Rosabella's Poppy Patch

Rosabella's Poppy Patch

It was a perfect, sunny, HOT, summer Monday in Skagit County. I promised to post this after adding more color yesterday. (See yesterday's post for more.) I named it for the reason I stopped to sketch. Anyone who knows the location at Rosabella's Garden Bakery will see that I took out the very nice, but too-big-and-in-the-way sign. It was right in the middle of the poppy patch, blocking my view of the road going uphill into the distance.

I wish they had been open yesterday. Here are a few of the things for which they are famous:
(I really wanted a bouquet of those flowers....and at least a look at the 5 lb. apple pies)

• Rosabella's famous 5-lb apple pies
• Fresh apple cider donuts - watch them being made
• Fabulous lunches and pastries from the Bakery
• Experience hard cider and unique fruit wines
• Vintage gift shop full of discriminating food & unique gifts
• Fresh fruits and vegetables in season
• Rosabella's specialty-cut flower bouquets
• Great coffee and espresso

"Farm Fresh Eggs" ink sketch on location, Bow, WA

As you see (photo-right), I took a photo of my ink sketch (in the cool, air conditioned front seat of my car, sorry for bad exposure) and got a bit of color on before my sketching buddies arrived. You can see that stage of my sketch in this photo. (I'm the one in the white hat-my sketches are top and bottom left.)

Today the lighting has changed drastically, with lightning storms, possible rain and hot, muggy, overcast skies in the forecast for the next few days. Still, I just might have to go back and see what else I can use for the next page in my sketchbook. Did they say they were open on Thursdays?

Edison Journal

Edison Afternoon

The writing:
"Lavender grows in baskets at the corner of an old red ochre brick building in Edison, WA.
The distant mountains have a purple haze and
A huge stand of green bamboo makes a quiet sound, rustling in the breeze.
sssssssssss.

At 2 pm the porch light is on at "Hedgerow"
And the sunflowers are going dry."
Michele Cooper - 8/11/14

The sketch: Well, I got all tangled up in the textures and should have quit while I was ahead. I still had a memorable experience in Edison, WA with my sketching friends and I think it's better reflected in the "journal" part of my sketchbook this time.

Edison

There's always something sketch-worthy in Skagit farm country, especially at the peak of the summer growing season. There are road side stands selling flowers this week, but they'll have home grown fresh vegetables and fruit to offer soon.

"Farm Fresh Eggs" ink sketch on location, Bow, WA

Although the Anacortes Sketchers were meeting for lunch at 12:30, I drove out a little early to see what the day would offer. I could have sketched the whole day and never made it to Edison, but I settled on doing a 15 minute ink sketch at Rosabella's Garden Bakery. Then I drove back to our lunch spot to wait for the others and added watercolor, parked in the shade. I need to let it dry before posting, so I'll add it into tomorrow's post.

Jane and Lisbeth sketching in a high traffic area of Edison. (Pop. 110)

With temperatures soaring into the high 90's elsewhere, the Anacortes sketchers lounged in the shade in Edison this afternoon. It was a refreshing 84°F, in the shade. My car made it to 100°F where it was parked on Cains Ct near "Hedgerow".

Some of the renowned restaurants were closed on Monday, but not the Breadfarm, where I bought a wonderful loaf of ciabatta bread, warm from the oven. (My husband and I enjoyed thick slices of it with brie, olives and cold prawns for dinner. Yumm!)