Artist Renee Lammers

 

  I am participating in a plein air event in New Hampshire.

 

The artists are staying at the Preserve in Tamworth.

 

My room is in this house on the third floor.

 

What a beautiful house!

 

 

   This is my room for the week.

 

It is so nice!

 

 

"Chocorua" 4x5 oil on copper.  Sold.  Thanks.

 

   I messed up and forgot the box of frames at the house.

 

Luckily I had 18 of the size 4x5 black with gold frames in my van left over from my Vermont trip!

 

I suppose I will be painting 4x5 for the entire week!

 

They will be 100$ each.

 

 

They had a spaghetti dinner for us tonight at the Preserve at Chorocua.

 

We had at least 100 people for the town of Tamworth at the dinner.

 

I was glad many painting sold.

 

 

I will be painting baby goats and chickens tomorrow at the Remick Museum.

 

Thank you for the painting sale.

 

Thanks Mark for looking after Monet, Poppy, and Lily while I am gone.

 

Robert is also taking care of them.

 

Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

   This is the view from the castle in Lisbon, Portugal.

 

Lisbon is a huge city.

 

 

There are buildings as far as the eye can see.

 

 

We took a open air type of vehicle to the castle.

 

 

 

I am very fascinated with this musical instrument called the hand pan.

 

The young man was playing so well!

 

We encountered musicians and actors all over the city.

 

 

We saw a man dressed up in a suit who was using coffee to paint city scenes.

 

He told me, "If you are going to do something, do it in style".

 

 

Here is an actress posing as a bride.

 

 

This man fascinated everyone.

 

How does he levitate himself?

 

 

Robert and I sat near him at a cafe to watch.

 

He asked a lady to hand him a large cloth.

 

He covered himself with the cloth.

 

Then we could see him detaching himself from a contraption suspended from a bent pole.

 

The cloth covered him up while he did this.

 

We could still get the jest of his trick.

 

 

I asked this man if I could take his photo.

 

He was just taking his bunny rabbit for a walk around the city.

 

He had his hand around the bunny's foot to keep him from jumping!

 

The bunny looked very happy.

 

I thought the man resembled his bunny!

 

His hair on either side of his head looked like bunny ears!

 

Cute.

 

 

This man was dressed as a religious figure with a doll spray painted to look like bronze.

 

 

A couple brought a litter of puppies to get tips and sell them.

 

 

Here is a couple touring the city.

 

Their dog was standing inside of a cart with wheels.

 

Small dogs were either held or inside of a wheeled cart.

 

 

Here is one of our dinners in Lisbon.

 

Robert had sardines.

 

I had paella.

 

My Mom makes much better paella but they did a good job.

 

 

The city offers many types of transportation.

 

These trolley cars are so nice.

 

We didn't take one.

 

 

These little custard cups were fantastic.

 

They cost only 1$US.

 

They were custard, with a toasted sugar on the top, with a crispy light flaky croissant crust.

 

 

The challenging characteristic of Lisbon are climbing the hills within the city!

 

Their buildings are built at extreme levels.

 

Descending can be painful on the knees.

 

We were stiff after the third day.

 

What a work out!

 

We fell asleep each night at sunset.

 

 

 

 

We walked to the waterfront several times.

 

There are white stone monuments, arches, beautiful ornate buildings.

 

 

Robert took this photo of me by the sea.

 

I am dressed up in a new outfit from Portugal.

 

 

A lady was carrying her dog home.

 

She said he was just too tired and didn't want to walk anymore!

 

She was talking to him.

 

We could tell she was consoling him about being a tired boy!

 

We easily walked 10 miles a day.

 

It is easy to see how this little dog needed to be carried home.

 

 

We flew back to America today!

 

We are sitting in the Portland, Maine bus station waiting on another bus to Bangor.

 

Then our dog sitter, friend, Mark will pick us up in Bangor to take us home!

 

What an adventure this vacation has been.

 

I want to thank Robert for this wonderful trip.

 

Can't wait to see Monet, Poppy, and Lily!

 

Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We walked around Krakow, Poland's square that night before we woke up

 

at 4am, caught a taxi, and headed to the airport!

 

 

This was Robert's dinner, wild boar stew.

 

 

We saw the alps in France from the plane.

 

 

Here are a few more photos taken from the plane.

 

We had to get off the plane in Frankfurt, Germany, and get on another plane

 

to fly to Lyon, France.  

 

Then we flew to Lisbon, Portugal.

 

We had a long lay over in Lyon, France of 8 hours!

