While packing for my recent camping trip,
I grabbed a couple sketchbooks;
4 Art Journaling magazines;
pencils, watercolor paints/crayons and markers.
I have trouble sitting still for very long,
and journaling/doodling by the fire
was very relaxing for me.
The author, Quinn McDonald is conducting a free workshop,
hosted by the yahoo group: Artists of the Round Table.
Our homework for the first week is to identify/sketch our
Gremlins; that "thing" that prevents us from creating.
We were also encouraged to make ourselves
a "permission slip" to create.
One day, I gathered leaves around our campsite,
and tried to identify them in my sketchbook
with marker and watercolors.
Hours go by quickly,
sitting by the campfire,
with full bellies,
journaling to soothing music in the background.
I documented moments of our trip, on pages
previously painted with decortive borders.
I know, revisiting these pages again someday,
will bring back vivid memories of our camping experience.
I decided to experiment with drawing
faces with only a marker,
followed by a quick splash of watercolor.
No planning, NO erasing,
NO rules.
Luckily, we planned our vacation in the middle of the week.
The day before we left, it poured all day!
The day we returned home, it was steamy hot.
Once we were totally unpacked, it poured
hailstones the size of peas and lima beans.
No kidding!
Just beatiful weather in-between.
We couldn't have planned it better.
From our site, if you squinted
and looked between the trees, you could
catch a glimpse of the water.
Waterfront sites are reserved a year in advance.
But we were pleasantly secluded, with
the exception of a single woman one nite,
with very noisy children.
Did I say noisy? never mind....
Also on the last night,
one very robust crowd,
chose to ignore the 10:00 curfew,
and continued to howl and play loud music into the night.
Once all was quiet,
it was a lullabye listening to the loons....
(my favorite part of the trip).
My mom spent the first night with us in the camper.
We were joined for dinner by my brother and nephews.
Ryan is doodling his art in my sketchbook.
Mom is demonstrating how we improvised
after finding our can opener "bladeless".
This year instead of driving three hours to camp in Maine,
we decided to camp locally.
I used to bring my boys to the nearby
public beach when they were very small.
Being close to home, meant we could make a
second trip to get the boat.
We spent two days on the water,
with a packed lunch, just cruising around.
I think next year we'll be back with a canoe or kayak,
to get into the rocky areas that was
too dangerously shallow for the motor boat.
There were these little islands everywhere.
You could tie off, and take a swim,
or enjoy lunch on land.
Notice the blue sky, contrasted with the
cloudy sky and strong breeze on the second day.
The dragon flies were plenty and huge, while the mosqitoes
seemed very small and under nourished.
Daddy Long Leg spiders were everywhere.
The blue herron was silently hidden,
blending in with the fallen trees.
The little green frog appeared on the last day.
The ducks were cute to watch,
checking out the boat,
while I waited for Tim to park the truck.
Every night, we enjoyed the eery songs of the loons,
I once heard described as a sad yodell.
They were amazing to watch every day,
but difficult to take pictures, as they were elusive, dove quickly,
and resurfaced a great distance away.
Bard owls also hooted to one another in the distance.
Every day, we were loudly scolded by a nearby squirrel.
The last night, I heard rustling outside the camper.
Thinking it was a racoon, we attempted to shoo it away.
Since it was a skunk, we carefully pulled a pair of shoes inside,
and decided it wouldn't be worth getting sprayed.
On the last morning, I was about to light the stove,
when I noticed wads of tissue below the flame.
After removing the plate,
we found several clumps of tissue.
Apparently, a mouse figured out
how to enter the camper,
found the box of tissues,
and made several trips to the outside stove,
to prepare a new nest.
Amazing!
Now it's back to reality, housework, laundry and routine.
I must say however, it was a well spent vacation after all,
and I still have a smile on my face.
