This morning's hike...

...brought this big guy or gal. Joe said 5 ft, I said 4, so likely somewhere in between. As thick as my upper arm, at least. Beautiful, though it sent shivers up and down my spine for a good while. I counted 10 rattles...

new typewriter...

I bought an old typewriter at a flea market the other day. I wanted it for writing letters. This morning I thought it would be nice to play at looking at the small paintings and see what comes in spontaneous words. I started with one I was about to mail to a friend. It's been years since I used a typewriter, and now I remember why I liked it so much. I think it will be interesting so see what words come from these paintings. Much like the paintings, I will not think or plan. Rather I will sit at the typewriter, look at the paintings, and let the words come, for better or worse. I am curious to see what they will say to me.

been a while again...

I've been too busy running everywhere but here lately. So I managed to get a bit disconnected from my work. Here's a start back that illustrates this point well...

And then...

There was a continuous light show in the sky. I lay in bed, looking up through the skylight, as the clouds above strobed on and on - the sky was never dark for about an hour. The clouds were filled with lightning - running in all directions except down. The colors ranged from yellow to brown to purple to blue.
And there was a single, lone lightning bug floating around me and landing on me. Strange feeling to be laying under the skylight, so close to all that lightning, tin roof just overhead. What a show.

Leonard Cohen, interrupted....

I was listening to Leonard Cohen tonight because it fit my sad mood - bird on a wire, actually. As I was listening, I was drawn outside by the sound of a whippoorwill so near that it sounded different than usual. I tiptoed outside with the flip camera to see if I could capture a bit of its song. You may need to put your headphones on...

It reminds me of the strange plaintive sound I heard in the woods today while hiking with a friend. Not sure if it was a bluejay or a mockingbird or what - seemed large for both of those. I thought it may have been a turkey or an animal in distress. It was an odd sound and I spotted the bird as it flew, but only partly - it had a long tail. Also heard Raven's rattle and the whoosh of its wings overhead and Broadwing calling loudly as it does. I guess it was a bird sort of day.

Now there is thunder in the air, and moisture. I welcome the cool they will bring.

new light...

I recently had to replace the roof on the log cabin, and took the opportunity then to put in two skylights. It has been so dark in here on the north side in the hollow... Anyway, I was at my desk working this afternoon, and where there used to be shadow, I noticed a beautiful light illuminating my wildflowers...

funny.....

I didn't notice until just now as I went to scan today's painting that it includes all the color stuff I mentioned on yesterday's post. I'm so glad that I just let these painting come through me. That creates the opportunity for them to continuously surprise and amuse me. And it's amazing how clueless I can be as they come...

not sure....

I'm not sure any of these are finished, but here they are nonetheless. We'll see if I get back to them or if they feel more settled later. Let me know what you think...

Dragons and nectar...

Yesterday, I saw some dragonflies mating. I was noticing and appreciating that they were complimentary colors - one beautiful blue, the other bright yellow. It is so interesting how nature pays attention to such details. Today, I was sitting on my friend the tree, down by the river, and I noticed a curious skink, who was checking me out. Then I realized that we were the same color, only flipped. He was brown toward his head and blue on his tail, whereas I was wearing brown shorts and a blue top - the same blue as his tail. This afternoon I have two new lilies in the pond, and several blue dragonflies. I haven't spotted the yellow one today.

It's late...

and maybe painting late in the not so bright kitchen is not optimal...

another beautiful day...

So nice to sit on the sreened porch, listen to the birds, see the squirrels peacefully digging up nuts and watch the dragonflies run circles round the pond... and paint...