Is your brain being hacked?

Our WIFI was out for four days. Four. A big truck drove through the neighborhood and broke large tree branches and snapped a few cable lines. Of course you only lose service when you have a lot to get done, it’s the way of the world. We toughed it out and lived through it HOWEVER, it really made me think about a show on 60 Minutes that I watched not long ago. It was about how some apps are designed to create a habit so that we are constantly checking for email, for likes, for comments. I urge you to check it out – if nothing else it will make you a little more aware when it’s happening. After I watched that show I started reading again. At least at night, I’m going to take time away from the computer to escape.

We don’t want to live in a world where we cannot connect face to face. It’s all nice and convenient, but there has to be normal everyday interaction with people. Otherwise things are going to get a little weirder than they already are…

If this sort of thing interests you (it IS fascinating to me) – read about it HERE!

Of course I am thankful to the Comcast man who we found working on an unrelated job down the street – he worked to get our service restored. He went above and beyond. (It was a hot day, as you can see by the windows). I am thankful to have WIFI back, but also AWARE that I need to set limits. Do you? Is your brain hacked?

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist: Whitney Knapp Bowditch

Suspension by Whitney Knapp Bowditch 8.75″ x 11.25″ Oil on Paper

I love paintings of clothes on a clothesline blowing in the wind. The trees in the background and the grass in the foreground is WOW. Cool shadows on the lawn from what’s hanging above. Whitney has many different paintings, all different subjects!

See more of Whitney’s work via these links:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram

Read a bit about Whitney, from her website:

Whitney was born in Connecticut, lived in Surrey, England for nearly a decade, and currently resides in Richmond, Virginia. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Denison University, and her Post Baccalaureate Certificate and her Master of Fine Arts Degree from Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Whitney’s work has been exhibited nationally and featured in various publications. Her pieces are in private collections throughout the United States and abroad. She is represented by The Photo Dog Art Gallery and Jessie Edwards’ Studio (Block Island), Beacon Art Shortwave Gallery (Stone Harbor), Beach House Gallery (Dunedin, FL) and Jeffrey Meier Gallery (Lambertville, NJ). She has taught drawing and painting courses at the high school and college level, and currently teaches at Howard Community College in Columbia, Maryland. Continue reading HERE

On another note – Remembering those who’s lives were lost and those who fought hard to save so many people. 9.11.2001  🙏

Catch you back here tomorrow!

All images via WhitneyKnapp.com, used with permission…
Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Itsy Bitsy Spider!

Itsy Bitsy Spider.

Do you see it?

How fabulous are these beautiful pink flowers? Especially against the brilliant blue sky. Lovely! Monhegan. Of course!

📸 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

Holiday week – posting photos daily for the many of you who are away from the computer. Not a bad idea, enjoy yourselves! Back to normal posting next week…

Have a great day and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

Bless This House…

Over ten years ago we put down a walkway with pavers in our backyard. At that time there was a little edge that had concrete to hold the brick from shifting. I pressed this nickel-size “Bless This House” trinket into the wet concrete. Usually there is dirt right around it and plants, I brushed them out of the way to get a little shot… I love this!

Funny how I had this post scheduled for today – I wrote it last week (prior to knowing about Hurricane Irma) – so this photo seems really apropos, don’t you think? Not just for our house, but for the many, many homes that have been/are in/will be in Irma’s path. It’s been an exhausting several days of not knowing the direction Irma is headed. As I write this little blip (Friday 9/8) conditions seem more favorable for the Charleston, SC area, and less favorable for all of Florida. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who is enduring the wrath of Irma. I think we are all weather obsessed right now – we have hunted for stations that still had gasoline, we’ve got our supply of water, peanut butter, crackers, and, well hell, doughnuts. As of today we should feel the rain, wind and possible flooding mainly on Monday and Monday night. Prayers for those dealing with the devastation, recovery & cleanup. 

📸 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

Holiday week – posting photos daily for the many of you who are away from the computer. Not a bad idea, enjoy yourselves! Back to normal posting next week…

Have a great day and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

A Quintessential Maine Cottage

A quintessential Maine cottage. I love the white picket fence with the beautiful flowers blooming like crazy. This cape style home is a beauty and is situated on the most magnificent island ever. You may have heard me speak of it…?? (HA) – Monhegan!

📸 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

Holiday week – posting photos daily for the many of you who are away from the computer. Not a bad idea, enjoy yourselves! Back to normal posting next week…

Have a great day and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

Oh to be a flower on Monhegan!

Oh to be a flower on Monhegan – with all the adoring fans constantly walking by shouting words of praise and whipping out their cameras/phones for a quick, yet exceptional photo.

I’ve always loved nasturtiums – my mom usually has a little vase of them on the kitchen counter. So pretty!

📸 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

Holiday week – posting photos daily for the many of you who are away from the computer. Not a bad idea, enjoy yourselves! Back to normal posting next week…

Have a great day and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

Looks like fire in the sky – Monhegan!

