Travels with Sasha Day 2

Place: Comfort Inn, Martinsburg, W. Va.   (Highly recommended)

 

Restaurant: Hoss's Family Steak and Sea   (Highly recommended)

Miles driven today: 256.7 

Trip total: 527.9

The Days Inn is left just before 9 a.m. after wolfing down a waffle for breakfast and a small orange juice. The sky is overcast and the temperature is 19 degrees. I-84 crosses the Neversink River and passes through Metamoras, Pa. and begins climbing. It’s great having compass and thermometer in the truck, but an altimeter would be nice, too. I’d love to know the elevation of many places.

The scenery is mostly bland because of the season and lack of snow and color. Still, the farm lands and open rolling hills are beautiful. Rte. 380N is taken for a bit to connect with I-81 in Scranton. Here the traffic is much heavier with the average speed just under 10 mph over the limit. It’s hard to look around because focus needs to be on the driving. I-81N is stop and go all the way to Wilkes-Barre. I wonder if I should find another way home. Is this an ongoing issue or is it just something today.

The drive is tedious. I do enjoy the scenery through the mountains, but it’s hazy in the distance. There’s no picture taking to be done in this traffic, either. The highway winds up, around, and down. There are more mountain areas and it goes on. In the lower elevations are the open farms which are beautiful. It would be nice to explore this area sometime without hurrying to another place, but why is it foggy in the distance?

That answer comes just before Harrisburg as it begins to snow. Soon the visibility lessens substantially. I concentrate on the big rig in front of me. Warning signs mention reducing speed and using caution, but the traffic hardly slows. Dirty ice forms at the edge of the windshield. The drive becomes more tedious and the tension causes head and back aches. For some reason, my feet hurt, too, and I can’t figure that out.

I do get glimpses of farmlands and trees that would make beautiful photographs, but that cannot happen. I forget about making it to Virginia and just hope Martinsburg can be reached. The Maryland line is crossed at 12:30 p.m. and West Virginia 10 minutes later. I pull into the visitors center. No good photographs here either.

There are two buildings. A small one and a larger one with most people going towards the bigger. I decide to see what’s in the small one and it’s this that’s actually the VIC.

“Why are there two buildings?” I ask the clerk.

“The other houses the bathrooms,” she replies and explains that during busy seasons they can see 60,000 people a month come through here.

We talk about the storm and she says that it’s at least two hours south and east. She agreed that stopping for the night in Martinsburg would be the safer option. She booked me into the Comfort Inn off Exit 16E. A man from Vermont comes in commenting on snow and she tells us that West Virginia has four ski resorts. This type of weather is not unusual.

A short time later, I am checking into the Comfort Inn. Barbara assigns room 128 and I check it out before bringing in any luggage. The room is lovely, spacious, and clean – and the next to the last room on the end. This corridor isn’t as long as the other, though, and even the hallway has a nicer feel.

I bring in what is needed for the night and head back out. Barbara says there’s a restaurant (and she points and explains I don’t even have to go out on the street) called Hoss’s Family Steak and Sea. It’s across the parking lot on the other side of a bank and I drive over because of the weather.

The entrée is ordered at the hostess desk then she escorts me to a booth. There’s a huge salad bar in the middle. On one wall are breads and butters, five different kinds of soups, mac and cheese and some other items. On the opposite wall are all kinds of desserts. And all this comes with the entrée.

I help myself to a nice salad with all kinds of toppings. Then go back for a couple of rolls and put on the side of the plate a dollop of regular butter and one of cinnamon butter. The cinnamon is really good. Who knew? My entrée is burgundy steak tips with peppers and gravy and a baked potato. Wow, is it good!

After eating, I go across the street (only because there’s a set of lights allowing the crossing of four lanes of traffic) to a Sheets gas station. The tank is filled at $2.35/gl. I go inside and purchase a bottle of wine and two bottles of water.

