Back on the Job

The Easter Bunny had some early sunrise treats and outdoor surprises for his "main squeeze"... before he hopped off on his busy delivery schedule elsewhere! HA HA!!! Still out there to welcome May and to serve as a gathering place for our chatty American Gold Finch squadron!

Easter Egg silliness and surprises... plus our much anticipated visit from my brother Don have been "the stuff" of our time and energies for the past few weeks. It seems that the wheel has now fully turned on Winter in these parts... and judging by the bristling of the birds and rampaging antics of our resident chipmunk friends Spring is definitely on every one's minds. I have spent endless hours attempting to dissuade a pair of robins that they cannot nest on the lights above either of our entrances. Despite my efforts each morning I begin my day removing their grassy gatherings. Who will win out?.... Time will tell!

On the human side of the ledger, cruise tours are again underway in the village from early morning until late afternoon. The cruise visitors bring with them curiosity and the urge to explore at will during their brief sojourn and cruise time. Property lines as with the other creatures bear no meaning to them. It is amusing to watch at this point in the annual migration... but deep within me burns the late summer memory of the constant influx of numbers of daily visitors which this tiny village is incapable of housing... even for a brief few hours. So I smile... relish the moment and continue on with my raking and garden chores. Tomorrow will come soon enough... and today.... there is ample space for all. Besides... it is the business that they bring that drives and supports village economy.

I have resumed my painting projects, set aside earlier to share our time fully with Donnie. What a marvellous time of touring old haunts and visiting newly discovered and exciting places... on both sides of the River we grew up on together. The three of us visited Clayton and Alexandria Bay, NY on one cross-river excursion. It was a relaxed and easy warm up for our time together. On our second tour... we followed the River from A-Bay eastward to Ogdensburg, NY to visit the famous Frederic Remington Gallery there. What a marvellous time we shared there. Allison had joined us on the first day... but alas... the Gallery was closed until Tuesday... so we returned the next day... unfortunately without her to actually view the collection. On both occasions we took nourishment at The Phillip's Diner... a 40's diner still flourishing and throwing out diner hash to a daily packed house.

Riverside relics... still hangin' around in Alexandria Bay

 Oscar's Tavern was a weekend hangout for all Brockville youth in our day.... "legal" at eighteen in NY State... whereas twenty-one was the launch pad year in Ontario. Oscar's time has passed. The tavern is for sale online. No more sudsy pitchers of cheap draft... or dancin' till ya drop!Some things must change... but as this picture clearly presents... others need not. Love you Donnie... to the moon and back!

Fabulous Fifties food still hot on the grill at the Phillips Diner in Odgensburg NY since 1946. Kept expecting Fonz to drift in at any moment... or Flo to appear... check pad in hand.... as I knocked back a HUGE Reuben n' fries combo and a tall Pepsi! If you've got a good game plan going and it works... Stick to yer game!

A Sherman moment... the smiles say it all! Thanks Flo... for the great photo!

I think that I'll take a pause here at this juncture to put in some much needed time on my projects Deadline is fast approaching... and almost have a wrap on them! I will share our wonderful afternoon visit to the Remington Art Museum. It was truly a magical time... with many lessons and observations garnered personally and I so want to share my findings with all of you! Art does not get any Fine-r than Remington's output. It never gets old. Every time that I visit and peruse his works... I come away enriched... and further motivated to paint my little heart out!

Stay tuned... for episode two! Glad to be back in the saddle painting... and writing again. I missed it!

Good Painting to ALL!