Camp Fire

As I sat by the fire, after a day's work hauling branches, I thought this would be the perfect thing to sketch.  I've not drawn nor painted a fire before, so why not?  With boots too muddy to go into the house, I grabbed my sketch bag from the trunk.  This palette fans out, with many colors to choose from.  It has remained in my car for over a year, and I can see that a few of the paints have cracked.  Perhaps from the extreme temperature fluctuations?  It does not affect their performance, and they were actually perfect for capturing this scene!  I love sitting by a fire, watching the dancing flames as the smoke rises.  A hot mug of tea, and chili awaits.  Painting number 2638 in 2638 days.

Evening Creek

On this crazy day of social distancing, I am finding my zen through pen and ink.  Shopping for a few staples now involves networking with family members, hitting a couple of stores south of town, and then delivering those parcels to who needed them.  We are all doing that.  Grabbing door handles and goods with a clorox wipe and wiping down the card pad and card have become the norm.  I even grab those bags with a wipe as I grab them - since yesterday we heard how long the virus can live on plastic.  So, finding a little time in nature, along this creek, is my return to sanity.  Within a few strokes I am completely absorbed in the landscape, and glad that I picked up my fountain pen loaded with the brown black ink!  So thankful for these moments of tranquility.  Painting number 2635 in 2635 days.

Twisting Creek

How quickly the world is changing with this new social distancing!  My very full schedule has wound down to a luxurious choosing of times and tasks to be done in any order I see fit, with no alarms and no guilt about late bedtimes.  I am already getting so much done!  Without all those restrictions, I can work until I finish a thing before moving on.  After accomplishing so much, my sweet reward is a long run and pen and ink at water's edge.  These moments are where I find my zen.  Michael moves back from college tonight to finish his semester online.  Thank goodness for these little slivers of normal in my day!  Painting number 2633 in 2633 days.