Thoughts in random order, much like trying to put away the contents of your luggage after a week long trip....
***
Home again.
All's well.
It's raining.
That's good.
Rain is good.
***
I have declared Ben and Sunny pretty good travelers. I drove the whole 5 hours without stopping both ways as I did not want to stop somewhere and deal with two very excited dogs in strange places. The figured out pretty quick that they might as well sleep the whole thing off and so they did. They also behaved themselves quite well while visiting. Met a new cat. Declared a truce. Chased squirrels and barked at horses. It was all good.
***
It was good to breathe the mountain air and tromp some mountain earth and see some familiar faces.
That old song from 'Cheers' is true, it's good to be 'where everybody knows your name' once in a while. Sometimes I don't realize how much it effects me to spend so much time among total strangers.
***
While visiting at S's house, we embarked on some artwork. Zentangles have been shared. There was also this second attempt with the poppy idea....
Variation on a theme.
[album 65561 Poppies2.jpg]
***
I'm reading a web site with watercolor tutorials on techniques. He uses the word 'PLAY' right at the beginning of his lessons.
I like this guy.
He sounds like a genius.
***
In the rush of preparing to leave last week, I totally didn't get around to telling you that I actually clapped eyes on Mr. Beaver. It was for the briefest of moments and I didn't see his whole body. I was sitting on the edge of the pond quietly for about 15 minutes. The only things I saw were ducks, geese and a white heron. Then I noticed some ripples in the water on the other side of the beaver mound. In between some of the branches, I saw Mr. Beaver stop briefly, scratch the back of his head, and then he went into his house. All I could see was the back of his head and shoulders. His fur is reddish brown.
It was a most unsatisfactory sighting to tell you the truth. I didn't have the camera because I am seven kinds of a fool, but I doubt VERY much if any picture I might have taken would be worth much anyway. But at least I saw him. He is real. He is alive. And I want to see him again.
As soon as the rain is over in the next day or so, I want to go down there and set up shop, armed with video and still cameras. I'll take my sketch pad and a book and lunch. No more excuses. Mr. Beaver is going to be on my version of 'Wild Kingdom' come hell or high water.
Eventually.
I hope.
***
Excuse me now.
I have birthday socks to knit.
(Up against a deadline again are we?)
Butt out.