What would Johnny Appleseed Do?

"Beauchamp Point Rocks," 12x16, oil on archival canvasboard, Carol L. Douglas.

“Beauchamp Point Rocks,” 12×16, oil on archival canvasboard, Carol L. Douglas.

When we bought this house, it was with the idea that we would keep our house in Rochester until fall. We never wanted a second home, as neither of us believe that home maintenance is compatible with vacationing. Still, we’re temporarily in this position and trying to make the most of it.

I fancy myself a sort of Johnny Appleseed, traveling hither and yon all summer in pursuit of the perfect plein air painting. I wonder what ol’ Johnny would make of wandering in modern America, doing business from the trunk of his car. It’s not enough to have folding money in your jeans; you have to be able to order stuff online. When you do and you have multiple addresses, your credit cards get all kind of crazy.

"Over the Shop," 9x12, oil on archival board, Carol L. Douglas.

“Over the Shop,” 9×12, oil on archival board, Carol L. Douglas.

Johnny Appleseed was, in fact, a shrewd businessman. He left an estate of over 1,200 acres of nurseries in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and four plots in Indiana, including a nursery with 15,000 trees. It makes you wonder how he wired money home. We can do it online, but the trade-off is a proliferation of things to manage.

At the end of May, I drove a truck here with enough of my earthly possessions to minimally outfit the new house. When people have asked to stay this summer, I’ve tried to be clear about three things:

  1. I need to work, so won’t be going out on a schooner with them;
  2. They need to be responsible for their own meals;
  3. Yes, I am happy living with very little stuff.

Hospitality is so ingrained in my training that I have a hard time putting this into practice. However, I’ve had company almost every day I’ve been here. This being my busy season, it’s necessary to set limits.

I haven’t really missed the creature comforts of our big Rochester house, and there’s great peace in minimal possessions. For one thing, I’m never fishing through stuff looking for the tool I need. For another, it’s visually restful.

I’m not totally bereft. There are three beds, a couch, a small kitchen table, dishes for four, glasses, a small iron skillet, a larger (warped) frying pan, three cooking knives and various bits and bobs that cooks find useful. Nevertheless, this streamlined kitchen shocks people.

“I could run out and buy you a 12-cup coffee maker,” several have offered. I remind them that I already own a nice 12-cup coffeemaker in Rochester. I don’t want a spare after we reintegrate our two households.

"Mountains, Clouds," 8x6, oil on canvasboard, Carol L. Douglas. This sweet little painting of the Catskills from Hudson went to a new owner in Waldoboro last weekend. I'm always excited when a buyer gets a painting he or she really wants.

“Mountains, Clouds,” 8×6, oil on canvasboard, Carol L. Douglas. This sweet little painting of the Catskills from Hudson went to a new owner in Waldoboro last weekend. I’m always excited when a buyer gets a painting he or she really wants.

Most conversations with guests go along like this:

“Do you have a [fill in the blank]?”

“I have TWO [fill in the blanks]. They’re in Rochester.”

To avoid this conversation, I’ve taken to telling people that I’m just camping. That doesn’t seem to deter them. Last week a guest asked me, “Do you have an egg cup?” When I said no, she asked, “How do you live without an egg cup?”

Guests also want to rearrange my kitchen for me. An apparently empty canvas is irresistible to a kitchen artist, because each time I wave goodbye I must next reset the kitchen back to the way I had it.

Let me know if you’re interested in painting with me on the Schoodic Peninsula in beautiful Acadia National Park from August 9 to 14. That’s—gasp—next week! Click here for more information! Download a brochure here.

Carol Douglas

About Carol Douglas

Carol L. Douglas is a painter who lives, works and teaches in Rockport, ME. Her annual workshop will again be held on the Schoodic Peninsula in beautiful Acadia National Park, from August 6-11, 2017. Visit www.watch-me-paint.com/ for more information.