Uh Oh, it's 'bed wars' again.. This is the sight I saw on my couch. Simba (the orange one) was sleeping on this blanket so Kiya decided she had to get on it too- just because. Now usually, they don't even touch each other for any reason except to scratch at each other, so this is a really funny picture. Kiya is actually sitting on Simba just so she fits on the blanket! lol

So, to keep the peace I brought out Kiya's favorite pink blanket and put it next to her. She has certain color preferences, and pink is one of them. She is, after all, the princess. So anyway, the moment I put the blanket down she stretched out her arms on it, as if to claim that one (too).

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm doing!"

After a few minutes, she decided to lay on 'her' blanket instead, leaving Simba in peace. My cats are so entertaining. What personalities!

Ok, I guess Sesuit Harbor IS pretty frozen today! Maybe it's just because the tide was low and all the ice chunks from the bay floated in. Maybe at high tide they float back out? Very possible. Anyway, it was a beautiful day out- 41 degrees (Fahrenheit) last I looked. I managed to squeeze in a 1/2 hour walk in the sunshine. Ahhhh. Good thing because we're supposed to get quite a bit of snow tomorrow.

Just for fun, check out the close up below....

Winter Scenes

You know it's winter when there isn't a boat in sight. But, that's not really true- this is in Harwich on Rt. 28, and just to the right of this photo, there were fishing boats still in the harbor, ready for action.

Wychmere Harbor in Harwich.

I love this huge sail boat. They keep it in the harbor all year long as you can see. I've painted this very scene once or twice. It looks so quaint, with the church in the background.

Stopped off in Chatham. There was a man parked next to me loading up his truck with the daily quota of oysters from this spot.

Sesuit Harbor, Dennis

There is still one sailboat in the water and maybe one or two utilitarian boats. The harbor really isn't frozen as would be expected this time of year. We just haven't had any lasting weather below 32 degrees. (and I'm smiling about that!)
On the road to Chapin Beach in Dennis.

This was taken a few weeks ago after a storm. The sand dunes always look so pretty covered in snow.

The day is not complete unless I've talked about my cats.....Here is starry eyed Simba, contemplating whether or not to eat the grass I grew for his dining pleasure. (talk about pampered!)

"Kitty in the box!" That's what we say when there is a kitty in the box. Then I pick her up (box and all) and walk around the house with her. She loves being up high without me actually holding her. She just rides around like a princess, just sitting contently looking down at everyone. Look at that face...."Pick me up Mommy!"

Landscapes and Lighthouses

Happy Sunday! It is Sunday isn't it? I lose track of time so easily. Thank God Sienna goes to school or I really wouldn't have a clue! But to be honest, I kind of like it that way. I'm grateful that I'm not living for the weekend. Every day is my weekend- or....every day is my Monday. No matter how I look at it, it's all good.

Anyway, I've been busy painting some interesting landscapes this past week. Here are a few of my favorites. They are the official ACEO size of 2.5"x3.5", and will be on Ebay tonight. http://stores.ebay.com/Cape-Cod-Artist

Provincetown Lighthouse, Long Point. Sure it's snowy, but to me- it looks like a 'warm snow'. Is there such thing?

Truro Lighthouse, Cape Cod Light (used to be Highland Light) I think I photographed this painting a little crooked. The buildings in this painting are not about to slide into the Atlantic Ocean. Not yet, anyway- give them a few years.

Art Reception

Last night we went to an art reception at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod. It was for 3 well known artists, and in the smaller rooms were the artwork of Community Connections people (day-hab for mentally challenged adults) . I used to work for them and I was invited by Beth, (who I still take care of) to come see her work, pictured here.

It was nice because I got to see some of my old buddies from the day hab center. This is Charley, pictured here in front of one of his many paintings in the show. It felt good to see the pride in their eyes when we all admired their work.

Sienna brought her friend and even they enjoyed seeing all the creativity. Did they model for these 2 pieces?

Reflections

(sold)
I'm sitting here reflecting upon my day, so I thought I'd put on one of my reflection paintings. It goes good with the George Winston music I am listening to right now. I can see the sparkles dancing to it in my head.

So, Brielle- my oldest daughter got on the Dean's List for her first semester at college! How great is that? I'm so proud of you hunny! Keep up the good work, you're doing awesome.

Simba is sitting right under my arms while I'm trying to type this so this isn't very easy, but he needs his daily attention and I have to comply. Also, it's Friday night so I will be chauffeuring the teenage girls, so I have to go now.

Flowers

We had another dusting of snow yesterday- just enough to make the roads slick and the ground white, so I thought it was a good time to think about flowers! (Funny how my mind works, isn't it?)

Actually, every winter around this time, I try to make it to the Flower Show up in Boston. When the skies are dreary and wind chills you to the bone, there's nothing better to warm your heart and perk up your senses than the sight and smell of beautiful flowers.

It's like a breath of spring.

I'm not sure if I'll make it there this winter so I thought I'd put some of my watercolor flower paintings on here just to remind me (and you) that spring IS just around the corner.....
and to keep my hopes up that soon I will be able to get outside again...and the air will be warm... and the sun will be shining...and the birds will be singing....

and the beautiful fragrance of the flowers will be floating on the warm spring breezes. Hmmm sounds good to me. Now, if only I didn't have to go outside today....