quarantine time: a view from the front end of the boat

Quarantine Time

 

What’s Going On:

Hi Y’all,

Quarantine time.

As I write this post, I’m cruising up the intracoastal waterway in North Carolina.

Marc and I were fortunate enough to be invited on a Hatteras yacht called the “Knuckelhead” with some friends as they make their annual migration from Florida to Long Island. We have made part of this trip before with them in previous years. This time we’re traveling farther.

The Coronavirus pandemic is still raging, with stay at home orders still in effect in some parts of the US and the world. We haven’t stepped off the boat since boarding in St. Augustine, Florida. No real reason to. Most of the restaurants are closed, and there are plenty of provisions on board.

I downloaded a couple of books to read, “Four Legs Move My Soul”, a biography about Olympic Dressage rider Isabel Werth, and “Core Conditioning” for Horses” by Simon Cocozza. I’ve finished the first, and am half way done with the second. I also downloaded some YouTube yoga videos, “Yoga with Adrienne”, which I highly recommend. It’s extra challenging to do the yoga on a moving boat!

For anyone who hasn’t done this trip – it is a unique glimpse into people’s backyards up the eastern seaboard. People smile and wave as you go by. Children who pump their arm up and down are rewarded by a sharp piecing blast of our horn.

An Unexpected Visitor.

So far, we have only had to face one whole day on the open ocean. We could barely see land, when a tiny black bird with a yellow crown flew by. After several repeated attempts at landing on the yacht in the high winds, he managed to grab ahold of the cable supporting the dinghy on the upper roof.

He stayed there for maybe a half hour as I took pictures with my telephoto lens. I had never seen anything like him. He was so tiny and all alone on the ocean. He closed his eyes and napped, every so often checking his surroundings.

I posted his picture to Facebook, asking if anyone knew what kind of bird he was. Eventually someone responded with the answer – a Bobolink. He was on his way to South America – can you believe that? After his short nap he lifted off and was gone.

closeup of the black and yellow bobolink

 

How are you spending your quarantine time?

I hope you are using it to reconnect with family and friends, however remotely. Tackle new projects at home, finish unfinished ones. Learn something new, like a language, playing an instrument, or work on perfecting a craft you had abandoned. Try to make this a time you can remember favorably.

Today

We’re on our way to Beaufort NC (yes there is one in SC too) where we will spend the night. The following morning we will say goodbye to our friends Rich and Judy, until we see them again next season. We will then make our way back to Fort Myers Florida by rental car, and get back to our life as we left it.

Going Forward:

I have a few projects for clients to work on, and some ideas for new paintings.

Monthly Fine Art Print Giveaway:

I want to remind you that each month I will be giving away a beautiful fine art print. If you are getting this blog post it is because you are already signed up for my posts, but sign up for my newsletter again, and you will be entered into the drawing done at the end of each month.

Last month’s winner:

Congratulations to Aubrey Veally from Alva, Florida. She won the “Giraffe Study” print that I gave away in April.

aubrey veally and her daughter holding the print of the giraffe
Aubrey Veally and her daughter Autumn were the April winners!
Fine Art Print Giveaway for May 31st 2020:

Cape May beach scene prints

This month’s print is “The Beach”. Entries end at 6:00pm on Sunday May 31st. I will be drawing a name live on Facebook at 6:30pm the same day. Be sure and sign up this month and every month. It gives me great pleasure to do these giveaways!

Please share this post! The point of the monthly giveaway is to add people who like my art to my list of subscribers. As you are already subscribing, I would really appreciate it if you could share this with someone you think might like my work.

I love hearing feedback! Let me know your thoughts and ideas.

A big hug from us both:


Martha and Marc

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