a recent distraction

A sketch begun before we left home and finished just now, this is one of the recent distractions that have kept me from sketching. When we upgraded from a pull-behind camper to an RV, we knew we’d eventually want a small car we could tow behind it for longer trips.

Many advised getting a Jeep so we test-drove one. Nope. Not happening. Even with the added running board, I could not easily climb into the thing. And the salesman was extremely PUSHY! We told him it would be a cash deal and he said they would require us to finance at least 4 months so they could recover some of their “loss”. Uh, huh? At these ridiculous prices, what loss? Since when is cash not welcome?

We headed to another dealer where we found that this Chevrolet Trax would also be easy to add a tow package to and cost MUCH less. More cooperative salesman too.

All this happened the past couple of weeks. And this morning, Bill again got a phone call from that pushy Jeep dealer. No! We are not interested, thank you very much!

I did the tiny continuous-line sketch of my keyless key fob right after we brought the Trax home. It seems weird to have to carry it around but not use it. Hence, my “new car key that isn’t”.

*️⃣ a friend just asked me what the car’s name was; Bill immediately replied “Bluebell!” But is it for a favorite wildflower or his favorite ice cream?

home again

While camping along Lake Conroe this past week, I ended up reading more than sketching. When we weren’t walking with Butters, that is. She is a very social corgi and there were new people and animals to meet!

I only managed to draw this tiny building just off of an intersection in Montgomery (seen on our way) and a couple of berry varieties found in the forest. 

our new part-time home

We had a chance to trade our 20’ camper in for this 25’ motor home — the deal was too good to pass up! This weekend, a camping trip in Sam Houston forest. Next month, we are heading up to Kansas!

Bradley wants to go!

When our granddaughter Mikala was packing up to head back to college following Thanksgiving break, Bradley jumped into her car . . . and stubbornly refused to get out. He loves car rides, and he loves all “his people” to stay in one place so he can guard them and keep them safe.

Lately I get ideas of memories to sketch in my journal but I may take a week (or even two) before actually getting them finished. 

into the woods . . . again

 

We spent this past week camping in our travel trailer again — this time in part of the Sam Houston National Forest on the northeast corner of Lake Conroe. I sketched a bit on-site and took photos to sketch from later. Mostly I just wanted to enjoy being there, taking several walks on the nature trails and enjoying the peaceful quiet.

As Bill leveled the trailer and hooked up the utilities, I wandered around our camp site and found this plastic dinosaur and Velcro uniform patch. Somewhere out there is a Marine with a very sad child who lost 2 dinosaurs — Bill later found another one. This one’s name is Henry.

Our truck is actually a brighter red but I had my muted watercolor set with me.

the past 2 days

 

With this larger sketchbook, I may combine multiple day’s sketches on one page, like these. 

As part of our simplifying / downsizing, we wanted to trade in our 2 vehicles for one multi-purpose truck. Turns out that we had enough left over from selling our log cabin, buying a bit of land, and converting a small barn into our home that we could afford this Chevrolet Colorado. On our way to pick it up now.

And the fruit? A grapefruit and 2 oranges from our daughter’s newly planted trees. They are small this year but very sweet!

only in Texas!

Our car needed a refill on gasoline so we pulled into a station in Somerville. An extended-cab pick-up truck parked near the store and the family piled out, heading for snacks and cold drinks inside.

Except the driver — he reached into the back seat; we assumed he was unbuckling a small child from a child safety seat.

Uh, no . . . . He took out a small filly and proceeded to walk her about on a leash!

UPDATE: After comments exchanged with others, I’m thinking this is probably a miniature horse, possibly being trained as a therapy companion horse.

pull up a Chevy and sit a spell . . .

For last year’s bathroom remodel, we found a source of reclaimed antique barn wood in Brenham. Along with piles and piles of unused planks of reclaimed wood, the owner had a couple of warehouses full of interesting treasures, such as this couch he modeled from an antique Chevrolet pickup. Not having time to sketch it on the spot, I took a photo of it . . . and then forgot all about it. Until now.

some random sketches from today

Due to recent floods in the Houston area, schools have been closed, so our granddaughter Mikala came for a short visit. While she was whipping Bill in a fierce game of Uno, I drew some antique serving spoons with the four brown ink samples I've been playing with.

At the same time, I decided it could fit the next Everyday Matters drawing challenge that I haven't yet finished, "draw something bright". At least they were bright and shiny at one time.

