Summer in Langley Series - "Langley Lavender, City Sheep"

You know it is summer in Langley when the sheep are out in the fields of Fossek Farms, and the balls of fragrant purple lavender are in bloom all up and down Langley's streets. One of my favorite sights, and it is just at the corner of De Bruyn and Third Streets. 

Summer in Langley Series - "Cool Treats at Sprinklz"

Sprinklz is a very popular new spot in Langley, for young and old. Hot dogs on the go, ice cream, crazy gifts and gags, and the smell of freshly baked waffle cones on the air. Mmmmm, SUMMER!

Summer in Langley Series - "Wild Rose Arbor at the Basil Cafe"

For years I have driven past these magnificent brilliant roses on the arbor in front of the Basil Cafe and every year have said, "THIS year I am going to paint those!" Good thing I did this year as Chung and his family are on to new adventures off the Island. But they have this painting!

Every Day in September 2016, #19 - Environments and Habitats - URBAN

EDiS – Environments/Habitats - #19 - "Urban"
This is as "Urban" as I ever care to get (except for Keith Urban, but that's another story). Anyway, "Urban" around here is Seattle, and I would rather have my fingers eaten by raccoons than drive down there. So urban, for me, is no stoplight, two cross streets, a general store, a tiny movie theatre, a post office, a couple of good coffee houses, a restaurant or two, no gas station or shopping, but a view of the mountains and some whales. Langley by the Sea, Whidbey Island, Puget Sound in the Salish Sea, Washington state, US of A.

HANGIN' WIT DA BOIDS

The Sketchers had an opportunity to go out to Susan's Bird Sanctuary/Aviary again, a second chance to commune with the birdies. They were every bit as cool as they were the last time. In fact, I had so much fun with Sunday, Gleam, Frostbite, Brutus and the others that I didn't get much sketching done.

We walked in and, there they all were, waiting for us. The cages were mostly all open, so as soon as we sat down they were on our heads, on our arms, walking on our sketchbooks, chewing on our hats and trying to steal our glasses. Mostly, just vying for as much attention as we could give them!

This time we brought apples and bananas for their treats, which seemed to please them. It is amazing how strong they are. They can bite right through heavy sticks with a chomp. These guys had a great time chewing up a plastic scrub brush in just minutes. But they seem to try to be very gentle with their wicked looking beaks, and (so far) none of them has bitten me.

In order to have models who stayed in one place Susan and staff kept the two Hyacinth Macaws in their cage, which they were none to happy about. They wanted to be out like their buddies.

Hats are a pretty good idea in here, as someone is almost always perched on your head. Earplugs wouldn't hurt, either, as we found out when an eagle flew overhead. The screeching and screaming reached an incredible level 'til it flew away.

When Sue bent over one of the Macaws invited himself along for a ride on her bum, giving her a tail like a Vegas Showgirl. 

 

Gleam took a particular shine to my paintbrush and the top of my pen, chewing the one to shreds and flying off with the other.

Owner Susan's new Aviary Keeper, Sterling, recently transplanted here from Chicago, just to be with these birds. He is happy here with them, and I am delighted that they seem to be happy with him. 

Susan and the staff have welcomed us to come back again, whenever we like, to talk to the birds and be entertained by them. 

Oh, and to sketch and paint, too. If we can. I have so much fun with them I barely get any art done at all! This is the only sketch I got done in the three hours I was there, but I had the BEST TIME!

@ SHAREN'S KOZY KROW'S NEST

A couple of years ago Sharen and Simon moved from their incredible "Big House" up First Street to their new "digs" down towards town a bit. Since then I have been fascinated with all the things you could see happening on the outside, as well as hints of the things happening inside (on her "I Love Langley" blog). Yesterday I finally got to see them all up close, first hand, because of their invitation for the Whidbey Island Sketchers to pay a call. I was greeted, right off the bat, by two of Sharen's "neighbors", sitting out on a wire in front of the house, waiting for a treat.

There is NO WAY to describe all the wonderful things there were to see and draw when we entered the house and yard. 

Sharen's House - photo borrowed from her "I Love Langley" blog

I wanted to sketch their famous enamelware "garden" so badly that I sat outside with no coat, in the middle of the first rain in 40 days, just to capture it. 

It was chilly, but delightful -- and musical! Crows were "talking" all around me, songbirds were singing, big drops of rainwater were plop, plopping over my head on the canvas umbrella, little drops were plink, plink, plinking into enamel cups and bowls and into gathering puddles. The air smelled fresh, clean and green (rather than hot, dry and dusty!)

When I was finally, completely chilled through, I moved inside to where everyone else was hunkered down around a crackly fire. Sharen was in the kitchen with Sheryl, cooking wonderful things. It REALLY smelled good in there! 

Everywhere you look in the Heath Home there are colorful, eclectic and fascinating things to admire and draw.

at Sharen's House - photo borrowed from her "I Love Langley" blog

at Sharen's House - photo borrowed from her "I Love Langley" blog

at Sharen's House - photo borrowed from her "I Love Langley" blog 

at Sharen's House - photo borrowed from her "I Love Langley" blog

Sharen took us down into their new "Bed and Breakfast Guest Rooms". Wow! What a delightful place to stay for a weekend! I was thrilled to find a gicleé print of my newest Crow painting in a place of honor in the bedroom! 

Sharen and Simon own three of my pieces ("Boy and Dog" is actually the first piece I ever sold when I got to Langley and started "making art"!)

 Also framed and on their wall, is a print of the "Star Store Shed",

 the original of which I sold to their friend/neighbor. Being in Simon and Sharen's home makes me feel like they are "my patrons" and I am "collected"!!
 I absolutely adore all of their "beloved clutter". It is MY kind of decorating. I could move in in a heartbeat!!

This is my finished sketch of the enamelware in their "Hokey Pokey - Turn Yourself Around" garden. 

 These are just a couple of the metal "flatty crows" tucked all over the grounds, and just one of the dozens of rustic birdhouses.

Thank you Sharen and Simon, for the fantastic day! You are the BEST!!