It is a beautiful Day ,when,I make a mess!!

I woke this AM early as usual ,the Sun coming in the window, knowing that is was going to be a dry ,great Day. Yesterday I started an oil painting, one of a couple I would like to finish for the Port Medway show July 16 th, It's theme is Lighthouses, and we do have a few of them here in the Maritimes. Here is the start of my first. Far from done and with all that has been going on here today, read below, I can only hope to be tied to my Easel for a couple days to maybe keep me out of trouble. You know how sometimes you just have one of those days? Well, today was one of those days.

Now, to me and my day, as I was saying I woke all excited about the weather, and the work which still needs done outside. the other day we scraped and painted one side of the house and today we worked on the other side inside the fence along our lovely deck which was built with the best of treated lumber and only four years old, have I mentioned in the past ,how we Love our little home and have great pride in keeping it looking just so, well long story short , we now will have a sun flower painted on our somewhat new deck, I ,bad me was walking by the table with the gallon of enamel paint on it, I was carrying a chair moving it off the deck to make room to work,well yes I bet you have already read between these simple lines, as I quickly picked up the can which was half empty by this time on the floor of the deck, just seconds down. I then rushed to the shop to see what I could find to scoop as much up as I could , I knew right away that i would have to do something creative to incorporate this little problem into the look of my "La Boo Hoo , beautiful deck". So I grabbed a large crack filling pallet knife and scooped the paint as carefully as I could down the deck cracks and then took a brush and tried to make an outline of a flower and when it dries ,which could be a couple days I will have to try and make it look like a flower with other colors added but white... ..OK..you would think that would have been enough for one day, right? nope, not so, my hands of course were very sticky from cleaning up this enamel paint mess , so I cleaned them and was washing in the kitchen sink with the water running ,after shutting the water off I could still hear water running, well Chuck has been twice now back to Home Hardware for plumbing parts because we have a bad leak, it looks like something may have bumped into the under sink plumbing and broke something, me not being a Plumber and staying away from Mr. Fix it for the next hour or so, I believe it is a broken pipe. So!!!!! I am not really a superstitious Person ,I say really because , counting the thin cookies the other day, today's little events makes three!!! Did I mention that I am married to a wonderful!!! Man? well I am, although, I saw him hanging on the edge at one point under the Kitchen sink, now he had to run to H.H again for something else, so I will hide here in my computer closet and if ye all never see me again? It has been nice and look for me in the back yard somewhere, because that would mean number three is yet to hit, but ,no!!! I will be positive and for see a beautiful unique painted flower on my deck, gee, maybe I might have to paint more? Funny you know I took a picture of my little accident and tried to find it to upload to show you and be darned , I couldn't find it, so I guess you will have to wait to see the finished flower. It looks like we may have showers again soon, so I will plant my butt at my easel and work on this painting above again and hopefully get another done soon as well. I will go easy on myself regarding my little spill, although I would kick myself in the a** if I could.

"Murphy's Law" be prepared!!! always!!!make Lemon aid when given a Lemon :-)

Latest Project finished!!!

Here we have pictures of my latest two projects, The Boot Birdhouses hanging on the house, something I have been working on for sometime ,searching for and finding interesting Boots to make Homes for my Feathered Friend's, selling for $25. each .Also above is my baking Project, you have got to be kidding me :-( "Thimble Cookies" which I once upon a time could make blind folded and with one arm tied behind my back. Well, these poor excuses for cookies were to be sold to help raise money for our Local SPCA bake sale, instead they were used in our bellies with Tea and for cookies that look so bad, my goodness ,they were tasty.Now I must find the time to do a painting to donate to the SPCA to make up for my thin cookies. My excuse for these sad looking things is as follows" we are trying to eat healthy and it has been a long while since I have baked anything and must have lost my touch. That is my story and I am sticking to it. I just thought of another excuse, the same one I use when I don't want to cook, I say because of my operation, two aneurysm's in my brain in 2001, my memory regarding cooking has flown the coop ,so to speak and sometimes I just come up with a blank when standing in front of a stove. Poor Chuck ,ha ...in so many ways living with me, his hip is still bad and he has been taking it easy, well this past weekend it was so nice and I wanted to open up the doors and play music but he was not up for it, so I was banished to the deck and then into my birdhouse, by myself to march to the beat of my own drum. Maybe I am becoming a crazy old Lady, what is it they say? if the shoe fits ,wear it? Speaking of shoe and wearing it, today at our Local Frenchy's 2nd hand shop I found a brand new pair of woman's Converse "Chuck Taylor " sneakers, and they fit!!! We have for years joked about owning "Chuck Taylor's" the fact I am married to "Chuck Taylor" so now I have a pair,I was considering selling them but believe for what I may get for them,I might as well enjoy wearing them.

