Lost time is never found again. -- Benjamin Franklin

Additional message I added to a calendar
a couple of years ago.

I LOVE the start of a new year.  

Maybe it's because my birthday is on the second day of every new year and I look forward to another year of possibilities, adventures and unexpected delights.

TIME intrigues me--the way it appears to be ahead in lavish, copious amounts and then somehow vanishes in front of me like this week's snow in today's bright sunshine.  

I try to keep track of it, mark it, claim it, document it in my numerous diaries, journals, Morning Pages, and importantly, my annual calendar.  Each year I begin my search for the upcoming year's calendar in November.  I don't know what it will look like other than being about 7 inches wide and 8 1/2 inches long and having a spiral back (which enables it to lie flat easily.)

Over the many years of keeping a calendar, I have moved from the basic entry-level daily schedule to the leather-bound edition with the year embossed on the front cover.  I have had schedules filled with photographs of famous paintings and quotations from clever people.  I've had schedules with beautiful artwork and esoteric messages.  And, I've had editions with new words to learn each day and funny cartoons.

Years of annual calendars fill my shelves with documented time.

As I mentioned, other than the basic size and spiral back I don't know what it will look like- but, I always know it when I find it. 

There's something about it that just feels right and it is with confidence that I buy it and begin to fill it with appointments and plans waiting to be placed into the upcoming year.

So it was again this year when I found the perfect calendar for 2016.

 I liked the color, the cover message and all the motivational and inspirational notes attached to each week throughout the months. So I began to fill in due dates for art to be delivered and retrieved for the galleries of which I am a member along with a few appointments for teeth cleaning and hair trims.  I carefully blocked dates for travel--and, that's when I turned the last page of June only to discover that July was missing! Instead, was another month of May!!!

What happened to July?  What am I going to do with TWO months of May?

Flummoxed I sat stunned for a moment or two.  In ALL THE YEARS of keeping schedules and calendars I had never encountered one with a missing month and two of another!

What does a year with two Mays portend?  Should I be skipping July this year?

It got me to thinking about the Merry Month of May with its graduations, Mother's Day and Memorial Day and birthdays for both of our fathers. There was the opening reception for the Garden Show which showcased my driftwood sculptures and a spectacular trip to Cape Cod with friends. We attended a dance recital and a wedding.  We watched kids play soccer and I photographed the early wildflowers blooming in the Rocky Mountains.   

Wild roses bloom fragrantly in the mountains in May.

  "The month of May was come, when every lusty heart beginneth to blossom, and to bring forth fruit."
      --Thomas Malory




May 2015 was great!  I loved May.  But, July was pretty nifty, too.  We celebrated Independence Day in the mountains, test drove new cars, selected Ken's new phone, photographed a 100-year-old barn, visited with lots of friends who stopped by while in Colorado, splashed in the Cache la Poudre River with Molly and began our house staining project ourselves.

Garden roses fill with July's summer light.

  "My life, I realize suddenly, is July.  Childhood is June and old age is August but here it is July, and my life, this year, is July inside of July."
    --Rick Bass

Suffice it to say, even though I would describe myself more as a WINTER person than a SUMMER person, I still wanted to have a July, 2016.  Honestly, May was terrific but one month of May was enough because June was fabulous and so was July.  I would have missed a lot without a July. I wanted it back.  

So much for THE BEST IS YET TO COME.  I want 2016 with 12 months--including July.  

So, it won't surprise you to learn that I went calendar shopping again this week. Remarkably, I found the exact match to my 11-month calendar only this edition has a ballet pink cover with a gold heart--not exactly the cover I was looking for--but it still had ALL the weekly inspirational and motivational messages and all 12 months--including July!

Molly and I trudge up the street for another sledding run.

"How did it get late so soon?  It's night before it's afternoon. December is here before it's June.  My goodness how the time has flown. How did it get so late so soon?
   -- Dr. Suess

How can one not be filled with the joy of sledding on a sunny winter day?

Cape Cod's Off-Season Traveler

Shadows of early morning blend with fall colors and popcorn clouds.

"Cape Cod - It truly is Heaven on Earth."
          - Kate Scott

But, for me -- ONLY 
Off Season!

Oh, yes, count me as one of the non-throngs of tourists who flock to the beauty of Cape Cod during PRE and POST season!!  My favorite times to indulge in all that Cape Cod offers is early spring, just as the lilacs begin to bloom--before the tourists arrive the end of May--and late fall when the beaches are quiet after Columbus Day in October.

During those lovely times I can walk into any restaurant without a reservation, find parking spaces on every Main Street and stroll leisurely down any boardwalk with ample room to pause and snap my photos.

It is changeable weather--just the way I love it!  Some mornings chill and brisk, others warm and sunny.  I bring clothes to layer for sharp wind and cold rains and for heat-laden afternoons and cool evenings.

