Getting Ready for the Studio Tour

We hung all the art I have framed in the stairwell then decided that I might as well thumb-tack the remaining art there rather than try to come up with another way for people to browse through all of them.

I'd forgotten how much stuff I have!

Scottie was my first "visitor" - obviously quite taken with the abundant display. Either that or he's just wacky.

Still to do: cleaning, lots of it; cards to put in sets; display for cards to create; display for prints to create;
signs to make for parking; more business cards to print;
prices to mark for paintings. . . I'm sure I'm forgetting
something. Want to come help?

Bits and Pieces

Bits and Pieces was the name of my last art show - - in 2005!

That show was at the museum in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, and was a one-person show. After that, life got nuts with moving, everything in storage, building a house, etc., and I thought I'd forgotten how to paint.

So, I'm back painting. Yeah!!!!!

One would think that being in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada I'd be painting big, dramatic scenes. And, I "wanted" to be painting a bit abstractly. But, my art seems to have a mind of its own.

And, what I've done seems to be a funny return to my Illinois farm girl roots. I'm managing to find farm/ranch scenes. Granted we are just outside the "Great Central Valley" of California; and granted, it's the largest farming economy anywhere - but wouldn't you think I'd paint mountains???

Ah well, the Studio Tour is coming up 3/29 and 3/30; and I have a very special introduction to make at it - no hints. After that, I'm determined to paint something abstract.

The top painting here is my recent favorite, Lunch Beneath the Sycamore. The bottom is Scottie's favorite, Yokohl Valley Watering Hole.

Yep, farm scenes.

Friends and Flowers

We took a little walk recently with good friend Dick Burns, 80'ish, former naturalist at Sequoia National Park for 20+ years. It's like going for a walk with a treatise on natural history! Mr. B knows every plant, every bird, and he's just a treat to be with.

So here he is with Scottie - two guys who carry their age better would be impossible to find.





This is sedum growing around a big rock outcropping. (I can't pretend I knew that without asking Mr. B.) The plants are tiny, tiny. Must be that the water that gathers at the base of the rocks nourishes the plants.









And this is popcorn flower. It provide the white to offset all the California Poppy bright orange/yellow that fills the hillsides right now.




It's rainy and gray, so we will be off to run errands today.

Getting ready for the studio tour the end of this month, painting, getting prints made, etc.

Life is good!

Conjugating Verbs

It's that time of year, and all around me flowers spring up everywhere. These are double daffodils, so does that make them twice as daffy?



These are planted on the berm in front of Scottie's shed, 'cuz yellow is his favorite flower color.














And, the miniature grape hyacinths are up - tiny, tiny little guys, and they are right at the top of the steep bank where the sun hits them.









Planted near the daffies is my lavender.

Don't those colors look good together.


Oh, the wood thingies are to keep dogs from tromping on my flowers.








And, Early Blooming Something (I can't remember the name) which I got as a start from a neighbor also sprang into action and grew.


This baby grows in the shade so it's on the north side of the house.







And Scottie sprang into action with the weed whacker to get the weeds, and unfortunately the wildflowers, knocked down.

Of course, I think his brain sprung a leak. (See, I did it: spring, sprang, sprung, right?)

The man is a maniac!





Just so you can see what he's been dealing with, here's a section with clipped stuff and un-clipped stuff. There's still at least a quarter acre to trim!







So, Scottie worked; I worked - cutting new steps into a bank with a shovel (hard work), watering plants (easy), trimming things (easier than the shovel job). . .


And Buck relaxed. That boy has it tough.

Oh, the old wooden wheels are ones I bought in New Mexico and finally got Scottie to put up by the front door.


Next week we'll talk about nouns.

Spring is almost here!

Gosh I love this time of year! I know my blog sometimes reads like a weather report, but sometimes it's just too good not to report.

It's wildflower season, and the California Poppies are having their best year in decades. Our friend, Dick Burns, who is 90'ish, worked as a Naturalist in Sequoia National Park for years and years, and has been here over 50 years tells us he's never seen the poppies blooming like this year. That should be a harbinger of great blooms from other wildflowers to follow.

And, the river is running!


We've already gotten a mailer from the guy who is the local river guide extolling how great it's supposed be this year. So, if you want an exciting ride - including Class V rapids - I'd say plan your trip for April, This is the start of the chute just below the Gateway.





Spring also means tons of birds! Constant refilling of the feeders threatens to bankrupt us. But, who can give up the sound and sight of birds?

It also means my little fountain comes back into action. We've had pine siskins and goldfinches using this for both a water fountain and a shower, but every time I get out the camera for that close-up they skedaddle.




And, Spring means visitors.








We've been graced by Bob the Mad Juggler, aka Corvette Bob. He and Scottie are out doing the back roads in the bright yellow 500 hp (you read that right) Corvette. If I need to gather bail money, some of you will receive phone calls.









And, house guests mean dinner parties, right? We had a hand-full of neighbors in to celebrate Bob's visit. Neighbors Yerko and Scott, to Scottie's right in the photo; Yerko's sister on the far left; Judy who lives across the road, and of course, Bob. So far as I know they all ate my cooking and lived to tell about it.









And, all good dogs must have baths and new neck scarves for Spring.




Spring for them seems to mean lazy days in the sun. Not a bad life these dogs of mine have!




For those who didn't know: check out my web site at www.artbyeddie.net. Be sure to use .net, not .com.

Later.