I need to run off and get some work done, I have a commission but no rush on it yet, although as I always say, get it done and out of the way. I am considering doing an Art Show I was approached to do, I say considering because I have a full plate these days and it seems to be getting to over flow and our Veg. Garden is no wheres ready for planting, so much to do ,I may have to stay up later and work into the evenings, not like the Winter Months when TV was so boring, and bed called our names early,Summer we can enjoy cool evenings and get stuff done, so I say :-) Oh one last thing before I leave ,this past weekend, I had folk's drop in from Australia , how nice ,I have pretty well had People from all over the Globe drop by since we have been here 4 years ,but these were my first "Aussie's". They signed my Guest Book and wrote" We had to see Liverpool" I told them I was going to mention them...so if you Folk's read this, I wish you a wonderful visit on our Shores may you enjoy great times and have Memories so special that you one day will return. Look me up, God willing ,I will be here. Which reminds me of some of the Lovely People I met other years. Thinking of you all.

Here and Busy

Chris and Margo May 2011..

Wow!!! take time and write something my head tells me, I need a lap top so I can type where ever I am instead of tethered in my closet computer room. It is a cozy spot in Winter and somewhat a cramped spot in fine weather. I have been dodging rain ,trying to work outside ,the house needs scraped and painted but we need at least 4 dry days before we tackle that job and I would rather not scrap and have it look so shabby while I wait on the dry weather.

So in between everyday work I have offered to help my friend gather props for an upcoming play during Privateer Days,"For Riches and Honor" here in Liverpool June 30 and July 1,2 .I just happen to have most of what was needed in props, having already played the real part as "Sutler's" in the Kings Orange Rangers in the past, we ,over the years have had so much fun dressing up so I hopped on board and offered my person as well as one of the back ground Men in the Tavern.. :-) we have been making cheese wheels ,daggers, Sexton etc. props and are having fun creating something other then product to sell. I supplied our Local gift shop with what I had ready for the consignment Season. My Home Gallery is somewhat empty, of smaller product.

I have a few bigger Boat piece paintings here at home and any canvases I have ,not wanting to put any canvas paintings hanging so close to the open Ocean at Fort Point, so anyone interested in dropping by my home Gallery just let me know, debchuck@eastlink.ca my hope this Summer is to get out more painting on site or away enjoying the great outdoors taking photos for Winter work. It has been a couple years since I have updated my painting photos and have new budding ideas floating around in my head, plans in the making.So if you drop by and I am not here I will leave a pad and pen, drop me a line and come by again if you can.

Our Dear friends from Vermont are on their way this Thurs. William and Patricia Long- Hays...The artists Loft Liverpool ..check him out if around this Summer .I always look forward to seeing them, Summer then has begun, once they land in Town, and other friend's are soon to arrive to their little pieces of Heaven here on and around our shores, I assume you all out there know just how wonderful our White Sand Beaches are? If not, by all means ,do yourselves a favor and come on by and take your shoes off and stroll along our fine sands. Today I had a new friend from last Summer drop by, I love how and when that happens, she came by last year by chance and ended up commissioning me to do a painting for her to give to her Husband, from our talking ,come to find out we are almost related in a way by the fact her Aunt by Marriage was a part of my life from a very small Child. A small World indeed, a very small World, we live in. The pictures here are of our friend's who ride and enjoy their Harley Motor Cycles, they dropped by for a spell the other evening ,while out riding in great weather which has finally come our way.

