Big Mike and Roses

We came to the Sandris' to sketch roses but found so much more. It's always a good sketching day when I find an animal holding still long enough for a sketch. Big Mike was artfully arranged against a background of beautifully patterned pillows on the sofa.

I was sketching roses in the Tuscan Rose Garden when it started to rain, so I called the sketch done, gathered up my things and ran for cover. I could have tried to finish it later but probably would have just ruined it. Best to keep it spontaneous.

Beautiful home, beautiful gardens, great art, gracious and welcoming hosts. And Big Mike. Thanks, Sandris!

Cluttered desktop

My postings have not been very regular, but today is the day for me to clear the desktop!  Here are a number of sketches that have been hanging out from all the way back to the lighthouse and Bob Bowling sheds.

Lighthouse going topless ;-)

Ferry Coffee 

Gordon the goose that looks like a duck here.

Gordon - his neck is getting longer

Annies Holly hocks 

Bowling shed

Shovel Vane and gardens

Nicest hosts  Susan, Mikey and Kevin

Guns & Roses

Well, not really - roses first then guns. Nicely differing landscape over the past 2 weeks with Sandri's classic gardens (complete with warm white sand between my toes) then Fort Casey (foreboding on a good day, but dark clouds and a brisk wind made it chilly and intimidating).

Fun Happy Hour included Anacortes Sketchers Missy & Kalena, and Gnat's friend Mary from Nebraska-who-used-to-live-on-Whidbey-and-just-moved-back.

Tuscan Rose Garden ... eh I should say, "The Dog at the Tuscan Rose Garden"?

This is Mikey, the sweet and gorgeous yellow lab at the Sandri's Tuscan Rose Garden.  It was a very fun day. The Sandri's garden will be on the Whidbey Island Garden Tour this Saturday, and I hope to go and capture the roses and other plantings in their beautiful ornamental garden. But ... being the animal nut that I am, I just couldn't see past Mikey on Sketching Friday!  He was awfully sweet! That scrunched face drove me crazy. But ... the plants and the metal works make it a very artful and well choreographed garden! Totally worth visiting.  AND the Sandri's were uber sweet themselves.   Many thanks to them for opening their gardens to us! (Metal works  by Todd Eugene, Whidbey+Works ... and he'll have pieces for sale at the Tour!).