Quiet

Not much to say.  Just make sure you stop over to my friend Tina Bluefield's newly created blog.

Happy New Year, everyone!  2010 - WOW!

A visit

Today I was in my studio, cleaning up a little as part of a frenzied search for some lost watercolors, when I heard all this racket outside. It seemed quite loud, and I couldn't figure out what it might be. I thought there was a person outside the house or something. So I had to go out and investigate. I walked out the front door, and looked around. Finally, I turned my head to the right, and there, above the studio window was a roadrunner, scuffling about on the overhang! I love those roadrunners, and have wanted to sketch them for some time now. However, they are superfast, and usually I only catch a glimpse of them as they zoom past the house. It must have been the claws of the roadrunner I was hearing on the red tile of the overhang. Hoping for a miracle, I quickly ran inside to get my camera. Fortunately, the roadrunner was still there when I came out. I had just enough time to shoot this photo, before it jumped off and ran away. Still, it was a highlight!

Yes, the lost watercolors. I had done a series of little watercolors, and was intending to blow them up large in oil. I have already painted two, which you have seen. Well, I had quite a few more that I really liked, and today I was going to start on them. I can't find them!!!!!!! Can you believe it? I mean, I have a drawer that I keep them in, and they weren't in their drawer. I combed the entire studio, looking for those darn things. Being interrupted by the roadrunner was a salvation, in a way, since I was beginning to lose my temper! If you could all please send out a little prayer that I find my little watercolors, I would greatly appreciate it. I'm not kidding when I tell you that I finally had to re-direct my attention elsewhere, I was so frustrated! Where ARE they???!!! ugh. And to think I was getting so organized. So much for THAT notion.

Here is a lovely little red cactus that caught my eye this morning when I was out with Mr. Pono the dog. Enjoy.

Upcoming Road Trip

Tomorrow I am headed out for Colorado once again. This time, I have decided to drive, so that I can take Mr. Pono with me. So I have spent the day loading up the VW Van, packing clothes, food, sleeping bags, etc. I also cleaned up the house a bit. I hate to come home to a mess. I will be visiting my Mom and Dad. Mom is in the hospital again. I am her main advocate in the hospital, so I better get going.

I leave you with another watercolor painting. This one is older, from 2006. I just discovered it in a drawer, and I really like it. It measures ALMOST 8 x 8 inches (more like 7 3/4 x 7 3/4 inches, really.) I am still pondering the title, but it might end up being called "Close Up".

I also want to take a moment and thank all of you for your input on my artist's statement! It really helped to have feedback. I am in the process of polishing it now, and I am keeping all of your suggestions in mind. Thanks!

Oh! I almost forgot. Two of my cactus outside are about to bloom, and one of them looks like a rabbit or some kind of critter. Here's a photo. I had a discussion with this cactus, during which I told it to bloom tomorrow so that I could see it before I leave for Colorado. It promised to try really hard.

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.

The wildflowers in spring

This is the flower blog. I have been awed by the flowers recently. I especially love wildflowers. As I mentioned a day or so ago, I have already packed my wildflower book, so I won't be identifying any of these flowers for you. I think you will find them lovely anyway. I cannot seem to chose a favorite. I had a favorite picked out, in the form of these exquisite purple flowers, but then two days ago the red prickly pears began to bloom. (I wasn't sure if they were prickly pears, but Matthias seems to think they are.) These red blooms are so vibrant! I don't remember seeing so many of them, last spring. Yet, that may be one of those things that memory decides to trick you with.

The other flowers I would like to share with you are the old fashioned roses that are growing in our backyard. They are the most magnificent color! If I wasn't busy packing art, I would be out there with my paints, capturing them that way. The photo was quicker...

It is quite green around the Arkansas Valley right now, and I am drinking it in, knowing that we will be surrounded by brown desert soon enough. I wonder if it's possible to stockpile green in your mind. I think it is. There are flowers of every color, that we have been discovering on our morning walks with Mr. Pono. The Arkansas River is raging, with all the rain and the early snowmelt. It is brown and high. Pono still loves to go in, although he is not much of a swimmer. Mostly, he enjoys wading. Matthias was throwing sticks in for him, so I got a photo of Pono, daring to stretch his neck out for a stick in the turbulent river. You don't have to worry about Pono in the river. He will not go out further than he can wade, and even if he ends up deeper than planned, he is an excellent, if reluctant, swimmer.

Tomorrow, the big truck arrives, and the loading begins. This move is coming upon me more quickly than I was really ready for! Sunday is the day we plan to leave. Who knows if I will have the energy to continue the blog through this whole adventure, but I will do my best.