 

We traveled all morning, afternoon, and arrived in Portugal that night!

 

 

The alps in France.

 

 

France!

 

 

 

We were flying into Portugal.

 

We are here finally!

 

We have been walking all around Lisbon, Portugal today.

 

I had two bowls of gaspachio soup.  

 

I must say their gaspachio soup is delicious.

 

We also tried roasted chestnuts from a street vendor.  Excellent and healthy!

 

 

 

Here is the building we are staying in!

 

 

Mark reports the dogs are fine.

 

He said Poppy stays with him day and night.

 

Monet and Lily were stealing Mark's socks.

 

Mark reports sweeping the floor produced three big bags of dog hair!

 

Mark takes the dogs to the beach everyday!

 

He says the dogs harass him when he is doing push ups, sit ups, or working out on the Total Gym!

 

He does his exercise in the kitchen where he can close the dutch door!

 

Mark is enjoying the dog's company.

 

 

That is all for now.

 

Good night.

 

 

   We were fortunate to attend Robert's Nephew's wedding in Poland!

 

Here is the groom and bride in a Catholic church.

 

 

Here is Anna and Ramus!  Congratulations!

 

 

We were driven in a large bus to the reception.

 

We first had beef soup with noodles.

 

Then a giant dinner arrived!

 

Dumplings, cold cuts, cheeses, salads, chicken cordon blue, and

 

many other meats rolled and cooked.

 

These foods were all wonderful polish favorites.

 

We ate almost all of the first dinner.

 

We didn't not expect another entire dinner within two hours!

 

On the table was a fruit platter and cookies.

 

We ate the whole fruit platter and all the cookies during the night!

 

There was every beverage you could imagine.

 

There was even gravy for the dumplings.

 

We ate and ate!

 

There was bottles of vodka every few feet on the long table.

 

 

The minute we were finished with the first dinner they cleared out plates.

 

They brought a fresh plate with forks and knives for everyone.

 

They gave us each a slice of wedding cake.

 

They served us each a large glass of white mousse, ice cream, sorbet, raspberry glaze!

 

We ate it all.

 

They set down a platter full of different slices of cakes with jelly on the top.

 

None of use ate any of these.

 

We just stared at them.

 

We were full!

 

The shots of vodka started.

 

I filled up my shot glass with water and toasted!

 

I pretended like the vodka burned my throat and gasped too.

 

I had many of them fooled.

 

Five other people followed my water in shot glass idea.

 

We were shouting "Nostrovia!"

 

Other tables watched.

 

Our table was for the Dutch, Swedish, and Americans for the groom's side.

 

They were all Protestant.

 

The other tables were full of the Polish bride's side...Catholics!

 

They were pros at the Polish wedding!

 

We tried our best to fit in to their customs.

 

One guy came to replenish our vodka bottles but could not understand why they were mostly unopened!

 

 

Here is Robert with a new French shirt hoping for another dinner!

 

I think we had three dinners total within 6 hours!

 

They also had wine and beer.

 

I am glad I just drank water and coke!

 

Eating all of the food was a challenge!

 

Robert did switch my water in shot glass for a real vodka shot once!

 

Gosh it was 40% alcohol.

 

I gasped for real that time!

 

 

They danced the whole night.

 

It was fun to watch the polish style of dancing.

 

This was after the second dinner.

 

The second dinner consisted of salads, potatoes, jellied meats,

 

meats, cold cuts, beautiful deviled eggs, and more!

 

I was surprised how much we ate after eating only an hour or so before!

 

Our bus was taking us home at 12am but the groom arranged a ride home for us at 11pm!

 

The wedding was at 12pm.

 

It was a long interesting day and night!

 

 

This was the third dinner!

 

Kebabs, pasta with wild mushrooms, green onions, peas, mayo, with sliced white egg, french fries, assorted meats,

 

and salads.

 

Fresh steamed vegetables, and more salads.

 

Each dinner consisted of 10 different courses it seemed.

 

The bride's friends visited tables to inspire the party spirit.

We surprised them all with our shot glasses full of water shouting "Nostrovia!"

 

We gasped and slammed the shot glass down.

 

These ladies eyes widen!

 

We shocked them!

 

Hee Hee!

 

We also shocked Robert's Brother.  He was sitting at our table.

 

He saw me doing a water shot, gasp, call out "Nostrovia"!

 

He said, "Renee!  Our Renee!  I can not believe it!"

 

Then I filled my shot glass back up with water.

