settling back in at home

After a long trip, it takes a while for me to get settled in at home again. With all of the spring rains we've had (a record breaking wet March in Portland!), the wetlands at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge were ... wet!

Red Wing Blackbirds were trying to outdo one another in the vocal part of the contest to win the females.

The geese were paired up, mostly in sets of two but every so often I saw a group of three and had to wonder about those guys. Wouldn't you?

Baby animals are always cute, even this little baby nutria. He was munching on the tender shoots that were just up after a few sunny days. Cute, yes, but destructive as all get out!

It seems that everywhere I look, beautiful abstract compositions call out to me. No wonder I love this place so much.

Even though I've been home now for a couple of weeks, I feel more settled now that I have been to the refuge. Ahh.

Migratory Stops

October is a magical month at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. The summer-dry ponds start to fill again and migrating birds come back. Sometime this month, the Sandhill Cranes will make their magnificent stop here on their way south. Today I watched this mother Nutria and her four babies as they ate their leafy greens. A little early for Cranes, I guess.

On my own again in the studio, playing with oil paint and fruit. I joked today with good friend, Celeste Bergin, that I am "adding more crappy art to the planet." She assured me that eventually I wouldn't make crap. At least, we both hope that's true! Maybe Crappy Art is just a migratory stop on my way toward painting Something Beautiful.