I definitely won't be getting any more of the burnt sienna ink -- it's more orange than brown. Still undecided on the other three.

Later we left for College Station --- we are planning a family camping trip at the lake and needed a new weatherproof tarp to place under our tent. The old one got torn up covering Bill's metal lathe driving home from Arkansas, and the ground will probably be damp and muddy from recent rains. We also needed to return Mikala for a volleyball practice.

Waiting to turn off the local farm road, we saw a 2016 Mini Cooper Clubman like the one pictured in front of us. The new style of brake lights looked like bloodshot eyes glaring back at us! I googled some photos to learn more about this model, and found that the front looks a bit like eyes as well.

on the Christmas road

Texas is now our home but we are still a Kansas State University family, as our truck windshield sticker shows. I started this sketch yesterday as we drove our daughter to the airport to join her family in Kansas and finished it today as we drove to our eldest son's new home in Beasley.

birthday card

My brother's birthday is next week so it was time to paint a card. For several years now, I have hand-painted a card for David. This year, I redid one of the sketches I did last year of a friend's hotrod --- hope Dave likes it!

Here are the original sketches of Kenny's car.

one cool hot-rod

We usually arrive at church early. While waiting this morning, I drew Kenneth and Karla's cool hot-rod from photos I found on their Facebook page. Then added some sermon notes. After coming home, I added some watercolor.

The car is really very stylish, as are the couple who own her. I found one photo of them dressed in vintage style standing next to the car. Fun!

I now have a Mini-Cooper!

Okay, it's only a Lego Mini. But it's in the right colors!

I drive a P. T. Cruiser and love it. It's boxy, bright blue, and feels "bigger on the inside" --- hence, it's nickname, The T.A.R.D.I.S. But my "dream car" would be a Mini Cooper. Our son Jason just gave me this wee Lego Mini last week. I drew it just for fun, including some of the downtown buildings of Brenham.

Kansas State Fair

Bill manned a booth for the Propane Association at the State Fair last Friday --- which meant free admission for both of us. And during the 4 hours he was stuck behind a booth, I wandered and sketched a bit.

 
I sketched this concession stand, standing under a tree, and the wind blew seed pods down on my head. They hurt a bit when they hit, even through a hat! But fun to draw.

Across from Bill's booth, a merchant, "Soya Essence", sold essential oils made locally in Wichita. I bought a couple of items and they are incredible! No more sinus headaches in the morning since using the "Breathe Easy" at bedtime. I'm going to try a blend they recommended trying for the dermatitis on my scalp.

And of course, our favorite part of the fair is the livestock --- whether exotic babies in the petting zoo, or ordinary farm animals. We both love cows! And it would be wonderful to be able to own some chickens (fresh eggs!) and maybe a llama (I love knitting).

Mission Concepcion

This mission is the oldest un-restored stone church in the country. The original colorful frescoes, though faded and worn away, can still be seen in part. They used some of the same earth pigments that are still used today. The frescoes were painted using the same technique used by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel. Established in 1716, then moved to San Antonio in 1731, the church took 20 years to build and was dedicated in 1755.

Both of the missions we visited are still active churches today. Amazing history.

unfinished sketching

Arriving early at Thursday night's watercolor class, I wanted to sketch the church (Church of the Savior) . . . but got caught up in the car parked in front (I can now see the front end is NOT long enough!). Before I could move on to the church and surroundings, it was time to go inside.

Most of the students who began the class have dropped out. John and I talked about it . . . if no more interest is shown in the next couple of weeks, the class will end. Being a beginning watercolor class, I have already explored a lot of what is covered; I go just to be with other artists. It's so hard to find others to sketch or paint with around here.

urban sketch -- watercolor on Niddigan paper

After reading lots of comments here and on my blogs re: the Niddigan paper in my new journal, I found I could indeed paint on both sides without any bleed-through, and that watercolor works as well as gouache.

Yesterday was sunny with no wind (a rare thing in Kansas), so I sat out on the stoop in front of our porch, sketching what was in front of me. A rusty old vehicle. It was thought to be abandoned, but apparently someone still drives it once in a while.

Another challenge for the new year -- I've decided to go through an entire journal using only the palette(s) pictured on the first page(s). Haven't done that before (I'm a bit crazy). I'll try it with both this Niddigan journal and the WC Moleskine in my purse. Maybe become a bit more disciplined?