 

He figured it out and buried his head in his hands laughing.

 

 

  

 

Robert was trying to slice off a piece of a meat dish!

 

Bacon was rolled around meats then baked.

 

We may have ate tripe for all we knew!

 

 

The table was very congested.

 

Waitresses came often to organize our uneaten food preparing for new dishes to come!

 

 

 

They played fast music to inspire fast dancing.

 

The Polish men were all expert dancers.

 

They spun their ladies around and around.

 

The lady's dresses were cut above the knee or just below.

 

The dresses flew up into the air!

 

It really was a shocking sight!

 

 

Here is the groom with his Sister Astrid.

 

Thank you for inviting us to an event of a life time.

 

Robert and I both wish the bride and groom a life of happiness.

 

Thank you.

 

Now we are flying to Frankfort, Germany, Lyon, France to get to Portugal tomorrow!

 

Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   We stayed in the center of Krakow, Poland for two nights.

 

Krakow has the largest square in the world.

 

This square has restaurants and shops along it's perimeter.

 

On the inside of the square are outdoor food and nicknak venders.

 

The outside of the square is surrounded by a park.

 

There is a castle and many nice buildings along the perimeter.

 

Horses dressed in Polish horse attire with carriages take passengers for a ride.

 

There are thousands of people walking around.

 

 

The horses were beautiful.

 

 

   Robert, Edith (Robert's Sister), Robert's Nephew, the groom getting married, and Tjitte on the left.

 

 

We just admired the horses.

 

 

I loved these shoes.

 

They were so pretty!

 

 

These were fantastic shoes!

 

They would have cost 100$ US.  

 

I just admired them.

 

 

Nice chickens.

 

 

I loved the design of this ceramic plate.

 

We were traveling light and just admired it all.

 

 

Robert is great at archery!

 

I clapped and cheered for him.

 

 

The man in charged shook Robert's hand enthusiastically!  

 

We all were proud of Robert.

 

 

This is one of Robert's dinners.

 

Homemade pasta with beef tenderloin medallions, sun dried tomatoes, garlic, onions, and fancy mushrooms.

 

It was delicious.

 

Dinners cost about 5-7$US each at the cafes surrounding the square.

 

 

 

We climbed up to the castle twice in the day to take two different tours.

 

Some how the second climb to the castle was easier.

 

We walked around the square all morning, afternoon, and night!

 

 

There was a full moon.

 

 

Edith, Robert's Sister admired this black dog.

 

She told the dog she would take him with her if she had driven the car.

 

 

I loved these glasses.

 

I enjoyed just looking.

 

Our dog sitter Mark is have fun with our dogs.

 

He reported all three dogs slept with him last night in the coleman air bed.

 

He reported this to be a one of a kind experience.

 

He sent us a video of Lily sitting on his lap.

 

Monet was barking repetitively.

 

Poppy was listening and looking at Monet.

 

Lily was a very pleased sweet look on her face.

 

Mark said, "What a day!"

 

Now we are in a town called Gliwice, Poland.

 

This is where the wedding will be held on Monday!

 

All of Robert's two Sisters, their husbands, and his Brother are here!

 

Good night.

 

 

 

We have laughed a lot on this vacation.

 

We were in Arles, France at an open air market when we spotted nougat!

 

Robert has a great sweet tooth.

 

I do love nougat too.

 

The man asked Robert to show him how much to cut.

 

Then he gave Robert and I a taste of the aged nougat!

 

Yes we decided to buy some of this aged nougat too!

 

We were suckers!

 

 

The man labored for five minutes cutting the nougat.

 

Then he put both slices on the weighing machine.

 

50$ US!

 

I think I started gasping for air.

 

Robert handed him the amount.

 

Then we walked off with our nougat.

 

I said, "Wow.  I thought it would be 6$."

 

He said, "Yeah me too."

 

Then we laughed!

 

We were taken with fancy cookies and the nougat!

 

Oh well they were both delicious.

 

Nougat contains egg whites, sugar, honey, and orange blossom water.  

 

We both thought it was light and fluffy but in reality it was hard and chewy.

 

Heavenly.

 

 

  I talked Robert into buying us a Moroccan cantaloupe.

 

 

Oh boy this Moroccan cantaloupe was the very best for 3$US.

 

The flesh was good to the edge of the exterior cover.

 

It was honey like and juicy.

 

Robert laughs every time I tell him I want to travel to Morocco.

 

He thinks Morocco is too dangerous to visit.

 

 

Here is the cafe Van Gogh painted in Arles, France.

