This week in The Pearl – November 21, 2025


A sure sign of the seasons is that the crows are returning, I have seen them flying by the window just after sunset. During spring and summer we only see the occasional crow in our part of The Pearl. Then in the winter, the tree right outside our window becomes a communal roost for the…

TheTravelsketcher’s Tuesday – Finding peace


“Naturally, the more attention one gives to the deplorable conditions outside the less one is able to enjoy what peace and liberty he (she) possesses. Even if it be heaven we find ourselves in, we can render it suspect and dubious.” Henry Miller, Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch, 1957 My contemplation of…

This week in The Pearl – November 14, 2025


Another eclectic week. Friday evening we went to a birthday party with friends, and met a couple of new friends. Then Sunday we had a Christopherson family gathering here in The Pearl. Always good to get everyone together. A couple of weeks ago I posted about the Urban Sketchers Portland event at Directors Park where…

The Travelsketcher’s Tuesday – Reviewing a pen


Last week I was contacted by Alizza, from Ellington Pens. She had read my post about traveling with pens and she wanted to know if I would be interested in reviewing one of their fountain pens. If you follow this blog you know there is no way I would say no to a free pen….

This week in The Pearl – November 7, 2025


Interesting week, more than once we have asked: “How did we ever find time to work?” We have been quite active, some fun, some not so fun, and really not a lot of art came out of it all. The small, 4×5.5 inch black sketchbook reminded me of a gray 5×8 inch Stillman & Birn…