IFJM - The Magic Feather

[DrDebby]

Great spread on Paris.

[Joan T]

Leslie - I'm ready to go back too. Thanks.

Rainy - Thanks so much! It seems like this one is more work than ususal.

Debby - Thank you.

April 12
This morning I was dreaming about water and now I am at the Bay of Fundy in Canada, with the magic feather in my hand.
The Bay of Fundy is known for having the highest tidal range in the world. I am here in the morning and the tide is so low the boat is sitting on dry ground by the wharf, while the tide is about a mile away. I'll come back later.

This area of Nova Scotia is famous for their fresh lobster. I'm ready to sit down for a delicious lobster lunch.

I walk out on the beach. As the tide changes the water will come in quickly, so I have to be careful. Look at the areas of eroded rock. The tidal water is so powerful.

More than six hours have passed since I was a the wharf this morning. Look at what happened! The boat is floating near the top of the wharf. What a change!

My day is nearly over and the magic feather will bring me home.

[DrDebby]

What a great spread. I like the contrasting pictures of the boat and the wharf at the high and low tides.

[RainySea]

Joan, those are great! Love the time lapse one from the low and high tide and the lobster is very nicely done.

[jacquip]

Joan very nice. What a great and creative way to show time passing by. Lobster lunch sounds yummmm.

[Joan T]

Thanks Debby, Rainy, and Jacqui! I just had to show the tide change some way. lol

April 13
Country music has been playing in my head, and the magic feather brings me to Nashville, the country music capital.

Music plays everywhere. I step into Legends Corner, a popular Nashville bar. A band is on stage and the crowd is going wild! Music is in the air.

I walk a short way down Broadway and come to the Gruhn Guitar Shop. You can try out their collection of acoustic or electric guitars, banjos, or other stringed instruments. Too bad I can't play a note!

Barbeque is the food staple here. I have so many choices of places to eat, bbq foods to eat, and sauces to try. I am in "Hog Heaven" in more ways than one.

Everyone tells me that a visit to Nashville is not complete without a stop at the Country Music Hall of Fame or the Bluebird Cafe, which is a performance venue for Nashville singers and songwriters. There is a line outside the door. I just hope the magic feather doesn't take me home before the show is over.

[eyepaint]

Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! That's the sound of me whooshing along on the trip with your magic feather. I love San Francisco and want to know someone who lives there with say a cat or dog who will ask me to house-sit while they go on vacation. Then I can wander around and sketch and sketch and sketch

[DrDebby]

Wonderful depiction of Nashville.

EP, Robert lives in SF.

[jacquip]

Really enjoyed the visit to Nashville. Great looking bars and bbq.

[poochemio]

Nova Scotia and Paris are on my bucket lists, been to Nashville several times driving to the east coast. Great spread of all of the above, curious to see what that clever feather takes you next.

[JTMB]

I chuckled when I saw the last two visits - both places I'm familiar with, and your sketches brought back good memories! And of course the sketches are so nicely done, as always.

We visited the Bay of Fundy in 2002 on a cross-Canada, back-across-the-US motorcycle ride that went for 5 weeks and 9,000 miles. The trip of a lifetime, although we were happy to get back to our own bed after five weeks on the bikes. We circled Cape Breton in Nova Scotia and visited the Bay of Fundy as well - amazingly impressive tide changes.

Then Nashville, which my wife visits several times a year as she is active in the IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) and which I have visited once. (I have played in bluegrass bands almost constantly since the early 70's.) For an acoustic musician like me, Gruhn Guitar is hallowed ground. It is one of the, if not THE top places in the country to sell a vintage or expensive instrument and be sure that it will be seen by plenty of potential buyers. When (hopefully only if) I get too old to play my instruments, Gruhn may be who I use to get them sold knowing they'll go at a good price (less commission, of course!).

[RainySea]

Great drawings/pages on Nashville. . . that would be an interesting place to visit, I think.

