Artist Renee Lammers

 

   I was talking to Robert on the phone when I saw a little orange kitten at the screendoor.

 

The kitten was meowing.  I grabbed Festus's dinner plate, opened a can of cat food, and opened

 

the door to give the kitten dinner!  Festus thought he was going to dine outside.  Festus saw

 

his plate in my hand.  So he tried to escape!  My foot blocked the way and Festus stayed inside

 

the screenroom.  I set Festus's plate of cat food down for the stray kitten.  The little orange

 

kitten ate.  Soon another kitten, probably her Brother, came out, and ate too!  What

 

a nice surprise!  Festus and I watched the stray cats dine.  I took a photo of the kittens

 

for Robert to see.  They reminded me of Greek kittens.  The orange kitten let me pet her.

 

She purred and rolled around.  It was a very nice visit.  I washed my hands.

 

I do not want Festus to get any germs.  Festus watched the kittens eat while sitting on the step.

 

I could tell that Festus really liked them.  He was not jealous.  

 

 

The orange kitten came to dine with us again!  We watched her eat.  She was alone tonight.

 

She is very cute.  She is about 1/8 the size of Festus.  Festus talked and talked from the inside

 

of the screenroom.  She ate a lot of Tiki tuna. 

 

 

I have been working on a few grisailles from scenes I saw on Sanibel Island.  I have been

 

listening to the Ukraine/Russia situation while I paint.  What a tragedy.

 

 

   This is an 8x10

 

 

   This is a 6x8 of a black cat that lives near by.  I take Festus for a stroller ride to see

 

cats in our neighborhood.  If we spot a cat, we stop, and admire them.  Great entertainment.

 

This cat's eyes glowed. I hope to capture that.

 

 

I went to the store to find Festus a few new toys.  He loved this one.

 

 

He thought this toy was great!

 

 

The lazer light toy was not appreciated.

 

He did not react at all.  He saw it but he refused to play.

 

I told them the lazer is a cat favorite!  This lazer did not impress him.

 

 

Nope he says.  

 

 

Wheat grass for Festus!  He says, "I do not think so!"

 

I told him wheat grass is good for him.  "It ain't happening."

 

Festus has discriminating tastes!

 

 

 

Loved this umbrella on Sanibel Island.  

 

I did great with the Zoom meeting with the owner's Daughter for a luxury sales store.

 

I have another Zoom meeting with a sales manager on Monday.  We shall see how I do!

 

I think I would be perfect for their company.  Starting pay is 60k to 100k.  I know Festus

 

would be happy.  I could still paint!  Good night.

 

 

 

    Festus is a great companion in general.  This last few months I have noticed

 

in the evening he likes to wrestle for about two minutes or less.

 

 

 

He likes to bite me and use his claws to hold me.

 

I have to hold him by the neck and grab his paws.

 

It is a wrestling game!

 

I talk him out of his fighting mood!

 

Then I let him run off.

 

I have heard this is a common issue with male Maine Coon Cats.

 

I am very glad I neutered him at 6 months old!

 

The wrestling always happens at night when he is in a hunting mood!

 

He has been trained to not wake me up at night so the fighting thing

 

can be stopped.

 

 

Sanibel Island was lovely a few days ago!  

 

I might put on my swimsuit and go back there today after a zoom

 

interview with a high end sales company!

 

It is commission and bonus based pay averaging 60,000 to 100,000$ per year!

 

Festus could eat very well if I was hired.

 

 

A laughing gull!

 

 

I tried to paint the Sanibel Lighthouse from the beach that day.

 

Beach erosion has made this the only view available.

 

 

   Soon more people will arrive to Sanibel with even more umbrellas for Spring Break!

 

 

 

"Family Picnic" 8x10 oil on copper sold.  Thank you!

 

 

 

"Sanibel In February" 5x7 oil on copper  Sold.  Thanks.

