What to do

Done earlier this year

  Well, the Giants won another game, makes them up 2-0.  I also make a couple of us happy.  Wait and see the finish, then see if we're still happy.
  Given my recent physical condition there isn't a lot I can do.  I don't really know if I can paint because leaning over a table is next to impossible.  I could paint if I can find a way to raise the work, have to think about it.  Ouch, I can feel the headache from thinking already.
  Below are two photos, the top one is work done by an artist of the start of winter in a swamp or bog.  The bottom is a photo taken by either my wife or myself of the Orono bog, the white flecks are cotton grass.
  What I would like to do is make winter come to the bog.  We will see.

Click to enlarge, hmmmm.

1202 is a big number

I didn't do my homework!  I have nothing, of substance, to write about.  Soooooo I thought I'd show you all some of the Projects I've done in the past.  It won't be too painful.

An "unusual Ford"

This Ford tractor is yellow because it's a Road Tractor and was sold to a state highway department, I have learned that several hundred of these were sold.

Old Red

This one, probably a Farmall, was retired, it was a good project IF I had used darker coloring.  My old art teacher in night school always told me my stuff was too pastel.  He suggested I illustrate childrens books.  Maybe I'll write one and illustrate it.

Well that's it.  I will be more diligent today and find a "real story".

Have a seat

In front of the barn

  My wife took some photos of a local farm a couple of weeks ago.  I cropped one photo to get what is shown above.  Then I decided to paint a picture based on the photo.  It took a couple of weeks, because I was lazy, and finally finished it yesterday.

Whatdaya think?
 

You can click and enlarge the pictures to judge the differences, it's okay.
  I am currently working on a cartoon character and some "funnies" to use it with, learning to draw a cartoon figure isn't as easy as I thought.  I will be sharing some of the work here on the blog.

Just a stroll

Getting there - click to enlarge

  There is evidence that I did work on the project.  I have a small work table, not made for art, that I used while watching The Open Championship (British Open) while I worked.  That will explain a lot. 
  I also managed to walk eight miles, almost withing realizing it.  I walked 4.5 before coffee, at 5AM, then another 3.7 over in Brewer and after I got home I walked to the Post Office to get the mail (one Blood Drive notice), and that brought me to eight miles.  That was a rare day, the weather was perfect at 51 degrees, the humidity was low and there was a breeze.  All of that is absent today, it's already 63 degrees (2:40AM), and the dew point is 60 and the breeze is the dreaded south direction.
  I know I shouldn't complain, we haven't had many serious fires, Maine and Washington are the only two states not yet with drought conditions - so...I shouldn't complain about the weather too much.

Engine 25, Rockaway Beach, Oregon.  www.wunderground.com
Photo by Kristin Arinell

Maybe I'm getting the message....

Second days work done - click to enlarge

  I have noticed a 50-60% drop in readership when I use the word "Projects" in the label for my blog.  I guess when this one is done I'll drop that word.  Or I could still show you my project and not put that word in.  What do you think? (use the comment 'envelope' at the bottom).
  More walking yesterday, I am averaging about 6.5 miles a day for the month, I'll keep it that way as long as I can.  I still remember a few years ago I was walking 7 to 10 miles without a problem, that was then this is now.
  The Team pleased Red Sox Nation last night, with Cody Ross enjoying 2 home runs, each hit with 2 men on base, so 2 homers 6 runs batted in.  That's a good night for anyone, even in the pros.
  Well, time for some breakfast and a nice walk, the front finally passed through and the air is a whole lot better:)

Hey! Why don't you watch where you're going?

Trouble?  Maine Turnpike Authority photo

  When you press the gas pedal instead of the clutch when down-shifting, this is the result.  Neither the driver of toll booth attendant were injured, the Honda CRV is a mess.  This is from the Portland Press Herald todays edition.

