Dutch Pour

Dutch Pour is an advanced acrylic pour technique.  First, flood the canvas with a base coat of paint, any color you like.  Second, pour 2 or more different colors in a wavy stripe across the canvas.  Third, use a hair dryer to blow the color around.  Sounds easy, right?  It's not.

My first attempt was a disaster.  Took a critical look, thought yuck, wiped the canvas clean.  The second attempt was better, kept it - for now.  I like the third one, definitely a keeper.  Depending on personal taste, some may say it's beautiful, others: "It looks like dog barf". 

Why is it called a Dutch Pour you ask?  I wondered, too.  Turns out, the woman who came up with the idea is Dutch, like the Dutch Masters - who would surely sneer at a Dutch Pour.  Unlike Master Van Gogh however, she didn't sacrifice an ear to her art.  I'm guessing V G was smoking some really good shit, not the cigars named after him and his fellow artists of the Dutch persuasion.

Maybe I should come up with an Irish Pour.  Drink a Guinness Stout.  Rinse the bottle and fill with several shades of green paint.  Pour it onto the canvas.  Drink another Stout.

States and Provinces

Our long-haul RV trips are over.  Now, it will be mostly short trips that require just one day to reach our destination.   And the number of days on site will rarely be more than three.

In our 12 years of RV touring, we've hit 38 states in the US, 2 in Mexico and 11 Canadian provinces.  We managed to miss most of the southeastern states - but didn't miss them much.  The deep south doesn't appeal to us.

Our furthest south stop was San Felipe, in Baja California; don't recall why we went there, it being a small seaside village with little to offer tourists.  Across the Sea of Cortez, aka the Gulf of Mexico, is Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point), a much larger city with lots to see and do.  We went there several times with RVing friends.  The picture below was taken there.

Our Alaska trip was the longest, 15,000+ miles, augmented by an en route stop in MN to attend the family reunion.  Furthest north stop was Fox, Alaska, 10 miles north of Fairbanks.  Had dinner there at the Silver Gulch Saloon, the northernmost brewpub in the US.  

2nd longest tour was to the Canadian Maritimes, the highlight of which was Nova Scotia.  The seaside boardwalk, shown below, is awesome.

I could ramble on indefinitely but why bother?  

The bulk of my 773 blog posts over the last 12 years offer travel details.

Reflection Swipe Triptych

 2-3 years ago, I painted my first acrylic reflection swipe triptych.  Trish liked it, asked me to do one for our summer digs in NE WA state.  "Okay", said I.  They're fun to do, quick and easy - except for selecting the best color combinations, spent a couple hours doing that.

Decided to go with all-metallic backgrounds this time: gold, silver, copper.

The copper is my fave, love the look of copper!

Rub a Dub Dub

 Rub-a-dub-dub,

Three men in a tub,
And who do you think they be?
The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker,
And all of them out to sea.

There weren't 3 men in our tub.  At that time, circa 1950, it was just 2 small boys, my brother Gerry and me.  We were too young to know any trades, and definitely too young to be out to sea.

It was a fold-up rubber tub, like the one below except black.

This was before we had running water and electricity. 

Water was hand-pumped out of the cistern.

Then, heated on the kitchen wood stove.

We got baths on Saturdays, had to be clean for church on Sundays, you know.  Later, older, laboring on the farm, too tired to bathe Saturday night, no time to bathe Sunday morning.  

Then, came the en route to church spit-bath, our mom spitting on a tissue, wiping our faces, saying, "You could grow potatoes behind your ears!"  Oh yeah, those were the days! 

Are any of you readers old enough to have had a similar experience?

Fish Sticks

 A couple decades back, while living in Columbia City, OR, I made a couple of wooden objets d'art for charity silent auctions.  A woman who lived nearby held annual benefits for a good cause, damned if I can remember what it was now.  

The event included a catered gourmet meal, live music, silent and voice auctions.  The first year, I made a bent wood trellis out of small, green sapling branches.  The second year, I made the thing below, called it Fish Sticks.  I named a few of the fish, including the one second from the bottom.  Can you guess the name*?

