Monday 28 June 2010

WEEKEND AT SNETTISHAM BEACH LAKES AND SEASHORE

What a weekend - from the moment we arrived at Ruth and Tony's cottage by the sea at 12 noonish on Friday until we left last night at 8pm it was glorious sunshine racing up into the 30s. Lived in swimsuits and shorts for 3 whole days. Had a lovely outdoor lunch with Ruth and Tony when we arrived, so they could tell us the ropes before leaving us to their idyllic little cottage with a lake just outside the front door and the seashore outside the back door!! Amazing views of constant changing scenes of the tide coming in and out and boats bobbing in the water.

We sketched the whole time, dabbled our toes in the lake seated on the new landing stage decking at the bottom of steps all recently built by Tony. Paddled in the sea, walked along the seashore to the yacht club, across to the lake and one of the causeways. Walked on Sunday morning to the RSPB centre and other than that lazed away the time in the sun, eating and sipping our favourite rose wine.


Here is my sketch of some of their boats moored in the lake.
Late afternoon sketch down on the water's edge as the tide was going out.
Sketch Sunday morning at the RSPB gateway near the Rotary Hide.

Friday evening sketch of one of the causeways crossing the three lakes.

... and the last one I am planning to post is of Friday evening in the cottage, when we got together some of the lovely object d'art to create a still life painted by CANDLELIGHT as there is no electricity in the cottage only small strip lights in each room run on batteries. !!


An amazingly happy three days in a wonderful setting all to the generosity of my friends Tony and Ruth who allowed us to stay in the family cottage that used to be owned by Tony's grandma and where he spend every summer holiday as a boy playing 'Swallows and Amazons' with canoes, rowing and sail boats. Our grateful thanks.

11 comments:

DJ said...

Sounds like a lovely time of art & leisure. Your sketches are wonderful; hope you continue to enjoy your summer.

Christiane Kingsley said...

It does indeed sound like a marvelous weekend, Joan. You have brought back great sketches that will remind you and help you relive these moments. My favorite is the candlelit still live: it's wonderful.

Vicki Greene said...

Oh my, this sounds like a wonderful way to spend a few days. I must buy a sketchbook.

Anita Davies said...

It's hard to believe we got so much done as it felt so relaxed and easy but you have a wonderful collection of sketches here Joannie.
We have such fantastic times together don't we, having you in my life is a bit like pass-the-parcel, every layer bringing more smiles and rewards.
Love ya'!

Joan Sandford-Cook said...

Thanks DJ, Christiane and Vicki - yes we sure enjoyed ourselves.
Oh gee Anita - bl...y big parcel!! - what a unique friendship we have. It means the world to me.

debwardart said...

What great fun! I laughed when you said your temps were in the "30's" - that would be freezing! - until I remembered you go by celsius and we go by farenheit! Looked back over your recent posts and enjoyed the info about your collage class. Love the 2 watercolors and the brightness of your new acrylic - you capture so many mediums well! It's always great to get away with friends and chat and laugh and paint!

Robert A Vollrath said...

What a beautiful post this is. I always find a warm place in my heart when I read your blog. Soon I will go see a space shuttle launch with my son and grandson and I hope I can dip my feet in the ocean with my family and draw gentle sketches.

Claudia said...

Excellent watercolour sketches - I especially like the first one! Love how you painted the thistles in the foreground!

Robyn Sinclair said...

Delightful sketches, Joan. There is something so engaging about a little dinghy on the shore. Maybe it's my memories of Wind in the Willows.

I also love your beautiful acrylic of the Spring landscape below.

Joan Sandford-Cook said...

Robert, Claudia and Robyn - so nice to hear from you all with such lovely comments. Claudia glad you liked the thistles but oh the poor old rose bush was a mess - tried to paint it in front of the blue boat but could not make a good job of it under the bright heat of the afternoon sun - it went muddy instead of wet on wet.

RH Carpenter said...

Well, I've certainly gotten behind in keeping up with your work and what you've been doing - LOVE this first one so much, you should mat and frame it - it's perfection! Your sketches always have such a life to them - an energy that shows through. Maybe it was how much fun you were having and the warmth of the sun and it just came through in the paintings. Now I've got to catch up a bit more...