Loading Selected Work...
Menu

{Music Monday} Autumn harvest…

The Autumn months are here now and it’s time to break out the Neil Young Harvest Moon cd. I don’t just listen to this album in the Fall, but it just seems to compliment the season well. We actually have two copies of it because Chris & both had one when we met. It’s the ultimate art studio music and has been a favorite for years. Neil has a new release out now along with a mini movie about the making of his album- both collaborations with the great Daniel Lanois. Neil is a true classic and continues to put his heart & soul into everything he does which is why so many people love not only his music, but him as well. Happy Music Monday

Corn mazes, tractors, & apples… oh my!

Today Sayer and I celebrated a local event, Festival of Family Farms, by visiting Gordon’s Skagit Farms– one of my favorite places in the valley. I picked out my pumpkins in Gordon’s pumpkin patch every year growing up. I even found a double pumpkin when I was in 5th grade if that gives you any idea of how magical a place it is. I took the first college painting class that I taught, on a field trip there to paint on location. So, I really enjoy taking Sayer to Gordon’s when I have the opportunity.


I learned that Sayer is really good at finding his way through a corn maze. He is like a little GPS. It was awesome to watch him cruise through the mazes. There were also lots of carts to fill with either apples or pumpkins. We just used it to ride around in & push- we’re going to get our pumpkins a little later…

But really what we spent most of our time doing, was going from one tractor to another. Sayer can’t get enough of sitting and pretending to drive so he was in heaven. There were 4 different tractors scattered about – every vintage. 

Every now and then, we needed to let someone else get on the tractors. Which gave us a perfect opportunity to go visit the chickens.

After the last tractor ride, Sayer picked out some apples & some cider before we headed home. It was a nice way to say hello to October! What did you do this weekend?

Corn mazes, tractors, & apples… oh my!

Today Sayer and I celebrated a local event, Festival of Family Farms, by visiting Gordon’s Skagit Farms– one of my favorite places in the valley. I picked out my pumpkins in Gordon’s pumpkin patch every year growing up. I even found a double pumpkin when I was in 5th grade if that gives you any idea of how magical a place it is. I took the first college painting class that I taught, on a field trip there to paint on location. So, I really enjoy taking Sayer to Gordon’s when I have the opportunity.


I learned that Sayer is really good at finding his way through a corn maze. He is like a little GPS. It was awesome to watch him cruise through the mazes. There were also lots of carts to fill with either apples or pumpkins. We just used it to ride around in & push- we’re going to get our pumpkins a little later…

But really what we spent most of our time doing, was going from one tractor to another. Sayer can’t get enough of sitting and pretending to drive so he was in heaven. There were 4 different tractors scattered about – every vintage. 

Every now and then, we needed to let someone else get on the tractors. Which gave us a perfect opportunity to go visit the chickens.

After the last tractor ride, Sayer picked out some apples & some cider before we headed home. It was a nice way to say hello to October! What did you do this weekend?

Corn mazes, tractors, & apples… oh my!

Today Sayer and I celebrated a local event, Festival of Family Farms, by visiting Gordon’s Skagit Farms– one of my favorite places in the valley. I picked out my pumpkins in Gordon’s pumpkin patch every year growing up. I even found a double pumpkin when I was in 5th grade if that gives you any idea of how magical a place it is. I took the first college painting class that I taught, on a field trip there to paint on location. So, I really enjoy taking Sayer to Gordon’s when I have the opportunity.


I learned that Sayer is really good at finding his way through a corn maze. He is like a little GPS. It was awesome to watch him cruise through the mazes. There were also lots of carts to fill with either apples or pumpkins. We just used it to ride around in & push- we’re going to get our pumpkins a little later…

But really what we spent most of our time doing, was going from one tractor to another. Sayer can’t get enough of sitting and pretending to drive so he was in heaven. There were 4 different tractors scattered about – every vintage. 

Every now and then, we needed to let someone else get on the tractors. Which gave us a perfect opportunity to go visit the chickens.

After the last tractor ride, Sayer picked out some apples & some cider before we headed home. It was a nice way to say hello to October! What did you do this weekend?

Where Is Here?

