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Road Trip-I’m moving here…

19-Jun-09
New Home Sweet Home

Well dear readers…I’m movin’ to Colorado!

I’ve mentioned in previous posts that a lot of changes have been going on in my life in the last twelve months. They’ve all culminated in moving myself and my ailing mom out here to be close to my brother and his family. I’ve been here three weeks and it took me pretty much all of that time to decide. Why you ask?

Well, let’s just say I’ve not been a “world traveler” in my life. In fact I’ve lived in the same county in Georgia for all fifty-one years of it :-) But that’s ok. It’s just taken me a little while to get used to the idea and now I am.

The good news is I’m gonna have a double Road Trip for 2009! Yep. I’m headin’ back to Georgia Saturday morning to pack up. Then I’ll be headin’ back again in a big ol’ truck! So for you readers the adventure is going to be extended…yippee! More free entertainment!

So, what’s the painting all about there Mr. Don?
This is the view from the porch of the place I’m hoping to rent out here. Trouble is I won’t know if I get to rent it until around the 26th. And I can’t wait ’til then to get packed and moved. So the adventure may turn into a real “trip” if you know what I mean. I may well arrive here with no place to live other than staying with my brother until I find a place. No big deal really. He keeps himself clean.

The painting is of Mt. Sopris and it’s the fourth postcard I’m sending out. This one is going to Denise up in Road Island. I mailed it this morning. I’ve got a few more to do and you know who you are if you’re expecting one. Thanks for being patient. I’ll get ‘em done :-)

So for all you believers out there, keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I travel OK? I would sure appreciate it :-) Even if you don’t find yourself prayin’ much…just send a positive thought to the ol’ Universe on my behalf OK? That’ll work.

Filed in Landmarks, Landscapes, Nature, Postcard Art, Road Trip 2009, Stories, Travel Sketches | Tagged , , , , | Comments (4) »

Road Trip-McClure Pass and Mr. Ben

17-Jun-09
Mr. Ben at McClure Pass Colorado

Somehow I neglected to post this one in the proper order. Welcome to mid-life I reckon.

Anyway…this is in the same general area as the last post, McClure Pass. I had jumped out of the car to snap a photo with the iPhone and Mr. Ben took advantage of the open window to try and figure out why I kept doing that.

Ben has got to wonder about me. I mean I’m always babbling to him about something as we tool down the road…asking him questions…telling him stuff. I imagine for all practical purposes he comprehends what I say pretty much like this:

“Ben? humma na humma na humma na blah blah food humma na humma na water. Blah blah pee pee.”

Just the same, I don’t really care. He LOOKS like he is completely understanding every word I’m saying and in total agreement with the words I put in his mouth. For instance:

“Ben? I’m gonna stop at the next exit and get some food for me and some water for you. And I reckon it would be a gooooood time for us to pee pee. What cha think?”
“OK diddy sounds like a plan to me.”
“Does zat sound like a good plan to you Benny Boy? Say Benny booooooy! Is zat a goooooood plan for the Benny boy!?”
“yeah, yeah, yeah…GOOD plan diddy, GOOD plan!…but I need to poopy too.”
“Ok. I guess you can poopy toooooo…Lord knows all God’s chillin’ gotta poopy sometimes don’t they Benny boooooooy? Yeeeeeeeees all God’s Chillin’ gotta poopy hah ha.”

The entire time this two way conversation is being generated by me…he just looks at me. The screwier I talk and mess with my voice, the more he cocks his head and ears.

So…he either thinks I’m totally nuts or…he is filing away the experience for association to whatever happens next. That’s gotta leave him really wondering what life is all about because the next exit, where the associated actions will take place, is about ten minutes down the road. And he’ll not relate the two…words and actions…unless they are about ten seconds apart. So when he’s with me, and he’s not sleeping, he’s probably wondering “what the HELL is taking place here!”.

Sometimes, just for fun, I just look at Ben while Ben is just looking at me and I don’t say a word. This can go on for quite some time. It teaches me patience…and makes us both fall asleep. Try that if you have insomnia. Works for me.

Considering Ben doesn’t make much noise at all really…occasionally he groans when stretching and only barks at my neighbor Muhammed…he probably thinks I’m a very strange being with all the noise I make with my mouth and all the jumping out of the car to hold a little thing in the air in front of my face for a few seconds. Not to mention making still more noise with my mouth while holding the same little thing to my ear while looking out the window or pacing the floor.

Mr. Ben. All of this nonsense, watching it happen day in and day out, riding around in a Buick for hours and hours for three weeks…and he still loves me and licks me on the nose regularly. Ya just can’t beat that kind of companion. You simply can’t beat it.

Filed in Animals, Landscapes, Nature, Pets, Road Trip 2009, The Book of Ben, Travel Sketches | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0) »

Road Trip-McClure Pass Colorado

15-Jun-09
McClure Pass Colorado

Oh Golly this is gonna be an uncharacteristically fast post! My apologies dear readers.
This is the third postcard I’m sending out and it’s going to Deb up in Ontario Canada. It’s a scene near McClure Pass in the Aspen area of Colorado. It’s right by the highway and just a stunning scene. The painting doesn’t do it justice.

I had a reader, Karen, who asked if I was doing these on the spot…En Plein Aire if you want to get picky about it. And no I’m not unfortunately. I’m shooting some pics from the iPhone and then painting when I get back to the barn where I’m staying. I’m taking artistic license with the lighting since it has been really stormy off and on out here these last two weeks.

