My wife, Chantal, took a vacation day and I coerced her into going sketching with me.  She’s quite good at sketching but is convinced otherwise so it’s a special treat when I can get her to go out with me.  I think it was my sneaky approach of suggesting a nice, relaxing time sitting in the shade at the Zoo Park that did it.

I really have no idea what name is currently slapped on this park.  It may be the Parc des Moulins but don’t quote me on that.  What I do know is that it’s a sad reminder of a bad political decision that resulted in our city losing our zoo.  The park that remains is nice but not nearly as nice as when the trees had to share space with monkeys, bears, and eagles.

But we did find that shade, which disappeared half-way through our drawing.  I think the tree we were shaded by moved.  We took a break, ate a nice lunch and then continued to finish our sketches while sitting in the sun.  Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

Stillman & Birn Beta (6×9), Namiki Falcon, De Atramentis Document Black

When we finished up I suggested we stop and get an ice cream cone, knowing this would be get a positive response.  We went to a store that’s in a house that looks exactly like the one the Adams Family inhabited and sat outside, in the shade of course, and enjoyed a slight breeze that kept the high humidity at bay.  There was a nice, tall clock in the courtyard and I did this quick sketch of it in my Field Notes “scribbler.”  I continue to be impressed with the paper in this new Field Notes issue.

Field Notes (3×5), Platinum Carbon Pen, Platinum Carbon Ink