2009 October 16 | ComfortZone

People with homes near the ocean often decorate with cool nautical items.

Of course, to satisfy my curiosity, I had to snap a photo of this house, and later look up “International Maritime Signal Flags” on Wikipedia to see what it says.

Here is one possible translation (using the International Code of Signals meanings):

“Keep clear of me, I am engaged in pair trawling. I have a pilot on board. I am altering my course to starboard. The way is off my ship. Man overboard! I am taking in, or discharging, or carrying dangerous goods. I repeat, I am taking in, or discharging, or carrying dangerous goods. I am altering my course to port. Negative. I am operating astern propulsion.”

Actually, I am sure the owner of this house is just spelling the family name.

Here’s the alphabet decoder:

A serendipity is to “come upon or find by accident.”

While on a casual walk through a coastal neighborhood near my brother’s house, we met Lila, a local artist. She invited Deanne and I to visit her studio beside her home.

Lila in her studio. There were two rooms, so this is only a small fraction of her work!

After seeing her 30-plus years of oils, watercolors, colored pencil, and ink drawings (not to mention her collection of several dozen art show and county fair prize ribbons!), we visited a bit and I told her I was an artist also. She then offered me a free hour-long lesson in wax painting!

The next afternoon I went back to her house and took her up on the offer! It was a blast! It has been a LONG time since I did any creative art just for fun!

Here are a few samples of my work…