This week we started yet another trip around the sun, it got me to thinking of how our circumstances change over the years. I went back through all of my photos and sketches dated January 1, or at least within a day or two of that. Some years are absent but it was an interesting trip through time, thanks for joining me.
2008 We start with early January, 2008. We were living in Lynnwood, Washington , we had a large willow tree in the back yard, with a reading bench and a swing for Alexis. It snowed that year. Sophie was one of the best cats ever, a feisty little tortie – Neville was not yet part of our family. Sophie is missed for her entertaining personality, always a source of joy and a smile.
2011 We took a walk along the beach in Mukilteo. It was a clear day with the dramatic Olympic Mountains across the water.
2016 We started January 2016 in the reconstruction phase after our basement flooded. Part of the solution was to put an interior drain in, lots of sheetrock replaced, studs cut, and there was an opening between the library and my office. By this time we had Neville, who had joined us in 2011. He thought we had just put in a shortcut for him.
2018 I have no idea why I sketched a hot dog on New Year’s Day.
2020 For a time, I was doing some sumi style painting, and by now was doing art with Procreate. On January 1, 2020 we had travel plans in place for France. The purpose of the trip was to visit La Thebauderie to see if we wanted to live there. We returned to Mukilteo on March 12 with a lease all ready to sign. Then on the 13th the world shut down for COVID, our move would have to wait two years.
2022 With quarantines finally going away we were full speed ahead with our preparations to move to France. Neville and I took a break at one of our favorite spots in our Mukilteo condo. I would often go sit my the fire, Neville would run to join me, it still warms my heart when I think of it.
This painting of the Chateau at Domfront was done from a photo, we would see it in person in just 2 ½ months.
Winter themes on my mind.
2023 By January of 2023 we were well settled in at La Thebauderie, with not a lot to do on New Year’s Day I did some sketching.
By the 5th of January we were in Paris, as we often were since it was just a two hour train ride away. Cafe Odessa is in the Montparnasse area of Paris, I did this on a brisk morning over coffee.
2024 We spent December of 2023 back here in the PNW, visiting with friends and family over the holidays. On January 1 we were starting the journey back home.
We landed at Heathrow in London, planning to spend the night before catching the Eurostar for Paris the next day. We were so tired, and our room was not ready, so we bought tickets on a city tour bus, and slept while it drove. For dinner we went to a pub and had fish and chips while watching darts. The whole pub crowd was into it, like going to a football bar here in the States.
2025 We were settled into our place in The Pearl. I had just finished an oil painting of our home in La Thebauderie, which seemed so far away, both in distance and in ambience. In January of 2024 we had no idea we would be back to stay in Portland, Oh! how the world can change in one year.
We spent New Year’s Day of 2025 with our friends Tim & Lisa, Tim made biscuits. Then on the 2nd I did another oil of a street in Paris.
Today, January 2, 2026
It has been quite a year, and many of you have followed us along in our settling in here in The Pearl, yet as you know France always inspires my art, so I did this painting of La Rose de France this morning, one of our favorite places in Paris, and a favorite of our friends Shirley & Jim who now live there. As an aside I have had two request for copies of this painting already today – so thrilled when someone wants to make my art part of their life.
There is no way I can guess what next January will be like, but one thing I am certain of is that it will be une grande aventure!
theTravelsketcher 
. . . as long as life can be said to be a great adventure all is well with one’s own part of the world . . . the best to you both . . . and a big thank you for the memories and, especially, today’s painting . . . best . . .
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Thank you for all of the kind words you send this way, it means a lot.
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Lovely to look back on your artwork over the years; you and Tricia have certainly gotten around! Here’s to another great year, et je ne doute pas que vous aurez beaucoup d’aventures!
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Merci, vous et tres gentille !
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What a lovely post – so many interesting things that have happened over the years. That final sketch is gorgeous. One never knows what is round the corner – we never imagined living in New Zealand, yet we have been here for almost exactly 13 years (anniversary at the end of the month).
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Thank you so much, and thanks for the comment on the sketch. When doing one you never know how it will turn out, this one felt good.
I did not know you were not born in NZ, where then I are your roots?
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Well, I was born, educated and raised in Scotland (Edinburgh to be precise) but neither of my parents were Scottish nor do my family have any Scottish roots. My mum was English and my Dad Polish, both ending up in Scotland due to WW2. I moved to Copenhagen when my husband and I got married (but he is Swedish) and now we are in Aotearoa. My stepson is Danish and lives there. When we had our cat, I used to say he was the only one of the family who was born in New Zealand.
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You are an eclectic bunch, wow. I love Edinburgh though. Your cat is the true native. Love it.
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What an adorable picture of Neville and you by the fire. I just had a cat on my outstretched legs (a “cat blanket”). They are the best.
I have a theory for why you painted that hotdog on NY day. Maybe you were painting your NY resolution – to give up your hotdog habit?? 😉
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Well that is quite an interesting observation. Someplace along the way i acquired the reputation of liking hot dogs, which had a bit of truth. Yet I have discovered that the last few I hav had, months apart by the way, were just not that great. Now a good sausage dog may be another thing, yet even those are few and far between. So maybe you are right… will ponder the idea that the sketch was a cry for help, or something.
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However you look at it, life IS one grande aventure. One of the great things about your art and Tricia’s photography is that you can capture those moments along the way—and revisit them anytime. Because life IS such a gran aventure, we never quite know where it will take us next. Here is the unknown and the memories yet to make. The photo of you and Neville is very special. LOVE your sketch of La Rose de France. It will soon be hanging in our kitchen. (And I want one of Tim’s biscuits…!)
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Yes, we do capture the moments, and enjoy sharing. So glad you like the sketch, can’t wait for pic of it hanging. Thanks so much. Do you want me to check with Tim about photo?
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thanks, but no need to check with Tim. My goal is to EAT those biscuits –not hang them up!!!
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Thank you, Shirley!
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Happy New Year! Lovely sketches, the random hotdog made me smile 😊 Enjoy your adventures this year.
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You too, any plans for adventures this year. Thanks, funny how sometimes I just sketch the odd thing.
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Funny how every year seems so dramatic, but looking back they all tend to blend.
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We are so happy to have you back in the states, so close to us. France’s loss is our gain. (I covet your sketchbook/diary. It is glorious.)
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Thanks so much.
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