"Margaritas And My Sketchbook."

A pen and ink sketch while sipping margaritas...

My wife fell two weeks ago and needs to have her left elbow operated on today. We decided, after hours of waiting marked by moments of repetitive questioning at the "pre op", yesterday, that we'd treat ourselves to dinner... somewhere. We landed at a Mexican restaurant called La Carretas in Mandeville. We got there just in time for the luncheon menu which ends a 4pm, I believe. 

We sat in the patio because it was a very nice afternoon considering the time of year. The addition to the restaurant is fairly new and a welcome site to the indoors hustle and bustle. Of course, this time of year brings out the flies which were a bit aggravating. I don't recall what my wife had but my steak burrito supreme was perfect. I enjoyed the salsa so much that I topped my burrito with it. The salsa was pretty stock except that they added more onions and cilantro to the mix, which made it extra special.

The pen sketch is from the patio while lingering around after we had eaten. It took a while to complete and the waiter came around occasionally to make sure we didn't require any more attention. I am pretty happy with the sketch although the fountain design seems more Oriental than Hispanic.

Copyright 2017/ Ben Bensen III

"The Girls ( Chicks! ) Are Working Overtime!"

My sketch of farm fresh eggs from my good friend who's girls are working overtime!

My champion barrel racing friend, Paula, is an animal lover. She loves her horses like her own children. She has quite a few chickens that just love to lay eggs. She pets turtles and stops along the highway to help them get across the street. ( Who knows why turtles think the other side of the street is any better! ) She has a snake that occasionally drops by to sample a few of "the girls' handiwork" and allows the cat and mouse game between coyotes and peacocks to continue. She does bring her chicks in at night, but allows Nature to do what Nature needs to do in almost all cases.

We'd been away for a few weeks and hadn't visited the local coffeehouse to find out what was shaking in the town. For a while, when we did manage to make it for a cup of coffee and some good conversation, Paula was competing all up and down the local barrel racing circuit. But, today we struck it rich with two dozen eggs plus two as lagniappe. 

And just in time for some Father's Day quiche!  

Copyright 2017/ Ben Bensen III

"A Place To Sketch Or Write Your New Screenplay..."

A sketch of the plane I'm commissioned to paint.

Good Thursday morning, all bodies.

Had a fun meeting with a prospective client at Giddy-Up this morning. She is looking for someone who can paint her in a PT-17 Stearman flying over Lake Ponchartrain. Sounds like she found the right guy!

She seemed to like the western decor at the Folsom coffeehouse, Coffee and panini's... I always try to get folks to drive up to Folsom to see this beautifully laid out place. Very relaxing with computer plugs ins at just about every table or sofa... just perfect to sketch or write your new screenplay, ha!

Man, I got up early and took 'da Pup for an early morning, thirty minute walk. So glad I decided to shower after the walk. Whoa, it is gonna be a hot humid day today.

But, for now, it is a panini and a second Giddy-Up cup!

Copyright 2017/ Ben Bensen III

" My Baby Doesn't Do Breakfast..."

A Breakfast Sketch...

I'm sitting at a Sheraton hotel in Maryland Heights, MO where after having a rather large buffet breakfast, I started to sketch my surroundings. I'm one of those kinda people that like to linger for a while after eating.

Maybe, it is a "Southern Thing".

But whenever we travel, I love to get up, read the "multicolored fish wrap" with breakfast and think deep thoughts. Or, if I don't have any deep thoughts, I sketch. But, my wife loves to crank up the air conditioner, and snuggle deep into the fluffy hotel pillows and sheets till almost checkout time.

As long as I've known her, Therese just doesn't do breakfast!

Copyright 2017/ Ben Bensen III

"Just A Glass Of Water, Please... I Guess!"

Guess it's just a glass of water, please!

Well, it's a welcome to Blitheville, Arkansas Monday, y'all.

No, it's not Blith- ville. It's uh...

We checked in to our Holiday Inn in a stopover in Arkansas on our way to St. Louis. My wife tells me a cute story about the conversation she had with, Travis, the hotel manager, as we checked in.

Travis: "Have you stayed with us before?"

Tee: "No, I've never been in Blytheville before"

Travis: "Well, first you have to learn how to say it correctly. It's called BLI' vul. And, you have to drag it out... BLI-I-I-I vul!"

After perfecting the pronunciation of his fine town, I told him, "That we have the same confusion in New Orleans. It's definitely not, "N'Awlins!"

Travis:"Yeh, exactly how do you say it?"

Tee: It's Nu'Wallins unless you're from uptown. Then, you kinda roll the "r" like New Urrr-le-ons!"

Travis then told me about the dining options at the hotel including "The Bistro" which, other than the Mexican restaurant across the street, is the only place to get an alcoholic beverage today."

Therese said, " I'm sure my face conveyed my surprise as he said,"Arkansas is a dry state. You can't get alcohol on a Sunday!"

Tee: "Oh, in New Orleans you can get alcohol any time of the day or night on any day of the week."

Travis: "I know. That's why I want to go there!"

C'est la vie! Third cup... of coffee!

Copyright 2017/ Ben Bensen II

"A Luncheon Doodle..."

In between bites!

S'been a while since I pulled out a sketchbook, but two days ago I dropped my car off in Slidell for servicing. There goes 300 smackaroos!

Anyway, I always have a driver take me to a restaurant instead of vegging at the dealership for an hour or two. This is what I decided to sketch this radio controlled F4U Corsair in between bites at the Southside Cafe where, it seems, retired Marines hang to raise a few and talk about the "old days." I chowed down a reuben with a side of coleslaw and a draft beer and managed to not get any thousand island "texture" on the sketch.

Copyright 2017/ Ben Bensen III