A beginning

  I think (that's dangerous) that you could see the tracing if you click to enlarge the photo.  I already need to undo the door, or part of it.  It was kind of time consuming to do this much for reasons even I don't understand.  It could be the weather, which hasn't been cooperative, that throws me off.  It could be damn near anything for that matter.  It's going to be another hot day today, then a cold front will arrive and cool things down to normal July temps.

There must be a way, maybe?

Old Village of Shaktoolik, Alaska.  The people have moved inland just
a bit to the New Village.  Looks like a future project.

  First the project.  I have made the initial tracing of the same house you saw before.  This time it's just the house, larger but without the vegetation.  If  that "works" then maybe I'll tackle some of those buildings up there.  I have are three photos sent by my daughter who is in contact with someone who lives in the "new" Shaktoolik.  The village was moved because of rising water and the old town was in danger of drowning.
  Second the Sleep stuff:  I have begun to wake earlier and earlier, again.  If any of you recall my time to get up used to be about 11:30PM, then it got advanced to 2AM, now I'm back to Midnight.  I do nap in the daytime, not much control of that.  I think that if I napped earlier it might be helpful.  This "Advanced Sleep Disorder" is genetic, and I'm right on schedule like my dad and grandfather.  I always think it would be nice to stay up longer like a "regular" person.  Maybe, maybe not.

Surprise, surprise or not

eee yah, nah!

  It's been a while since I painted something I liked, this isn't it.  Well, back to the drawing board.  I have in mind to redo that old house.  Make it larger and just do the house, no grass, no trees, no bushes - just house.  It's an option.
  It was hot yesterday, and will be a little more hot today and tomorrow. Yuk!  I don't care much for heat, anything above 72 degrees is just too much.  I hate it when the broadcasters say "oh, wow a lovely sunny day" and the temps will be in the 80s.  Are they nuts or do they feel compelled to do fake stuff, do they really like the heat?  I know, deep down, that there actually are people who just like a sunny day and don't care how hot it is.  Deep down, secretly, I thing they're nuts!
  Well, off for a walk and then back to the drawing board.  Hint: it won't be flowers.

How much

Such as it is, there's still some work to do - click to enlarge

  There went an average day, summer style.  Between watching the end of the Tour de France, watching a couple of games of the NBA Summer League and some highlights of the MLB All-Star game and working on the project up there....well, I got tired.
  I was dozing on and off most of the afternoon and evening I think, there was one nap of about 30 minutes too.  And I walked a couple of miles less too; but my weekly average is about 6.5 miles a day.
  I will be back on my regular walking schedule today, need to have to car home at 8am, so will be prompt about things.  A couple of errands to do as well but those are the easy ones.
  Well, back to the grind ;P

Daytime dreaming

  I took a little nap yesterday afternoon in between working on the project and watching the NBA Summer League on TV.  At my age it's not unusual for me to nap during the day to rest from my walking (I guess).  Here are the details I wrote down after I woke up.

  I had a dream that some of my old Navy buddies of 50 years ago, our son Jon and I went to a basketball

game in San Francisco.  Odd because it was an NBA game and there is no longer a team in that city, but
the Warriors will be moving back in the near future.
  When the game ended we left in smaller groups, Jon and I were separated, he had gone on with some
Of the others.  Somewhere along the line when a friend gave me my hat, that had the crown torn out, I
reached in my pocket and found that I had Jons phone as well as my own.

  My first thought was to call Jon but I was afraid the number I had was an old one.  I could call Darlene, Jons wife, and asked her to call Jon, but I abandoned that idea for some reason.  Well then, I'd call home and my wife could call Darlene, or maybe even call Jon.

  By that time I needed a pencil, I went into a place that might have been a YMCA, empty rooms a real mess.  I found a room that had a table with screwdrivers and pencils, just as I reached the table the pencils rolled on to the floor.  I got a pencil and tried to call home, but I had Jons phone, don't ask me

where my own was at that point.  His phone was large, thick and encased in one of those hard plastic shells that you don't like to open.  There were some buttons on the outside but I couldn't figure out which one to use.  Then I woke up; I had been watched the NBA Summer League games in between working on the "project"; paint needs to dry.