I was recently asked by someone who was doing a blog feature on artists in this area,  to take a picture of myself in a favorite northwest spot. You may remember me mentioning in a previous post that I tend to shy away from the camera and the idea of having my picture taken sometimes makes me anxious. But, it sounded like a fun project so I agreed to go along with it. Besides, I am meeting so many wonderful people via the web, that it is a great opportunity to share where “here” is. In order to get this picture however, I needed Chris’ help (the camera timer can only do so much). Our schedules are a bit crazy these days & Chris started teaching at the college yesterday. Which means our window of opportunity to get some photos before my deadline was very slim. Yesterday had to be the day – after class, and on the way to pick up Sayer from my parents’ house, that the pictures would be taken. 

True to the reputation of this area, we have been experiencing a lot of rain lately and yesterday there was a downpour! Being that this was the only time to take pictures, I was a little concerned. However, I did want the pictures to be authentic so when Chris got home we just headed out – I grabbed a hat and that was that. One thing about the weather here, is that there are little sun breaks now and then. I have learned that it is better to go with the flow and work with the weather, rather than fight it. So we did and it was a lot of fun. We started on riverfront in downtown Mount Vernon (where the farmer’s market is), then took the backroads, all the way to La Conner. We stopped when we saw something we liked. 

I have cruised these same backroads since I first got my driver’s license. They are peaceful and picturesque. As much as I moan about living in my home town now- I never tire of the scenery. Chris and I both love old barns and have always dreamed of renovating one to live in. There are so many cool ones scattered throughout Mount Vernon. This is just one of them that I made Chris stop for yesterday. 

As we got closer to La Conner, we had to make another stop – for a family of deer. We were in one of my favorite Mount Vernon areas and not too far from a place I used to work in high school (a little pottery studio that is no longer there). 
So, this is where I am from and where I now hang my hat. I have to say, I am at peace with being here finally. I have fought it over the years, but having my own family and seeing it through their eyes gives me a whole new perspective. Having lived other places, I do now realize how beautiful it is in Mount Vernon.  And seriously, how many places can you see a peacock cross the road on your way home?

Where Is Here?

I was recently asked by someone who was doing a blog feature on artists in this area,  to take a picture of myself in a favorite northwest spot. You may remember me mentioning in a previous post that I tend to shy away from the camera and the idea of having my picture taken sometimes makes me anxious. But, it sounded like a fun project so I agreed to go along with it. Besides, I am meeting so many wonderful people via the web, that it is a great opportunity to share where “here” is. In order to get this picture however, I needed Chris’ help (the camera timer can only do so much). Our schedules are a bit crazy these days & Chris started teaching at the college yesterday. Which means our window of opportunity to get some photos before my deadline was very slim. Yesterday had to be the day – after class, and on the way to pick up Sayer from my parents’ house, that the pictures would be taken. 

True to the reputation of this area, we have been experiencing a lot of rain lately and yesterday there was a downpour! Being that this was the only time to take pictures, I was a little concerned. However, I did want the pictures to be authentic so when Chris got home we just headed out – I grabbed a hat and that was that. One thing about the weather here, is that there are little sun breaks now and then. I have learned that it is better to go with the flow and work with the weather, rather than fight it. So we did and it was a lot of fun. We started on riverfront in downtown Mount Vernon (where the farmer’s market is), then took the backroads, all the way to La Conner. We stopped when we saw something we liked. 

I have cruised these same backroads since I first got my driver’s license. They are peaceful and picturesque. As much as I moan about living in my home town now- I never tire of the scenery. Chris and I both love old barns and have always dreamed of renovating one to live in. There are so many cool ones scattered throughout Mount Vernon. This is just one of them that I made Chris stop for yesterday. 

As we got closer to La Conner, we had to make another stop – for a family of deer. We were in one of my favorite Mount Vernon areas and not too far from a place I used to work in high school (a little pottery studio that is no longer there). 
So, this is where I am from and where I now hang my hat. I have to say, I am at peace with being here finally. I have fought it over the years, but having my own family and seeing it through their eyes gives me a whole new perspective. Having lived other places, I do now realize how beautiful it is in Mount Vernon.  And seriously, how many places can you see a peacock cross the road on your way home?

Where Is Here?

