Happy Saturday everyone. It's a beautiful morning here in New Hampshire. Luckily last night we got a tinge of ice and NO snow, so that is good news. (Seeing tomorrow is supposed to be nasty!) I want to go out today and do something because tomorrow I will probably be home if the weather does what they say it is going to do, but as of yet, neither the hubby nor myself can decide what to do. I have come up with a a few things, all of which he grumbled at, so lets see what he can think of. :)
So for now let me introduce you to Takey the camel.
I named him Takey after a former student of mine who was from Cairo. He was a great kid and even brought me back a little vial of sand from around the Pyramids. I had him in class last spring before he graduated, and he was traveling with his family to go back and visit relatives for a few weeks. Some of the kids in class had wanted Pyramid sand, and he asked me for a couple of disposable vials to put it in. I gave him some vials with a request that he fill vial for myself, which he did. (He said the customs people thought he was crazy and were wondering why he had vials of sand. And was it really sand? But he got it through and now I have it up in my studio for inspiration.)
Now I am not sure Takey would like being compared to a camel, but he was a memorable kid, not for his science skills but because he really got involved with Special Olympics and decided that's how he wanted to spend his life helping others.
And although I wasn't thinking of Takey when I made my page, he did come to mind as I write this post.
What actually inspired me to make this page was when my daughter was young and we visited the London Zoo. As she, my husband and myself stood by the camel corral, I said 'That camel is about to poop." And sure enough within a minute the camel relieved himself. Now my daughter and husband were totally amazed I could predict this, which from my point of view was so funny because all the caml had done was lift his tail, a sure sign of things to come out. But they thought I had some kind of mental connection with the camel or had some wild skill at reading an animal's mind.
I am not kidding, they went on for about 30 minutes about this, and since then the big travel story from visiting London is not seeing the wonderful city or some fantastic historical buildings, nor is it from eating some interesting meal or visiting a cool museum. No, it is how I could know the camel was about to poop. :)
I am linking up my page to Rike's challenge at Art Journal Journey, Animals A-Z. I am enjoying this challenge, and it is a challenge in the true sense as I am practicing sketching animals. I am learning that I have a lot to learn about drawing animals.
So I made my camel first by sketching the camel, and then painting him and the background.I also used a bit of tape and some Stabilo pencils, as well as a bit of stamping.
OK, time to go bug the hubby about what we are going to do today!
Happy weekend!
14 comments:
I laughed so much now - have even some tears in my eyes! The "Takey the camel page" is adorable and I liked the story about the real Takey bringing sand for you from the pyramids! And most of all I liked the London zoo story ! You are a camel whisperer.Lol!
I also can exactly see when my dogs are going to poop.. they have a special manner to hold their booty and tail !
Hope hubby has some nice things on his plan now! Enjoy the start of you winter break Erika!
I love your post and page!
Thank you for another WOWSER linked to Animal A-Z !
oxo Susi
I enjoyed your story, the connection with your student and the camel and the sand and the connection with your family and the camel. Interesting how things which might not seem connected at first end up bringing back such fond memories :)
Wonderful camel, and hats of to your camel-poop divination skills! Enjoy your weekend, and your much deserved break. Hugs, Valerie
A great post to read Erika and the camel page is fantastic.
It was good that you had nice memories about your student, he must have liked being in your class as well to remember to bring his teacher some sand as well.
Your trip to London Zoo made me smile, something like that in a family never gets forgotten.
I hope you had a good day today.
Yvonne xx
Wonderful story about your student, Takey. And an equally entertaining story about your camel, Takey, and you, the Camel Whisperer. :-D Hope you found something fun to do today.
A fab page and a fun story! Camel divination, lol of all the things to remember, but yes that's how it goes with memories....
Enjoy your weekend whatever you decide to do, - in our family hubby's suggestions usually win as he tends to be the driver on these type of outings...
Now I enjoyed reading your story about Takey, who brought you and some kids in the class vials of sand from the Pyramids - and I enjoyed the story about the camel in the London Zoo where you had some "mental connection" with the camel :))
As you now practicing sketching animals - while I have chosen the animals theme - is really a chance. I liked your comment for my kitten and what you said about motion. The important thing while drawing or painting (an animal) is also that you FEEL the animal, feel the gentle coat and so on.
Your camel sketch is fabulous because your thoughts were at/with the camel! I like your painted background with the blue sky, the clouds and the big Pyramid, and the other details!
Thank you so much for linking such a wonderful page and great stories to my theme at AJJ! You make me happy!
Wish you a wonderful Sunday! Rike x
Cute, fun stry, brought a smile to my face! Love the camel and your color choices!
I am still laughing! Not at your page, which is fabulous, but at your memory of London Zoo, which is quite similar to my memory of visit when I was a child!I had to have a hospital stay in Great Ormond Street Hospital so when I came out we went on a visit to London Zoo! As we entered the giraffe house I said in a loud voice "Poo! It pongs in here!" Which caused a ripple of laughter from everyone except my parents! Happy days!! Chrisx
I can't stop laughing. This is too funny. I did the same when it came to my puppy Bear. I knew when he needed to go out. It was how he squiggled around that did it for me. I adore this page, Erika. It is wonderful and a truly lovely drawing. I am really impressed, too. Your drawing skills are getting SO good. Thanks for sharing this with us at Art Journal Journey.
I love both of your camel stories, a nice morning smile. I brought back sand from the beaches at Normandy and got through OK but I was worried all the way home. And that was 2009 and Europe. I'm glad Takey got back OK.
You wise woman you, understanding camel pooping procedures!
Now, happy vacation -- I hope you are already having fun!
Such a funny camel story Erika! I loved reading about Takey too. It's a fab camel page. xx
Oh what a fun story, thanks for that Erika.
I just love this painting with the friendly camel (I hear they are not at all friendly animals but maybe they just like to keep themselves to themselves). The yellow of the camel contrasts so well with the turquoise and blues.
So funny ... you must be a camel whisperer ...lol 😉. Your page is fantastic, I love Takey the camel and so enjoyed reading about all your fabulous memories, thanks for sharing 😁. I hope you had a lovely weekend! J 😊
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