Al Anderson House

July 30, 2017, almost ready! Back door entry.

June 7, 2015, under repair! Side view from Langley cemetery.

It's been a couple of years since they started remodeling this historic old farmhouse. I painted the 2015 sketch while sitting in the nearby cemetery.

My dog and I watch the changes happening while walking in the morning. The early morning light makes the old trees have dramatic shadows on the grass in the Spring; the late afternoon light puts a spotlight on the new green house color.   Amazingly, the front door faces North and is small and unattractive and I never noticed because it faces the Pea Patch and flower gardens, which grew up years after the house was built. 

There are many apple trees on the property and three cows that love apples. My idea of fun is to collect apples in the Fall and bring them to feed the cows.  It takes getting over being squeamish to put it directly in their mouth!  They have very long black tongues!

This house will become a vrbo, for rent.  The upgrades in the kitchen are modern but look compatible with the rest of the house.  It is cozy, sunny, and reminiscent of the era in which it was built; whoever stays there will enjoy the atmosphere and the neighborhood.

"WHO PUT THOSE SHEEP IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN?"

Today we accepted the Swanson Family's gracious invitation to sketch on the grounds of their incredible Glendale Shepherd farm in Clinton. After the adventure of finding my way down a mile long winding trail through deep virgin forest, I was greeted by Jet, the sheep herdin' sheep dog. I settled in to sketch while I waited for the others to find their way in through the trees. 
The main building on the grounds is a huge log home, with a wing dedicated to the cheese the Swansons produce here. My host told me that the building I was sketching used to be a horse barn, and the stalls now hold hay and supplies for the farm. There were sheep, but they were in the fields down below, and in the building behind me, so I used some "artistic license" to move a couple to a nearby pen (which was really a vegetable garden).

A SECOND TRIP TO SUSAN'S AVIARY

We went "Hangin' wit da Boids again today. It was every bit as funny, noisy, colorful and wonderful as the last time. I had such a good time that, once again, in three hours, I only got one measly sketch done. But what a good time. The story and photos are HERE, and this is the sketch.

Many many thanks to Susan and the staff, and I can't wait to come back again very soon to let these guys walk all over me!!!

From LAST Friday, quickly before THIS Friday . . .

In a "Secret Garden" in Greenbank

 The Whidbey Island Sketchers met at Deborah's beautiful "Secret Garden", full of summer perennials, high on a bluff above the sparkling waters of Admiralty Inlet, on Smuggler's Cove Road in Greenbank today. See all the pictures HERE. This is the sketch I completed today. LOTS of new things - new medium (Daniel Smith Watercolor Sticks), new surface (the paper in the book I made in Sandra and Meredith's bookbinding studio workshop) and new pens (Micron).