 

We took a train back to Lyon, France.

 

This morning we flew to Frankfurt, Germany.

 

Now we are boarding a plane for Poland.

 

We will be in Poland for a week to attend a wedding and visit with Robert's siblings.

 

 

Here is one of Robert's dinners.

 

Sardines, green beans with tomatoes, and french fries.

 

The sardines were fried.

 

They tasted salty and very fishy.

 

He ate everyone of them!

 

I had spaghetti.

 

 

He arranged the fish bones for a photo.

 

He sure has an adventurous appetite!

 

Good night.

 

 

One of Robert's photos of me with my hat.

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you Robert for this beautiful hat!

 

I love it!

 

We are having a great time in Arles, France.

 

We both love this place.

 

 

I sketched this dog sitting in the chair.

 

I gave the sketch to the dog owner.

 

He showed it to everyone.

 

Then he came over, gave me a kiss on each cheek, a kiss on the forehead, a big hug, and said, "Thank you"

 

in French!

 

 

There is a pit bull female dog that hangs out around the center of town

 

where all the restaurants are located.

 

I was wondering what would happen as the three Yorkshire Terriers approached.

 

 

They sniffed each other and that was all!

 

 

Everyday I find the prettiest door and window.

 

Here was my favorite for the day.

 

 

We are having fun taking photos of each other.

 

Robert has a new pair of sunglasses and a hair cut!

 

 

This was my favorite dinner so far.

 

I had tuna with creamed green beans, and vegetables.

 

Robert had risoto with snails. YIKES.

 

Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   We spend time drinking tea and cappacino in Arles, France.

 

 

   This boy had lost his cat.

 

He was so happy to find his Boobear!

 

 

This lady dressed in orange was trying to walk her cat!

 

The cat wanted to run through the gardens.

 

 

Kitty was bitting her owner.

 

She was telling the naughty kitty to behave!

 

 

   Kitty decided to walk on the leach properly.

 

 

We are renting a little apartment with the view in between the apartment of Van Gogh's

 

cafe night scene he painted called teh Cafe La Nuit.

 

There are views to the right and left also.

 

The apartment is very modern.

 

The town of Arles is more quiet than the last busy city.

 

We both like it here.

 

I am enjoying tuna with vegetables.

 

Robert bravely tries a different dish each meal.

 

We walk around for at least 5 hours and sit in a different cafe.

 

I sketched a little.

 

 

 

Robert purchased an Italian hat for me as a gift from this shop!

 

The hat is beautiful.

 

I will share a photo later.

 

Good night.

 

 

 

We are vacationing in Lyon, France at the moment.

 

We have a little apartment above the shops.

 

Robert put a few of these cookies in a bag.

 

He was surprise when the charge was 20$ US. 

 

We had a nice laugh.

 

We found a grocery store and have found the prepared salads only 6$ US.

 

I bought a delicious apple and tangerine for 75 cents.

 

 

There was a puppy entertaining everyone.

 

The apartment is down this street above a cafe.

 

 

This lady made us a crepe with ham and swiss cheese.

 

Robert told me I said "Delicious" 20 times.

 

 

I enjoy the flowers!

 

 

We walked for five hours today enjoying the sights!

 

Two days ago we traveled by bus, plane, another plane, and taxi!

 

I slept a whole day after arriving here.

 

I feel ready to walk another 5 hours!

 

 

   We went to an art museum.

We both laughed and enjoyed this painting of people eating riccotta cheese.

 

 

This artist had a sense of humor in 1875!

 

 

Mark is doing well dog sitting Monet, Poppy, and Lily.

 

Robert cooked 10 gallons of Mulligan Stew for the dogs to eat over the two week period of time.

 

The dog sitter Mark is in love with this Mulligan Stew to eat!

 

They should be fine.

 

We will be here for a few days, travel to Poland to attend Robert's Nephew's wedding, then go to Portugal.

 

Good night.

 

 

 

I took Lily with me to deliver two paintings to a client in Blue Hill.

 

Lily was shy!

 

When she saw the lady, she leaped out of the van, let her pet her once, then jumped back inside the van!

 

Lily may have thought the lady would be her new owner?

 

I should have taken the gregarious Monet with me!

 

Lily is shy without her parents.

 

 

"Stonington Harbor Overlook" 20x30 oil on copper.  Sold.  Thank you!

 

 

"Good Night Stonington" 6x8 oil on copper.  Sold.  Thanks!

 

   I am so delighted to sell these two paintings.