 

    I was just thinking how wonderful and how lucky I was to be painting here when a 

 

huge flock of lady bugs surrounded me for three minutes.  They were so thick it was difficult

 

to see the scene.  They were not five feet away but just all around me!  They do not bite.

 

They are just a bit annoying.  They moved on finally.  If I had put on Repel wipes then

 

they would not have been interested in me.

 

 

"Sanibel Sunset February 21" 5x7 oil on copper 350$ framed in gold or black with gold.

 

    I was eaten alive by No See Ums for an hour before I threw my hands up, walked back

 

to the car, and put the Repel wipes on my skin!  Then I kept painting.  I watched until the

 

sun was down. I appreciate the whole experience.  Fishermen were there fishing.  Many

 

people had gathered for the sunset.  I enjoyed the coolness of the air once the sun was down.

 

I took my time because I know it is best not to head out until after dark to drive home.

 

 

I thought about doing another painting at this stage.

 

 

I went for a two hour walk along the beach finding shells and taking photos.

 

 

I must do this alot before gas prices increase!

 

 

I could see a lot of potential paintings.

 

I love umbrellas.

 

 

 

Birds, people, water, umbrellas!

 

 

They were really cute.  Sandpipers?

 

 

Festus loves to play in the bath tub in the morning to keep me company.

 

 

I took him out first to the trash can and back.

 

He gave me a disappointed look.  Too short of a ride.

 

He stood on top of his stroller in the screenroom trying to get my attention.

 

I took him out for another ride, this time a half an hour.

 

 

Festus is safe zipped up inside of his cat stroller.

 

We stopped a few times to admire bird or a cat.

 

 

Here is Festus asleep in my chair.  He is doing great at night waking me up at night.

 

He let me sleep all night.  

 

 

Sometimes he does this before he leaps out, charges me, and pretends to bite.

 

I let out a genuine squeal everytime!

 

Good night.

 

 

 

"Fred" 8x10 oil on copper  Sold.  Thanks.

 

   I worked on this one for a total of four days.  I like how it came out.

 

I am very glad this painting will be in a wonderful collection.

 

 

Robert sent me photos of the puppies!

 

Here is Poppy.  She always is beautiful.

 

 

Lady Violet is the darker golden in the front.  

 

 

Monet is doing great since he has been taking a little bit of pain pills each morning.

 

He climbs stairs and hops in the car.  Lily is doing a snow bath.

 

Poppy is talking on the right.

 

I can tell they are wagging their tails.

 

 

   I started the new waitressing job on Friday.  I worked for three hours.

 

Then the manager tapped me on the should.  She said, "All finished for night."

 

I asked her when I should return?  She said she would call.  Saturday I heard nothing.

 

Sunday I called.  She asked if I could be there at 5pm?  Then she called me back to let

 

me know the other manager had hired people.  They did not need me.  I thanked her.

 

Oh well.  I had fun for three hours.  Back to painting!

 

 

Good night.  Thanks Robert for the photos of the dogs.  Nice to see them.

 

 

 

   I decided to drive to Sanibel island and do 5x7 oil on copper paintings!

 

I will take a better photo of this one tomorrow.

 

 

Here it is on my easel.  "February Day On Sanibel Island" 5x7 oil on copper Sold. Thanks

 

 

"Ibis At Sunset" 5x7 oil on copper  Sold. thanks

 

   I started to paint the Ibis.  They were standing near me.  A cute little girl decided

 

to chase them.  They all flew away but came back and relocated by the edge of the water.

 

I decided to paint the water behind the Ibis.  I like how this one turned out!

 

 

"Sanibel February 16, 2022 Sunset" 7x5 oil on copper.   Sold. Thanks

 

 

 

The sunset was very nice!

 

 

 

Here is an 8x10 grisaille of a Sanibel island seagull I met last week.  I will finish it soon.

 

 

Here is another 8x10 grisaille painting of a few turtles.

 

 

Another 8x10 grisaille of more turtles.  Will finish this one soon.

 

 

Festus does all kinds of things with his cat stroller.  

