Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Hobonichi Life: The Good, Bad, and the Ugly



In February, we drove to Panama City Beach,
Florida, with my parents.




The weather was heavenly. It's the first time
since we started visiting there, that I didn't 
have to wear my winter coat on the beach!







Despite a few little inconveniences (like
the false fire alarm at 12:30 am at night)
we had a wonderful time.



I never tire of looking at the waves,
hearing their splash onto the beach,
and watching the sandpipers scurry
away from the beach walkers.







Road construction in front of the condo
made things interesting, but since we 
were able to drop off my parents (in their 80's)
at the door and then park in the garage,
 it worked out just fine.







I am fascinated by the shapes of the palm
trees, but never really got a chance to do
any detailed sketches this year. Doodles
had to suffice...



A safe trip home at the end of the month,
but our homecoming was a rude 
awakening. Water in our basement!
Lots of it.

So we spent several days drying out the 
basement.  And it was full of stuff. That smelled.
(At least it was all ground water, no sewage)
So a dumpster was in order to remove and
dispose of as much as possible. 

It's sad throwing away baby clothes and toys.
Really, it would have been better to donate
them as soon as the kids outgrew them,
but I tend to hang onto things long after
I need them. So, I tell myself this is a 
blessing in disguise. The basement looks a 
lot better now, insurance covered new 
appliances and a sump pump with battery
back-up. What a big job, though...




I got a lot of exercise going up and down
the steps, and there has been some sunshine!
Hmmm...while I'm in the sort, clean, recycle
mode, I should do the rest of the closets/house!







Joining my T-Tuesday buddies over at 
Altered Book Lover's blog for a
beverage and a chat. Join us!
 ♣ ♣ ♣
How many coffee/tea mugs did you
see in this post? 
♣♣
It's almost time for 
International Fake Journal Month!
Visit my fake journal blog here
to learn more. 

19 comments:

  1. Glad you had such a good trip, I certainly enjoyed seeing all of the pictures - your journaling is fabulous, as always. Happy PPF, hugs, Valerie

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  2. Good morning, sounds like a wonderful trip to the beach-I have not been to a beach since the early 70s I always loved the waves too and the sandpipers.
    but oh my the mess you came home to-so sorry about that-I hang on to everything too-I really need to start with my craft room and soon
    I love love your journal pages-you are so artistic
    Happy T Day Kathy

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  3. What a fabulous post! I loved reading about and seeing your road trip adventures and you have captured them beautifully in your journal 😁. Sorry to hear about the basement and I'm so pleased that you sorted it all ok. Have a very Happy T Day! J 😊

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  4. Well, you have to know that I am totally in love with your beachy pages and illustrations Dianne!! In one month I will see my beloved beach again and cannot wait. Glad all went well with your trip. But your basement woes-yikes!! What a thing to come home to...but it IS a good way to get rid of stuff. Thanks for sharing all your marvelous art, and happy T day!

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  5. I am having a terrible week. I can’t stop coughing, my internet keeps going offline, and my keyboard works about half the time.




    i can relate to water in a basement. I just hope you get all the mold out before it becomes a problem. LOVE your beautiful journal pages and ART.

    I realize I’m not a very good host, but want to thank you for sharing T with us this Tuesday. Happy Vernal Equinox, too.

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  6. So, how many of those step on Road Trip day were "earned" riding in the car, Dianne? I earned my Fitbit mountain climber badge the day we drove up and down the Sierra Madre mountains from TX to our home in Mexico. lol.

    I love how you draw/color water and sky in your Hobonichi. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? I'm imitating a lot of design ideas from you in my beginner's journal. I don't draw as well a you and I try to give my own twist. So probably you'd never even guess I'm imitating you if you looked at my pages ;-)

    Your Valentine's day roses are beautiful - I mean your drawing of ... of course.

    Wonderful pages. Love the Morton Salt girl, but sorry to hear about your flood.

