Squirrel Cafe, Danger Reef, Art CampWith Annie and Our Stella

Woman with stuffed shirt, waiting to walk onto ferry.

 ride to San Juan island on a decent day.

Another ferry, going about its daily business.  
 

 

   

Annie picked us up at the ferry landing because she lives too far away for us to have walked-  off we went to Danger Reef-Squirrel Cafe -Art Camp, to stay over night at Annie's . The best holiday I have had since London. Annie and her husband built their house on 3.5 acres, along with a large shop/studio and a vintage  cabin that her father owned. 

This the view of her front yard from the bedroom window. The large enough reef directly in view, easily watched all day every day due to  activity of sea birds, eagles, nesting birds and seals. 

Sunrise. During the night the moon rose and brightened up the island like daylight. This. is Annie's Danger Reef, all day entertainment!
 

Sat with coffee on her deck wrapped in a comfy blanket, watched as an eagle dined on eggs, somebody's children.

Gulls watched over the grown up seals on one side and the  four baby seals on the other, giving moms a break, I suppose.  

Annie's husband, Michael, died not long ago, the house has become hers entirely. 

What a grand life she lives. 

She and Stella fished together on Annie's commercial fishing vessel out of Sitka Alaska when they were young pups.  Sitka is an island community of about 8,500 people, once the capital of Russian Pacific. 

It can only be reached by sea or plane. 

Anyway, that is where they met, and worked and formed a strong bond. 

The house, now hers is pretty much an artists delight- production stations throughout.And that is where we learned , from "Annie's Art Camp". Collage and printing.

We walked her 3.5 acres finding small, interesting,  botanicals that we wanted to print on our collages. I found a feather, likely eagle plumulaceous. I made a stand alone print of it , Used it a second time in a collage, which was too busy. Editing is important in collage. 

We arted all day, learning as we went, 

Annie is a patient , effective and generous  teacher, though I came away with inchoate results, it was rewarding and  SO enjoyable. My attempts are-

         The Feminine. 

Earth marrying itself

More earthy bits- and  Red bird, wearing big boots , in neon light  .

   Sea

 

Those are the only ones I am willing to show because they are not hideous. I have several that are. For printing we used a gel plate, a brayer, and acrylic paint. To affix the lot we used loads of liquid medium. Fascinating day! Annie's world is extraordinary. There are not enough superlatives. 

Annie's stove-

with a clock built in-

Annie's onions -

 

A young Annie on her vessel catching bloody fish!

See you tomorrow! 

 

 

 

art at the art shop, Stella's lunch, and a spooky yard

Morning dew on the deck and a stray cat that has been coming around lately. She is skittish and anti social, thin and hungry. Glad she likes raccoon kibbles, I would love to make her a pet but that is not going to be possible. She is a wild thing. Good thing, too. Coyote , having eaten Lil Stumpy, is sure to be a threat. 

I went into town to day to buy some art product for Annie of the island. Stella and i are going over to Friday Harbor early Monday morning, spending the night and be back late Tuesday. While at the art store  I wen to the exhibit in their gallery. I know these artists and though they have similar styles , joyful, they are quite different. I prefer one over the others but love each one tremendously. 

 

A little over a yard long shelf, wooden figures cut into the wood by Fishboy, R.Clark. I would have that in my house if not for the price. 

Another that I love is the crow in a wooden board- by Frank Frazee. His use of found bits intrigues me. He is in my old studio, the big one with no windows. I so miss the group of artists up there in the building that smelled of gull poos. I miss not having a place to go to be alone and to fool around with stuff. 

The other artist has long been one of my faves, mostly because she is one of my favorite people. Her art is whimsy , with a touch of "dark". She is a skilled puppet master and doll maker, Christian Anne Smith .

Fishboy held my attention throughout the exhibit. His work makes me feel that there may be more to this life than  the usual expectation.

"Pipe dreams"- looks like the art that I loved so much in "The House Of Dreams" , East Dulwich, my last rip to London. 

Blue apples and Big Leg Larry- part of the "'shelf"  Big Leg Larry stole my heart. 

Dennis went to his 69th High School Reunion  last week.  It is getting whittled down to a modest and  mostly unwell 15 people. Dennis, the fittest of the lot. Genetic longevity and clean living- he will outlive us all, I have stated this before.

On my way out I bought a card that is so BELLINGHAM! You probably have to be familiar with the town to appreciated the colors and what they represent.    Clever.

There was so much more to my day- after the art I went to Stella's , had a glorious lunch -  from scratch lasagna  and tea. We played with her papers and made a few collages to take to Annie's on the island for printing on, am not sure what that will involve . I have  five  more to make today, as well as packing for the trip. C-pap has to go with me, hassle!  Other things must accompany the machine- distilled water in a bottle and surgical tape to tape my mouth shut, a clip to gather hair out of the way and maybe my pillow which has adapted to the hose. At least it is not an iron lung . So, for only two days and one night leaving home is more complex than just throwing on a pair of levis , a jacket with a toothbrush in the pocket and enough money to buy lunch. 

On my way to Stella's I stopped at  Underpants Jesus House, where they are setting up for the season. 

I will take you there another time .Theresa with  recycled creation( her yard is full)- she uses a lot of insulation foam and free bits from industrial  salvage area. We chatted for about 30minutes, heard life story and general philosophy of this woman whom  I have been curious about for YEARS!~ simpatico-  great fun.  

See y'all when I return from our adventure! The best sort with Stella!

Got a ferry to catch!Got a few collages to complete- what will become of this mess - I have no idea. Annie will surprise us!

 

strings that bind, Mount Fugi and the girl

This appears to be two 4"X4" balsa wood squares together to form an octagon - woven together with sewing thread in a  non formulaic pattern.  The back side is more chaotic.

The patience this must have taken is admirable. The sweet tiny photo in the center is  surely a beloved person.

 Found At the thrift shop for a dollar.

This mohair bear with suede paws  found in the dolly bin. Do I need another bear? Yes, Yes I do.

I bought a cigar box with "Olivia" on it to give to Olivia with something inside for Christmas. I bought a tiny shopping cart for Flora and Emmett , filled it with groceries and took it to their house. The house was quiet so I tip- toed in as I thought  they were napping. Turns out they had only gone to pick Flora up from the school bus. I missed out!

Had blip biopsied,  it is a cancer thing that must be  dealt with, I guess.  Driving my truck in the harsh Wyoming sunshine and wind with my left arm resting on the open window for days and years - bound to cause damage. So far that is the only blip to be removed. Sally has had several- she is the winner so far. 

Keeka sent some photos- She bloody well climbed all the way to the summit to watch the sunrise. Nine to eleven hour ascent , five to six back down.  Elevation sickness does occur frequently as well and utter exhaustion. I do not look at this mount and say " MUST CLIMB, must die" .

On to Tokyo after crashing on the table  due to the strenuous climb, boyfriend traveling with her - to go separate ways after Indonesia- Keeka to Australia and boyfriend back to Seattle. 

Mount Fugi looks as mysterious as Brigadoon. appearing out of no where and a bit surreal.  Like the island in lake Williston, northern BC. Can't be traced and shifts all of the time. fishermen spotted it- as large as a Canadian football field maybe larger. Went back out in the afternoon to take photos and it was gone. 

Explanations are hit and miss but they reckon it is a collection  of debris and drift wood  supporting a forest that bobs, moves and behaves  like a land mass. It was spotted on google earth - then it wasn't. 

 

Lil Stumpy has not returned. Dennis saw coyote poos in the yard. 

The end.