Exhaustion hits back at the hotel. I finally take some ibuprofen for the headache and settle to work at the computer. I pour a cup of wine, but cannot hold my eyes open to drink much. I opt for a nap. It helps. I’m hungry again and I’m tempted to call for takeout. The waitress had said they deliver to the hotel all the time and guests get a discount.

But I won’t. I’ll settle for a snack of mixed almonds, Craisins, and cashews.

 

 

Travels with Sasha: End of Day 1

End of Day 1, Jan. 20, 2015 

Place: Days Inn, Port Jervis, N.Y.

Miles driven today: 271.2 

I leave Bradford at 9 a.m. under sunny skies and the temperature at 27 degrees. After a quick stop in Henniker at the bank, I am soon on Rte. 9W. Scenery is a bit blah. What there is of snow is dirty and colors dull. A part of me doesn’t to go. The Vermont border is crossed at 10:30. Interstate 91S is picked up for a couple miles before Rte. 9 continues west across the state. It’s 40 miles to Bennington. 

West Brattleboro is interesting and a place for possible photographs on another day. This is an enjoyable drive passing old New England businesses, homes, and farms. Sometimes another vehicle will be seen, but often I’m alone on the road; just the way I like it. The road narrows and meanders along winding upwards. A couple of hairpin turns are navigated and Hogback Mountain is crossed. The views are dull and I don’t stop.  

I start noticing mountains in the distance are white and soon the road is passing through areas where snow lies heavy on tree limbs and power lines. This is the winter wonderland. It’s beautiful… but treacherous. There is ice on the road in places and I catch up to slower moving traffic. We pass through these beautiful mountains and begin the long, slow descent towards Bennington. I am still not feeling the excitement and I’m so tempted to turn around and go home.

The windshield fills with salt and dirt… and I cleaned all the windows before I left. 

Wilmington is a cute little Vermont town and another area that would be interesting to explore sometime. There are quaint shops, old mill-type buildings, and art galleries. Soon Rte. 279 is taken towards Troy and the Walloomsic River is crossed a couple times as the highways swings around Bennington and turns into Rte. 7 when the New York border is crossed at 11:30. 

Hoosick, N.Y. is rolling hills, open farm land. Snow is spotty, the ground mostly bare and dull of color. Traffic is light and as I pass an old abandoned gas station surrounded by old equipment, I can’t help but stop for a few photographs. Luckily, there’s room to pull off the road and by the time the vehicle comes to a stop (speed limit is 55), I am past the building. I walk back taking picture of all the old rusty vehicles and other equipment along with the building. 

A stop is made at the Country View Diner in Brunswick. The waitress is nice, but not overly friendly. She tries to take my order before I’ve even had a chance to look at the menu. Then she doesn’t come back for a long time and it takes even longer for the burger and fries. The fries are those frozen, soggy crinkle cut ones.  

I left the diner at 1 p.m. continuing on Rte. 7 down into Troy. I-787 is a right to swing out around Troy to head south towards Albany and where the N.Y. Thruway is picked up. That’s a long drive to I-84W in Newburgh. The Days Inn in Port Jervis was reached at 3:11.  

I wait for assistance. The desk clerk is new and having trouble with the system. Room 142 is assigned and she says to park halfway down the building to enter the side door. The room is halfway down the corridor. It’s a fight to get the door open, but the room looks nice.

It’s a long walk to the lobby to get the luggage trolley. They only have one? There is ice on the ground in front of the door near the truck and there’s not a little ramp for the trolley. I pull items needed for the night and haul them to the sidewalk and onto the trolley. It’s not an easy chore, but eventually everything is in the room and I make the long journey back to the lobby with the trolley. I am limping on the return to the room. This is not good customer service!

The coffee pot is on the work table and is plugged into the only outlet on that wall along with the mini fridge. There is no light in that corner. The coffee pot is moved to the luggage table and the table to the corner with the lamp. This room may be a bit dark, but it looks clean. 

