Artist Renee Lammers

 

"That's My Girl" 4x6 oil on copper. Sold.  Thank you.

 

    I saw this Praying Mantis at the Trailing Yew Inn on Monhegan Island.  I was given

 

the task of watching after this interesting female insect who was sitting on the deck.

 

The cooking staff did not want anyone to step on her.  I was just sitting there anyway so I was

 

given the job.  I took my job seriously relocating to a chair near her.  She just sat there for

 

an hour.  I warned a few people to not get too close.  People took her photo. One lady came up.

 

 She turned her head to look at her then she marched

 

off to the grass.  I lost track of her in the grass. She moved like wind blowing grass.  Very 

 

fun watching her.  They are becoming rare to find.

 

 

   I came back home from Monhegan Island early.  While I was on Monhegan Island

 

I realized I was having serious health issues.  My upper stomach, the pancreas area,

 

has been painful for ten years since 2014 when I had my gall bladder removed.  I have

 

told every single doctor I have seen about this but none really seemed worried.  I noticed

 

recently I was walking very slow.  I was also weaker.  I did not have much energy at all.

 

I arrived on Monhegan Island, carried my luggage upstairs, and went to sleep. I had 

 

never done that before. I slept all day.  I did not feel like painting.  I left the island 

 

because I was worried I might need emergency medical care.  When I returned home

 

I rested for two days.  Then I went to the doctor during open clinic hours.  She

 

put an order in for a lot of blood work.  She ordered an abdominal cat scan.  Finally!

 

The blood work came back in two hours.  My triglycerides were 206.  That is very high.

 

High cholesterol of 252.  High Density lipids were 99.  Low density lips 112.  I had higher

 

Chloride, 106.  I had high CO2 of 29.   RDWSD was high at 46.   

 

 

   I have had high triglycerides since I was 25.  But it can cause the pancrease to be inflammed.

 

I have all over muscle and joint pain.  The doctor said Cipro, the antibiotic, I took recently

 

for kidney infection can cause pancreatitis and tendon tears.  She said she was very glad

 

I discontinued taking this antibiotic Cipro when I started to feel severe muscle pain.

 

She said it is rare but it can last a long time.  Maybe Cipro has caused my already inflamed

 

pancreas to be more inflamed.   The cat scan will hopefully be more helpful.  She said

 

if I feel worse to go to the emergency room.  I am trying to eat a fat free vegetable and fruit

 

diet to help the pancreas.  I am taking one tylenol for pain instead of aspirin.  I feel dizzy 

 

sometimes and always tired.  I also feel kind of confused or disoriented sometimes.

 

 

  This beautiful smoked lox on sour dough bread with pickled onions, capers,

 

and radishes was a delicious lunch I ate on Monhegan one day.  I admit

 

I ate a lot of seaweed salad, two steaks, and two slices of cakes, many many

 

slices of baked bacon, bacon, egg, cheese sandwiches every morning.

 

I ate much more fatty things than I usually do while I was on Monhegan.

 

These fatty foods did not help my pancreas much!  I am glad to be home

 

recuperating.  Monhegan Island may have helped me identify my health issues

 

I was having for a very long time.  Maybe taking pancreas enzymes, eating a low

 

fat diet, might help?  Maybe they will decide to take out my pancreas?  Or maybe

 

it is not even the pancreas but an entirely different issue?  Time will tell.

 

October 18th at 7am is when I will have the cat scan or maybe it was an ultrasound.  

 

 

   Monhegan was beautiful as the fall colors, wild asters, golden rod

 

bloomed.  I am glad I went to Monhegan.  I hope to feel better soon.

 

 

    Poppy is doing ok.  I do need to give her a pain pill every so often.

 

She does have more hard tumors surrounding her ankle.  I think she has a

 

good quality of life.  She is still very active and has a good appetite.  Monet

 

is taking the same cancer and pain curing herbs from China as Poppy.