 

He knows this will get my attention!  Of course I took him out for a stroll!

 

He is a stroller addict. 

 

 

He is a great sport when the new cat toy has no batteries inside of it!

 

He played hard.  His back feet were used to play too!

 

 

Good night!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While Festus was relaxing on the washing machine in the screenroom, I did a few watercolors.

 

 

 

 

Here is my painting audience.  We never watch TV much during daylight hours.

 

It is just too lovely here in Florida.  When the sun goes down, after dinner, then we watch tv.

 

 

"Captiva Resident" 10x8 oil on copper 650$ framed in your choice of gold or 

black with gold.  Shipping and frame are included in the price.

 

I worked on this painting for 10 hours straight.  Blue Heron birds are not

 

an easy bird to paint because of all of their feathers.  I created a bit of water behind the

 

foliage.

 

 

I took Festus on a long stroller ride.  We encountered this well fed orange house cat.

 

I was amused at his expression when he saw Festus in the cat stroller!

 

 

We paused so Festus could met the cat.  This cat was about 8 pounds.

 

 

The cat ran back to his house!

 

 

Then Festus met two chickens!  I told Festus he eats a lot of chicken.

 

 

Here is Festus watching a pigeon on the outside of the screenroom.

 

 

   I was hired as a waitress at one of the very best seafood restaurants in Naples, Florida.

 

They want me to train for 50 hours a week for a few weeks.  One manager with a good temper

 

will train me.  I am very hesitant to work here.  I know the monetary rewards might be great.

 

They have over 100 wines and over 80 cordials to serve and a full bar.  They have a busser.

 

I would need to carry a large tray over my head from the kitchen to the table.  It might not

 

be possible to work part time.

 

    I was also hired at my favorite shoe store but they only pay 12$ an hour.  Festus told me

 

to decline both jobs.   The later position would not earn enough for Festus cans of food!

 

    I just interviewed for an RV sales position.  I was asked to submit a resume. I just sent

 

the resume with photos of the airstream/camping during a Nor'easter storm in Maine.

 

I might interview with a few different high end car dealerships this week.

 

Everyone is hiring here.  Possiblities are endless.  The trick for me will be to find a higher paying than 10$/hr

 

part time position.  Good night!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Strawberry Glazed Cheesecake" 8x10 oil on copper 650$ framed in gold or black with gold.

 

Here are a few detail photos of this painting.  You might see a few letters in the foreground

 

turned around upside down and side ways to have fun, spelling the word Love.

 

There are also a few hearts throughout the painting.  I thought this would be a nice

 

Valentine's Day gift!

 

 

 

 

 

   That was a fun painting to do!  

 

It is refreshing to paint a new subject.

 

 

"Pretty Boy" 10x8 oil on copper 650$ framed in gold or black with gold.

Shipping and frame are included in the price. 

 

   I finished both of these paintings yesterday.  

 

I was feeling relieved to quit that restaurant.

 

I came home from work.  I could not sleep.  I have had difficulty sleeping

 

after working at this crazy toxic restaurant!  I decided it would be best if I

 

not work there anymore.  I was feeling liberated once again!

 

I have three more car payments and lot rents saved.  

 

I do not owe anything on credit cards.  I am feeling good!

 

I am not sure if I will try to find a new waitressing job.

 

I am going to take a few days off and just paint and stroll Festus around.

 

We have a lot to be thankful for!

 

 

Have a great night!

 

 

 

    I went to Sanibel Island to paint but forgot my paint box.

 

I walked for miles along the beach taking photos.

 

Waitressing has given me back the ability to walk for hours!

 

Walking is effortless now. 

 

 

West Gulf Drive on Sanibel Island is the very best place to view the sunset.

 

The shells are more plentiful here as well.

 

 

I saw about a hundred of these orange conchs along the shore.

 

 

 

Birds are plentiful here too.

 

 

The light was perfect before the sunset.

 

 

A Snowy Egret made an appearance.  Loved his bright yellow feet.