I had fun with the project, so I made another 'school' of fish for myself.  They now reside on the pot shelf in our kitchen.  For sure, you can name one of them.  

*Cardshark.  The dorsal fin is a hand of cards, kinda hard to see in the small picture.

RV Recap

It started in 2009 when I bought an A-Frame travel trailer like the one below.  No bathroom, but otherwise surprisingly comfortable for 2 people.  The top triangular part folded down for road travel, could be expanded to full size in 2 minutes.  It was a trial balloon to see if I liked RVing.  I most definitely did - and still do.  Trish and I got together shortly after I got the rig.  She already had RV experience, having lived in a fifth wheel for several months.

Next up was a 21' EDGE travel trailer, purchased in 2010.  We towed that puppy all over, including Alaska and Nova Scotia.  It had all the basics but some irritating design flaws.  The bathroom door opened in, which was asinine, took up most of the floor space, had to sidle around it to get in and out.  It should have opened outward; or been a slider.  And, the light above the lavatory wasn't above the lavatory; it was in the middle of the ceiling.  I shave my face, not the back of my head.  Hold a flashlight in my teeth so I don't cut myself to ribbons?

We upgraded to a 30' Cougar fifth wheel in 2013.  Cougars are low-end rigs with all the basics but few amenities - so we added several: plumbing and lighting fixtures, light-filtering and blackout shades, several more.  We would have gladly kept the rig for many more years, had I not bought a new truck in 2017; it's side rails were too high to fit under the trailer overhang.  Oops!

  So, off we went to Vegas to buy a new 5W, the Reflection, which we still have.  It's a high-end rig, which doesn't mean much: quality control was definitely lacking.  We've had to replace numerous parts at numerous places around the country.  Pain in the butt.

Park Model

 A Park Model (PM) is a tiny home, no more than 400 SF, a tad larger than our RV with slides extended.  It's similar to a mobile home in that it comes with wheels, but once placed on a site, it's seldom if ever moved.  The one below is a stock photo; the decking and steps are add-ons, not part of the basic unit.

Here are 2 more stock photos, showing typical interiors.

And here is the floor plan of the unit we're buying to place on our RV Resort lot near Usk, WA. Website: http://skookumrendezvous.com/

PMs have several advantages over RVs.  Household appliances are a biggie: RV appliances take a lot of abuse on bumpy roads and there's no lack of bumpy roads.  Some RV appliances are also dual/triple-powered to run on AC, DC and/or propane, meaning many more things to go haywire. 

Furnishing a PM is like furnishing any house.  You select your own stuff and place it wherever you want.  You can - and I have - modified and upgraded our RVs over the years but only a few things can be modified.

RVs have holding tanks for fresh water, gray water and black water, with fill-level gauges that never work.  Both the gray and the black can stink to high heaven if not carefully treated and monitored.  PMs have no holding tanks: everything goes down the sewer, so no stink. 

Home Sweet Home, Part 2

The pictures in my previous 2 blog posts did not include 'the big picture' - meaning no view of the entire lot, no perspective.  This post takes care of that oversight.

                                           Above and below, views from the rear of the lot.

                                            Below: 2 views from the street side.

                                                          My work here is done.

Home Sweet Home

Yup, our home away from home - from mid-May to mid-September - is pretty sweet now.  Trish has her She Shed (STUDIO, she insists on calling it) all finished and furnished.  I wish.  I know darn well she'll get more stuff to assemble and install.

And, I have my Man Cave - which, as befits such a manly enclosure is unfinished, rough and crude - much like myself.  The STUDIO is 10' x 20'.  The Man Cave is 18" by 36".  

The LHC pickleball gang lobbied the Resort board to build 2 pickleball courts - and donated $20K for the construction thereof.  The courts are finished and they're a 5-minute walk from our lot.

Still Life With Turtles

Looking out the large back window of our RV, there's an idyllic view.  That's not real grass in the foreground.  We're done with labor-intensive landscaping, have been since we moved from Oregon.  Yup, AZ weaned us off of grass in short order.  Now, it's gravel, faux grass and pavers.

