In A Crabapple Tree

Outside our cottage, standing almost as tall as our house, is a crab apple tree that pleases us all year long... with spring blossoms, summer shade and fall crab apples. In the winter it also pleases the birds who flock to our feeders and the boughs of this tree with its rotten fruit that sustains them through the cold long winters in Maine. Today our resident Ruffed Grouse flew up into the branches to feed his fill of the fruit...and the buds, on the tree. My husband has named him 'Buddy". Buddy has taken to following Les around our property and has also taken up housekeeping on the edge of our lawn amongst the woods and brush. Today Buddy lit on a branch above me and I had my camera in hand...and finally he posed as I snapped away. It so brings to mind the song "A Partridge In A Pear Tree"!! I find it so amusing that this bird has adopted Les, so to speak...! Les and his 'Buddy"!!

After last night's blanket of snow, the dogs were so happy to get out and play, wrestle and run. I had the privilege of shoveling while they played.
But I did get some time to actually get into the paint and have almost finished a casein I am working on of two Blue Tick pups. Back to painting now before it is time to walk the dogs again and then batten down the hatches for the next snow storm predicted for tomorrow! Gotta love Maine winters! Actually...I think I really do love them!

Eye On The Prize

This painting is done....done on a birch panel, gessoed and then painted in casein. "The Gray -Holly Bull" is available on my website. I was thinking that maybe I should have titled it "Eye On The Prize"...because that is where this fellow was looking... at the barn where the mares were awaiting his pleasure!

Speaking about "men"....This morning when I went out to do the stalls, I watched as a young white-tail buck followed a doe right through our pasture where our horses were grazing, oblivious to the goings on. Of course I had no camera with me...just two noisy canines who were wrestling at my feet, as they tried to take each other's orange bandanna off. Yes, it is not boring on the farm. Everyday is full of 'happenings"!

Show Opening In Belfast Maine- May 22, 2008

I have been working..both in and out of the studio.

My gardens are starting to look good. I think that June is when they are at their prime. I am looking forward to that! Both our sons gave me plants for the gardens for Mother's Day [and dinner out to boot!!]. Such good men they are!!!

On The art front: The 2008 Festival of Art presented at The Hutchinson Center in Belfast opens on Thursday, May 22nd with a Reception for the artists and public. I will be there... and so will my casein "She Rode A Purple Horse". My painting "In Your Face" is hanging in the Gothic Building storefront window in Belfast on Maine Street , along with some other local artists' works, to celebrate this show. There is a Biblical saying "A prophet is not recognised in his own country"....so it is with me. This is almost my first local showing...new for the Belfast arena, not Maine. I look forward to getting more involved with the art scene here.

"The Horses In Art" show at the Columbia Art League has closed and is now being moved to the Wildlife Experience Museum in Parker, CO. My two casein paintings [ "Shades of Black # 8" and
"Shades of Black # 9" ] hanging in that show, will be traveling to the museum for the Opening Reception on June 6th, 2008. I will not be able to go to that opening.....