goose chase

Since I began this goose chase, 

one of the biggest earthquakes in history occurred in Chile, 

a tsunami didn't quite occur in Hawaii,

 and my 90-year-old parents were buried in snow 

 without power for 3 days.

Meanwhile, the collage clue was in Bonnie's post,

And the table has been in the labels.

End of story.

Whew!

last call

You'll be glad to hear this is the final clue. 

I'm putting it all out on the table.

This is your last shot.

Yo...Larkin!

I know some of you were expecting more clue from the clueless. I'm clueless because yesterday was Larkin's birthday, and even though the card I bought for her is sitting here on the table, I forgot to give it to the mailman. I'll mail it today  [:o\  but maybe she'll see this first. It'll still be late, but not as late as the USPS. 

HAPPY  (i'llnevertell) BIRTHDAY, LARKIN!

parts is parts

I know, I know...

but I just love looking at the parts.

My brain is a kaleidoscope.

guess again

This is not a raffle.

The price point has flat-lined. 

Guesses will cost you nothing. 

Don't everyone speak up at once.

guess

 Can you guess what this is?

There's a clue in Bonnie Luria's last post.

This is a way to see who's paying attention.

If you think you know, please speak up and send a comment.

Obviously, there will be no extra credit for subtlety.

watershed

Dreams of the desert can get you through a cold spell.

snowshine

It's been cloudy and snowing for four days and has been below freezing for at least that long. In all that time, the benign and beautiful snowfall hasn't accumulated any more than six fluffy inches. Right now it's mid-morning, the temps are hovering at 23 degrees and will stay there all day. I love this weather, and I walk the dog in it every day. But odds are I won't be able to talk Jala into a dogwalk later this afternoon. To her, plein air is tropical. So it's no surprise that this generous award is from her.

 

However, she says there are rules (argh, I am so not a rule person) and that the rules are: tell who gave you the award, jala jala jala(check), make their name a link on your post (check), put the award icon on your post (check), and list some artists you admire and their links. This is where it gets a little sticky. Would that mean I don't admire those I neglect to mention??? Besides, I don't know that many links, and as near as I can tell, most them, if not all, have already gotten this award and deservedly so. 

Frankly, I think anyone and everyone who can muster both regular blog posts and some art now and then, and remembers to be thankful at least once every single day deserves an award. Really. So why do I feel like I'm failing to link a chain letter? If I am, I abjectly apologize. Thanks to everyone who did follow the rules; I truly admire you all a lot.

P.S. Jala just called and allowed me to talk her into braving the elements. Just wait until she reads this. 

first thing

4x8 pastel

be my valentine

or I'll bite you on the beezer!

buffalo roundup

The buffalo in the previous post deserve a better explanation. Yes, Ted Turner, they're technically bison, but for the sake of romance, we call them buffalo. The herd pictured was "born" on the next ranch upriver. Right next to the owner's house there's a big, beautiful metal-working studio and a forge. In a normal year, the river runs over the road in at least three places on the way up to their place, and they have to drive through the water to make it up there. The whole setup is built right on the floodplain, a pretty good idea on land which, in a drought, can be parched so dry that the river (if you've ever had a leak, you know water never gives up) has been known to actually run underground. At least you always know it's there. Needless to say, a forge can be fairly dangerous up there, especially in the dry times.

We love these rusty beasts, love that they're rusty instead of feisty. To be fair, buffalo aren't really feisty (well okay, maybe a little spookable). It's just that they tend to go where they want to go when they want to go there. Fences be damned. It's not that they don't respect a neighbor's fence; they just never see it, let alone feel it, no matter how snarly and barbed it is. But hey, if you were carrying all those tons of ungulate, you probably wouldn't either.

 

jungian buffalo

Just the thought of "Jungian buffalo" could keep you up at night.

As I wrote that, the phone rang. One of our oldest friends had a stroke a couple of weeks ago and has been in the hospital ever since. I was told his relatives are coming to town today to unplug his ventilator. I had already said goodbye and hoped that this could happen soon.

Buffalo is the totem for prayer and abundance. It says you must be humble enough to ask for assistance and then be grateful for what you receive. I'll always be grateful for having known you, T.

studio

Here's a couple of photos of my studio. They don't show much of how it works, just the nice space that it is. All the sloppy sturm und drang happens out of sight down in the basement. Yes, I know how lucky I am.

over the top

The dogs thought it's about time they got to pick one.

They chose this 30 x 40 acrylic.

supper

Who's in there and what's for supper?

I've been accused of "obliquity" by more than a few. So, in case there's anyone out there, I'm adding that this pastel was done on a 5.5 x 8.5 piece of velour board. My goal was simple rectangles in primary-ish colors. I of course rediscovered for the umpteenth time that nothing is simple.

beach?

Don't ask; I have absolutely no idea.

the cove

Good news! The near-and-dear-to-us film, "The Cove" has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary. The Awards show will be aired on March 7th. Wish us (and especially the dolphins) luck!