Watercolors, antiques, family history, and moose droppings. (picture heavy)
I went with my father to the Mill River Park last Saturday in Thomaston, Maine. There we composed watercolors of the bridge and had a nice chat.
I love the early edge of fall in New England when the colors are just coming out agains the bright green of late summer.
My father said he found it relaxing.
He did not want to share his watercolor; but here is how mine turned out. (forgive me I am not a watercolorist; although I aim to be one day)
We then went home, had lunch and he watched his game while I read a book. Later that afternoon we went to visit relatives and got into a bit of a discussion about family history with my uncle and father; it seems they are more unsure of it than I thought. I am inspired to do a bit of research; I could swear one of my uncles showed me a complete family history once, but perhaps that is just another way my reality has shifted lately.
My aunt Julie showed me the fabulous antiques she had been fixing up in her barn. The house she shares with my uncle has been in the family a very long time; and the attick is a wonderland of old books art and knick knacks. She is so much fun and has so much passion for what she does. Here are a few pieces.
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The next day I went in early to the office with my father and painted the harbot from his window while he met with clients.
They had some funny banter going that made me laugh. You don't see enough real Maine wit in depictions of the people. Despite the millions of Stephen King offerings, the actors almost never do it justice; and it really makes me sad. For an example, my cousin recently went viral on facebook for her creations made from Moose Droppings
Original video; watch this first:
https://www.facebook.com/carol.richard.18/videos/10213327021673722/
And here is the local news video that has played around the country. Not quite as good a performance as her facebook video; but still funny.
Between this and lobsters getting baked; Maine is making hilarious headlines lately.
Before we went home my father took us for a drive around the town, stopping briefly in the cemetary to examine old family tombstones.
Later I went to Damariscotta to meet up with my mother and brother for lunch and head back to Portland. I will post more about that later, but here is a photo I took with them.
Family discussions about the family history is always so much fun. We have the similar issue with my family, lol. We actually have a few family members who can't be seated together in one room as the discussion would go out of the hands, lol. During family celebrations they sit in the opposite corners of the room, facing each other with their backs :D That is the only solution.
That antique pieces look very nice. I love old things. Are these already fixed or is she still working on them?
Your watercolor is great! I wouldn't think that you were not water-colorist. But if you think you're not, I think that you're very close to being one :)
Thank you for sharing and congratulations on the curie vote!
My mom's side of the family was to confusing. My aunt had a genetic test done, but still so many secrets and confusion.
Thank you, I am good with some mediums but have never really used watercolors correctly. I had just seen some Wyeth and Winslow Homer watercolors and they really inspired me. I prefer Wyeths watercolors to this finished pieces because they feel the most free.
I think most of the objects I photographed were fixed, I think she was waiting for parts on a couple of them. She fixes them up for herself really.
Thank you so.much!
Well Tirdy Works was quite the distraction! I was going to say something about the lovely antiques, but I forget what it was now! 😂
I bet she is great at parties. Hours of entertainment
Lol! Forget Tupperware parties, have a Tirdy Works one!
Hey, @twirble.
I like everything here, but I do have to admit that the bit about the moose droppings and the different things created from them steals it. :)
I can't say I've found myself in many conversations that turned that weird, so I guess I'll need to end up in Maine one of these days. I live close to the other Portland. There's supposed to be people here wanting to keep it weird, but I guess I just haven't ran across it yet.
It looks like you had a great time with your father, too. And your watercolor came out much better than anything I might attempt.
Well done with all of this, and congratulations on the curie. Good luck with the family history, too. :)
Thank you; yeah she is funny isn't she. I need to get googling on that family history
Hey, @twirble.
Good luck with the Googling. I'm sure once you get into it, you'll be amazed at what you find, and how much information there is. I can't say it's the case for everyone (like probably my wife), but many people will find out that someone has been collecting information for years. Hopefully, that will be the case for you. Always easier when you can locate things rather than scouring everywhere on the net and then needing to go hunt down tombstones or county records that aren't online yet. :)
For the first attempts of watercolor you have done it very well and as you mentioned yourself, no matter what is the result important is that you enjoyed the process.
I love the barn where your aunt is working on antique stuff, that is very important to give another chance for those time survived stuff, they have history, good quality of old masters and if it is doing to restore them is really a good work, some antique lovers would be glad to buy and pay good money for such work too.
That video about souvenirs from moose droppings is really impressive, but the business idea is good why not to do is people like to buy it. Wonderful post a lot of interesting stuff to read :)
Holy crap your cousin just kept on rolling! She has a great delivery! I loved everything about this post :) Always interesting what visits with family will stir up
Thank you so much. Yeah that made me laugh for ages. A lot of conversations in Maine just get weird like that. You should have heard our nursing reports at the psychiatric hospital.
Poop art - hilarious. I love it!
She cracks me up. She was just on Inside Edition!
Aw you have to go back out West already? Well, at least you'll miss the Maine Winter.
I love old family things. It might seem like a lot of junk and detritous to some, but I love sorting through old stuff. I have found some amazing cool old things out in the sail loft of the Boathouse here at Toad Hall. Including the collection of old civil war letters that @winstonalden faithfully scanned and tallked about. There are treasures everywhere, if you look.
I know, there are wonders you might not have ever imagined. I was going through old books at the dump in Amherst, Massachusetts once and found a book illustrated by Mayfield Parrish that had my mother's name written in ink on the cover.
Those letters sound interesting.
I have been back in LA since Tuesday; these posts are helping me relive the trip.
you are so real and wonderful, @twirble <3 love this post so much !
your watercolour looks wonderful, and i find your dad adorable for not wanting to share his :)
very interesting photos of your family's old things, also... it makes me want to rummage around in mine :D
and your connection to Maine and your humour really made this post extremely gorgeous to me XD love your style, so much !
Thank you so much. I had such a fascinating time. So glad people liked it
Your family have a treasury in this old things.
Spending time with your Dad and family must have been really great, hearing all of those family history and reviating fun memories. It's a whole lot of fun!
I love your those pieces your Aunt is fixing up, the first particularly looks interesting...
AnD you cousin? Hers is on a whole nother level! I have never heard of that before, it's really creative of her.... It was really fun watching her explain all of those things. That clock looks really interesting.... That's her bringing "waste" to life...
And you painting is actually nice, I wouldn't have thought that you are not a watercolorist. It was fun going through your post!
Thank you, this was so much fun to relive. I really want to know my second cousin better. I gave met her once or twice I think.
She seem like a really interesting person, I am sure you will have a great time connecting with her...