Ice Storm with updated photos

Late Thursday night an ice storm hit Maine and other
New England states causing massive power outages.
It's Saturday afternoon and
our power just returned at 1:15 pm.
Last night the outdoor temperature dropped to 16 degrees
and the house temperature was 44 degrees this morning. Have
been wearing tons of layers to keep warm.
Am thankful to have the heat back and lights!
The full moon helped last night.
Here are some photos...

Woke up to this sight through the
upstairs window on Friday morning.

Ellie May was bundled up in jackets
and a scarf to keep warm as the temperature
dropped in the studio.

The sun actually came back in the
afternoon but the power didn't!
D found the old portable kerosene
heater that hadn't been used in many
years and managed to get it started
( it is fine for outdoor or very drafty
places). He actually heated up some
leftover potatoes on it!

Snow

Tuesday morning and a light snow is falling,
soft and quiet after a busy weekend.

The Christmas Prelude in Kennebunkport
took place over the weekend.

A light snow softly fell on Sunday.

Santa arrived by lobster boat.

Here's some photos from a balcony in Dock Square
on Sunday afternoon of December 7th.



Have you ever seen Santa's helpers
that are red lobsters?

Chaos in the Studio

This time of year I end up trying to do too many
things at the same time, resulting in chaos in my
studio. I can barely find a space to walk through.
I tend to think that I work better under pressure.
Someone shared this quote, " If it wasn't for the
last minute, nothing would get done." That sure
does seem to apply to me.
Well, I must focus on my work and will be back
a little later.
How do you handle this time of year and
I hope your life is not as hectic!

Christmas Prelude, Kennebunkport Maine

Upon returning home from a visit to my parents,
I've been concentrating on preparations for one of the many
Prelude Craft Fairs in our town coming up this weekend.
The Christmas Prelude is a very big event,
there's a tree lighting ceremony, shops are opened at
night, the whole town is decorated, there's a parade of hats,
Santa arrives on a Lobster Boat and more!
Mrs. Claus will be having breakfast at the Nonantum Resort
in Kennebunkport, on Sunday, December 7th, and I will be the
guest artist.


If you can't make it to Maine this
season, my Gift Gallery is always opened on my website,
just e-mail me ( shellsandroses@gmail.com)
if you have any requests or questions for
a special gift.

just click on the above image to go to the gift gallery,
thanks!
Happy Holidays and best wishes!

Back Home

Got back home Saturday night and the cats have been purring!
Settling in and will add more soon.

Memory Lane

While visiting my parents,
I'm also revisiting my old oil paintings,
done many years ago, a very different style.

Now I love working on small ink and watercolor
paintings of all subjects.

The view through the window of my

Grandparent's cottage at Old Orchard Beach when I was
a teenager.

Pine Point Maine...an oil painting of the
beach I loved when I spent summers at
my grandparents cottage while growing up.

...a still life from an oil painting class
while I was in college majoring in art.

Drama at the Beach

In the early afternoon, D and I thought we'd
just take a quick look at the beach.
The tide was high and the surf was pounding
against the sea wall then up and over it onto the
road. The sky had the shades of blue that
I so love. A very invigorating sight to behold!