Artist Renee Lammers

 

  We did well traveling from Florida to Maine.  It took us three days.  Total drive time 25 hours.

 

Miss Kitty escaped from the hotel room in Danbury, Connecticut.  She ran around under

 

cars in the parking lot.  An English gentleman who was standing outside of his hotel room smoking

 

spotted her escaping and assisted in the capture!  Miss Kitty was outside for about five minutes

 

before I captured her by the foot!  I gave the English gentleman a hug!  I was so grateful.

 

Then Miss Kitty and I disappeared back into our hotel room.  Narrow escape.  

 

 

It was very nice to cross the Maine bridge again.

 

I love the sign that reads, Maine, the way life should be.

 

 

Right away Festus wanted to stretch his legs in our backyard.  

 

 

It did not take long for Robert to carry Festus around the yard.  Smiles!

 

Lily looked good.

 

 

Poppy was barking happy barks.  Lily was quiet as usual.

 

 

It was so nice to be home again.  Lady Violet on the right with her ball.  Monet on the left.

 

 

We unpacked my car.  I made a mistake at throwing cat toys on the floor for Festus.

 

Festus played like he was a kitten.  Miss Kitty played too.  I looked over at Monet, shown above,

 

but there was no new doggie toys for him, a ritual.  Monet looked broken hearted. I had made

 

a huge mistake.  He thought I had brought the cats home toys!  But I did not bring him any toys.

 

I went to TJ Maxx and bought dog toys...seen above..for a more joyful Monet!

 

All was well again!

 

 

Each dog had a few new toys.  Here is Lily.

 

 

Lady Violet, the youngest who is three, playing with her Grandfather Monet, almost 10!.

 

 

Ted came over to give the dogs each a slice of roast beef sandwich meat.  They loved that!

 

Ted told me all about how he visited the dogs and took them in his car for daily trips.

 

I told him I was very thankful for all his efforts.  Big thanks to Ted!   He groomed and

 

cleaned the dogs once a week.  They dogs all looked great.  

 

    I am getting ready to do some serious painting!  Seriously!  Good night!

 

"Poppy Serenade" 12x14 oil on copper 950$ framed in gold or black with gold.  Shipping

and frame are included.

 

   I worked on this painting all day yesterday. I loved how inspired I was painting.

 

I guess I finally got over a cold.  It took a while to get out of my lungs. I took two covid tests.

 

Both tests results were negative.  I am back to feeling better.  I moved my painting table

 

around so that I could sit in my recliner and paint.  Both cats gave up the painting chairs!

 

They laid on the painting table.  Festus was so stressed out by me moving the table that he

 

did not eat for 24 hours. I told him that was just a ridiculous way to respond to a table being

 

moved.  He also threw his dinner onto the floor but chirped a sorry sorry message afterwards.

 

Silly cats!  I love them but I have not been able to figure them out.  Obviously they do not

 

like changes in the furniture arrangement.  I do like the layout better.   I will move the chairs

 

back together so the cats can sit side by side, play with their feet, and look at each other.  

 

 

"Caloosahatchee River, May 15, 2023" 8x6 oil on copper 450$ framed in

gold or black with gold.

 

   This began as a plein air painting but was worked on in my studio for two

 

days.  

 

 

   Three studies I painted a few days ago.  7x5 oil on copper.  350$ framed in gold or black with gold.

Shipping is included.

 

 

Doc Adams arrived as I was leaving for tonight's sunset.  I ran back inside, fixed

 

his can of food, poured a bowl of water, and served it to him before I left.  He was very hungry.

 

At the Caloosahatchee River it was so dramatic!  A storm was coming.  

 

I had not seen the water this dark.  I watched as the sunset.  My new pal

 

Jullian, a very young boy, was there fishing again.  He caught a 36 inch Snook last night

 

and I took photos.  He used my cellphone to send these images to his phone.  He was

 

so glad I was there to take good photos of the biggest Snook captured in his life so far.

 

We had a great time talking before he landed the fish.  He decided to release the fish after

 

offering it to me.  I have no stove.  I did not know how I might cook this 3 foot fish!  Wow!

 

The thought had me thinking!  Microwave it?  Boil it on the burner I have?  Maybe put it in

 

the tiny toaster oven?  It would take me 10 hours to cook all that fish!  Then we talked about

 

the poor quality of the water and the fish was happily released.  Tonight we rehashed the fishing

 

story.  While I was painting tonight it started to rain.  My new acquaintance brought me an umbrella!

 

Saved the day!  He stayed till the sun was gone an hour to watch the after effects.  We both think

 

it is best after the sun is down.  I like meeting new people.  I especially like to have friends of different

 

ages.  

 

 

   A boat with two fishermen arrived. They caught a smaller Snook.  We told them about

 

the 3 foot Snook he caught last night.  I am not sure if they believed us!   They told us 

 

where Tarpon fish were being caught.  They were off quickly after a few casts.