The body of water, generously named 'Lake' Guinevere, wouldn't qualify as a lake in my home state of Minnesota.  It's 2 or 3 acres, depending on the amount of rain and time of year.

Our neighbor, a professional timber cutter, built this 'island' in front of his RV.  Turtles, ducks, cormorants and herons hang out there every day.

Kids vs Dogs

Young couples would do well to weigh the pros and cons of having children - as opposed to getting a dog or two.  Let's take a lighthearted look at the objective and subjective aspects.  The objective items, how long it takes, are not WAGs; I researched each one.  Your results may differ.  

Be aware: I've not sired any kids, so I may be prejudiced. 

Objective.  How long it takes to 

Toilet/house train: Kids: 18-30 months  Dogs: 4-6 months

Be able to feed themselves: Kids: 8-12 months  Dogs: 8 weeks

Follow simple instructions: Kids: 10-24 months  Dogs: 2-6 months

Safely leave alone in the house for 6 hours: Kids: 13-15 years  Dogs: 1 year

Get them fully trained: Kids: 18 years?  Dogs: 1 year

Winner: dogs.  However, given their short lifespans, you have to start over every 12-15 years.

Subjective.

1.  Responsible owners have their dogs spayed or neutered.   Spaying and neutering one's kids is virtually unheard of - although a few parents wish they had.  More importantly, it would deny the grandparents the opportunity to spoil them while in their care - and chortle when their parents retrieve them.  Advantage: kids.

2.  Dogs are excited when their owners return home.  Kids, maybe.  If they're hungry.  Advantage: dogs.

3.  Dogs alert you to strange noises and defend their turf.  Kids, hardly ever.  Advantage: dogs.

4.  Dogs are warm and fuzzy and cuddly.  Kids also, in their early years.  But those teenage years, OMG!  Most kids grow up to become helpful, enjoyable adults.  Advantage: kids.

5.  Once potty trained, kids take care of their own business.  I've never heard of a dog that could use the WC and flush afterwards - or use a baggie to pick up the business.  Advantage: kids.

Winner: kids.

 

The Kissing Tone

 WLS (World's Largest Station) was a rock and roll AM radio station in Chicago.  Broadcasting with 50,000 watts, the signal reached several Midwest states.  It came in clearly at night in northern Minnesota, where I grew up. 

I acquired my first transistor radio when I was 15.  It had an earphone jack and a single earpiece, no stereo.  Much enjoyed listening to it in bed at night.

KOMO was another 50K watt station, broadcasting out of Oklahoma City.  It too, came in clearly at night. KOMO featured The Kissing Tone, which was very helpful to naive teenagers like myself.

Shortly after getting my driver's license, I asked a girl out on a date.  An older girl, no less.  After the movie, of course, I wanted to park somewhere and make out.  Problem was, I was too shy to ask her if she was interested, and too timid to just park, slide across the seat and clamp a lip lock on her.  Instead, I tuned the radio in to KOMO, and drove around town, waiting for The Kissing Tone.  

Finally, 40 minutes later, The Tone came on, a 15-second hum.  I pulled over to the side of the road, put the car in park, leaned over and kissed her.  Then, I took her home.  That pretty much sums up my wild escapades with high school girls.  Pathetic.

"Get Um Up, Scout!"

 If the title rings a bell, you most likely watched The Lone Ranger TV series, 1949-57.  The Ranger's sidekick, Tonto, rode a paint horse named Scout.

My horse, the one that lives on my patio may be a paint, also.  In its younger days, its coat was a solid rusty red color - bay in horse terms.  As he matures, however, his coat is becoming spotted.  I named him Bucephalus, after Alexander the Great's horse, which was most likely a bay, definitely not a paint.

Now, I'm in a quandary: should I rename Bucephalus?  Call him Scout?  Spot?