Something new for Liverpool area this Summer ,our friend Heather Kelly has a Fish and chip truck called "Chippy Chippy Bang Bang " English Chip wagon and even though I have not yet had my order,I have heard nothing but good about her new Adventure ,she offers a good Menu and good prices. I will be taking the camera with me when we visit her and will share pictures . Good Luck Heather on your new endeavors.

Rain and more rain..

The rain we have been having of late is relentless,try as hard as one might, the past four or five days of oh so many it has been hard to find a bright side . I rode my bike everyday but those torrential rain days or moments which there were many. But, on a lighter note the past two days have been just wonderful, being any dry day is a great day. I have been lucky compared to many,I only had sun flower seeds in the ground and could just poke them back into their holes and wish for the best after the rains. The flowers are looking good,and the grass is growing like wild fire. The mould on my feet is disappearing and my gills which have stopped growing at least for the next couple days ,may start growing again by Saturday.
Regular work has been done ,painting and getting Summer product ready for Fort Point as well as collecting up our Pirate and reenactment articles to lend to our local Theatre group for an up coming play which will be held this Privateer Days July 1 -4 2011 right here in Liverpool. Since the end of the days when there would be a Period wedding held Privateer Days ,being actual real couples marrying so clothing had to be made to suit etc. etc. this play offers to be a good idea and may make a few dollars for both the WOC and Privateer Days towards future festivities. Chuck and I have been collecting costumes since our Lunenburg days ,when we left Charleston I gave away or sold most of our costumes and had to let go of a 3 story barn full of stuff to build just about anything from. This home and property is small but I can still come up with everything I am looking for, amazing how that happens, I love it, so since I was given the list of what was needed for this particular play which is right up our ally because we were members of the Kings Orange Rangers and attempted to sleep in the encampment on our not stuffed enough straw mattress. Laughing the whole time because that is just about how we did really live once way back when we first got together, so now we dress up but sleeping on straw we will leave to Cattle and the rest of the troops. So a lot of the props needed I had right here.
This long weekend is an anniversary for Chuck and I , our first weekend date, we went camping at the Ovens Natural Park ,the weather was rain and fog ,we slept in a 2 man pup tent with a Great Dane, yes we did, I doubt it if I could fit by myself in a pup tent let alone with Chuck and Baron these days. We ended up living at the Ovens that Summer and in October we moved into an old abandoned house in Feltzen South, oh if I could only have the opportunity to tell the folks who live there now just what it was like back then.The stories ..oh the many stories. It was a tiny ,sleepy, fishing Port,back then and it is where we inshore fished and realized we did want electricity after all :-) comes in darn handy but nice to know the World will not end if without,and flush toilets...WOW!!!I really like them.But I am still a 17 th Century girl in so many ways.That's just me,what you see is what you get.
Remember ,I mentioned before, I have been working on this surprise painting for a certain retirement ,it is coming along fine, a few have seen it but I still can't share it here with you . My Children's Book ,I am thinking on the font, then my plan ,that is if I can make a few bucks within the next couple Months is to have a number of books made at our Local Vienots Print . It may not become a best seller, but I sure do hope it puts a smile on a few faces.Wish me luck.
Needle felting has been on the back burner and I need to get some done. Thing is this time of year I find myself even on nasty days wanting to get outside to work, so much to do and so little time with dodging showers, I catch myself sitting in my studio spinning in my chair ,day dreaming while looking out the deck door .Watching my little birds and Crows collecting twigs for their nests .Me,smelling the flowers you might say through the glass.
I forgot, during this bad rain I found enough dry time to get out and make a step for our new Bird's nest ,our neighbor gave us a huge cutting of tree trunk, we were thinking table top but never did get around to cutting it in two so I dug down in front of my Bird House covered the ground with garden tarp and placed this piece of wood in and filled in all around it. It works great and I will share a picture of it here hopefully tomorrow, it has been raining and I didn't have the opportunity to take a picture yet, again I saved money by using what I had here. Good for me :-)
Off I go ,tomorrow they say may be nice. Up date on our weather this morning, Friday 20th..looks like rain and Thunder showers...I am sad to say :-(

Saturday morning update...the rain stopped and Friday was wonderful ,I played music and sang on my deck then when the fog started to come in,I moved to the Bird house to hang out and here is a picture of my favorite Little girl in all this big World. Miss Indigo Mariposa my Great Niece ,daughter of my niece Kim and granddaughter of my Sister Linda. Here we are with our Diva Laura, everyone Loves the Birdhouse, it is simply just too cozy.The other photo is of the step I put in, a very interesting chunk of tree trunk.

