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!

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…

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

25 years! Happy Anniversary!

 M a r r i e d .   T W E N T Y   F I V E   Y E A R S .
Seems like yesterday. Time truly does fly.

Twenty five years ago today I married the man of my dreams. A man so kind and giving. So caring and wonderful – How did I ever get so lucky? I am blessed, that’s for sure!

I wish you that same kind of happiness if you don’t currently experience it. Patience is a virtue. It was when we had both quit trying to find a significant other that we met. I remember it like it was yesterday…

I was dog sitting for a friend of mine, staying at her house while she was out of town during Easter. She had an older dog and a new puppy. I parked my car and she was telling me what was where when I spotted Fred go by on his way home a few doors down. I grabbed a leash and the puppy and took him for a walk – I didn’t realize it was the puppy’s first walk on a leash. He walked right up to Fred and sat down. Fred and I talked forever, he invited me to see his house, which was beautiful and I came home (I had carried the dog home before I went back – interestingly enough, the dog did not want to walk home, hence the carrying part). That was on a Thursday. We talked a little each night. On Easter Sunday I went out to get the paper in the driveway and noticed a large gift bag hanging on the door. Wow, pretty cool that my friend has people drop gifts off for her. I set it on the table and went back out for the paper. Then it hit me… I wonder if this could be for me??? Surely it can’t hurt to take a quick peek into the bag and there it was… a card with MY name on it!

Inside the bag was a beautiful card and a big stuffed Easter bunny. I called to thank him – I saw his degree hanging on the wall when he showed me his house. I  remembered his name… looked it up in the phone book (ok, we are talking 25 years ago which was clearly pre-Google). We have been together since the day we met. My husband and best friend. I am so lucky…

I wish the same for you.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Pontiac Trail – Mackinac Island, MI

This is the Pontiac Trail Overlook that I mentioned yesterday – Mackinac Island, MI. This is a fabulous place to visit – I love this little trail, the views are stunning once you round the corner. You can see the Mackinac Bridge as well as Lake Huron. You also will most likely have gone by the West Bluff – a favorite location behind the Grand Hotel!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Another Year Wiser?

I skimmed my photos looking for a photo that doesn’t make it look like I am my age. Ha. Good luck with that. The fact is, as time goes on, even though you feel the same way you always have in your heart (well, add in a few aches and pains) it’s an undeniable fact that if you are lucky to still be on this earth, you are going to age.

I remember the exact day I discovered I was no longer “young”. My parents had flown in from MI and we were all going on a cruise out of Charleston, SC. We were on a shuttle full of young, very excited kids. I didn’t think anything of it until one young girl said Ma’am, I’m sure you’re wondering why you’re on a bus full of young people – it’s SPRING BREAK!!”

Oooohhh. Mmmmmm. Geeeeee. 😳

My first inclination was to turn around and look behind me. Surely there was a very old person sitting there. No… she was talking to me. Then it hit me. Wow. I AM NOT YOUNG. I really never thought of myself any other way, so that was a big HELLO! It didn’t make me sad, it made me laugh actually. I mean, really, what else can you do? (After a week with young college age kids on Spring Break let me tell you – I was never so happy to not be young. Ha ha… I am completely happy exactly where I’m at!)

There are magic potions and treatment to help reverse. I clearly don’t use them. I’m trying to be positive here, every wrinkle is from a life well lived. I am so fortunate to be married to such a wonderful man, have a great family who are all healthy – this is truly a gift, the best birthday gift you could ask for when you think about it!

So I spend my birthdays going forward feeling blessed, and thankful. Thankful for friends and connections made over the years, for the ability to spend time with my husband and little beast Charlie (and of course for the ability to write this blog 😉). I’m thankful for my parents and sister and all my family in MI and sprinkled throughout the country – I’m thankful for Fred’s parents and family, all nearby… When you wake up in the morning – it’s a good day! Be mindful of all you have to be thankful for. If you see someone in need, do your best to help, in whatever way is possible for you.

Now, when your birthday rolls around – remember these words – don’t stress about the small stuff. Life is short – enjoy each day…

As for the “another year wiser” – lets hope so!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Eclipse – Monday, August 21, 2017!

Are you going to be one of the many people to watch the eclipse next week (August 21, 2017)? If so you want to be sure you have safe eclipse glasses – regular sunglasses are in no way sufficient! (The eclipse glasses shown above are by American Paper Optics).

We have ours and are ready to watch! There is so much interesting information going around about what happens during an eclipse. I thought this was so interesting: Weird Things That Happen with a Total Solar Eclipse from a blog (Astro Maven).

Read more from NASA re: Eclipse 2017 Safety!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Sending Good Wishes…

Today is a special day, a day filled with good wishes for my family. My sister’s birthday and my parents 59 year wedding anniversary! Lots of good wishes are in order!

t

little sister. artist. dreamer. procrastinator. the young one. the one i always looked out for. “you are not the boss of me” i often heard. strong willed. talented. kind. generous. repeated my words repeated my words. drove me crazy. good crazy. well usually. picky eater. happy smile. funny to the point of hilarious. church goer. lover of all the saints. singing in the car. playing together when we were young. just be you. good times. now a mom of an almost adult. weird how time flies. 

keep on being you – celebrate your birthday with enthusiasm – know i am always here for you…

p.s. big sister (me) created her website, take a peek!

m o m  d a d

wishing you 59+ more years of happiness! thank you for the inspiration… you two are the best – love you so much!  xo, me

Wishing you all health and happiness! Catch you back here tomorrow!