My daughter the cowgirl??

Just thought I'd put these 2 beautiful photo's of Brielle (and her friends) in today's post. This is them last weekend at the Taylor Swift concert. She said it rained, thundered and lightninged, and of course, they were outside in it all. (that's why I just buy the cd now-a-days) 

She stayed at her college roommates house (pictured above with the other hat on) and the next day they went strawberry picking. All I can think of is all those years of -me dragging my kids along to pick blueberries and them hating it, now they PAY for the entertainment of  picking things. My how things have changed!

Long Day

Gail (the mom) Beth and her new roommate for the week

I had a long day yesterday. I drove Beth (the mentally challenged woman I take care of) to summer camp for the week. It was over 2 hours from the Cape. She had been soooo excited to go for months now, but when she got there she barely spoke a word. Nerves, maybe? Anyway, her roomy for the week was very talkative and nice. I think they'll grow to be great friends in no time. Either that, or I'll be picking her up early! Her mom came with me and we chatted for about 5 hours straight. (This coming from a person-me- who barely talks to anyone all day!) So needless to say, I was worn out just from chatting, never mind the driving!

Anyway, when I got home from my long trek Brielle had also just gotten home from a weekend away. She and her college roommates went to see Taylor Swift up in the same area that I was. She got home only minutes before, -she could have passed me on the highway! So we both got on our 'comfy clothes', ate dinner and as I went to work in my office I heard Brielle digging for things in the kitchen. So I look around the corner and here she is- roasting marshmallow's on a candle, making smores! (and yes, my dining room table usually looks like this)

So I sat down and had one too.

2011 Habitat for Humanity Mailbox

 

I just painted a mailbox for the Habitat for Humanity auction coming soon to the Mid- Cape area.( I can give more info about it later but right now they don't even know where it's going to be held yet.) Anyway, here's one side. This is the side with the flag which I decided I'd turn into a Lotus flower because the flag was red, stood out, and was pretty ugly. I just hope the mail carrier can see it when it's up!

Here's the top view. As you can see I painted the whole top, both sides and even the front!And what would one of my paintings be without a little sparkle of light? They are happy fish of course!

I was thinking about the mail carrier when I did the front because they need to see a little something pretty during their long and arduous route. The fish seem to be greeting the opener of the mailbox!

Well there it is. I sure would like to have this on my front lawn, especially when I see my own plain white mailbox with a dent in it. How attractive. Isn't that kind of like the saying "The shoemakers kids don't have shoes" ? 

Hyannis Harbor Chart

I've been pretty busy hand coloring antique maps - or more specifically antique charts, this week. My coloring work just seems to be getting bigger and bigger these days. I used to have a drafting table which worked out perfectly for me, but after 6 years of moving 7 times, I just couldn't handle moving it by myself one more time  (it was huge and heavy!) and so I let it go. Now I really miss it. Boo hoo.

Anyway, just thought I'd let you see what I was working on. This is a chart of Hyannis Harbor (Cape Cod Ma.). This particular one is actually a reproduction, so if you or anyone you know would like to purchase it, just let me know and I can hook you up with the map dealer.

Sweet 16



Sienna (middle) 16 years old now



We had a birthday this week...it was Sienna's Sweet 16th birthday. Sweet? Hmmmm Sometimes, and sometimes a little sour. She is after all a teenager. We had a couple of her friends and the usual family over for dinner and cupcakes. (not quite one of those TV Sweet 16 parties) Sorry Sienna.  

 It was too funny NOT to get a photo of everyone wearing these glasses.

We played some games, one being: on a list labeled A-Z, starting with each letter you have to think of a word that best describes Sienna. This was very interesting and fun. I mean, what do you write for Z? Quince made this mug (painted on it) especially for Sienna. It was really cute and he was so proud of it.

Qena came in the cutest little dress but I was too busy to get a photo until she had already changed out of it and put on her jammies. It was, of course past her bed time.