A busy Spring Bee

Here is an update on the "Birds nest in the Birdhouse"

the top pictures are of the finished nest and just built.

You can see in one of the shots how I wall papered with maps and the floor is done with the cushion floor samples .So far this project has cost me nothing,but my time.Tomorrow I do have to buy a hook or two and a couple handles ,the old handles on the door are so old the screws are stripped, they should be raised a bit ,so I will leave the old on and add two new. I said come hell or high water and with all the rain we had this past five or so days it was a bit of high water, I was determined to finish this little building so I could then get into the empty old Bunkhouse and make some sense of the exercise equipment in there and somehow put my workshop as well as Chuck's shop back into working condition,you can barley walk in them for the Winter mess.

I have finished just about all I can do inside, ready for slumber ,very cozy indeed ,even during these past couple days when the wind and air feel like snow .

I hung the door this morning and had to be creative because it was a bit too small, Chuck was in the house ,he knew I was up to something and when he saw the finished result, well,he was proud ,he taught me well over the years, as well I have done a lot of talking to myself and figuring things out on my own many times.Sometimes working,sometimes ,not! My gardens are crying for attention,bulbs to plant but I am holding out for warmer weather on those projects. I need to build a step of some kind just outside the door, I am thinking of patio stones, I have a mould to make my own ,but ,yes I would have to mix cement...Hmmmm,am I up to that? Maybe...in the somewhat near future,I will see.

I have been ,as the saying goes"As busy as a Bee" I need more arms, it lately feels like I have a paint brush in one hand ,working on a painting I just simply want to do ,not for sale but for fun, more on that later, a surprise for someone and some other's,and in the other hand a hammer. In these photos you can see the day bed in the Gallery that was just finished ,it serves two purposes as does a lot of things here in our cozy ,small home. This serves as a bench in the Gallery or can be pulled out to make a 3/4 bed for company.In front of it you can see one of my mats I painted, this mat has been walked on all Winter, they work well. The other shots are of our bike shed "Bird House" which I am turning into a Summer "Bird house " cottage, for us as well as company. We plan to turn our old Bunkhouse into a gym room, exercise we need and the price we pay and will be paying at the new Gym ,we may be forced to work out at home. I will keep saving my bucks to hopefully join again when I can because of the social part of it, we laugh and time flies when you share a few giggles with great people,who I might add are trying to stay alive as well. I have been much better for the exercise. But today I am oh ,so sore after building this bed in the Bird House yesterday, I made it this high so that I could use the underneath for much needed storage,which as I have said a million times before,we need double duty for everything around here. Chuck put the window in the back for me, this window was taken from our old porch here in the house. As always I have built this bed from recycled materials, I insulated the walls with wine box cardboard and am covering them with a roll of wall paper I found and National Geographic maps ,the floor is covered with cushion floor samples I was given,they make a great floor for what I need and cover up any drafts .This little place I plan to make very cozy ,of course it would be raining today so my plans to go out and work in my new space is totally out of the question on this dreary Sunday. My plan was to build two steps on either ends of the bed today and again with double duty,steps to get up to the bed and blanket storage inside.I tried going out to work and my fingers got way too cold this morning. So I am taking a moment to type down a few words as to what I have been up to ,this past while.

