A Walk in the snowy woods

 Sometimes the snow falls and sticks to everything.  All the branches become a shape for the snow to blanket.  The image above is from my home; the winds is blowing about some of the snow.

 it was not a perfect day to go driving but we wondered how much snow was on the yurts and felt we had to get up to Lowell to check on them...north to the mountains...

 Bruce peers into the yurt;  the snow did not appear too deep on the roof but it was very heavy with layers of ice; a chore to remove.  He discovered tracks of a weasel housing under the yurt, but the inside seemed clear.

 I got out my camera and though very cold, in those single digit numbers, I removed one of my gloves so I could find the shutter button.  The sun was glorious on the front field which we traipsed through to get to the woods.  The pines border the road.

 Jay Peak or mountain neighboring?  We aren't quite sure and if we do have a view of Jay Peak there is a view tax.

 Returning to yurt and then walking; we were snow shoeing, actually, through the woods to the second yurt for snow removal.

 Such silence in the woods; heavy snow bows the boughs.

 This one takes my imagination on a spin.

 Here he crosses the bridge over Mineral Springs Brook, snow shoes removed.  12 foot yurt ahead...Jonah's yurt.  Jonah and several friend came up later that day and did a winter overnight with a large warming fire as it got down to 20 below that night.  It was Jonah's birthday.

 I stayed by the brook in the sun, listening to the singing of the water mostly under ice and ground.  A few breaks in the ice.

What a memorable day!  Last shot...my camera beeped; I had forgotten to put in a card and the memory was full but with the sunlight in this spot, I couldn't read the screen.  I figured I had my warning to put it away and feel the air, put on my gloves, and start heading back to the busy life.

Hope you all have had a restorative and peaceful Sunday.

Happy Independence to you all!

Life has moved along in its chaotic way this week.  Seems we are active on many fronts, and I'm not just talking of the weather.  I did get a couple of good days for silk dying on the back deck.  Monday things dried well, but Tues, the air was so heavy with moisture that I finally got out the hair dryer.  I needed to get enough painted to do a complete steamer before the holidays.  This small 10x10 silk was part of a request from Janet Van Fleet for a giveaway for a video project she is working on.  She needed 5 items so I did 8 pieces using the same palette, but each is unique.  What's the fun of trying to make paintings look the same?  Not something my independent spirit wants to do.

 Bruce meanwhile was building his camping yurt.  He will be teaching a workshop in MA at a felters conference.  He was asked to design a 15" model yurt that the students could each make and then do the felt covering.  The first model is made, but a simplified one needs to be designed.  Now he is making the real life sized one like the model for a show and tell.  He works hard at these projects but really enjoys getting results.

Echo, our Mr E, or mystery, just had to try it out.  The wall is finished and folded up...what a great mat we have made for him!

When the back deck was a construction site, I was busy sewing upstairs.  This past month at the gallery has been super for my silks.  2 capes from the fashion show have sold, a special order created and received and 6 other large pieces have found owners.  Wow!  It has been exciting, but it also means that I must make more...yes, yes.  So not much chance to paint on cnavas....besides I was moving my studio back to Studio Place Arts, a community arts center I helped to create in the late 90s.

Here is my new studio at Studio Place Arts.  I went there today to hang a few more paintings and realign my working spaces.  Yesterday I hung several paintings in a new yoga studio in Plainfield.  Made me look at my body of work.  Some of my newest work I wasn't ready to let out of my hands.

 These 2 squares, 24x24, were finished recently.  Interesting to let them be in communication with painting of 2 years ago.  I will spend some thought on this grouping.

This is my newest score....a large canvas purchased at Rachael's yard sale.  She is headed out to Portland and was happy I wanted to make use of this canvas and knew the value of it.  Paid some real money for it but I still got a deal....and brushes too!  New inspiration...a big white space to feel some independence.

Swimming, strawberries, brie, grilled dinner with Jonah, fresh salads, new tender zucchini, a parade, music and fireworks tomorrow and more swimming.  Sounds like celebration...then my sister comes, we celebrate some more, then we drive across the country to Tucson, AZ to visit with Mama.  Oh my!  Will I blog again before our travels?  Maybe, maybe not.  Be well all out there...Happy independence!