All in all, Sienna enjoyed her special day. Now it's on to getting the learner's permit. Gulp!

My Motorcycles from 1980-2011

Look what I found! A photo of my very first motorcycle, and Honda XL250, with a little lighting bolt sticker on it (lol). I bought it brand new when I was 18yrs. old and had just moved to NC. I taught myself how to ride on the power lines, but this was an on road/ off road bike so I was good to go anywhere. It was my only mode of transportation for the 2 years I was down there. That was always fun when it was 32 degrees out and I had to ride to work at 4am. (or in the rain)

 So, I thought I'd put all the bikes I've ever had in one place and tell the (quick) story of my life relating to them. I've always had a motorcycle, and these are all in order of when I had them so here goes.    This Yamaha Seca 550 was my 2nd bike. I had it when I moved to CA (El Toro). My ex was a marine there. I got married when I was 20. (tooooooo young!!) Anyway, I got in an accident on this one. A car turned right in front of me and I hit it broad side. Luckily I only ended up with a concussion and my face was saved because I had a full faced helmet on, but I needed stitches in my lip where I bit through it and my chin was about double the size.  I remember eating chocolate pudding for a week because I couldn't chew. (Ok, I suppose I could have eaten soup or something but...hey, I was 20).

Next I got another Honda 250 on road/ off road bike. I really liked these types of bikes because I could just take off down a dirt road and go exploring out in the woods.  

And so I bought another one....moved back to Cape Cod somewhere around here..I had it when I worked at the post office in Hyannis and the other mail carriers called me Batgirl. lol

And then I bought yet another one....this one was really hard to start. All these 250's I had to kick start. I would end up with some huge bruises on the back of my leg where it would kick me back.

Then I got this Yamaha 350XT. (on /off road) My then -boyfriend bought the same one and I taught him how to ride (oh how cute, matcing bikes lol). Now he rides a Harley. We had fun though and this was a great bike. I remember exploring  every dirt road in Truro. 

I had that bike for a long time.

 Then I got married and had kids and ended up with this Honda Interceptor 750 (made in Canada). It was fasssst. I was a little too crazy on it. So when I got divorced I gave it to my ex with the stipulation that I would have full custody of my kids. A bike for my kids. I think I won that one.

Last but not least I bought this Suzuki Marauder 800 in 2004 and still have it. I knew I better slow down a bit and get a cruiser instead of a fast bike this time. This has been a good bike except for the few times last year that the electrical system shut down and left me stranded. Other than that, I'm very happy and grateful just to have a bike to ride. Riding is one of my great pleasures in life. I feel free when I'm riding, and even though it can be very dangerous (mostly because of other drivers), the positives outweigh the negatives for me. I am here on this earth to be happy and joyful and when I ride I feel that way.  Happy Happy, Joy Joy!

Snapping Turtle

Guess what came to town the other day?This big guy ( over a foot long) was found walking through the neighbors yard then making it's way through ours. It was in our driveway when this was taken.

Since it's a snapping turtle everyone just stayed clear and let it go it's own way as we enjoyed it's unique presence.

 We have a couple of them that cross our road to lay their eggs in the spring, then in a few months we see lots and lots of baby turtles scurrying back across the road to get to the mud hole they came from. I'm usually helping them cross quickly before the cars get them. Who can resist a baby snapping turtle?

It was a weekend of graduation parties for me. In fact, I went to 3 (it should have been 4 though). They were all....fun?- I'm not sure that's the right word for it, but I enjoyed meeting new people and seeing old friends and family. With that said, I'm not really a party animal so I'm happy to back in my little house, snuggled up with my cats in the peace and quiet.

(In case you are wondering, this is NOT my house).

I hope your weekend was good too.