I forgot to bring a surge protector for the laptop and plug it into a regular outlet. As I’m checking in back home, I realize I also forgot the battery charger for my camera. Noooo! Now what? If I make the six hour drive home to get it, I will not leave again. Is it still in that cabinet? Why do I think I might have moved it? Could Karen Fed X overnight it to me in Charleston where I’ll be spending a couple days? We’ll see. There is a spare battery, but would it be enough?

 

Hey, there always has to be challenges. I’ll just have to see what tomorrow will bring.

Travels with Sasha: Day 1, the leaving

The leaving is hard. There’s always the worry that something will be forgotten. Is everything packed? Were items unplugged that needed to be?

 

The car windows need to be washed and probably should have been done yesterday while it was warmer outside. The rest of the items need to be put in the vehicle and I need to decide which coats and jackets to bring.

 

Pele was being lovable and extra attentive this morning until she was distracted by a gray squirrel. Hopefully, she will be napping when I leave because if she watches me go out the door, I will cry. The big white puff ball will be missed even though my clothes get covered with white fur.

 

This morning it dawned on me that I don’t want to be comparing this trip with the one in 2013. Yes, the route will be the same – unless something catches my attention and I take a detour – but there will be differences. My writing style will be much improved. More attention will be paid to people met along the way.

 

My entire emotional-ness is different this time. There’s a part of me that would like to say forget it and stay home. The excitement isn’t here. Then again, once I get on the road, it’ll become so.

 

So, it’s time to finish what is needed and get on the road. I will check in when I get to a hotel tonight… probably in Port Jervis, N.Y., but you never know.              

Travels with Sasha

The countdown is on! Well, it should have been on, but my emotions about going to Florida have been up and down. There’s the excitement about the traveling, revisiting some places from the 2013 trip, seeing new places, and spending time in Citrus Springs with friends. 

The other side is the amount of work there is to do… or I feel I have to/want to do. I’m in the middle of revamping my accounting and inventory keeping for better organization. There are drawings to do, stories and a book not yet finished, photographs, editing, finding a new smaller house… Oh, there are a myriad of excuses to not go.

But I have to go; for sanity, mental well-being, and to get renewed. A fresh outlook is needed as these past six months have been incredibly busy. I am not complaining. My current job, editor of the InterTown Record, is the best job ever and I work for the most amazing woman! However, between editing, reporting, photography, doing interviews, covering stories, and keeping up with the artist side of my life has energy and creativity levels at a low. 

The newspaper work comes with me and I will always be taking photographs and writing. The change of scenery is what will bring on new inspiration. It’s amazing to be able to travel and still do the job. That, in itself, is exciting and the new book is already started. This one will be much improved over “Too Cold for Alligators” although that book was a great accomplishment. (I’m considering “Not Too Cold for Alligators” for the title as it will be a sequel to the other.) 

So today, Sunday, laundry is being done and as clothes are folded, some will go into suitcases. Other items will be added as a mixture of cold and warm weather pieces will be needed. One of the joys about driving is to be able to bring extra. Portable easel and drawing supplies are already packed and I’m hoping to do some en plein air work. Most everything will be made ready today. 

Tomorrow will be about cleaning the house. It will be nice to come home knowing that. Neighbors will be watching the house and Karen will be coming over once or twice a day to check on things and take care of Pele. Yes, it will be hard to say goodbye to my precious puss, but I’ll be back.  

Leaving day will be Tuesday or Wednesday. Right now I’m leaning towards Tuesday, but we’ll see how tomorrow goes.

Be sure to follow my blog as I’ll be writing daily as I travel. Enjoy!

 

Remembering to have fun with what we love to do

Happy New Year, Everyone! 

The start of the new year is always a time to reflect on the past one and contemplate the current. A lot of artists especially often spend much soul searching in deciding how to revamp or re-inspire their careers. Because art isn’t a need, purchasing art work isn’t a priority to many people. So, what can we do to make sales? 

It’s great to have artist friends to talk over these issues. We support each other and make suggestions; get ideas for trying new projects. Nan McCarthy and I email almost every day and we have great discussions. One of the topics we discussed this week was how it is easy to get so involved in creating work to sell, that we forget to have fun. Yes, we love what we do, but sometimes that goal to “make a living” turns our love of creativity into a “job.”  

