True Colors

Martin Creek just makes me happy. That's what it boils down to....

This first one is my Happy Halloween shot - the water bug makes a great mask...

Colors

Just as I started taking a few photos today, my battery died. Will have to go back tomorrow. In the meantime, a couple shots of Martin Creek from this afternoon. Happy Fall!

Afternoon Light...

I was at the studio yesterday, and when I went down to use the bathroom I noticed the combination of the late afternoon light and the old, weathered, painted door of the bathroom. There was just something rich about it. Something in the texture of the paint, the old hardware, I don't know...

Unnatural Fall Color

Before I left for St. Louis last Tuesday, Joe and I went out to look at a Forest Service burn area, but first went to the wrong spot. I didn't realize how wrong it was until we were in the middle of a dense brushy area and I saw blue water on the foliage. We were walking through an area that had just (probably within an hour) been sprayed with herbicide. I can only hope that this bug I have had since the day after that is unrelated. Also that whoever the contractor who sprayed it (and failed to post the area) used the appropriate dilution. From what I have read about it (a product called Arsenal AC), there have been few studies on its effects on ground water and wildlife.

still life...

Lucy and I painted a lemon still life today, though we didn't have a lot of time and neither of us finished or liked what we had. Afterward, we really thought the lemon had more personality...

Studio views...

This is what I see when I'm at the studio. The bottom photo is looking out the window on the south end, where I spend my pensive time. The other views are to the North, where I work on bigger stuff...

Martin Creek

This morning...

Something new...

I have been working on this rattle for a friend this week, and have really enjoyed doing it. Perhaps I will be making some more...

Imperial Moth

Well, it didn't take but a moment to find on google that it was an Imperial Moth caterpillar that Kenton found. Funny, I had a lot of them on my front porch earlier this summer. Too bad I didn't take a photo of one of them...

Gigantipillar...

If anyone knows what this is, let me know - it's the biggest caterpillar we've ever seen - about four inches long or so...
And my friend Kenton, who found it and wants to know...


Look at the horns on this thing! And his head (which looks a lot like the other end) seems to retract into the body...