We see the most spectacular sunsets when we’re in Maine. We see them here in Charleston as well, but it just seems like they are over the top when on vacation. Sunset usually occurs while we are having dinner in the Island Inn dining room. I usually make quick run to the porch for a few photos and try to get back before I’m missed. How can you NOT take a photo? The sky is so wild and vibrant. Wow!

These beautiful sunrises and sunsets are proof that life is full of magic.

📸 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

Holiday week – posting photos daily for the many of you who are away from the computer. Not a bad idea, enjoy yourselves! Back to normal posting next week…

Have a great day and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

Mesmerized

What is it about the silent (and not so silent) effects of water? How is it that we can sit and watch water all day long. There is something mesmerizing about it. You get pulled in and lost in your thoughts. I believe this is called

R E L A X A T I O N . . .

There’s nothing like it! Now go relax! 😉

📸 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

Holiday week – posting photos daily for the many of you who are away from the computer. Not a bad idea, enjoy yourselves! Back to normal posting next week…

Have a great day and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

Emerging Artists Inderpreet Kaur and Gwen Duda!

It’s been a while since my last Emerging Artists post – so here goes! Be sure to check out these two emerging artists!

I N D E R P R E E T   K A U R

Website  |  Facebook

Tranquil by Inderpreet Kaur 24×30″ Oil

Wonderful reflections and light – love these trees!

Read a bit about Inderpreet, from her website:

Due to rapid changes in the topography taking place during our global age, I am interested in preserving landscapes as a documentation in the form of painting. For this, I use reference photographs that I have taken at Lake Tahoe and the surrounding area.
I come from a Sikh family and my early life had no freedom of expression. Due to my family customs I was not allowed to go outside except to school or Sikh Temple, still they supported my passion for painting by providing all useful art material. My father used to reward me whenever I painted something new, but it was not developed further due to religious oppression for women at that time.
Painting landscapes gives me a feeling of freedom to express my own personal emotions. The primary element in my paintings is water. I love to experience  and enjoy places where there is water, although I do not know how to swim. This feeling of not knowing to swim scares me, so I like paint water to overcome that fear. Light, atmosphere and color are my source of inspiration to capture a fleeting moment. These majestic landscapes are developed in layers. My attempt is to create landscapes that convey the essence of mood, atmosphere and the richness of the landscape.

G W E N   D U D A

Website  |  Facebook

Refresh by Gwen Duda 9×12″  – Monoprint Acrylic on Paper

With spa-like coloring and a nice texture, “Refresh” is the perfect title!

Read a bit about Gwen, from her website: 

Images via GwenDuda.com and InderpreetKaurArt.com, used with permission.
Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Oh that beautiful light!

Light makes everything so special. The way it hits the chair, the shadows on the brick and of course the sun filtering through the trees. Always makes a statement.

What do you have planned this Labor Day week? Do you have a day off tomorrow, or are you working on Labor Day?

Wishing you a happy week – Catch you back here tomorrow!

📸 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

College of Charleston – South Carolina

College of Charleston – Charleston, SC. I would think leaving home after high school and coming to a place like Charleston would be ideal. So much to do here in Charleston!

Read a brief history about this wonderful school!

One beautiful campus, that’s for sure! This college is rich in history.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

📸 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

Gardens of Mackinac Island!

I took this photo several years ago on Mackinac Island, MI. My sister and I were on the West Bluff (behind the Grand Hotel). I love that stretch of grand homes with the most beautiful gardens ever. I am always respectful of people’s privacy, but did snap a photo of the garden. Another favorite location is the Pontiac Trail (and Pontiac’s Lookout) – I remember years ago a painting by Marlee Brown. Wow.

Most of Mackinac Island is state park, check out this cool map!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

📸 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

 

Edisto, SC – Botany Bay

I know! I know! Look at this tree! It’s one of many huge, beautiful live oaks that are thriving at Botany Bay (this was taken a few years ago… need to get back there!) – If I remember correctly it had rained that morning, which would explain how dark the tree is. The lines are stunning! So grand and majestic. I wonder how old it is?

Catch you back here tomorrow!

📸 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

Delivery Mackinac Island Style!

Mackinac Island, MI

Mackinac Island, MI – no cars. It’s nice. No exhaust fumes, no loud rumbling, beeping or screeching of tires. Just a nice clip-clop of horse hoofs as they make their way around town. This is how they deliver groceries when they come off the ferry. Pretty cool, eh? They empty garbage in a similar way – horse and cart – no trucks. Can you imagine? That takes some major planning!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

📸 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

Andrew Wyeth Stamps From the USPS!

I bought a few sheets of these stamps from the USPS – they are BEAUTIFUL! I’m in a bit of a dilemma because now I hate to use them, ha ha. I think this photo is a great one of a young Andrew Wyeth. So dapper looking (is that still a word?)

Just wanted to give you a heads up that these are available – what a cool find! There was a great write up about these stamps (and Andrew’s life) however the link is no longer available – These stamps were issued to commemorate the centennial of his birth – Cool indeed!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

📸 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

Link updated (removed) 1/23/25