We woke to no power, yet... April fools!! Yep. What a lesson this is, as always. Some great others, not so much.
The above painting is in a sketch book 'Stellar Jay" & what a stellar bird he is, perched on a pine in the Moonlite, painted in the moonlight last night, by lamp! What a challenge it was, yet oddly satisfying and immensely peaceful. I imagine myself the Jane Eyre of gouache sketchbook painting - hahaha! The complete silence, no humming appliances, no traffic.. nothing but an owl is surreal. I NOW understand the term "the silence was deafening' - you can feel it & felt like a huge super comfortable blanket had wrapped around the forest. Thank you Lord for the experience!
I am use to the quiet but you don't realize how quiet it really is with no power. No WIFI either. My brain is enjoying it.
Storm cooked the best breakfast & hash browns on the wood stove as sat in the morning light and watched the fire.
I also am reminded how many in the world won't /don't have the luxury of turning the power back on.
I just went with it painting my 'starlit stellar, albeit my confidence lacking -wondering if in the light, the detail would appear as well as it seems going on. Difficult to see but I was pleased when I turned the flashlight on my art and it was turning out nicely. This is how it use to be for the great masters! Creation doesn't only strike during the daylight hours - I've wondered how/if the greats painted at night, no doubts they did but probably had well lit rooms - if only by candles. Writing would be easier. I enjoyed the experience, when the power goes out - you better adapt or you will be bored and antsy' instead of artsy! ! I'm reading and painting and relaxing, forced by the Lord & mother frigging nature! I've heard a few stories and some had to leave their homes because they can't heat them, let alone run anything. I think that's an important point to all heat & water are essential, everything after that is a luxury in a blackout. I hope there were not a lot of accidents, I can't read the news, we only plug in for a short time to run the fridge, wash dishes, get water, amazing too - how quick you can get all those things done, when you need to.
I've been reading about rolling blackouts in Cuba & California, I do believe they will be happening here, everywhere so best to be prepared and have things to do or be able to keep doing what you love.
The bad thing- Athena is a fast learner & I just taught her to 'ring the bell' by the door to go out to pee - but then the ice storm hit (sigh) and I don't want them sliding of the hill into the woods because I won't be able to go get her, so telling her 'NO' when she rings the bell is discouraging to her & me. Oh' imagine in a few short weeks (I hope!) we'll see grass and leaves again. I'm also wanting to visit Daisy, not a possibility at the moment.
Lot's of painting - and a NEW appreciation for this day the Lord has made! Sunlight to draw & paint to today, already aware of fleeting hours of light has me not wanting to waste' any. Today I'm painting a moonlight Bluejay amongst other things and playing with the puppies.
See, these wonderful lessons we are taught, daily!
The above painting is in a sketch book 'Stellar Jay" & what a stellar bird he is, perched on a pine in the Moonlite, painted in the moonlight last night, by lamp! What a challenge it was, yet oddly satisfying and immensely peaceful. I imagine myself the Jane Eyre of gouache sketchbook painting - hahaha! The complete silence, no humming appliances, no traffic.. nothing but an owl is surreal. I NOW understand the term "the silence was deafening' - you can feel it & felt like a huge super comfortable blanket had wrapped around the forest. Thank you Lord for the experience!
I am use to the quiet but you don't realize how quiet it really is with no power. No WIFI either. My brain is enjoying it.
Storm cooked the best breakfast & hash browns on the wood stove as sat in the morning light and watched the fire.
I also am reminded how many in the world won't /don't have the luxury of turning the power back on.
I just went with it painting my 'starlit stellar, albeit my confidence lacking -wondering if in the light, the detail would appear as well as it seems going on. Difficult to see but I was pleased when I turned the flashlight on my art and it was turning out nicely. This is how it use to be for the great masters! Creation doesn't only strike during the daylight hours - I've wondered how/if the greats painted at night, no doubts they did but probably had well lit rooms - if only by candles. Writing would be easier. I enjoyed the experience, when the power goes out - you better adapt or you will be bored and antsy' instead of artsy! ! I'm reading and painting and relaxing, forced by the Lord & mother frigging nature! I've heard a few stories and some had to leave their homes because they can't heat them, let alone run anything. I think that's an important point to all heat & water are essential, everything after that is a luxury in a blackout. I hope there were not a lot of accidents, I can't read the news, we only plug in for a short time to run the fridge, wash dishes, get water, amazing too - how quick you can get all those things done, when you need to.
I've been reading about rolling blackouts in Cuba & California, I do believe they will be happening here, everywhere so best to be prepared and have things to do or be able to keep doing what you love.
The bad thing- Athena is a fast learner & I just taught her to 'ring the bell' by the door to go out to pee - but then the ice storm hit (sigh) and I don't want them sliding of the hill into the woods because I won't be able to go get her, so telling her 'NO' when she rings the bell is discouraging to her & me. Oh' imagine in a few short weeks (I hope!) we'll see grass and leaves again. I'm also wanting to visit Daisy, not a possibility at the moment.
Lot's of painting - and a NEW appreciation for this day the Lord has made! Sunlight to draw & paint to today, already aware of fleeting hours of light has me not wanting to waste' any. Today I'm painting a moonlight Bluejay amongst other things and playing with the puppies.
See, these wonderful lessons we are taught, daily!
Yay! Sunlight.
Dog soup stewing.. :)