  Too funny to be true.

That didn't copy over very well did it?  But, you get the point, it's both funny and dumb.

Here is the project as it sits now:

It's a start.

The tracing and early stuff - click to enlarge

  That's kind of hard to see, easier for me it's bigger.  I splashed some paint in different areas to mark which were the flowers.  When I'm working I have the picture with me so I can tell what's what.
There is a long ways to go, it will only be the flowers, none of the buildings are included, I'm an amateur you know.
  Walking was good yesterday, cool and not humid and a little breeze, nice!  This morning is about the same, little more humidity because the breeze is now south-west (that's not nice in Maine).
  A busy morning today, little paint can go on in the afternoon.

I'm working from this photo.

This photo will help with color. www.flowerspictures.org

Well there is SOME good news

Green enough and meow!

  The good news:
1)  The 'project' is in the recycle bin, it was beyound fixing.  I will start another.
2)  Hollie is moved in and we didn't work over there yesterday.
3)  I was able to walk six miles plus.

  And the opinion.  I enjoy watching sports on television, in particular baseball and basketball.  I also watch golf when those other two aren't on.  We have cable TV because I like to watch sports.  I very often mute the sound, you don't need sound on to watch most sports.
  Yesterday I watched some of the Tour de France (I like to see Frances country side), I watched the Yankees play the Chicago White Sox on TBS - I had to sound on some of the time, the announcer was tolerable, at least the non-athlete sports guy.
  I watched the golf at The National after the ball game, mostly with the sound muted.  The "former players" on any channel that broadcasts golf are intolerable.  Most of them don't speak American English, with my hearing loss any Brit/Aussie accent is not understandable.  They are so opiononated that it will make me want to puke.  "he should have moved his feet to the right", "that's sand in the sand trap", "he should have placed the tee two milimeters to the left".  If they are so damned good, why aren't they the ones making all of the money?
  Okay I've said my piece.

A little more and nice weather please

The next stuff to do

  There's not a lot of difference to see between yesterday and today, and the green background is too dark.  Now I will need to lighten the background, it's not difficult but time consuming.  Simply add water, rub with a brush lightly and blot.  The trick is while blotting don't spread color into the daisy.
  I question how much will get done today, it's moving day for Hollies household, leaving Winterport and headed to new quarters in Brewer.  There will be three residents soon, and some of the staff will change to probably.  I'm going to pick Hollie up at 7:30AM and run around with her until her program starts at 11:00AM.  That eats up a good part of the day, I'll get some walking in this morning at 3:15 or so, mayber three and a half miles and a mile or so with Hollie while she's running around in stores.
  Linda, my wife, started physical therapy yesterday so every other day or so there will be appointments for her, and Peggy at the first of the month too.  I guess some days will be busier than others.
  Weather:  There are stars you can see this morning!  Holy Cow! It can't be clear. Can it?  I must say that's a welcome sight.

Flowers and rainy days

Starting out - click

  So...here we have the newest 'project'.  I did tracings from three different photos, one of daisies, one of the wild iris and one of columbine.  The most finished is the iris, the columbine have been started, they're the orange-red things.
  I haven't decided how to do the daisy flowers, they wont show up as white unless I put in a dark background like green leaves.  I haven't decided if the flowers are loose or in a vase.  Time will tell.
  It is raining again this morning, third day in a row and no end until Friday, that's what I hear.  If you walk the damned rain is hard to handle, but it isn't fatal.
  Well, time for a nice cold drink of water!

At last.

This is it - click to enlarge

  Funny!  Last night I finally had the thought:  Why didn't I paint more house and less land?  It would have been soooo much easier and it would have looked better too.  Maybe in my next life.  I'm sort of pleased with it as is, but now..........
  I already have a new project in my head; that's where the trouble starts, in my head.  All I can tell you, for now, is that's it's a floral.  It will also be done in a different way, at least the tracing part - it's so one thing can be in two places at once.
  It looks like I'll be able to walk this morning, if I get an early start (3:00-3:30) I can get my distance in, or at least the first three miles.  Yesterday was a total washout, it rained until afternoon and by then I'm not in the mood to walk.
  No, I'm still not to fond of this project - more house, less land.  Why didn't I think of that before I started?

