I-5 Bridge over the Columbia River from McMennimans (sp?)

Had a nice dinner at McMennimans on the Washington side of the Columbia. Well, actually, had a nice time is more like it. Service was negligible and my Ahi steak sandwich was flavorless and cold in the middle, but the location made up for it. That, and being able to sit across the table from Angela and next to Molly and Sean, who were in full entertainment mode with their newly created sock puppets Edward and Dunkinx. (Guessing on the spelling-Molly's three and a half and, while she can spell her own name, we're having to spell her puppet's name phonetically.) More on the puppets soon.

Well, here they are-the reason for everything.

We didn't pack up and leave Minnesota just so we could take them on daytrips to Seaside, Oregon, but right now, I have never missed Minnesota less. An hour and a half down the Sunset Highway to dip your feet in the (okay,frigid) Pacific with your beatiful wife and wonderful children on a drop-dead gorgeous Fall Sunday is about as good as it gets. Slackjawed Midwesterner, indeed.

Mount Hood from the I-5 Bridge, Oregon Side

The pencil is pretty smudgy, but I'm still working through media details. It's more about getting info down on paper. I was trying to make the most of my time drawing at Jantzen Beach, which is the no-sales-tax mecca just across the river in Oregon. I was working quickly both because I needed to get home for dinner and that I was mindful of the fact that in the past 72 hours the leg, arm, and torso (with head and other arm and leg, in duffel bag) of this guy

had been found floating fairly close to where I was drawing.

I've been delinquent. Actually, I've been working hard, just not outside with a pencil. This is another example of how I've been spending my days. I'll get out this weekend and get some more real art.

Octoberfest at Mount Angel, Oregon
Went with the family to the last day of Octoberfest in Mount Angel, Oregon, one of the sweetest, quaint, oozing with gingerbready charm little German towns you can possibly imagine. Our only experience with Octoberfest before had been in Minnesota at the Gasthaus, where everything was in one big tent. The Mount Angel festivities spread throughout the whole town, so it was a bit much for the kids.
I drew the church tower while waiting in line with Sean at the cavalcade of inflatable edifices that were all located together on one end of town. Quality time was had by all.

82nd & Taylor, Portland Oregon

Trees

Sean had soccer practice just to the left of these.

Too busy to draw today.
Well, I did this,
so I guess it counts.

Here's something from Sean(7)



and Molly(3)



You'll be seeing a lot more of them.

Multnomah Falls
Spent the afternoon 25 miles east of Portland at Multnomah Falls. Stunning. The kids did fantastic, making the half mile trek each way to the falls like troopers. Greatly looking forward to getting back with pastels and good paper.

Hazel Dell Tire Factory
Great place. Patched my tire and didn't even charge me for it. Hazel Dell Tire Factory. Go there for all your tire needs.

It's About Time

This was supposed to start the Second of August, when we completed our move from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Vancouver, Washington. 7 states (Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington & Oregon) in 6 days with me, Angela, Sean(7), Molly(3) and Lucy (Golden Retriever,9) was to provide a Jack Kerouacesque On The Road kickoff to the blog I had been wanting to start for quite a while. However, it's taken this long to get the mountain of boxes in the garage down to size, the kids in first grade and preschool, secure some form of employment, and feel like I could sandwich in a few moments to start.

I'm a painter, print/web designer and illustrator. You can see some work at www.3flynns.com. My goal is to post new art daily. I'm a reality-based artist, so all the work you see comes from the real world. That's where 'SlackJawed Midwesterner' comes in. Having spent my entire life land-locked, including the last 13 years in the frozen parking lot that is Minneapolis, I am very much in awe of the Pacific Northwest that I'm discovering on a daily basis. There will be sweeping vistas and tire store parking lots. There will be still-lifes from the kids' Pez collection. Enjoy.