 

 

The sunset was very beautiful. I think I prefer the river sunsets over the ocean! 

 

If I am able to come back to Fort Myers this next October I will be at the river to see

 

the sunset every night!

 

 

Some sunsets can be ominous.  

 

 

  Ominous or just strong.  I could not decide. I suppose it has to do with the frame of mind

 

of the viewer.  

 

    I am starting to look forward to driving back to Maine next week.  It will be a good Summer.

 

Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

   I boiled some noodles, poured a little spaghetti sauce over them, tossed a little

 

parmesan cheese over the dish.  

 

I ate dinner fast.  Jumped into my 2019 Toyota Camry.  Drove two blocks

 

to the little park to view the sunset.  Tonight there were no clouds.  I thought to myself,

 

"Might not be too exciting.  Probably a bright orange sky."  

 

 

  It really was not a bright orange sky like I had suspected.  

 

The sky was more of a greyed reddish orange.  The sun was yellow at

 

first.  Then the sun turned to a bright orange.  As the sun was setting the

 

color was an orange reddish pink.  I could see flashes of green.  There was

 

a bright red rim around the sun as it set.  The colors were very luminous.

 

 

  I remember thinking the horizon was almost a plum color or a purple.

 

 

A sunset is always interesting to watch.  A young Father with a 4 or 5 year old Daughter

 

showed up to fish.  She had her own pole.  Soon his teenage son arrived on a very small

 

motorcycle with fat tires.  He fished too.  They were having fun.  The Father smiled at me

 

a few times.  They were pleasant company.

 

 

 

I made a mental note at how blue the water by the distant shore was.  There was blue

 

in the foreground water as well.  I guess I am always studying colors.

 

 

   The sun was much brighter without any clouds in the sky.  I could not

 

look directly at the sunset very much like I was the last few days.  The sun was going

 

down.  

 

 

There was a slight red glow where the sun had been after the sun went down.  

 

  Happy Mother's Day!  

 

Good night.

 

 

 

   I ventured out again to watch another sunset over the Caloosahatchee River.

 

This time there were no swimmers.  No fisherman.  There was a young lady

 

with her very young boy there.  She was taking photos of the sunset, talking to

 

a man on her cellphone, maybe talking to her Mom, and talking with her Son.

 

I recognized her from my mobile home park.  She always has the nicest smile for 

 

me.  She use to push her Son in a buggy by my bay window to visit the cats.

 

Now her Son is old enough to walk on his own.  

 

 

  The sun was hiding behind the clouds when I first arrived.  

 

 

I think the colors were a little lighter than this image.  

 

 

There was a cloud at the horizon.  The sun tucked itself under the cloud.

 

    I told the lady and her Son, "Adios!" and they both smiled.  

 

Good night.

 

I live two blocks from the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers.

 

I thought the sunset might be spectacular.  I drove over to the river.

 

There is a park there.  I was surprised to see three kids with

 

an float.  They were swimming and playing in the river.  The water is dark.  Alligators

 

are everywhere here.  They were having a good time.  Naturally while I

 

watched the sunset I was scanning the water for alligators!  The kids were

 

by themselves.  

 

 

I should come to the river more often for the sunset.  I enjoyed it!

 

 

The sun was really a bright Cadmium Red Light but here it looks like a Tangerine color.

 

 

There was a man fishing near me. He pulled up something.  I think

 

it was part of a branch.  

 

 

  It might be nice to live aboard a sailboat.    

 

 

   Doc Adams came by for dinner. He was already full.  I pet him as he ate.  I could fill

 

how stuffed he already was!  He ate a whole can of food. He drank lots of water too.  

 

My neighbor told me she feeds him too.  

 

 

Festus was enjoying the new cushion in the bay window.  

 

No room for Miss Kitty!

 

 

Miss Kitty loves the painting chair!  Good night!

 

 

"Stonington September at Sand Beach" 8x10 oil on copper. Sold. Thank you.

 

What a nice surprise!  A painting sale!  Thank you!

 Captain Roy Moyes was born in Grafton, Australia in 1885. At the age of 14, he left his home to become an apprentice on a ship. Reading his poem "Becalmed" gives a sense of the connection sailors have to their immediate environment and how it can lead the way to introspection. There is more to this poem than being becalmed at sea.

Becalmed

Only the sea, motionless in calm

Only the hope of a stirring breeze;
There's naught, but the depth's alluring charm,
Rippling reflections in placid seas--
Only the sails and the dawning sun.
Only the loss of the foaming run.

Yet, deep in the soul the sea reflects
In the light of questing, seeking thoughts
The cause of its wonderful objects
The gale, the calm, the loneliness wrought.
All is still; there is no when, or how--
Only the presence of the now.