Almost there......really?

What do you think? - click to enlarge

  I don't know, do you?  I found that I had a brush already the would do a decent job on grass, but I can decide if the color is okay.  I'll have to take some time and think about it.  Also, I'm open to suggestions (in the comment section).
  I have in mind my next project, and I have started to collect what I need for that one, a sick mind never stops.
  It's still early here, 2:20am, and I've already been up an hour.  Now, if it were daylight I could paint; I just can't do it in the dark.  Then again I don't know if I've ever really tried to paint while it was dark, I mean I'm indoors.  Well, I won't find out today - it's breakfast and a little walking, oh..five or six miles done in halves with a coffee break in the middle.
  Always looking for ideas, and the comment section is almost always blank.

Day six

  I took a long time to add some of the grass, one flick at a time, I could be at this for weeks!  Of course I had to take time to do other stuff too.  I have an idea of how I may be able to speed up the process but I'll have to try it to find out.

Kind of ugly close up isn't it?

  On this enlargement you can see what one flick at a time looks like.  I use my liner brush and kind of flick it tip upward.

  I'm using the brush with the darker handle, it has long bristles but not very many of them.  I'm thinking about using the bottom brush in a manner that may make the work easier.

  Today is the first full day of summer, it reached 91 here in Levant and we had 15 hours and about 40 minutes of daylight.  Conversely Drake North Dakota had just over 16 hours of daylight; you see Drake is 3.4025 degrees further north than Levant, just look at how much difference that makes.  When I spent the summer in Iceland there was over 23 hours of daylight on the longest day.

....and on the fifth day, not so much

After 5 days. It helps to click to enlarge

  Well I darkened the first floor to bring out the white porch posts and rails, with a touch up to the window and door trim, and added a door knob.  That door leaves a lot to be desired doesn't it?
  My wife, Linda, is still in the hospital but she is able to walk a little with the Physical Therapist and may be home tomorrow.  A visiting nurse will come in once in a while and she will be going to PT in Bangor, the one I have been to, good people there.
  So, that's it for today, I have a lot to do before she comes home; but, I have done laundry, dishes and all that.  I'll also try to spend some time on the 'project', the temps are supposed to rise here today into the 90 degree range, I don't like that, in fact I complain about the heat when it gets to 54!

More work is done, more needed

Click to enlarge, if you dare

  In between trips to town I was able to get work done while waiting for the phone to ring.  I worked on the roof, added some trees, and started on the main part of the house, it needs to be a little darker.
  My wife went in to intake at 6:00AM, the surgery was scheduled for 8:15AM, the doctor called me at noon to let me know all was well and that she was in the Recovery Room.  My wife called about an hour later to let me know she was in a regular hospital room.  I took in the stuff she had pre-packed (she knows how hard it is for me to find things), and stayed with her for a little while.  She does not like people around or phone calls while she is on the mend.
  I sent emails to family and some of her friends to let them know how she was doing.
So even though I didn't do too much physically, I was busy waiting.  I do not like waiting, or running around looking for people - maybe I'm impatient.
  I am planning to walk a little, go to coffee run a couple of errands and work around the house and on the 'project' today.

Back to work, again

  I was able to do some work on the "house project", walk nearly five miles, and pay attention to the afternoon Red Sox game and the U S Open and take my wife down to Bangor to sign just one more paper.  Today I have Hollie, we switched weekends, so the morning is gone and I may be able to do some more in the afternoon.
  This time I work on the 'lawn', windows and porch roof, and part of the area above the porch roof.
Looks a little shaky to me, but it's early yet and I may be able to save it.

Save it? SAVE IT??? No wonder your nose is growing!