This painting I am talking about that I am working on and should be adding some paint to it again today later ,while watching a movie ,is special in the way I really am doing it more for fun then anything else. I don't want a certain person to see it before it is finished so I can't share it with you here yet,but will later on . I was given many tree fungi's lately .Growths on the sides of Trees, I have painted on a few in the past and they are hard to find. My friend's bought an old property way back a dirt road ,this place was used as a hunting camp for years and they found all of these fungi's in the house ,they are all written on regarding who and how many Deer over the years folk's shot while using this place. They must have gotten these from some pretty big old trees over the years for some are a very good size ,bigger then I have ever seen before. They gave them to me in exchange for me painting on one for them . I hope to get at least a couple done soon for the Summer Season . There is a lot of prep work to be done to get them ready for painting ,I have to seal the fronts and cover up the writing on them,then they will be ready to dive into then to be varnished when finished.

On a sad note before I leave you today. This past two weeks this Town has been mourning ,at first searching for a missing Woman to just recently find her murdered. Everyone is in an uproar as well as heart broken at this news. we wish her family and friend's all the strength we can give them at this very sad and scary time. Our wish for a better World,where people respect one another, where ,like when we were Children a person could walk alone at night, when an argument was just that ,an argument not like what we see these days on the news,violence with deadly outcomes.

Another Easter Bunny Gig

Yes,another Bunny Gig..I thought I was getting too old for these things and yes it does tire me way more then in past years but I always find myself drawn to dressing up in whatever the occasion suggests and I do have a way of including those who Love me into joining in. This year Chuck could only go so long, next year I may have to find myself a new partner in dress up crime, or to everyones surprise he may do as I do and can't resist in having a few laughs by dressing up.I believe that just may be the case ,in his case,for I know for sure he has fun if only for a little while. Years ago I dressed Clay as a Rabbit in exchange for buying him a new ball glove, was I a bad Mommy? I hope not, he learned a lot that day. Back in Charleston when I was face Painting at all the local festivals and markets I also would offer my services and my many costumes for store openings ,special promotions etc. one time I was dressed as a "Candy Kiss" you know the little silver Choc. treat with the twist top, well picture how flattering that costume was, I will admit ,I had a lot of fun that day, made a few bucks and lots of new acquaintance and friend's. Most of my photos are from back before digital so sometime when I have a moment or two I will scan and share. Here are a few from years past as well as this years with my friend Sabine and Chuck and I with our young friend Michael ,who is a Dear, that is a smile on his face..he isn't scared.This years gig was volunteering at a local Church fundraiser doing pictures and ice cream with Mr. and Mrs. E .Bunny. So off with the ears for another year. Living now in a much smaller house then in Charleston I have had to let a lot of my costumes go,given to those who I know would use them,only to keep my favorites and I am having a time finding a place for them to be stored.

Here is a shot of a commission I just finished ,done on an interesting boat part. I love it when I find these special pieces to paint on,they are getting fewer and more far between as well we are getting older and the Beach combing or I should say in the case of some of my greater pieces were found along the rocky coast line and not so easy to get back to the car,oh, I so remember all our adventures over the years ,exploring many coast lines one being Little Tancook Island and other surrounding Islands,our friend's who are from there ,born and bred would pile us four into his boat, towing behind ,a dingy which ended up full of all our treasure pieces as well as our friend Patty's special rocks she would take from one Island to her home Island, Patty liked her rocks, we often would laugh and say if we needed the dingy to save our lives ,would or could we give up my boat pieces and her rocks? Happy to say we never had to make that choice. Our friend Gary is a very magical person when it came to Sea birds and he would often come across baby Gulls and stop to pet them, and let us hold them ,so beautiful , he had a way with wild ducks as well,Clay ,our son ,loved that about Gary. Another spot where I found boat pieces was up and around Shag Harbor,at times I would meet fishermen and when they would hear what I was looking for they would tell me how they burned so many old wreaks and I would be sick at the thought of that,for at the time ,these pieces were worth money to me. The same with old wooden Buoys ,today you see very few . I am fortunate to have many and some that are at least three feet high, these will be made into lamps ,I have one smaller one at the moment and another mounted on driftwood ,see above but the plan is to have a few more ,various sizes by Summer season. This will be a project for Chuck, poor Chuck ,retirement during Summer Season , does not exist for him if I have anything to do with it. I was given a lot of old dry tree fungi's ,you see them on some trees and to find good sized ones is next to impossible ,these are very old and some are very large.I am doing a painting in exchange for these and I am excited to get a few painted as soon as I can. It is so difficult this time of year ,there is so much to do outside, I need to try and find time to get all that I need and want to get done,without burning myself and my wick from both ends. We had company from B.C and she and I stayed up way too late Thursday evening, I missed the gym on Friday and I do notice it, I have been on my bike these past days but I see bed calling me early tonight with a good sleep and awake to some good exercise and a fresh first of the week work plan.

