Sunday Afternoon Images

It was suggested that I take some pictures on my walk or hike today, or where ever I went. So, I did. The one picture with all of the blue is a coven of crow or raven. There were about 20 or so that were flying in a pattern over the neighborhood today. The other birds are local doves. Then of course there is Nikita, and a little bit of back yard grass and rock.

The Simplicity of Zen................

Here are pictures of the corner of our patio. The three white rocks have been gathered from our backyard. I love how bright and beautiful they are. The extremely complex, yet seemingly simple - Julia Campbell would call them "found objects." This picture does not do them justice as they actually glisten. I have found many agates, pieces of obsidian and quartz in the backyard.

Treasures from the Creator. Slow cooling, solid, even semi-precious - volcanic in nature. The more lustre they exhibit, the more slowly they cooled from the original pyroclastic blast.

Merry Christmas from our hearth to yours........

Merry Christmas everybody!
Have a wonderful, joyfilled day.
We're joining our friends Andrea &
Don for a festive meal this afternoon!
Thank you Creator for this time of
plenty, friendship and love.
Also, We've determined that
"Ms. Hawk," is actually
"Ms. Prairie Falcon!"
Peace.

Full Moon Rising

It's the end of the day and the Christmas lights are on both in the front and backyards, and the moon is lighting up the sky, the fields and dirt roads of New Mexico. It's just past the winter solstice, but tonight and the tomorrow night are a Druid & Finnish Shaman's dream. Absolutely beautiful.

Today's Mountain View...............

While walking late this afternoon, this was our view. It was beautiful, cold and clear. About 30 degrees, except when you add in the wind chill factor, then it's a little cooler. Brrrrrrr.
On our earlier walk today we saw, as Linda J. calls him, "Mr. Coyote." He was crossing the road from one field to another, no doubt looking for lunch. Afterall, it was just about 12:00 noon.
Just after that, while I was sitting on the computer in the studio, Ms. Hawk came flying overhead and it looked just like she was looking in my window! She's awesome.

Winter Witches of Years Passed

We are to have snow by nightfall, so goes our forecast. We hope we do. In light of the prediction, I thought it appropriate to uncover & unveil a couple of "Winter Witches" from times past. I hope that these little creatures inspire your curiosity and add a pinch of mysticism and magic into your day.

These two are painted with ink, watercolor and metallics onto rice paper - which acts very much like fabric. It soaks up the medium and feels like cloth.

Dan is in bed with the flu - the first of the season - and has been running a temp pretty consistently since Monday. We're hoping that this passes soon. Nikita seems to have a cold as well. We were expecting company from out of state for the holiday weekend, but had to reschedule due to his illness. So, stay well, drink lots of fluids, exercise to release tension and think plenty of positive and kind thoughts! My hope for you is to enjoy the holiday magic, quietly, peacefully and with deep gratitude. Peace, Love & Miracles.

Last of Totem Animal Painting Phases........ painting complete

It's the 18th of December and it has been really warm today. Almost 60 degrees!

It will be cool this evening, but wow, what a difference. Even the little lizards were out sunbathing this afternoon. I had my first day back in the classroom in sometime yesterday. I'm used to teaching high school and spent 1/2 of a day with 5th graders - holy cow!

It's snowing!!!!

It's snowing this morning and it's beautiful. Going out in the snow with Nikita and Dan for a nice bundled up walk!

Updated Totem Animal Painting.........

Here is the owl and the horse. One day at a time, one critter at a time. I hope to finish this painting today. Oh yeah, this painting is 26" x 40". Most of my pieces are about this size.

Leave Me Note Under any of the Comment Fields.....I Love Hearing From You!