Also, this one was done with really thick watercolor…not very diluted…and painted with bristle brushes. Turns out more like an oil painting that way. Just an experiment :-)

Anyway, gotta go…more to come tomorrow!

Filed in Landscapes, Nature, Postcard Art, Road Trip 2009, Sketching and Drawing, Travel Sketches | Tagged , , | Comments (2) »

Road Trip-Red Rock Canyon

13-Jun-09
Red Rock Canyon, Basalt Colorado

This is the second postcard I’m sending out. It’s going to Bronwen down in Melbourne, Florida. I was driving up to the Ruedi Reservoir above Basalt, Colorado and the road passes through the Red Rock Canyon. These high cliffs are spectacular.

There is a river running behind me as I look at this view. It’s called the Frying Pan River. Great trout fishing there…Gold Medal Waters. There were a dozen or so fly fishermen and fisherwomen in the water as I traveled up the road. If you’re into fly fishing and you’re ever in the Aspen area, check out the Frying Pan River. Get a guide though. I think it’s sort of a privatized water here and there.

Another interesting fact…Neil Diamond has a ranch on this road. It’s called the “Diamond J”. I was told you can sometimes catch him dining in Basalt in one of the cafes. I passed the entrance about twenty miles into the mountains from Basalt. I suppose the poor guy just wanted to get away from all that attention he earned in his great career. Can’t say that I blame him. It’s a tough life. But not anymore :-)

There is just scenery all over the place out here! It’s almost overwhelming to a person who likes to draw and paint. So there will be more to come. And I haven’t even started back home yet! Stay tuned…

Filed in Landscapes, Nature, Postcard Art, Real People, Road Trip 2009, Stories, Travel Sketches | Tagged , , , | Comments (1) »

Road Trip-Sarah’s Happy Shoes

13-Jun-09
Sarah's Happy Shoes

Alrighty then…I’m a spontaneous person. What can I say. So I’m sitting eating a small pizza at Atlas Pizza in El Jebel, Colorado and I see this waitress walking around prepping for close. Nothing special about that.

Then I noticed her shoes.

Not being one to hold my tongue in such a situation, and with such unique shoes…
I told her I liked them.
She laughed and said “I call them my Happy Shoes.”
I asked if I could take a picture and she said sure.

The light was bad in the corner where I was eating so on the way out she obliged by posing her shoe up on a chair for me. How cool!

I love it when people put up with me :-)

Atlas Pizza is a gourmet pizza restaurant and the pizza is wonderful! The prices are good too. So, if you’re ever in El Jebel…it’s on the way to Aspen on Hwy 82…stop in for some great pizza. Look for the Wendy’s on the left. Atlas is in the little strip of restaurants across the street.

Oh…to Sarah’s husband…you’ve got a real cutie there bubba. Be nice and keep her and those shoes happy ;-)

Filed in Real People, Restaurants and Such, Road Trip 2009, Stories, Travel Sketches | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0) »

Road Trip-Continental Divide

12-Jun-09
Independence Pass, The Continental Divide

If you take Highway 82 out of Aspen you’ll eventually reach the Continental Divide at Independence Pass. You’ll be at 12,095 feet above sea level.

I would say I hiked up there. But I won’t. Ya’ll are way too astute to believe that one! So Ben, myself, and the Buick made the drive. The beauty is overwhelming the whole way up. Mr. Ben got to frolic in the snow for the first time and found the taste suited him. So he ate it. Lots of it. He kept looking up at me between bites with an expression that said…”I could eat this stuff all day…”.

This little scene is near the pass, visible from the roadway. I did it kinda fast so it’s not a real accurate rendition but you get the gist.

The last post, where I mentioned I’d send a postcard to the first three readers who sent me their address, got a good response. So I’ll be busy with postcard paintings for a little bit. I got a little giddy over it all and I’ve promised seven or eight of them to be mailed out by the weekend. It isn’t going to happen that fast but I will get them done. You know who you are :-) This one here goes to Sheri up in the great state of Oregon:-)

Filed in Landscapes, Nature, Postcard Art, Road Trip 2009, Travel Sketches | Tagged , , , , | Comments (1) »

Road Trip-Breakfast In America

09-Jun-09
Breakfast In America

Every small town has a unique restaurant. In El Jebel, Colorado I found one called “Breakfast In America”.

All they serve is breakfast. American breakfast. You know, bacon & eggs, toast, hashbrowns, omelets…and a few twists that are Colorado in nature. The neat thing is the simplicity of the place.

The grill is in the middle of a u-shaped counter lined with swiveling bar chairs. You just come in, sit down, order, and watch the cook. It’s gotta be profitable. Too simple not to be.

So I thought I’d get the gist of it down in the Road Trip sketchbook. The food is really good so if you’re ever on the way to Aspen and pass through El Jebel, look for the Wendy’s on the left and just past there is Breakfast In America…in a little strip building of restaurants.

Something Fun for You Dear Reader!
I was thinking I might paint three postcards from the Road Trip and mail them out to the first three readers who send me their mailing address via the contact form.

So if you’re game send me your address. Doesn’t matter where in the world you are. And don’t worry, I give you my word I won’t share your mailing address or mail you anything other than the postcard.

I’ll reply and confirm if you’re one of the first three.

Filed in Uncategorized | | Comments (1) »