Hey, I just realized I have 16 followers! Wow. and I thought nobody read my blog. That's a great way to start my day.
Speaking of my day.....it's going to be a hot one today -mid 80's, so I'll be riding my motorcycle to the post office across town. Yippee. (My big outing) lol Yesterday I rode it and I didn't want to come back to work. Can you blame me? Later in the day I took a ride with my guy but it's just not the same. When I ride alone I meditate. When I'm with someone I'm concentrating on: not  losing them, or running into them, or if I'm going too fast, or slow, are they going to make the lights with me,  etc...always aware of the outer world, never aware of the inner.

Every day I have to be in touch with my inner world. It's the most important thing I do for myself, and ultimately, for others.

2.5"x3.5" Sold

Summer is slowly creeping up on us. The temps are finally getting up there and the Cape is getting more and more crowded. I'm also finding it increasingly hard to focus on work when it's so beautiful outside. I'm sitting here on my computer listening to the birds singing outside and feeling a slight warm breeze blow through the house. It's so nice to have the windows open now that the pollen has subsided. I can hear the great outdoors calling me, maybe for a walk on the beach or a long motorcycle ride in the sunshine.....

Angel Rocks

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

I just uploaded about 6 more "Pocket Angels" on Ebay tonight. I still have more to go but I'm so tired that I'll save them for tomorrow or Sunday. In the mean time here are two of my newest favorites. This one to the right is actually quite large- about the size of my palm, but it is very flat (a good skipping rock!) and just feeeeeels really good in my hands.



I so enjoy painting them. Actually I just love rocks in general! They can be so beautiful, and then to see them with the added dimension of paint - and an angel, really makes them even more special. Yes, I love rocks. I admit it. I'm the type who would go on vacation somewhere that I could dig for gemstones or pan for gold. How fun! And this will sound weird but I actually have a collection of rocks in my plants. I usually find them on the beach, and sometimes other people give them to me. Heart rocks are an all time favorite! I have one rock going on auction soon that even has a heart on the back of it- that nature imprinted, not me! I didn't paint that side, or even gloss it because it was so unique. Check it out below.



Front



Memorial Day on Cape Cod

On Memorial Day weekend Sienna did some volunteer work helping take in donations for the service men and women overseas. There was a big event organized by her good friend, Dylan DeSilva. He started this organization when he was only 12 years old! (check out this Youtube video)http://youtu.be/T4qPHlDF2lY

Now he's graduating high school and it has turned into a huge event. They had a local radio personality hosting the whole thing live on WCOD, and tents that took up half of the Kmart parking lot! There were 2 people from the military (taking 3 hour shifts) who stood at attention for the WHOLE time-24 hours. I can't even imagine standing at attention for 3 hours straight. God bless them!

It's pretty amazing to think a 12 year old started this whole thing by making care packages from his basement, and even though I know his mom had a huge hand in it all, I can see that it is clearly Dylans thing. He was the man running the show.

They stayed there from 11:30am on Sunday until 12pm on Monday- they were 'open for business' taking donations ALL NIGHT long! Sienna wasn't allowed to stay overnight but she helped out until 10pm then was right back there on Monday morning and stayed with Dylan and the crew until all was cleaned up in the afternoon.  

For more information on how you can help (year round) check out Dylans website:

http://www.capecod4thetroops.com/ 

Start of Summer

Well, we've made it past Memorial Day Weekend. The Cape was about as crowded as it could be. It always makes me think... Ugh, summer is almost here. Of course, I love summer, just not the traffic and the way the Cape swells up with people so you really can't function normally anymore.

But enough about the negatives of summer- how about the Hydrangeas?! They haven't bloomed yet, but soon. In honor of the upcoming bursts of blue, I painted this little Hydrangea/sailboat painting.  

And soon the roses will be blooming. There's nothing prettier than a rose covered arbor by the seashore!

Here's Bass River looking towards Yarmouth.  It's a spot worthy of painting over and over again. Sooooo beautiful! These are all just tiny baseball sized paintings.Check out my Ebay store for these and other paintings like them: http://stores.ebay.com/Cape-Cod-Artist