Joan, What is the secret to get Roz to list your journal website?! I've emailed Roz to add my journal's website to her listing on the IFJM twice, but so far its not been added. . . that happened to me last year, too. I see yours was added so just thought I'd ask. I sent her the link, used the right subject, etc. Or maybe it just takes a long time. . . I sent my first email about four or five days ago and then again yesterday (I think maybe my subject line was not exact the first time, which is why I did again to be sure!) Thanks.

[Joan T]

EP - You can travel with me and the magic feather...we'll both hold it at the same time. lol I don't think Robert and Ari would mind visitors.

Debby - Thanks.

Jacqui - Thanks. My hubby and I visited Nashville on one of our cross country trips. It was a lot of fun.

Margo - Thanks so much. GLad you enjoyed my tour of Nashville.

John - Thanks. Nashville I've visited, but not Nova Scotia...yet!

Rainy - Thanks. Can't imagine what you're doing wrong to get your website listed. I had no problem but it took a few days. I'll go look and see how I did it and let you know.

I have several pages to post but the image of one of them seems to be missing. (Or else I've got the wrong dates on the pages. lol) I'll have to check things out and then post what I've done lately.

[Joan T]

April 14
This morning the sound of someone speaking in a brogue reminds me of Ireland...and County Cork.

I am so amazed by how green the land actually is along the hills and valleys of Cork. It is quite a sight to see the green rocky cliffs meet the water.

I found Blarney Castle about 5 miles from Cork. This is where everyone comes to kiss the Blarney Stone. According to legend, kissing the Blarney Stone endows the kisser with the gift of gab. I wonder if it works.

Cork has lovely seaport towns like Cobn. They are colorful and filled with friendly people.

I think I'll stop in one of the local pubs for a drink. The pubs serve mostly beer or Irish whiskey. If you are lucky there will be a singer to entertain the crowd. I love hearing the Irish ballads.

Here is my beer. Slainte! Here's a toast before the magic feather brings me home.


April 15
There are so many parks I love, and Yosemite is on my mind. So here I am in California. There are so many special things about Yosemite.

Half Dome is a granite cliff that rises nearly 5,000 feet above the valley floor. Many people like to climb it, but I'm happy here at the bottom!

Yosemite is famous for its many waterfalls, like Yosemite Falls in front of us. This is one of the best times of the year to see waterfalls here because of the snowmelt. Yosemite Falls is the highest falls in North America.

There are many kinds of animals here. Make sure not to leave food out. The black bears are always looking for food.

Shuttle buses in Yosemite make it easy to visit the sites. Tuolumme Meadows is lovely right now with the wildflowers in bloom. A picnic here would be nice before the magic feather takes me home.

[Joan T]

April 16
I'm dreaming of southwestern vistas while I hold the magic feather. Now I'm here in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

There are wonderful buildings made of smooth adobe. They have such character.

Santa Fe is home to many wonderful artists, many of which continue making crafts, jewelry, and pottery following the native traditions. I want to buy this beautiful bowl...or maybe this turquoise pendant.

You can find ristras, which are bunches of hot chili peppers drying in the sun. Imagine the wonderful spicy taste they will add to the southwestern food here.

Just a short ride from Santa Fe is Abiquiu Lake. The rocky landscape in this area was favored by Georgia O'Keefe. I'll visit a while before the magic feather takes me home.



April 17
If I dream about castles I think of the Loire Valley in France, and that is where the magic feather brings me today.

The chateaus of the Loire Valley are lovely inside and out. My favorite that I've seen today is the Chateau de Chenonseau, which is what the Disney castle was modeled after.

There are many scenic spots along the Loire River that runs through this area.

The Loire Valley is an important wine producing area. The wines here are delicious. There are vineyards to tour and wine tastings, or degustations available. Maybe I'll try some wine and cheese.

I'm in Amboise, a small busy town with its own chateau, Chateau Amboise. The town has interesting shops, hotels, and restaurnants. I have to leave but it's almost time.