 

 

What an incredible February day.  The temperature was 70 degrees.

 

 

 

Festus was hanging out with his feral cat friend.  

 

 

Sometimes Festus loves to hang out in his stroller enjoying the view and sun.

 

   Last night at the restaurant was very interesting as usual.

 

My tables were doing great.  I did not make any mistakes all night.

 

I had a table of three young ladies.  They each ordered two entrees each and

 

had expensive cocktails.  One ordered a pound of blue crab.  The blue crab is

 

usually steamed fresh.  There has been a shortage of blue crab.  The chefs have

 

been frying frozen blue crab. No one likes fried frozen blue crab because it is

 

mushy.  The lady told me, "I am not paying for this blue crab.  I hate it. I can not

 

eat it.  Take it off of my bill!"   She screamed this to me.  I smiled and said calmly, "I will go

 

tell the owner."   I told the owner and this is what he told me to tell her, "No more talking!

 

Pay bill now!"   I said to him in a calm voice, "Do you really want me to say this to her?"

 

"Yes! Do it now!"  I kind of laughed and he laughed too.  I walked up to the table.

 

I said to the very upset lady, "The owner of the restaurant told me to give you this message.

 

He said, No more talking!  Pay bill now!"   She literally leaped out of her seat in the booth and

 

yelled, "I am not paying it.  I am leaving now!"   I said to her, "If you leave and do not pay your

 

bill you will be arrested."  She settled down.  Two of them paid their bill.  The owner came over

 

to talk to the irritated lady. He took her Blue Crab off her bill.  They all paid. I had my 15% gratuity.

 

I did the best I could do.  I told them it was a pleasure waiting on them.  

 

     Mary, the waitress, was tired of the owner yelling at us.  She said this was going to be her last night.

Then for two or three hours she belittled the owner.  He was quiet and sad. It was really wierd to watch

 

as I waited on tables.  I feel like I am a toxic restaurant from hell!  Very interesting though.  Entertaining.

 

I came home chuckling.  I had 200$ for the eveninig and a few laughs. I think this will be my new attitude.

 

Plus I am getting great exercise!  The owner said I did an excellent job last night.  I thanked him and left.

 

I was more stoic than usual.  Maybe that scared him into thinking I was going to quit too.  What a wierd game.

 

There are so many perks to this particular place.  I get 100% of my tips instead of having to pay off 

 

bartenders, dishwashers, and busboys.  The place is spotless.  I come home not smelling like food.

 

I can have 25% off of their food but it is too expensive for me to eat there.  I don't need to work many shifts.

 

I love the hours. I can sleep in! Also I do not need to lift heavy trays.    Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the Blue Heron I met on Turner Beach in Captiva Island.

 

This is the grisaille.  Will work more on the painting to achieve full color once it has dried.

 

Doing a grisaille allows me to make sure the design is good.  

 

 

Robert sent me a photo of the dogs walking on a path by the school.

 

They look pleased to be outside.  I miss them.

 

 

I was eating chicken fajatas.  I think the aroma of the chicken drew a ferrel cat to our door.

 

The cat was making interesting clicking sounds.  Festus was sitting on the second step 

 

listening and admiring his new friend!  The cat wanted inside.  We didn't think that would

 

be a good idea.  After a few minutes of making the clicking sounds, the cat, started to make

 

angry meowing sounds.  

 

 

Festus was intrigued.  

 

 

Festus likes to watch me cook.

 

I boiled water for noodles and boiled Italian Sausage for spaghetti.

 

The burner worked fine.

 

 

Festus hopped out of his cat stroller after the second walk for the day.

 

The weather here in Florida is incredible on a February day.  

 

I love being able to go out for a walk after painting.

 

 

 

A scene I saw in Bokeellia, Florida.  

 

I did not see any scenes like this on Pine Island or St. James City.

 

   I went into work on Friday night to waitress but apparently they had scheduled me off

 

to train Amy, a new waitress.  They had texted me a message at 2:30pm but I did not see it.