 

Monet is also taking a milk thistle capsule once a day for lowing liver

 

enzymes.  He wags his tail.  He is doing ok.  Lily had an absessed cyst pop on

 

her side.  I have been putting hot compresses, cleaning the wound, and putting hygrogen

 

peroxide, benadine, and Bactracin on it.  I have been doctoring Lily too!  Lady Violet

 

is in good health.  Festus is doing well.  Miss Kitty has been enjoying backyard walks

 

once or twice a day with all the other dogs and cat!

 

   Thanks for continuing to follow me.  I hope to feel better soon.  Hope to paint more.

 

Good night.

 

 

 

"Foggy Morning At Fish Beach on Monhegan Island" 8x10 oil on copper 850$ framed in gold

or black with gold.  Shipping and frame included.

 

    I sat watching the fog covering up Manana Island for two hours.  I drank two diet cokes.  

 

I turned around and saw this scene and said, "That's It!"   I painted all morning, afternoon, until

 

early evening on this painting.  I took it back to my room and refined it just a tiny bit.  I met wonder

 

people while I painted.  I handed out post cards.  I let a Mom with many little children explain

 

what I was doing.  It was interesting listening to her description of my painting. 

 

   Internet is still a big problem at the Trailing Yew Inn. I brought my Verizon internet box and it worked

 

for 6 hours one day.  No more internet out of that box.  I found a good place for internet but I must hike

 

up horn's hill!  My favorite hill!  

 

 

Trailing Yew Inn has the best laundry views.

 

 

  The Chestnut tree is starting to turn golden. It is loaded with Chestnuts.

 

 

  Sunset over Manana Island.

 

Ted is bringing back the dogs today.  I imagine Ted and the dogs had a wonderful time.

 

I can't wait to hear all about it when I return.  I might call Ted.  I won't be home until

 

September 23rd.  

 

Good night.

 

"Monhegan Day Trippers" 8x10 oil on copper sold.

 

   I painted this yesterday morning but worked on it till 5pm.  I hiked back to my room at the

 

Trailing Yew Inn, loaded photos, and added people to the painting.  I liked how the people

 

turned out in the painting.  I ate two small containers of Seaweed salad.  I had some pistaccios.

 

I went to sleep early.  At 12am my phone buzzed.  My NASA friend called late to tell me to look

 

over Manana Island to see Northern Lights!  I walked to an empty upstairs room facing the island.

 

I could see something faintly. I opened the window, held my cell phone out of the window, and

 

took a few photos.  I sent him a few and he was happy.  He asked all his friends in Maine to send

 

him Northern Light photos.  Albin and Millinocket showed great color.  The full moon washed out

 

my photo but it is interesting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   I walked around Main Street yesterday.  Here are a few photos.

 

 

 

  Fall colors are showing.

 

 

   They were working on the foundation.  Cute house.

 

 

 

   I did not see any artists out painting yesterday.  

 

   Robert told me Ted took all four dogs to his house.  He just decided they needed

 

to be over there instead of our house.  He took their medicines. Robert gave them

 

instructions.  He has only kidnapped the dogs once over night.  This time he says

 

he wants them until Thursday.  I hope they will be all right.  The cats are still at home!

 

Good night.

 

   I decided to go back to Monhegan tomorrow!  The dogs and cats are doing great.  I am 

 

giving Ted gas money to visit them any day he would like.  I hope to paint many more 

 

paintings on Monhegan.  I am staying at the Seagull Cottage at the Trailing Yew Inn.

 

I will bring warmer clothes!  Autumn is here in Maine.  

 

 

   The Trailing Yew Inn said they were booked solid on the weekends for September but

 

they found a nice room for me.  

 

 

   I hope to do some hiking while I am on Monhegan.  The weather is usually nice in September.

 

 

   I am going to try to bring my own Verizon internet box.  I hope to have good internet.

 

I will post my paintings and photos everyday.

 

 

  Good night!

 

"View From Horn's Hill in September" 6x8 oil on copper 450$ framed in gold or black with gold.

