Water, water everywhere

I am happy to report that we had a couple of days rain, the plants, gardens, parks, waterways and forests had a much needed drink of water.


Todays post also has a watery theme. We recently spent a wonderful day on the water; I like seeing the land from the water, quite a different perspective.

 

 





"I must go down to the sea again
For the call of the running tide
It's a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied."

John Masefield

The title of the post is from the "Ryme of the Ancient Mariner" by S. T. Coleridge. Here is a short excerpt:

Day after day, day after day,

We stuck, nor breath nor motion;

As idle as a painted ship

Upon a painted ocean.

Water, water, every where,

And all the boards did shrink;

Water, water, every where,

Nor any drop to drink



 

Our voyage was peaceful and happily there was no shortage of water or food!

 

 

Detail above from the sail.

 

"Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made,

 for somewhere deep in their oaken hearts the soul of a song is laid."

Robert N. Rose

 

Fishing float above and fishing boat below.

 

Beautiful clear skies.

 

"He began in a tone of great taste and feeling, to talk of the sea and the sea shore."

Jane Austen

Interesting boats:

 

and views of the shore.

 

 

If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.

Lucius Annaeus Seneca

 

We saw the occasional curious observer:

 

 

Mount Baker in the distance below:

 

A couple of boats that appear to be past there best before dates:

 

 

 

“hark, now hear the sailors cry, 

smell the sea, and feel the sky 

let your soul & spirit fly, into the mystic...” 

― Van Morrison

 

 

Busy dock:

 

Another view of the shoreline:

 

And farewell to our hosts:

 

"Voyager upon life's sea;

To yourself be true,

And what'er your lot may be,

Paddle your own canoe."

Dr. Edward P. Philpots 1844

-----------------------

My painting this week follows a similar theme.

 

It is a view of the Lighthouse at Point Atkinson from the water. Titled "Lighthouse Park" it is a watercolour:

 

 

 

"Point Atkinson Lighthouse was built in 1914 on granite boulders jutting out into Burrard Inlet in West Vancouver, Canada. The reinforced concrete structure replaced an earlier wood structure built in 1875. The concrete structure was considered at the time innovative in lighthouse design. It is now automated and still in use." Wikipedia

 

The lighthouse can be reached by hiking the Valley Trail in Lighthouse Park but the best view is from the water!

 

------------------

 

That's all for today.

 

Thank you for all your kind comments on my last post,

 

thanks for stopping by,

 

Happy Whimsy Wednesday,

 

 Gillian

Colour and Promise - part 2

My apologies to early readers last week who saw that I thought the baby Pine Siskins were baby Goldfinches. Thank you for setting me straight. They sure are growing fast.

Today I am sharing some pictures that I took a couple of weeks ago, on a beautiful spring day.

We have had a few summer-like days recently and my thoughts have turned to gardening. The seedlings that I have put in are growing almost as fast as the weeds.

Here an American Widgeon on an almost still pond.

The Bulrushes provide perching sites, nesting materials and food for the birds and ducks.

The turtles (painted turtles) catch the sunshine on a warm afternoon.

Ring necked ducks, male and

female:

A Mallard, maybe sitting on eggs, she did not budge as I walked past, but she did watch me closely.

Down at the shoreline, the tide was going out, revealing clam shells

barnacle covered rocks,

and this clam shell that reminded me of a butterfly.

A seagull (glaucous-winged) was search the shallow water for anything tasty.

Sailboats, big and small were out, and there was a group of kayakers practicing ``wet exits``(purposely tipping their kayaks to practice reentry skill); looked like hard work.

Out:

Back in and pumping out the water:

All with supervision of course:

Hardy souls, looked pretty chilly on the water!

I went back to my beach combing:

interesting textures and patterns on this wood and stone, both close to the wharf.

Small daisies, I remember spending hours making chains of these as a child.

Periwinkle, I think.

A beautiful white camillia.

The tulips have been beautiful this spring, but are almost at an end now with the weather getting warmer.

Flowering shrubs and colourful spring foliage to delight the eye:

It always amazes me how fast plants grow this time of year, with noticeable changes every day. The weeds too are thriving too as are the ``volunteer`` plants (those that grow up from the compost that I spread on the garden in the springtime); this year the tiny arugula and fennel plants are everywhere.

I have been spending a lot of time outdoors in the garden and less time than usual in the studio but I have recently finished another seashore themed painting:

Here clam shells are catching the low late day light of a winters day. I call this "Say Ah":

A watercolour of course, for more information follow this link: GillianOlsonArt.blogspot.ca

Thank you so much for stopping by, and a special thank you to all those who leave comments for me, I really appreciate hearing from you.

 Happy Whimsy Wednesday, until next time ..............