    I didn't count while reading, so I cheated and went back over the pages. I only found 5 mugs. Now you've got me wondering the correct answer ;-)

    Happy T-day! Hugs, Eileen

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  7. A beach vacation! I'm definitely in the mood for that! I'm trying to do better about donating rather than hoarding. Even without a flooded basement it's a good idea, but what a shame about your basement ... Happy T Tuesday

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  8. Fabulous journal diary pages , the drawings you add are always so interesting.
    It sounds like you had a good trip away and good weather, but coming home to that much water must have been awful. Glad to read you were able to get it all sorted out.
    Happy T day wishes.
    Yvonne xx

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  9. I counted 5 mugs! I love all your journal pages. Your doodles are always so detailed and realistic. That must have been awful to get rid of the baby stuff that way but I understand the need to purge. I tend to associate memories with items. I am glad insurance helped out.
    Happy Tea Day,
    Kate

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  10. I saw 5 mugs. but then again I was mentally going off to the beach because your drawings were so good I felt like I was there. Looks like it was fun trip and lucky you to escape the winter for a little bit. :) Hope it was a happy T day. Hugs-Erika

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  11. Amazing pages - as always! I can almost hear those waves.
    Yes keep going on the declutrering - it’s liberating! We have moved so many times and just not managed to have the time to get rid of things. But this time I was determined not to move stuff we don’t need. We probably got rid of half of our stuff or more and I haven’t missed it once. Once our stuff comes out of storage I will only keep things that I need in our new house.
    I highly recommend it :)

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  12. You are the best Hobonichi artist ever - you catch your life in such a beautiful way! The trip sounds really heavenly and so bad with the water in the basement - I can imagine how exhausting all the work after the nice holidays!
    Sorry for you!

    Happy very belated T-Day, you know I am always a bit busy even though I am a homestaying girl!

    oxo Susi

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  13. I love read and admiring your Hobonichi pages even though I usually don't comment. But I can't help but wonder how come there's no show through on the pages. Is the paper that great that even using pen and water color that nothing shows through on the back side. I bought a Leuchtturm1917 planners (instead of the Hobonichi) and gave up because of the show through from the back page. It really bugs me!

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    Replies
    1. Myrium~ the Tomoe River Paper in the Hobonichi is very thin, but it IS that good. It holds up well to watercolor as long as you don't get the paper super wet. I always try out a pen first on a back page to see how it looks over time. Pigment ink usually 'sits on top of the paper' and works ok. Alcohol based pens and inks will bleed through. There may be some 'shadowing' on the back of the pages, which lightly shows through but doesn't bother me, and usually doesn't show much with the new entry. Good pens to draw with and watercolor over are Pigma Micron or Pitt artist pens. I am in a Hobonichi Techo Users Facebook group which has helped me get a lot of info. Hope this helps...I love my little Hobonichi planner!

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  14. I just love your journal entries. Counting coffee cups reminds me of looking for hidden objects in the Highlights magazines. I counted 5 mugs. I'm so envious you got to spend some fun at the beach. I love all the beachy things you drew. Critters, flip flops.A trip with your folks must have been extra special. So sorry about your flooded basements. Been there when the sump pump just up and died for no good reason. But as you said, it's a good impetus to get things cleaned and sorted.

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  15. As usual I LOVE ALL of your journal pages! A beach vacation sounds wonderful too. It been forever since I"ve been to a beach :( .
    Thanks for stopping by my blog... I'm not doing well with the restricted coffee drinking either.
    Happy Late T Day!
    Carol

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  16. I found five the second time I went through. I looked first and couldn't see them! Love your journal pages. Thanks for stopping by to see me.

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  17. I do believe your pages get better each month! So sad to hear of your flooded basement ...but as you say there was an up side to that!! I got to the bottom of your post when I saw the question, but as it heads towards midnight on the first day of the official Summertime I am afraid I'm off to bed!! As you can see I am trying to catch up with T posts! Belated Happy T Day! Chrisx

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  18. we are back from our lisboa tour... physically;) takes time to adjust to normal again and i´m slowly beginning my blog visits again...
    i wish i could sketch like you, would be so helpful on travels, and more personal like photos... i saw a few People drawing and they really looked comfy and calm.
    dianne, wishing you a wonderful easter Weekend - xox

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