Well, I'm painting again tonight and I'll have an update on tomorrow's post as to the process of the Totem Animals. The hawk came by our place again today, she does everyday now. We both love it. Check out one of my favorite old radio stations. It's a rock station in Portland, Oregon called KGON. The address is www.KGON.com . There's a great interview that Iris Harrison had with Lydia Pense of Cold Blood. Cold Blood one of the rippenist bands out of San Francisco in the 70's. They shared the same horn sections with Tower of Power & Sons of Champlin. They all came out of the Bay area at about the same time. I remember an absolutely incredible show in Portland, way back, when I was in the 8th grade. Our neighbor Tommy Snodgrass drove myself (I was too young to drive), my older sister Linda and his date - (one of the Suniga sisters), to see Cold Blood and Tower of Power. Tower of Power had just come out with "You're Still a Young Man," and Cold Blood had released "You Got Me Hummin' " & "Down to the Bone." Oh man, I loved these songs, (still do!) and I was hooked on both bands and the San Franciso sound for life. Bill Champlin of the Sons of Champlin (another Bay area band - and I believe pretty closely knit with T of P & Cold Blood), eventually ended up joining the band Chicago, and he's still with them today. After becoming a musician myself, I eventually met of few members of the various bands and got to jam with one of them. Heaven, I was in absolute heaven. I loved great players back then, and I still love 'em today.

Totem Animals Painting Progressing.............

Once again, I worked on this a little tonight. The raven is coming to life.

I started a writing project with a very dear friend this evening as well. It is a very dark comedy. I think we're gonna have fun with it. In the meantime, I have many other things to complete: a script, 1 children's novel, several other short stories and getting myself out there again as a singer & songwriter. With all of this, as well as starting to teach again this month, I have absolutely no right to be bored. This is a good thing.

Progression of Painting.... after several days off....

I stepped away from this for a few days. We had company, our good friend & terrific singer/songwriter/producer & sound engineer - Gregg Burns - was in town for just a couple days. It was wonderful. Dan was so happy to see him, and it was so good to see Dan so grateful.
But, here it is again (the painting) - with a couple of additions.
Life is like this. It's all a process and rarely do I finish things when I think I shoulda, woulda, coulda - know what I mean?
But that's why I'm here on earth, in earth school. I wake up, I breath, I learn. I am grateful. Thank you.

Howling Coyote Inn...........

Here's our house, the

"Howling Blue Coyote Inn."

I am far from the only "Diva" here!

It's a good thing too. One needs a pack

to really get a good howlin'!

It's chilly & Overcast Today.............

It's chilly and overcast today, so I need a good warm cup of tea prior to my walk with Nikita!

I hadn't seen a roadrunner in a couple of months, but today, one jumped up on our front wall. I grabbed my camera, but wasn't quick enough to catch 'em. Rats! Oh well. I did see "our" eagle. She cruises the hood regularly now.

It's nice having a warm home with a gentle fire on cold days.

Happy Hanukkah Everybody!

The Drawing and Painting Process.....

It was another incredibly beautiful and clear day today. Went to a good service, met another tremendous keyboard/guitarist/vocalist, had a great workout as well as a wonderful walk and play period outdoors with Nikita. I practiced guitar and worked on a painting that was perplexing me for a period.

This is a painting of my Native American "Totem Animals." They are animals that I need to pay attention to in order to learn from and expand my physical, psychic and spiritual awareness.

My animals are: hummingbird, prairie dog, bat, owl, swan, horse, raven, porcupine & spider. They are all forms of "medicine."

Paintings are funny. They teach me to really be in the moment and problem solve from the hip. One slip of the brush and there's something different and sometimes difficult to overcome.

Sometimes it's a "fix" situation, other times it's a lesson in learning to accept and incorporate the "problem" just as it is. Living life on life's terms with a simple change in/of perspective.

Beautiful Wolfish Weather Day.....

Last night we had a rather chaotic wind and rain storm. It
came across from California. As a result of the dramatic weather, we had absolutely beautiful skies out Albuquerque way today. As the sun was setting, it was incredible. I wish I'd had my camera while out walking with Nikita, but I didn't. The mountains were illuminated, shadows were thrown, everything that was already golden; like fields & homes, literally lit up. The clouds were amazing, fluffy on top, yet heavy and heaving - like bison on the prairie, moving together with forceful purpose, yet, highly unpredictable. I loved it. Payne's gray bottoms with illuminated upper regions of orange/gold and pink - exquisite.

By having our wolf-hybrid "Wolfie," we learned to call these times "Wolfish," as in wild and wolfish weather: whipping, whistling, strong, engaging. She used to hold her muzzle to wind for scents; eyes closed, then jump around, pouncing in celebration, doing her "wolf dance" with leaves and dust spinning. I miss her badly.