 

They told me they were slow, gave another waitress Marcy off, said nothing about Amy.

 

I was driving away when I saw Marcy driving into work..so they just lied to have another

 

night to train Amy.  I went to work on Saturday night.  There was a new development!

 

 

They are adding 15% gratuity to all tables we wait on now. 

 

 

  About five people left additional tips.

 

 

It was much more relaxing knowing I was going to be paid 15%.  

 

 

 

    I did make two mistakes.  The first mistake was not putting in a 1/2 pound of shrimp.  The lady

 

had been difficult from the start.  She wanted me to figure out the red drink she had on her last visit

 

to the restaurant.  I named a few drinks.  Nope.  I gave her a drink menu.  I left her be for awhile.

 

I came back, no she didn't not know.  I took another table order.  She had flagged down the owner

 

who convinced her and another lady to have margaritas.  One was strawberry and the other was mango.

 

He was trying to tell me this while I was putting in the difficult lady's order.  I thought I put the order

 

all in to the kitchen.  I forgot her shrimp.  She decided after I placed the shrimp order to decline them.

 

The manager had to go over to the table.  She said she didn't want them.  The margaritas the

 

owners made were not right.  He made two strawberry margaritas, one had a bug in it.  They declined

 

those drinks.  I took them off their bill.   The owner poured one lady a shot of whiskey for free.  

 

This table was just difficult.  She was making all these irritated looks asking me for all kinds of things.

I was bringing them sweet teas, to go cups of sweet teas, to go boxes, then split checks.  I brought them

 

the split checks early to make sure I had done them right.  They had not taken off her shrimp.  So I had

 

them fix that.  They left finally.  

 

   The table next to me ordered 20 chicken wings to go.  Two different flavors.  On the menu it came with fries.

 

For some reason on the computer fries was not an option..just wings.  I put the wings in.  She checked them

 

to see very little flat wings.  In her house they only eat flat wings..not the drumstick part.  She noticed no fries.

 

I put a fry order in.  They came out fast.  All was fine with them.

 

   One waitress, Mary, left at her end of the shift just as two parties of 20 came into the restaurant.  

 

Chris also left.  Marcy, the owner, and manager had to wait on them.  I waited on the smaller tables.  

 

I ended up making 199$ from 5:00-11pm. The restaurant was closed. I asked the owner if he wanted

 

me to stay to help clean up.

 

 

He told me to stay for a few minutes.  I asked Marcy if I could help her.  She wanted me

 

to put bags over buckets, put plastic gloves, and aprons in them.  I finished those, clocked out. 

 

The manager wanted me to stay later. I told him what the owner said. 

 

He said not to worry about the hours.  I didn't know what to do. 

 

We are paid 7$ a hour.  My check for 50 hours was only 201$.  The government takes

 

2.5 % of all of our sales out of our paycheck.  I will ask another manager what to do when the owner says

 

to go and the manager wants me to stay.  Seems like the owner would have a higher status.

 

 

 

The owner was barking orders at waitresses all night long creating much stress.

 

Chris, a waiter, was not bussing any of his tables for some reason.  There were tables

 

all over the restaurant full of dirty dishes.  The owner told him many times to bus his tables.

 

 

He shouted to make sure I stood by the door. I had to explain I had not clocked in yet.  

 

The manager told me to not clock in until 5:00pm.  It was 4:45pm.  I was following orders.

 

 

 

Then he shouted to make sure I clean tables better or he would not seat me any table.

 

I explained that was not my table but I would clean it anyway.  They were all of Chris's dirty tables.

 

Then he shouted yes clean all tables.  Doesn't matter whose table it is.

 

One customer who was very disturbed by how he would talking to me asked me, "Who is he?  The owner?"

 

I said, "Yes".  He made a face.  "That little short guy is the owner?"  "Yes".  He shook his head for some reason.

 

 

   I survived another night of waitressing.  Interesting about the 15% gratuity.

