A Loud Man and a Quiet Beach
Keeping up the nature journaling tradition for my birthday
I did not expect this terrifying chihuahua to be the thing I most remember from teaching Drawing Animals at The Jansen’s summer art camp. This was for the 5-to-6-year-olds class, and they were shouting all sorts of things that the poor little dog “needed” to be complete. I wish I had thought to grab a snap of the Animal Alchemy game changing a frilled lizard to a pelican with the 10- to 11-year-olds. But I did get one of the 5- to 6-year-olds walrus to octopus. I draw an animal, then they line up and each get to change a single thing to turn the original animal into the other pre-decided animal.
My brother-in-law coaches my nephew’s football team, so we went to watch a flag football game. My BiL is always easy to find because his voice . . . let’s say it carries. He also has a very distinctive style of dress. Once we can find the field (which can be hidden in a maze at some of these middle/high schools), the right game is obvious. Though my nephew has grown up so much, I had a hard time finding him on the field. Nate is a good coach, making sure when they mess up, they know how to improve but also don’t kick themselves over it.
For my birthday, we didn’t want to spend all the money to go to Woodland Park Zoo (gas, tickets, food, goodies). So instead, we spent the afternoon at Birch Bay State Park. It has really shallow, so you can walk out like a mile when it is high tide and still be up to your waist (I might be exaggerating, but I am not sure). Wally did not get a chance to run in the ocean because the tide was too low and there was about 20 feet of barnacles to get to the water. But I gathered some specimens to paint and note upon. All of which stayed at the beach. We had roast beef sandwiches and cupcakes. For some reason, no one makes cream soda anymore. Fortunately, Bear ‘n’ Beaver makes one in a tall boy! It’s no Henry Weinhard’s, but what is?
I like to experiment with embroidery techniques, so when I turned this illustration from 2012 into an embroidery pattern, I took the opportunity to add some appliqué. It makes for a pretty easy pattern with just a little stretching of beginner embroidery wings.
Next week! July 9: embroidered watercolor poppies. I am very excited. This should be really fun.
Later this summer:
July 23: pieced block stamps (like my bloberry totes) and Abe’s photography of moving subjects
August 6, inking with a nib and Abe’s how to take pictures of people (he’s really excellent at this).
August 20, embroidered photos and Abe’s macro photography.
I usually wait until finishing something before recommending it. I am only 5 episodes into the first season of Ted Lasso, but wow. has been on my to-watch list for a while because it is touted as funny. But the premise. American football coach coaching British football (aka, American soccer)? No thanks. But my aunt Karen recommended it, so when Abe and I were looking for a show to replace American Dad, we tried it. Started accidentally on episode 1 of season 3 and were already hooked. So when we noticed, we went back to the beginning. Big spoilers in season 3, ep. 1 compared to season 1, but it makes it interesting. I cannot see the path between the two. Turns out the premise is not what the show is about at all. It is about the characters, the hilarious, three-dimensional, sweet, sad characters. Great across the board: characters, writing, story, humor, cinematography.
I hope your day gets better from here!
-Angela
P.S. Sometimes Wally swims at the sky. Nikki is not amused.