Whats its all about?

It's about boredom!!! I seldom am bored but today after our bad rain and wind storm yesterday,I am just that. There is paint on the canvas drying, smaller acrylic paintings are waiting for me to start for our Tourist Season, but with all the shops closing around us these past weeks here in our small town, it does put a damper on my usual up beat attitude. This time of year I am usually working on smaller stick in your suitcase type paintings for our local little craft shops. Instead I find myself wanting to explore different directions and work outside my norm. Not excited about the Tourism Season like other years, thinking it might be slow with all that is happening in the World, Japan, our Election ,all of this .Past years we would right now be getting ready for the Seasonal markets and Craft Shows. Always on the road ,always lugging heavy Box's and trying in between shows to think of easier and faster set ups. I would always joke with the other crafts people tearing down after a long not always so successful weekend of selling about how we all should be thinking of a feather product instead of heavy boat pieces like myself or even our friends who have painted rocks. Jewelry was always on my mind for a nice light easy set up product, but I would be my own best costumer :-)The shows back when we started doing them in the late 70's were much different then shows today, the price for one thing was much lower. It was allways busy with bodies and you could hear a buzz of voices .Four day shows we found to be a long haul and Fridays being so slow most times for all. I can remember ,a few of those last shows we did, the Arena was empty at times and all 250 of us (sellers )were doing ,"The Crafter's stroll" this became our name for what we did on a low or no costumer day as we walked around chit chatting with the other's. There were a few of these days in those later years. Don't get me wrong ,there are still Markets and Shows but the good old days are gone and I am slowing down myself regarding that part of my life. Again ,I am not going anywhere ,but will be taking more time to head for sand and surf this Summer as well as a nice cool river to play in and enjoy in the Months to come,while sketching and photographing on location in preparation for the next cold winter days work ahead. My plan is to have a note pad near the front door here this Summer and if anyone drops by to see any paintings and I am not here and they can come back ,please leave a message as to when you can return and I will call you when I return. Today it is hard to even think of a bicycle picnic or a dip in the River when you step outside. Just the other day I was working outside in shirt sleeves, cleaning up all the Belle Puppy mess from over the Winter.It is Spring and my Crocus heads have popped out but today I am hoping they have little coats for it would freeze the *****off a brass monkey out there.:-) Yesterday, during all that rain we had, some had snow,some had both,we had a leak in our living room ceiling. Our Diva dog friend Laura was here , she was laying on the sofa when all of a sudden she looks up ,there was water dripping on her head. Furniture needed to be moved and try and find a place to move the furniture in this small of a house to make room for buckets to catch drips. We investigated this morning and sure enough it is coming from the roof area where we do see we need to re shingle this Summer. At one point yesterday we thought the water could possibly be coming from a cast iron pipe which can be seen in an upstairs crawl space in the bathroom. Happy to say , it looks like we don't need a plumber after all, only a roofer, and when that day comes you will see Chuck and I on cleanup duty while our Dear friend and our Son rescue us with their abilities as well as any other kind able bodied soul out there who would be sweet enough to help. Us not being the little work pigs we use to be.We will though,get the job done.

Actually I am so looking forward to nice weather and getting our drums out on the deck on a warm day. Thank goodness we start and finish early these days when we drum,living in town ,playing drums late into the night outside may not be something the neighbors would enjoy :-) one day Chuck ran into someone at the Post Office and they asked if he was the person who played the drums up on our street? He said yes, waiting to be told something not so nice, well ,this person said he lived on the street behind us and that he and his wife loved our music, well gee, maybe we found some new drummers to join in, we could get kicked out of town yet:-) Maybe I will bang on a drum for awhile today still..that will kill time while paint is drying. I am working on what I titled "Summer Garden" I will share here,when it's done.