Really there was a Mosquito on the back of your Head

Four day weekend, you tired me out. Trout Lake, St. Ignace, and a moose sighting.

I'm too exhausted to write any funny stories. Just enjoy the pics. and I'll figure out what to type later, as soon as my hands stop swatting with their muscle memory at invisible mosquitoes, a carry over trait from the weekend attacks.

Introducing My Newest Endeavor

Here's my newest use of driftwood.

I have used frames and burlap material found at thrift stores and re-purposed them into canvases. I used driftwood pieces and painted them in blues inspired by different day trips to Lake Superior. I'm opening my eyes to all the different hues of color that can be found naturally and re-explaining them using paint. The pieces of wood are attached to the burlap with roots from weeds growing into the sand. In order to find a substantial amount of roots you have to pull on a grouping and follow it as it grows under the sand then snap it at some point when you can't pull out any new length from below the sand.

These pieces use my basic color palette of blues that I frequently use in my photo-representational paintings. There is nothing brighter and more calming than a range of blues.

Drift Wood and Pine Cones

I came up with a use for some of my drift wood pieces and pine cones. I've painted the pine cones in three different shades of green and tied a gray grosgrain ribbon onto them through a screw eye. I found these neat playing cards via etsy and added two different vintage papers to them and attached a gray grosgrain ribbon as well. Green is in ya know...and I'm loving drift wood right now.

So I made up a bunch of them and good news for you. If people don't fully grasp their coolness as much as I do, they may end up gifted to some of you. Now don't cringe, they're not that bad really. Best yet, you could always re-gift them next year.

I may or may not admit to having three currently hanging in my house. This could be because I needed to photograph them, but they do look good grouped together, and look good in a living room, kitchen, or dining room.

By the way, I was not silly enough to use those big type of pine cones that are all sappy and sticky---these are the cute little chubby pine cones.

Hey Dad- It is Ok to Take Drift Wood- I Checked

You know its been a good day when you come back home with a backpack full of driftwood. We had a late start yesterday but still headed out to Presque Isle Park in the Porcupine Mountains. We parked at the hikers lot and enjoyed an easy, beautiful walk along the Presque Isle River. There is a great boardwalk along the west side for ease and safety of hiking and a great way to take in the sights and sounds of the river.

Mr. Xenopus is a great hiker and really enjoys it. He went up and down many steps with the help of Daddy or Mommy's hand or the "Daddy Express". We reached the shore of Lake Superior and he eagerly helped find drift wood pieces.

We absolutely love this park and have plans to go next Saturday as well. A crisp 42 degrees yesterday was perfect for a walk in the forest. We ended the hike with Mommy reciting "Little Bunny Foo-foo" and Bacon hopping around.

I have great plans for my various drift wood pieces based on observations in nature. Next time you're on a hike check out all the shades of green from moss. Feel a dried up fern growing along the path or drag your feet along the forest floor where needles of pine thickly blanket. There is nothing like a family day walking through the woods.