 

 

"Monhegan Flowers" 8x10 oil on copper 850$ framed in gold or black with gold. 

Shipping and frame included.

 

 

 "Monhegan Reds" 8x10 oil on copper 850$ framed in gold or black with gold. Shipping

and frame are included.

 

 

"Monhegan White Sheets" 8x10 oil on copper 850$ framed in gold or black with gold.

Frame and shipping included.

 

 

"Monhegan Rock Garden September" 8x10 oil on copper 850$ framed in gold or black with

gold. Shipping and frame are included.

 

   I started one other 8x10 from Lobster Cove of Jamie Wyeth's house but the tide went out

 

and I preferred water in the foreground. I will bring it out again or work from a photo to 

 

finish it.  

 

    When I returned home, I learned Poppy is not taking pain medicines anymore. Her

 

leg looked good. She was still taking the chinese medicine and the holistic medicines.

 

She had been playful and looking good.  I don't know if the cancer went away or what?  Maybe

 

she doesn't have cancer?  Time will tell. Very glad about Poppy!  

 

   The other dogs were fine. They wagged their tails.

 

   Festus escaped one day while Ted was here. Festus ran into our backyard as he does all the time.

 

Ted did not see him escape out the back door! Festus was in our backyard walking around by himself!

 

Then he decided to walk inside of the cat penthouse.  He was lounging on the top hammock when Ted

 

spotted him!  He called Festus to come out of the penthouse.  Festus would not come out!  Ted

 

called Robert to tell him he had escaped and would not come out of his penthouse.  Robert told them

 

it was fine.  He is safe inside there.  Ted tried to get Festus out.  Festus bit Ted!  Then Ted zipped

 

up the cat penthouse and left him outside.  That was fine. He is safe.  Robert came home a few hours

 

later.  Festus was fine.  I am looking forward to hearing the whole story from Ted.

 

   Tomorrow I will share more photos of Monhegan.

 

Good night!

 

   I worked all day until 6pm on this painting.  It is an 8x10 oil on copper.  I think I will paint

 

Tilly, the grey cat, walking down Main Street later.  I met many nice people while I painted.

 

There was one male artist who came up to me while I was painting and told me (in a stern voice) to take my

 

sunglasses off while I painted.  He said I was not mixing the right colors because my sunglasses

 

prevented me from seeing it.  I told him, "Stop right there!  Don't lecture me! Move on!"

 

I was happy with the colors I was mixing.  I like wearing my sunglasses while I paint to protect my

 

eyes!  That particular artist paints with almost all Browns.  I believe he is color impaired.  Best

 

to get rid of him.  Another male artist came up to me and said, "You are really painting a lot better now!

 

He said, Yes I can't believe the difference in the quality of your art."  I told them those paintings were

 

all sold so they could not be all that bad.  Luckily he moved on too.  Gee wiz!  I would never say those things.

 

 

   This photo was taken by the Photographer Michael Leonard.

 

I was standing still for 20 seconds without moving to get this clear image.

 

I thought it was pretty cool. I am 6 feet tall.  I am almost the same height as the bell!

 

There were no filters used when he took this photo. 

 

 

   Here is another painting on my easel from two days ago.  The copper

 

area is showing where the laundry will be.

 

 

   Here it is finished.

 

 

8x10 oil on copper.

 

 

   One of Lisa Brackett's homemade Donuts.  4$.  It was great!

 

 

  Here is Karin working down at Fish Beach.  She worked hard. I enjoyed her company.

 

   Today is a grey foggy day on Monhegan.  I am not sure where I will be painting.  I might

 

hike down to Lobster Cove.  Good Night!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Red House on the Rocks" 8x10 oil on copper 850$ framed in gold or black with gold. Shipping

and frame are included.

 

   This is my favorite painting I have completed here so far.  I have done 4 paintings.  The house

 

I have been invited to stay at is called Wildhaven House on top of Horns Hill.  It is a difficult climb

 

to the house.  I have been managing the climb well carrying all my painting equipment.  I have 

 

scaled down my supplies to safely navigate the hill!  I have painted laundry at the Trailing Yew Inn.