I was recently asked by someone who was doing a blog feature on artists in this area,  to take a picture of myself in a favorite northwest spot. You may remember me mentioning in a previous post that I tend to shy away from the camera and the idea of having my picture taken sometimes makes me anxious. But, it sounded like a fun project so I agreed to go along with it. Besides, I am meeting so many wonderful people via the web, that it is a great opportunity to share where “here” is. In order to get this picture however, I needed Chris’ help (the camera timer can only do so much). Our schedules are a bit crazy these days & Chris started teaching at the college yesterday. Which means our window of opportunity to get some photos before my deadline was very slim. Yesterday had to be the day – after class, and on the way to pick up Sayer from my parents’ house, that the pictures would be taken. 

True to the reputation of this area, we have been experiencing a lot of rain lately and yesterday there was a downpour! Being that this was the only time to take pictures, I was a little concerned. However, I did want the pictures to be authentic so when Chris got home we just headed out – I grabbed a hat and that was that. One thing about the weather here, is that there are little sun breaks now and then. I have learned that it is better to go with the flow and work with the weather, rather than fight it. So we did and it was a lot of fun. We started on riverfront in downtown Mount Vernon (where the farmer’s market is), then took the backroads, all the way to La Conner. We stopped when we saw something we liked. 

I have cruised these same backroads since I first got my driver’s license. They are peaceful and picturesque. As much as I moan about living in my home town now- I never tire of the scenery. Chris and I both love old barns and have always dreamed of renovating one to live in. There are so many cool ones scattered throughout Mount Vernon. This is just one of them that I made Chris stop for yesterday. 

As we got closer to La Conner, we had to make another stop – for a family of deer. We were in one of my favorite Mount Vernon areas and not too far from a place I used to work in high school (a little pottery studio that is no longer there). 
So, this is where I am from and where I now hang my hat. I have to say, I am at peace with being here finally. I have fought it over the years, but having my own family and seeing it through their eyes gives me a whole new perspective. Having lived other places, I do now realize how beautiful it is in Mount Vernon.  And seriously, how many places can you see a peacock cross the road on your way home?

{Everyday Inspiration} small town snaps…

I have been a little obsessed with American Pickers lately and the idea of finding treasures or inspiration among junk has always appealed to me. You may recall the post last week about my “flash back” family vacation in a town that was a nostalgic time warp. Well, I sort of went a little nuts with the ShakeItPhoto app for my iphone throughout the weekend. There was a vintage car show going on, so that just gave me more to snap.  These are my favorite photos (or American picks) that I took from an afternoon walk one of the days. Sort of funny, but when I showed these to Chris, he told me that we had a polaroid camera like the one I photographed. He surfaced from the basement on Friday night with the polaroid camera, his mothers old Cannon camera, and a cool, vintage camera bag that he found….

{Everyday Inspiration} small town snaps…

I have been a little obsessed with American Pickers lately and the idea of finding treasures or inspiration among junk has always appealed to me. You may recall the post last week about my “flash back” family vacation in a town that was a nostalgic time warp. Well, I sort of went a little nuts with the ShakeItPhoto app for my iphone throughout the weekend. There was a vintage car show going on, so that just gave me more to snap.  These are my favorite photos (or American picks) that I took from an afternoon walk one of the days. Sort of funny, but when I showed these to Chris, he told me that we had a polaroid camera like the one I photographed. He surfaced from the basement on Friday night with the polaroid camera, his mothers old Cannon camera, and a cool, vintage camera bag that he found….

{Everyday Inspiration} small town snaps…

I have been a little obsessed with American Pickers lately and the idea of finding treasures or inspiration among junk has always appealed to me. You may recall the post last week about my “flash back” family vacation in a town that was a nostalgic time warp. Well, I sort of went a little nuts with the ShakeItPhoto app for my iphone throughout the weekend. There was a vintage car show going on, so that just gave me more to snap.  These are my favorite photos (or American picks) that I took from an afternoon walk one of the days. Sort of funny, but when I showed these to Chris, he told me that we had a polaroid camera like the one I photographed. He surfaced from the basement on Friday night with the polaroid camera, his mothers old Cannon camera, and a cool, vintage camera bag that he found….