Surfing Instead

Our whitewater rafting trip got cancelled last-minute.

The river conditions weren't right.

So, I'm not going away this weekend after all.

It's a mixture of disappointment and relief.

Aimee, Anthia, and I were supposed to go and we all had Friday off work.

Aimee didn't want to waste the day, she wanted to do something, learn something new, so she suggested a surfing lesson.

I have never been surfing before... so why not?

I like to try new things!

Also it was still cheaper than what I would have paid for the car rental.

Aimee and i went down to the surf beach, Beach 69 at Arverne  (Rockaway) and Anthia joined us later.

I am NOT a surfer.

I'm glad for the experience but I didn't enjoy it enough to want more, like I do with whitewater kayaking.

Also, I came away from it with a bruised rib, which will take a while to heal.

Getting out far enough was incredibly difficult.

I don't know, I like boogie boards but I'll leave the surfing to others.

I also planned on painting but the weather turned so I didn't.

I got a new beach tent.

Summer Camp & Paint!

Whoa, I went away again this weekend... this summer has been a LOT of small trips, and I have... THREE more coming up.... including next weekend for whitewater rafting!

It's fun but also a bit overwhelming, I'm not used to going away so much!

Aimee, Anthia and I went up to Harriman for a chill relaxing camping weekend.

I brought my hammock.

Our campsite was...flooded with children.

Many small children.

So many of them.

They were cute, and it's really good for them to be out in the woods, but they were... so noisy the way kids are, CONSTANTLY.

Everywhere I went... those same children showed up. Every-fucking-where.

Like they had velcro-radar or something.

If I went to the bathroom.... they were there.

If I went to the campsite... they were there.

If I went to the dock.... they were there too.

If I went to the pavilion... you get the idea.

We could NOT get a break from those kids.

There was no such thing as "quiet" all weekend.

They didn't do anything wrong (except the one who watched Anthia in her tent while she was changing) and they are good kids but they were just so constantly LOUD.  

It really grated on my nerves and now that I'm home I'm feeling the need to pull back and get some quiet.

Painting 1, 6x8 oil

(Yes the children ended up in the pavilion where I was painting.)

Painting 2, 

I had to escape down the camp road. No children there. It was blessedly quiet.

Anthia did see a bear over there, but I decided to not worry about it. I did not see the bear but maybe he saw me and just left me alone....

6x8 oil

The quiet did me a lot of good and what I needed....a break.

We went swimming (the children were there) and while drying off, I did another painting.

6x8 oil

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Fun assorted camping pics!

We always eat really well when camping.

Kitty Isis says hi

She does this a lot while I'm working when she wants something.

It's very effective.

After-Work Beach Painting

It is that time of year to paint on the beach after work... so that's what I did!

This week is intense at work, lots happening, and today is the only day I'll be able to paint.

8x10 oil

A Willow & a Fail

I went over to Janae in Brooklyn for a plein air overnite adventure!

We met up at Brooklyn Botanic, where I did 2 paintings.

The first is of this fantastic willow.

One day I'll have to do a painting standing under the canopy... it's on my list!

8x10 oil

We then made our way over to the Cherry Esplanade.

I wanted to capture the bright green stripe in the grass.... I consider this painting to be a fail.

That's ok. I don't know if I was tired or too distracted but I really missed it with this one.

So, in order to salvage some fun out of it, I put in the robins.... who were everywhere.

8x10 oil

Mini Tubes!

I'm carrying around too much paint, it's ridiculous.

And I'm thinking of smaller for camping.

So I got this *idea* to...... make smaller tubes!

I couldn't find 10ml tubes, so I got a box of 20 ml tubes and filled them halfway.

Arent they cute?

Now I can more easily carry way too much paint!

The Magnetic Plein Air Painting!

After work this evening, I went to the wildlife refuge to paint.

As I was walking by the water, on the start of the path ai always go on, I glanced to my left and the painting was RIGHT THERE.

Like, there was a Force that pulled me sideways and said PAINTING HERE!

And yep there it was.

This one practically painted itself, I got a good learning download, and I'm pleased with it.

8x10 oil

DTBH 4th

I do not do the hotline on Saturdays or 4th of July.

But our scheduling person has a sparkly influence glamour or something, so I was on the Saturday 4th of July Overnight!

It worked out well with logistics and timing though and I didn't mind.... because it was a great day at the boathouse!

Because of the overnite shift, I missed the many 250th celebration happenings on the river in the morning.
It's ok, I didn't really mind.... I did see pictures of some very cool ships.

When I arrived I saw that Martin bought many new toys for the boathouse- including pool rafts and inflatable sprinklers...we tried putting one of the pool rafts on the jousting platform but it got lopsided and started to sink......

After being in the river, I was relaxing...the manager from the restaurant next door came over and asked if I would like a frozen margarita?

Um, yes please!

I'm pretty much off alcohol except rarely. 

My system doesn't like it anymore, but I could not say no to that!

Judy and I took the sunfish out!

That was... interesting.... because there wasn't enough wind.  

It was still fun tho.

Sailing! ---sort-of!

This year we were not allowed on the water for fireworks- 250th celebrations and security.

Stiil a great show!

Apparently, Jersey City likes to compete with the neighboring shows- and they do a great job!