Spring Forward

We woke up this morning and realized we forgot about spring forward. Ooops.

I am a little tired today, and not because I didn't get enough sleep. I think I am still fighting off that cold. Either that, or I am fighting off a whole new cold. Either way. I am not sick. I haven't been sick yet. I am not going to get sick. I am just saying I am tired. (and a little grumpy, obviously.) Kay? Kay.

Pono and I discovered a Joshua Tree that had a ton of flower clusters on it the other day. So here is a photo of it, but you can't see them all. Magnificent! I am so enjoying these.

Oh, and I also found a crinkly cactus near our house that is about to bloom. Matthias says it is a beavertail, but I really don't know what kind it is. I can't wait to see the blossoms! This is so exciting!

Here is a new painting. Another one. I don't seem to be much in the mood to write. This is 25 x 25 x 2.5", oil on canvas. I am still arguing with myself about the title.

Painting

Not much news. Instead, how about another painting? I am still thinking about this one. I haven't decided if it's done or not yet. Maybe it is. Maybe not. It is oil and acrylic medium on canvas, measuring 24 x 24 x 2.5".

I will write again when I actually I have something to say.

An error

Matthias has informed me that he thinks the photos I've been posting of "Joshua Tree Buds" are actually "Joshua Tree Blooms"!!! He says that the individual bracts don't actually open up. (which is what I was thinking happened.) I don't know!!! How am I supposed to know? I have never lived here before, and it's not like anyone in South Dakota (where I grew up) ever taught a class about "the life cycle of a Joshua Tree". Ya know? So, my darling, beloved readers, please don't be angry with me. I was not trying to lead you on, or deceive you into thinking there was some grand finale of the Joshua Tree blossom. Nothing like that. Deep down, I am still hoping that the individual bracts will actually open, and then I will have my envisioned reality. However, I feel that it is important that I keep that to myself, and tell all of you that this is "as good as it gets". So you won't hunt me down and destroy me for disappointing you. Not that I think you would ever do that, but I hate to let people down. Forgive me?

To hopefully console you, I have painted another painting, just for you. And I have walked all over the desert, taking more photos of Joshua Tree, whatever-they-ares. And more wildflowers. This white one, I am pretty sure, is Desert Chicory.

Wildflowers and a new painting

Wildflowers are appearing in the desert. On our walk/run with the dog yesterday morning, I spotted the Dwight's Deer Vetch. A clump of wonderful yellow flowers on long, delicate stems. They turn red with age. Here are some close ups. I am pretty sure I have identified these correctly, even if Matthias doesn't believe me. I used my National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers. When I first caught a glimpse of these flowers, I was so excited!

I have been in the studio most of the weekend. I am pleased with several of the paintings completed today. Here is a photo of one of them. It is 12 x 12 x 2.5", oil on canvas. The red is more of a brown red, but I am having trouble making the color look just right. These paintings will just always be better in person. !!! no matter how good I get at Photoshop, a camera just doesn't quite capture it.

I thought of the last person to tag for my seven things. It is Jenny, from Dancing Elephant Studio. I think she is in Hawaii right now, but when you get back, Jenny, please tell us seven things. Favorite possessions, books, quotes, whatever. Kay? Kay. Thanks.

Self Portrait in Words

I've been tagged by my friend, Priya, on her blog The Plum Tree. So I guess I have to tell you seven things about myself.

1. Ummm...I am naturally a BLONDE, not a redhead!!! ha ha ha It's true. I was a toe-head as a child, with that white head of hair, and it just got more dishwater-like as I aged. And then one day, I discovered HAIR DYE. It was all over after that.

This is a pastel self portrait I did while living on Maui, as a natural blonde.
2. Without my contact lenses, I cannot see the big "E" on the eye chart. (The day I found that out, I cried.) I am quite near-sighted.
3. I just asked my husband what I should tell you about me and he said, "You're very...entertaining." We both laughed.
4. A favorite guilty pleasure is a good book, a comfy chair, and a cup of hot tea. I can read ALL DAY.
5. I like punk rock music.
6. I really love people. They fascinate me. (perhaps the reason I like to draw and paint them!)
7. I once petted a lion. A big male, rumbling LION!!! In South Africa. It was amazing.

THERE.

Obviously, there is more to me, but I tried to pick things you didn't already know.
Oh, I almost forgot, I am supposed to tag seven people. So, here you are:
Melissa and Emmitt
Linda and Maisie
Carla
Lee
Anke
Kate
I'll have to think of number 7 later. I'm too tired to think of more right now!

May you all have a delightful weekend.

Two new paintings and more Joshua Tree Blooms

I have been tromping all over the desert, in pursuit of a Joshua Tree that is actually blooming. However, it seems we must wait a little longer, my dear blog friends. None of them are QUITE READY yet. I did get some really nice close up shots today, where the buds were actually at eye level. (I am only 5'3", so that is really saying something!). I will have to remember where I found these, so when the flowers start to pop open, I can get more good close ups like this. I think these buds are cool looking already. I have no idea what to expect once they bloom. You can see that this second one is not nearly as close to blooming as the first one. I think in this earlier stage, they really remind me of the protea. (one of my favorite flowers!)

I did paint all weekend, pretty much. I had hoped to finish more paintings than I did. I don't know why it's going so slowly. I did finish two smaller ones, and I am happy with them both. These are flowers, well, they are abstracted. Or should I say I invented them. Yes, that is more accurate. I invented them, but to me they are flowers! I have titled them "Desert Bloom I and II". These are both oil on canvas, measuring 12 x 12 x 2.5". The edges are painted too, and so when they are dry, I will try to remember to photograph the edges.


I don't have much else to tell you. I have been fighting off a cold all weekend. I still haven't gotten sick, but I find that I tire easily, and so I am trying to sleep more and take lots of vitamin C. I swear I will post more when I don't feel so pooped!

Rain in the Desert

We woke up to rain this morning!! So rare, and that makes it all that much more special and cool. Pono the dog and I got quite wet on our walk, but Pono decided that being able to splash through puddles is worth the wet ears. A small price to pay.

I did spend time in the studio today. Not as much as I would have liked, but at least I got in there. I am struggling with a larger painting that is really being difficult. I am on layer number 4 or 5 by now, and it is still an ugly duckling. I may just have to leave it at that, and move on. To save my sanity. (If I still have some.)

Here is a painting from earlier this week. I think it's 16 x 12 inches. Small. Oil on canvas. It is a swan, only in comparison to the huge ugly duckling, still sitting on my easel, making me want to light a bonfire.