The day drifts on, and at evening fall
Golden painted clouds drift idly by:
The sea lies still; and over it all
The awe of silence reigns far and nigh.
Patient we must be, whole darkness hides
The ship and our fate on the still tides.

 

 

"Becalmed" 8x6 oil on copper 450$ framed in gold or black with gold.

Shipping and frame are included.

 

   I saw this scene while I was standing in about three feet of water at

 

Crandon Beach in Biscayne Bay, near Miami, in Florida.  

 

The power of the clouds just was amazing.  The water was so luminous.

 

I decided the clouds must be the star of the show in the painting.  

 

   Doc Adams has been visiting us twice a day lately.  I have decided to place

 

a bowl of water next to his canned food.  He loves this!  He eats his food but

 

stops occasionally to admire the water bowl.  After he is finished eating he puts

 

his foot into the water just like Miss Kitty does!  He drinks for a long time.

 

The thought occurred to me while I was going to sleep one night, "Where does

 

Doc Adams get a drink of water?"   All these years of feeding Doc Adams and

 

this just not occurred to me.  He must drink out of a puddle.  After eating Doc Adams

 

appreciated a few kind pats on his back and head.  He likes to roll around in the shady

 

grass by my car.  Sometimes he lays in the shade of the trailer next door so he can

 

visit with my cats.  My cats have their nose pressed against the screen to see him.

 

Yesterday Festus was a bit perturbed because Doc Adams had his bowl of food first.

 

I noticed Festus giving me the stink eye.  I told him Doc Adams may not have eaten

 

in a while Festus.  

 

   The Orange and White male cat that was living in our trailer park is gone.  I suspect the

 

park manager trapped and removed him.  Doc Adams feels safer.  Doc Adams doesn't need

 

to worry about being beat up by the larger male cat.  

 

 

   I love this photo of Doc Adams after he ate and drank water.  So happy.

 

 

All is well here. Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

"Festus, The Look" 5x7 Watercolor  50$ includes shipping.

 

 

"Festus, Looking Away" 7x5 Watercolor 50$ includes shipping.

 

 

"Festus, Sniffing Zinnias" 7x5 Watercolor 50$ includes shipping.

 

   I carefully painted these watercolors.  I made several adjustments.

 

I decided to minimize a few whiskers.  I think they have a nice feeling.

 

 

I admired the S curve Miss Kitty's tail and body created.  I may do some more

 

watercolors!

 

 

Festus continues to model in my new painting chair.

 

An interesting detail about Festus:  Festus likes the smell of Coconut Oil.

 

I have a small jar of Coconut Oil to use on my skin.  Festus likes to put his

 

face all over the jar so he smells like Coconut Oil.  Then he comes over to me

 

and puts his face on me.  He wants me to smell him.  He is delighted with

 

the fact he smells like Coconut Oil. He chirps and swirls around.  I tell

 

him he smells great!  He did the same thing with bug spray and bleach.  I am

 

very glad Coconut Oil is safe!  I had to hide those other things.

 

 

Good night.

 

 

 

"Captiva Island Sunset April 30, 2023" 7x5 oil on copper 350$ framed in gold

or black with gold.  Includes shipping and frame.

 

    Here is another sunset painting for April 30th.  I thought this sunset was

 

just amazing.  It is always such a wonderful treat to view a sunset.  

 

 

   We were all surprised and delighted to see Doc Adams this morning!  He meowed 

 

for his breakfast.  Festus and Miss Kitty were as surprised as I was to see him!  I hurried

 

into my kitchen to find a nice few pieces of fresh rotisserie Chicken and Fussy Cat dried food.

 

He was so happy to eat the chicken that he began to purr.  He looks well fed. His hair is very

 

shiny.  His eyes were clear.  He let me pick him up for a few pets.  I set him down and pet him

 

a few more times. He slapped my hand so I decided to let him be.  He laid in the shade of my car

 

for a few minutes before he left.  I never see Doc Adams leave.  He just seems to vanish!

 

His visit put me in a very good mood all day long.

 

 

 

I think Doc Adams has a bit of a belly!  He will be fine. 

 

 

I think if the cat's water bowl were larger, Miss Kitty, would have all four of her feet in the

 

water bowl, but since it is small, she only puts both front feet in the bowl.  She shakes her

 

paws off after a drink.  The water sprays all over.  Festus sometimes gets sprayed by the water.

 

I always do.  

 

 

Miss Kitty slowly came to lay next to Festus while he was having his breakfast. 

 

He stopped eating, licked her head twice, and resumed eating.  He left her a few pieces of

 

chicken. He looked over at her before he hopped down.  He went into the screen room 

 

while she ate the chicken.  Then he came back to finish the dry food. I am always impressed.

 

Festus always treats her so kindly.  He truly loves Miss Kitty.  So do I.

 

 

Good night.