First Home

If you  have been a home owner, you probably will never forget the first place on which you paid a mortgage.

Our first home was built in 1913 and we were only the 3rd owners. I loved that little house too much – it just wasn’t natural to have that much affection for an inanimate object. Even now,  almost 13 years since selling it and moving on, I can still recall the sound of each door as it closed.

Most folks’ first homes are small and simple. They usually need work, they usually need paint somewhere, they almost always have lawns, and they seldom have garages. Can you relate?

This is someone’s first home. I don’t know him, but I know his Dad. His dad is a very thoughtful man who knows that his children’s homes are special. He has commissioned me to draw several of these modest and well-loved structures.

These are simple drawings EXCEPT the photos rarely contain enough information, have cars and people blocking views, and require some guesswork on my part. The challenge is to make them as technically perfect as possible so that what they lack in detail is made up for with precision.

Oh, and Mr. Google? This is a California home drawn by a California artist – me.

A Cabin Commission

Cabinart – making art of cabins, using pencil. That is my roots. Now that I oil paint, when a commission drawing for a cabin comes along, I am thrilled. Thrilled, I say!

The defining characteristic of this cabin is the group of massive trees in the front yard. The truth is that I sort of wanted to draw it in a vertical format, focusing on the trees with just a hint of the cabin peeking through. That’s not why people want their cabins drawn, so I provided several sketches and this was the winner. I’m happy when my customers are happy!

Mineral King Bridge, Final Chapter!

On October 20, there was an all employee meeting for Sequoia and Kings Canyon people. The facility manager for roads and trails (Hi JT!) said this: (no quotes because I wasn’t actually there, being a California artist rather than a federal worker) Of all the numerous Federal Highways projects ongoing in the Park, the Mineral King bridge is the only one completed on  schedule.

In addition, it is the only one done by park employees, which come at a fraction of the cost of an outside contractor. YEA, MARSHMALLOW HEADS! Nice work, gentlemen!

These On Schedule Park Guys are attaching the running boards. This is where the tires will go, not on the beautiful boards shown in the last post. However, I suspect that big yellow machine put its filthy tires on those boards. Hmmmph!

This sweet little red machine can’t reach the running boards! No more little footbridge for you, Red Quad.

Wave to the nice man in the parade, boys and girls! It is always good when the boss is happy.

Sorta weird, no railing yet.

It is very pretty. It is very narrow. It is driveable. It isn’t completely finished. It has to wait until spring and summer for the total totality. Totally. The end.

Mineral King Bridge, Part 16

These fine gentlemen are using our extension ladder and Kirk’s waders and Michael’s waders to secure bolts underneath the bridge. Good thing Michael was around with his stuff to keep our hardworking bridge builders in the tools they needed! And look – those are Ryan’s waderless legs!

This is just cute.

WHOA! This bridge is BEAUTIFUL. Okay, off with your shoes – no tracking dirt onto this gorgeous piece of work.

I mean, come on! Are you really telling me people will be going across this with filthy tires and dirty hiking boots? I can’t bear it. I simply cannot.

Mineral King Bridge, Part 15

You may recall that the estimated date to have the bridge be passable is October 20. That’s today! When we last left our Marshmallow Heads, they had successfully placed all 4 stringers. So, what is going on in this photo??

Give up? The pre-drilled holes on the stringers did not line up with the holes on the horizontal cross pieces. Oh man, I hate it when that happens.

This is just a scenery shot. I am a California artist, and I appreciate the scenery of my mountains. (Just sayin’, in case Mr. Google has started to forget me.)

Lookie! The first deck slab is in place! (See the floating Marshmallow??)

This hardworking Marshmallow Head is using a rock bar to set the carriage bolt into the slab.

Here comes another one. These units weigh “several hundred pounds”, so a Big Yellow Machine places it with the help of a few good men and one who isn’t wearing proper head garb.

More scenery, because it is just so beautiful.

Guess this will have to be continued tomorrow, because I like the power of keeping you all hanging. Sometimes I am just mean like that. Not only am I mean, sometimes I can’t count either. This problem shows up from time to time in my knitting, and occasionally in my checkbook. In this blog, you may have noticed, as Craig did, that there is no Part 10 in this series.

More Beach Love

Just 3 more beach items, then we will return to our regular broadcast. As a California artist, don’t you think it is important to represent more than just Sequoia, Mineral King, Three Rivers, citrus and other fruits?

Starfish, sold

Mussel, 6×6″, oil on wrapped canvas, $50

Sand Dollar, sold

Love the Beach

I know, I know, “Cabinart”, Mineral King, Sequoia National Park, cabins, but I am torn! Living most of my life in the Central Valley of California has provided access to both the ocean and the mountains. I feel destined to spend my days in between so I can get to either place in fairly short order. But my, oh my, I do love me some beach time.

Sold

Clam w/ shard – 6×6″- oil on wrapped canvas – $50

Kelp Thingie – 6×6″ – oil on wrapped canvas – $50

Mineral King Bridge, Part 14

Before we begin our bridge update, have a look at view as of Saturday, October 15. The fall color is a little slow to appear this year. If you have the patience to follow this posting all the way to the end, you will be rewarded with 2 more scenery views. (or just scroll on ahead if you simply cannot control yourself!)

All four stringers are in place. Here you can see them from either end. It is fun to walk across the creek on the bridge. Not that i would know or would even dream of crawling under the bright pink caution tape. I did witness one knitter walk across the creek on an I-beam. Yes, I said, “knitter”. She is reported to have completed 5 stitches while crossing the creek.

Remember the blog entry about the cracked and drooping abutment? Here it is again, to reinforce the understanding that a new bridge was in order.

Michael, my husband who drives big yellow machines and wears green pants and a marshmallow head hardhat during the work week, is much more comfortable in his regular clothes and straw hat. Nevertheless, he is always ready to explain the work project, regardless of his attire. Here he is with our cabin friend, Glen. (Glen is the one who takes care of the Mineral King webcam.)

Thank you for your attention to the current lesson on bridge building. Here is your reward:

Mineral King Bridge, Part 13

The telehandler is swinging I-beam #2 into place. The chain is perfectly balanced, so the 3000 pounds move as easily as 3. Maybe not, but you get what I mean, right?

The marshmallow head is there to place it exactly where it belongs.

The lower shelf is the old abutment. The newer abutment is 1 foot higher.

This is the Work Leader, Ned. His marshmallow is toasted so you can distinguish him from the rest of the crew.

Are you ogling the scenery again? I don’t blame you!

2 down, 2 to go! Nice work, Marshmallow Heads!