 

Festus is lounging in the screenroom.  I will do watercolors of sunflowers today before

 

I go to work at 3pm.  Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the start of a sweet looking Brown Pelican I saw at the Captiva Island Country Club.

 

8x10 oil on copper

 

 

Here is the beginning of an 8x10 Strawberry Cheesecake painting.

 

I ate half of the cheesecake the first night so I had to paint using a photo.

 

I was very hungry because of all the exercise I have been getting while waitressing!

 

 

  I liked Bokeelia, Florida.  It is not very far from where I live.

 

There are wonderful accessable views of the water.  

 

 

  I was here once with Robert in 2005 when we took a ferry to Coya Costa.

 

 

The water was so inviting.  I remember walking into the water.

 

 

 

Very beautiful water to paint here.  I was just looking around today.

 

I will come back to work here soon.

 

 

 

Still a little charm left in Bokeelia.  

 

 

I drove through Maklacka twice.  It is a small town with little cottages along the water.

 

St. James Town and Pine Island had a lot of mobile homes everywhere.

 

There are no beaches in this area.  They do have flat pine forest areas to hike.

 

I went back home to give Festus a few more cans and hang out with him.

 

I took him on two cat stroller rides.  He was very happy.

 

He was meowing very loud after lunch.  I went out into the screenroom to see what all

 

his fuss was about.  He was sitting in his cat stroller howling.  So off we went!

 

   I work tomorrow, Friday from 5pm to 10pm.  Saturday 5pm to 10pm.

 

Five hours waitressing is a breeze for me.  It is the 8 or 9 hours straight without eating

 

that are difficult.  Tomorrow should be fun!  Happy Golden Retriever Day to Monet,

 

Poppy, Lily, and Lady Violet.  Monet is taking a small amount of a pain pill for his

 

arthritis joints.  He is acting like a puppy again.  He is walking up the stairs to sleep

 

with all of them now at night.  Sounds great!

 

 

Monet and Lily.

 

 

Monet and Poppy.  

 

Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

Festus had two bites of his breakfast then jumped into his stroller!  Ride please!

 

I decided to take him a few blocks to the Caloosahatchie River.  

 

 

We turned down the street from the mobile home park.  It is a nice neighborhood.

 

Festus was quiet.  He was sitting up high admiring the view.

 

He loves stroller rides!

 

 

It is a nice quiet neighborhood.

 

 

There are large lots without homes that have been allowed to be wild.

 

 

 

 

 

We came to the river.  Festus liked it.  

 

I stood there so he could sit and enjoy the river.

 

There is a new public boat ramp a few blocks from our park.

 

 

Festus was very happy with his ride.  What an adventure!

 

We went back home. I fed him a few more cans of cat food. 

 

Put the air condition on for him.  I decided to go to see Koreshan.

 

 

 

Koreshan is a state park in Estero.   It was created by Dr. Cyrus R. Teed in 

 

1893.  People lived together on this land as a commune.

 

They believed in living a celibate life would bring them immortality.

 

There were many children borne.  I do not think anyone was being celibate.

 

 

There are several buildings still in existance on the land to view.

 

 

Seven women lived here.  

 

 

A man and his family lived here.  He took care of the cattle and gardens.

 

 

I admired this scene inside of this cottage.

 

 

Nice bamboo.

 

   Waitressing went fine last night.  I worked from 2pm to 10pm and made 155$ in tips.

 

The supervisor sat me the best tables to avoid me declining more service to their customers.

 

My declining to wait on the table from the previous evening created a better environment for me.

 

I guess I am glad I have enough gumption to do so!

 

No other waitress has done this at this restaurant.

 

I did find out about a notebook inches thick of people who are banned from dining there.

 

The first year they were open the police were called out to have people arrested.

 

People were throwing plates at waitresses.  They were breaking things.

 

They were doing all kinds of crazy things.  I hear things have improved and I am 

 

very lucky I was not there when it first opened.

 

 

A few hours later I was back home to feed Festus!

 

He wanted to go for another ride!  Good night.