Jay Silverheels (Tonto) was Seneca/Mohawk, born in Canada.  He was an athlete, played semi-pro lacrosse and was a Golden Gloves boxer.  Jay was in dozens of movies, in addition to his Tonto role on TV.  He raised racehorses, was once asked if he'd enter Scout in a race.  He laughed and replied, "Heck, I can outrun Scout."

A Boy Named Sous

Evening meal preparation has been an ongoing controversy between Trish and me.  I've always done the grocery shopping, a task she hates.  She does the vast majority of the cooking, a task I hate.    

Neither of us could be called foodies.  She likes well-rounded meals, as do I.  Thing is, I just don't care enough about food to spend much time preparing meals.  If Trish isn't around, I grab whatever's quick and easy - canned soup, sardines, cheese and crackers, whatever.

We do our own thing for breakfast and lunch.  At dinner time, I help out by setting and clearing the table and performing a few sous chef tasks.  I barbecue the entree every few days, while Trish does the sides.  

The last couple years I've been stocking the freezer with frozen, single-dish meals like pot pies and P F Chang's, which lightens the load a bit.  So, do things even out?  We probably disagree, but have agreed to maintain the status quo.

Sous, aka Mike 

 

Reflections X 3

             After a year and a half hiatus, I'm back into acrylic painting.   My latest endeavors are called Reflection (aka Ghost) Swipes.   

All three include one metallic color that really pops out when viewed at the right angle in the  right light, but are difficult to capture in a photo. 

The number of paintings and the size (all 10x20) were selected to fit a specific wall area.

                              So, on to the next project.  Maybe dragonflies.  Maybe not,               

Celebrity Roast

On 1.13.22, we held a celebrity roast for my good friend, David.  After 7 years of hard work as president of our pickleball Association, he decided it was time to pass the gavel on to someone new.  And someone younger; he's 78.

Dennis was emcee, quick-witted, great sense of humor.

I was the first roaster.  David provided several old pictures that were displayed during my presentation - with appropriate (?) comments, of course.

David as a Playboy Bunny in a melodrama.

Hard to believe this hottie is the same guy as the one in the picture below (with the ear).

Grant, an impromptu roaster, commented on David's competitive nature.

Both he and David had scary 'widowmaker' heart issues, but both are doing well now.

Although the roast was my idea, Janie and Rodney did the heavy lifting: venue selection, organizing event signups, collecting $, and setting up the A/V.  They teased David about his hearing (right ear is toast), presented him with the gavel above and the enhanced ear below.

David.  He got a large charge out of the tribute but didn't do a rebuttal.  Too bad; I was looking forward to him taking some shots at me.  He did, however, point out that he outranked me because he was commissioned before me.  We were both in the army with a final rank of captain.

The Association Board of Directors.

David's cap and tee are additional props provided by Rodney and Janie.

The tee says 'STAND HERE IF YOU WANT ME TO HEAR', with an arrow pointing to the left.

Despite the grimace on my face, I was not in pain.  Never was good at smiling on command.

80+ attended the event.  Lots of laughs and lots of banter.  

The no-host bar may have been a factor.

Vladimir and Me

 Yup, that Vladimir, Vladimir Putin.  President, prime minister, whatever; the infamous leader/dictator of Russia since 2012.

Vladimir and I had a pleasant conversation one evening in the hotel lobby where he was staying.  I was just sitting there, dressed in suit and tie, enjoying a bit of alone time.  Mr. P took a seat in the chair next to mine and introduced himself (as if I didn't know who he was the minute I saw him).  He spoke perfect English, only slightly accented.

He asked me where I grew up (northern Minnesota), and commented that he, too, was raised where the winters were bitterly cold (St Petersburg).  The conversation continued for several more minutes, just a couple of guys getting to know each other.

And then, I went on to the next dream, which had nothing whatsoever to do with Vladimir.  

Dreams are our subconscious minds, hard at work, dumping the daily trash or performing other functions, which nobody really understands.  Vladimir probably deserves to be in the trash but I have no idea how he got into my trash.  He was a spy in the KGB before rising to power, and spies are very clever.  That may explain it.