Deadlines to exhibits or supplying inventory to a gallery can put added stress on our love of creativity. We can get so mired into producing the next painting that we sometimes forget to experiment and find excitement in the project. We worry if a customer will purchase this picture. We try to find scenes or objects that we think a customer will like. Next thing we know, we are so focused on trying to please someone else that we forget we do this work because we love it.  

There isn’t always a consistent market for artists. Yes, there are those who have a niche doing popular items that sell well, but for most, it’s an upward battle. We may do many exhibits and shows. We may have our work in galleries, but that doesn’t mean there are a lot of sales. 

There is a mental battle, too. We often question ourselves. Is our work good enough? Yes! And yet, we drive ourselves crazy wondering why one month will have good sales and then the next two months will be lousy. We can analyze and beat ourselves up over it, but the bottom line is that it is what it is. It’s being an artist. 

My goal for this year is to improve (as always,) but I also want to make sure to have more fun. I want to go on more adventures. Go out taking photographs just to be out and enjoying the countryside. I want to get away from feeling the stress of what I HAVE to do. Yes, there will still be the jobs, the commissions, the shows and exhibits, but I want to let go of the disappointments when things don’t sell… they don’t always sell… and totally be excited when they do!

Marketing your work can be a struggle

Nobody ever comments on my blogs. I keep reading how blogging is an important aspect these days for marketing your work. I read a piece yesterday talking about marketing and that you should pay the extra money to boost your work. I can’t help but wonder how anyone can afford to do all the extra promotions. I certainly can’t afford to keep forking over money. If I had more consistent sales then maybe more could be spent.

Then there are all the groups and places for membership to “get your name out there.” These are all good organizations to help the writer and artist, but $25 here, $35 there, and $50, $75… it adds up quickly. I’m looking at this coming year and need to figure out where to spend my money wisely. How many artists groups should one belong to? How many area Chambers of Commerce should be joined? And most everything joined means attending meetings which takes up time.

However, the networking is beneficial and it’s just as important to hobnob with those in other lines of business or genres. The community support and the Support Local campaigns help us all to build a strong community. Internet social networking is great, but it’s necessary, too, to get out and make physical contact with others.

A lot of artists struggle with the marketing aspect. Most of us just want to do our work. The world has changed and technology has made some things easier. There are many writers, artists, photographers out there these days and the competition is tough. Still, it’s a great community and most everyone is wonderful about exchanging ideas and techniques. Some are very successful with sales, others not so. I don’t believe it’s because one person is a much better artist. A lot of factors come into play.  

Getting Ready for Another Exhibit

Bouncing back and forth between editing for the InterTown Record, writing other stories and articles, and doing photography, there are times when I feel my eyes are just rolling around in my head. A new book is already started and the one started last year isn’t completed. “Too Cold for Alligators” is printed and for sale, so that’s a huge accomplishment. And of course it’s time to finish up the year-end reports. 

This coming Sunday, two photographs need to be delivered to the town hall in Exeter for the annual New Hampshire Society of Photographic Artists’ show. I don’t have any idea what to bring. The goal in “getting better” in 2015 is to print photographs to mat and frame at 16x20 inches. Previously, they were either smaller or the overall size was 18x24 inches. 

Decisions are hard. Should I print this photo or that one? It’s hard to know what might catch someone’s eye enough that they would want to make a purchase. Every time I think this is the one, it doesn’t sell. People love the pictures, but too few are sold.

Right now, I’m feeling tired. It seems that these past few months have been spent running pictures here and there. There’s the big push to print, mat, and frame. The hustle to get the pieces delivered on time. Then return to pick them up. Once one round is done, it’s time to gear up for the next. 

And, as is often the case, the artist is never totally satisfied. I see the flaws. Oh, if I had just moved that way a little. Perhaps I should have added a little more contrast. There’s always something… but that’s what pushes me to do better next time.