 

I painted the view from Horns Hill.  Yesterday I took the day off from painting. I hiked up to see

 

Whitehead.  I went on a boat ride around the island.  

 

 

  Here is the Red house viewed from the boat.

 

 

   Painters working at Trailing Yew Inn.  

 

 

 

   A photographer teacher, Michael Leonard, was a guest at the house with his friend, also 

 

a photographer, Jessica.  We hired a golf cart taxi, for 20$ each person to take us up to

 

the lighthouse.  I was going to paint the bell once we arrived on top of the hill.  I 

 

turned on my bright LED light to illuminate my easel when I heard a few groans.  

 

I would mess up the photographers if I had the light on. I turned the light off and asked

 

if I could assist them!  They asked me to shine my bright flashlight on the museum to

 

provide indirect lighting for 3 seconds.  Then they would call out shut it off.  I also

 

shined my flashlight on the lighthouse or the bell so they could make sure it was in the

 

frame of the camera.  I was very useful!  It was so exciting!  Michael Leonard showed me

 

how to find pro settings on my Samsung 23 Ultra, find 20 second thing, and choose a temperature

 

setting.  I did the flashlight trick on the building for 3 seconds and shut it off, then after a total

 

of 20 seconds this was the photo!  

 

 

  You can see the Milky Way behind the bell!  There were many boats

 

far out in the distance with bright lights on fishing for Tuna.  It was very

 

fun being there and participating.  They had amazing photos.

 

 

   Here are a few photos from the Wildhaven House on Horns Hill.  It is a very large house with

 

a nice gas stove.  There are many deck levels to enjoy the view in privacy. Fast speed internet!

 

The house location is extremely quiet.  

 

 

 

 

   This is the same view on different nights.

 

 

 

 

   Jessica, a photographer, and OT, who was a guest at the Wildhaven House

 

took this photo of me after we hiked up to see Whitehead.

 

 

   I have been enjoying the company of Bill, Michael, and Jessica.  There was one lady who

 

I patiently delt with her fact checking all my stories, but not anyone elses, tell me to stop talking

 

during a story I was telling, she was asking me questions but challenging every answer. Finally

 

she asked me how I knew an artist in New York.  She said, "How do YOU know ...?"  That was it for me.

 

I decided she was a bully that needed to be shut down!  I actually told her I was tired of her treating me

 

disrespectfully and asked her not to talk to me anymore.  Well of course she did a lot of whimpering

 

but I ignored her.  HA!  That is how you deal with a bully.  Do not let them take away your creative energy.

 

Once a bully has been called out, prepare for many crocodile tears, complaints to others, and drama.  Then

 

finally the bully will remain quiet and sullen.  Classic!  Meanwhile I started to feel better and paint.

 

Get rid of bullies in your life.  Do not put up with it.  

 

 

   Poppy and the rest of the dogs and cats are doing well.  Poppy is playing like a puppy and pain free.

 

Ted has been spending 4 hours a day at the house. First he says he brushes them.  Then he cleans

 

their ears.  He gives them all a treat he brought.  He has been cooking for them all.  He says they

 

are great eaters!  They all have great appetites.  He says this is a great sign of their health overall.

 

He cooked two big pots of chicken and vegetables all ready for them.  He lays on the ground with 

 

each dog talking to them and rubbing their stomachs.  Then he give Poppy her pain pill at 2pm and drives 

 

home.  He lives an hour a way.  He is driving 2 hours a day and spending 4 hours with the animals.

 

He sounded tired but happy.  

 

   Robert told me Miss Kitty now sleeps by his feet. She leaves 3 or 4 times a night.  Festus sleeps on his

 

back with the dogs.  Sounds like Robert is not lonely at night with all 6 animals sleeping in his room!

 

I am off to paint the flowers at the rock garden along Main Street.  I am here till Saturday. 

 

Good night.  Such an honor to be on Monhegan Island. I am grateful.