TheTravelsketcher’s Tuesday – July 14, 2026


One of the pleasures of travel is to savor the little things. An extra benefit of packing light is not just to carry only the things you need; the things that are important, but to take items that you will use and enjoy using because they enhance the moment. Most of us have more possessions…

TheTravelsketcher’s Tuesday – Fine dining


“And asparagus? My father would sooner have carried a twenty-dollar bill to his grave than spend it on some glamorous weed coated in cheese. But for me, dinner at a fine restaurant was the ultimate luxury. It was the very height of civilization. For what was civilization but the intellect’s ascendancy out of the doldrums…

This week in The Pearl – February 20, 2026


Today is one of the first quiet days we have had this week, Tricia is on one side of the table writing a blog abut the importance of thank you notes, handwritten of course. She asked for a sketch of a pen and inks, which of course was a treat for me. I am on…

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….