 

 

 

We have been enjoying fresh snow!

 

 

Robert spends hours playing with the dogs!

 

 

 

 

"Welcome To Monhegan Island" 6x8 oil on copper 450$ framed in gold with shipping included.

 

  I decided to paint people and a dog into this plein air painting.

 

I also reworked the entire painting.

 

 

"Alden Bryan Farm" 6x8 oil on copper 450$ framed in gold.  Shipping included.

 

   I reworked this painting plein air painting done in Vermont.

 

 

"Sweet Berry Lane Sugar House' 6x8 oil on copper 450$ framed in gold.  Shipping included.

 

  I painted steam coming from the cupola.

 

I added a person wearing a green plaid jacket!

 

 

"Spring House" 6x8 oil on copper 450$ framed in gold.  Shipping included.

 

   I painted this Searsport house.

 

I thought the addition of pink tulips lining the fence was a good idea.

 

I also painted a few pink sheets!

 

 

"Sandy Point Beach Cottage" 6x8 oil on copper 450$ framed in gold.  Shipping included.

 

   I painted the 1800 cottage by the Stockton Springs beach!

 

I admire this cottage every time I go to the beach.

 

I especially love the porch.

 

 

View of my backyard.

 

We will start to travel to Poland tomorrow!

 

 

 

Good night.

 

Robert's good friend Mark has come to visit us here in Maine.

 

I took him to Pumpkin Lighthouse and Stonington.

 

We saw a beautiful fox today!

 

 

   The fox was curious.

 

I had time to put on a 300 zoom lens!

 

 

He or she was so beautiful!

 

 

The fox sat for us for two minutes.

 

He was on his way!

 

 

I ordered Mark a seafood platter:  clams, haddock, shrimp, and scallops!

 

He will be watching our three dogs while we are vacationing for two weeks!

 

 

We saw an Eagle flying over our heads in Stonington!

 

 

Pumpkin Lighthouse is one of my favorite spots.

 

 

Being a tour guide is so much fun!

 

 

I told Mark many stories about Dundee, the orange Maine coon cat, who lives in Stonington.

 

We looked everywhere for Dundee.

 

He was not seen.

 

 

Love this wooden cottage near Pumpkin Lighthouse.

 

 

   The yellow house has new white shutters.

 

Good night!

 

 

 

"Tulips" 20x26 oil on copper 1750$ framed in your choice of gold or black with gold frames.

Shipping included in the price.

 

   I am finally finished with this tulip painting!

 

I asked Robert if he could paint a few tulips.

 

He laughed and said no.

 

Then I asked Lily my golden retriever sitting on my lap.

 

She hung her head down!  I think she knew what I was asking?

 

My Lily is a smart girl.

 

 

"Flowers" 7x5 ink with watercolor 

 

   Lily came inside the house with a squeaker from a dog toy.

 

Lily showed off her squeaker.

 

I made a nice fuss over her.

 

She was wagging her tail.

 

I tried to remover the squeaker from her mouth.

 

She started to growl loud but she was wagging her tail.

 

I was laughing and still trying to remove the squeaker.

 

She continued to growl every louder.

 

This went on for a few minutes.

 

Monet was so afraid he ran out of his bed over to Robert.

 

Robert said, "Oh Monet are you afraid of Lily?"

 

Then Poppy came running to me and threw her front feet on my chair.

 

Lily and I were still playing 'killer dog'.

 

I was getting a kick out of how loud and ferocious Lily was sounding!

 

Lily even chased after me! 

 

She was wagging her tail while she growled and chased me!

 

Then she decided to play 'killer dog' with her Dad Monet!

 

Lily charged her Dad Monet while growling!

 

Monet took off running!

 

About this time Robert thought I was being a very bad influence over Lily.

 

Robert announced he was going to bed.

 

Lily jumped into my chair and spit out the squeaker toy.

 

Then Robert realized we were just playing a game.

 

Poppy had to be consoled.

 

Poppy was hiding.

 

Monet seemed to shake it off and lay back down in his bed.

 

Oh my when will this cold weather end?

 

 

I did take them to the beach today.

 

The winds had to have been 50 mph!

 

We did not stay long because even with a face mask I was cold.

 

Good night.

 

 

I love this old house at Sandy Point Beach.

 

What a location!

 

 

Robert and I took the dogs to Craig's Pond, Lake Alamosook, and Sandy Point Beach.

 

 

The lakes are slowly melting!

 

 

 

 

I am slowly working on the tulip painting!

 

Good night.