The Annual Goose Rocks Beach Sculpture

We just returned from our annual excursion to beautiful Kennebunkport, Maine.  We are lucky that our son was able to join us, taking the train from Boston to spend the weekend with us, going to the beach and eating fresh seafood, among other activities.  I'll share other photos of our time in Maine in a separate post.

 

This year, we couldn't agree about what to build on the beach, and ended up, at the 11th hour, making this rather lumpy dragon, named Puff by the kids on the beach, particularly 3rd grader Sadie who was a substantial helper.  I guess it helps when we can all agree on what to build.  Maybe I'd better start thinking for next year right now!!  I think this is probably our worst beach sculpture, but it was a lot of fun having a kid on the beach join in to help.  Sadie made the paws and claws, in particular, and made some adaptations to the face I had built.  Noting the giant moat around the sculpture, she and her friends referred to it as Dragon Island. They were very proud of their participation in the project.

 

Of course, it all starts with a pile of dirt, and my son and husband did all the digging with this little shovel.  We had forgotten the big one!  Oh well... thanks, boys!  

By the way, this year's photos are not so great, because the extremely bright sunshine formeded harsh shadows.

In August 2012, we built sculptures two days in a row, beginning with this Dragonfly.

We had the best time ever building this massive 'Buddha-Cat' and mouse.  

(The mouse was a last-minute addition made exclusively by my son.)

 In August 2011 we created this adorable Angry Octopus!  (named Hary by kids on the beach)

This  poor critter was trapped under an octopus tentacle.

Hubs with the octopus

 Our creation in August 2010 was this crocodile (or alligator?) chasing a dragonfly.

 

 

 

Wish I could find photos from years prior to 2010.  We actually once made a HUGE seated cat (again like a giant Buddha, but sitting up), and some other smaller creations.

Got any good ideas for us for next summer?  My son nixed the following ideas this year: a mermaid, a lobster or a crab (too corny), and a teddy bear.  He really wanted to make a castle and I didn't.  I want personality!  But since he does most of the digging, and helps a lot with the building, I cannot make something he says NO to, but since I am chief sculptor, the final decision is mine.  We nixed ideas like hippos, rhinos and elephants (they would have to be HUGE).  We thought about a turtle, but it seemed too simple, and a walrus, but the tusks are important and would be problematic with our rudimentary sand building skills. 

Renovation Playlist - a happy soundtrack

What do you listen to while you're working on projects at home? This past week I've been doing a lot of painting, on the walls of my future studio space.  When my husband works on it (painting the ceiling, for example) he works in quiet.  But I like some audio company, and I used my iPad to provide that.

On the days it was rainy or gloomy out, I spent hours painting walls and trim while listening to podcasts of Radiolab via my public radio station.  If you've never listened to Radiolab, you should definitely check it out.  Each show is an hour of really unique programming with stories, science, sound, and information, and you will learn something new each time and the hour will be over before you know it.

The next couple of days I listened to an eclectic mix of music albums on th iPad:

Van Morrison (Moondance) - I have listened to this album thousands of times over the decades, and I never tire of it.

• The Lumineers - just makes me happy, ya know?
• Dear Creek (Puritans and Pioneers) - this folksy east coast band are friends of my son!
• The Gaslight Anthem (the '59 Sound) - more great music introduced to me by my son!
• Vampire Weekend (Vampire Weekend) - happy music!  I feel like I should be on a tropical beach,cocktail in hand! 
• The Beatles (Abbey Road) - Here Comes the Sun! Music to sing along with!
• Squirrel Nut Zippers (The Inevitable) - again, thanks to my son for giving me this music; how to describe it... jazzy, swingy, fun, and funky.  Dance while you paint!
• A Walk on the Moon (movie soundtrack) - the story of this movie is around the time of the Woodstock Festival in 1069, and the sound track includes wonders like Janis Joplin singing Summertime, Joni Mitchell's Cactus Tree, Grateful Dead's Ripple, and  also the Jefferson Airplane, Judy Collins, Richie Havens and so much more.  Every song is a gem.

Throw in a little Avett Brothers, some Mumford & Sons, and the Searching for Sugarman soundtrack (Sixto Rodriguez), and the time just flies!  

As I was painting and listening, I couldn't help but think that the music I had selected was often music that would play well in the classroom, with a little pre-editing for the occasional inappropriate lyric.  A classroom of kids listening to Vampire Weekend or Squirrel Nut Zippers, or the Beatles 'Here Comes the Sun' couldn't help but be happy!

By the way, the wall painting is done, and the floor replacement is next, but we will be in Maine for a few days so be patient - eventually you will see the entire room transformation from a teenage boy room into an airy and colorful art studio!  (I hope!)