THREE TEAPOTS OUTSIDE FREELAND, WA. . . .

. . . and INSIDE the Senior Thrift Store. Or Island Thrift. Or whatever it is called now. At any rate, the place is wonderfully restored since their fire in the attic, and the upstairs is full of new little cubby rooms and nooks and crannies filled with kitschy stuff. So, last Friday afternoon with the Whidbey Island Sketchers, found these colorful ceramic teapots on a shelf in the "tea room" and hauled them out to the furniture section where I set them up as a still life arrangement on a table, sat in a comfortable chair, and sketched the day away. And listened to the birds and water sounds coming from a nearby electronic "painting". And to a random guy who sat down at the old upright piano and proceeded to play jazz, and ragtime, and classical and rock, all from memory. It was a terrific visit to a favorite sketching venue.
Oh, and BTW, couldn't resist buying some neat old rectangular white plates donated by China City . . .

EDiF2018 - PNW “F” #9 - FELIS CONCOLOR

The Pacific Northwest has a complicated relationship with wolves, coyotes and cougars. On the one hand, the wild “dogs” (coyotes and wolves) and “cats” (cougars), help to keep the deer, elk, and rabbit population under control. On the other hand, they tend to eat calves, sheep and pet cats and dogs. Tough call, no matter which side of the ecological fence you come down on.
Felis Concolor: common name, Cougar, Puma, Catamount
Fells catus Domesticus: common names - You Little Beezum; Sadie, Sadie Bearded Lady; and Maeow Thai See Nom Thon.

THE TREASURE ISLAND CATS

After what seems like months and months away from sketching, instead of just weeks

, I joined a very small, but dedicated, group of Whidbey Island Sketchers yesterday to visit Treasure Island Antiques and Collectibles in Greenbank. Many delightful "treasures" to see and sketch - furniture, china, dolls, lamps, etc. I was (of course) immediately drawn to this reproduction sabre tooth tiger skull (which was right next to the reproduction "Predator" skull. Ew). I was also drawn immediately to Henry the Wonder Cat, a very sleek and handsome striped fellow, who gave us all a head-bump "hello" greetings, jumped right into my car to explore it, and happily did his "trick" for us - climbing up an 8 foot ladder to the roof of the building so he could survey everyone down in his domain. Treasure Island has many lovely things for sale, but I think I want Henry.

DRAW SOMETHING YOU GOT FOR FREE

Free is a relative term, isn't it? Were they free - why, yes, yes they were. Have they cost me a fortune in food, litter, vet bills and airfare to get them from Michigan to Washington? Heck yes! Would I trade them in on something cheaper? No, probably not. I would, however, trade them for something that didn't wake me up for food at 5:30 or hog the bed. BYW, that would NOT be a man . . . . 

Every Day in May challenge #7