As we gather for giving thanks this Thanksgiving, I thought I would share images from my October visit to Cape Cod, about 35 miles from where I stay to Plymouth, where those colonists and the Wampanoag Indians celebrated the first Thanksgiving in 1621.

The iconic image of pumpkins in the church yard in West Yarmouth.

To assist me in sharing my fall images I visited 
www.CapeCod.com for some nifty quotes about Cape Cod.

Lewis Bay remains one of my favorite beaches.

Salt-water marshes are abundant and this one was so still and quiet in the early morning light.

"No Parking" does not apply to gulls off-season.

"You can never have too much Cape Cod."

The boardwalk at Gray's Beach implores one to come out to visit the salt marsh

The salt marsh rises and falls with the tides.

"Nothing soothes the soul like a walk on a Cape Cod beach."

Brightly-colored chutes of the brave surfers dance in the strong gales along the beach.

"May you always have a shell in your pocket and sand in your shoes."

The days go so quickly when one is on holiday.  All too soon it's time to pack my precious shells and a few great rocks and turn my direction west.












"There's a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they're absolutely free. Don't miss so many of them."
                                                                        - Jo Walton

Lewis Bay

Lewis Bay

Lewis Bay

"Blessed are the curious, for they shall have adventures." - L. Drachman

Morning light highlights all the tiny filaments so often missed.

When I was a girl out hunting arrowheads with my family in the high plains of Wyoming I was taught to 
look down because that's where all treasures would be found.

Even now I can't help but look down as I go on daily walks with my trusty dog, Molly.  Together we explore the familiar trails we love and often head "off-trail" for the thrill that comes with new discoveries.

With camera in hand we try to stay open to the possibilities.  Sometimes it is a grand adventure. Other times it's a game to look more closely at what is common and waiting to be discovered--if I just take the time to look.

"Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder." - E. B. White

Raindrops glisten on a freshly fallen leaf.

I seem to be always intrigued by the leaves and feathers I encounter during my walks.  

These are just ordinary leaves and feathers, shared freely by trees and birds, blown into place by a gust of wind or a passing bicycle.  Sometimes it's the color of the leaf itself. Sometimes the way it's snagged in its location that catches my attention.

If it makes me look twice then I dutifully bring my camera to my eye, knowing I'll study it more closely when I get home and download the day's images to my computer.

Often what I see enlarged on my screen is so breathtaking that I cannot imagine ignoring it.  I could have missed this if I hadn't paused to look more closely, I find myself saying more than once.


So, today I'd like to share just a few of those images with you in the hopes that despite whatever deadline you're facing or moment's pressure, it will remind you that even the ordinary can be beautiful.

"The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper." 
                                          - William Butler Yeats  

An early autumn leaf falls on a stone.

Sunshine illuminates a small feather in the grass.

River algae ensnares both fly and feather.  

  
















The Cache la Poudre River is low right now and Molly and I have had several grand adventures wading to new rock bars now emerged. 

Because the current is slower in many places, abundant algae adds a new and colorful dimension. 

Poudre River spray glistens like diamonds around a feather.

A heart of light surrounds a yellow leaf.

Last Sunday while lost in my creative shooting of leaves and feathers I was amused by Mother Nature's wry sense of humor.

I spotted an interesting "feather" because of the interplay of light and shadow, but as I looked closely I had to laugh that I was fooled!  It was not a feather but rather a scrap of paper. 

A Feather-Wanna-Be?  I laughed.

Hello "Feather Wanna-Be!"

And, then Mother Nature zapped me again!  Oh, this was TOO FUNNY, I thought.  Of course I knelt to take a photo and when I stood up, a guy across the street who was taking a break from weed-whacking called out to me. (I had no idea he was even there! I can imagine his curiosity seeing this woman walking her dog stop and stoop down in the middle of the street with her camera.)

"What are you taking a picture of," he asked, clearly befuddled.  From where he was resting there was nothing in the street worthy of being photographed.

"Well," I said, still amused at what I had just photographed, "You see, I'm an artist." (This is like a Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free-Card when it comes to explaining irrational behavior.) "I've been taking photos of leaves all morning and this is a joke from Mother Nature."

"What is it?," he asked, really curious now.

"Oh," I replied beginning to laugh harder, "It's a faux leaf."  

"The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place; from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider's web." - Pablo Picasso

What happened to August? And, Windows 10?

"Barn Life" receives a 2nd place
ribbon in the painting category.
 

Honestly, I don't know what happened to August. Goodbye July.  Hello September.

This has always been an elusive month, especially when I was on an academic schedule and July was followed by a month called "Back To School."

Now August lies out there like a vacation weekend that never seems to quite arrive because everything else gets in the way. Suddenly one morning it's September and folks are talking about the Labor Day Weekend. What happened to that month before?

So, first a few updates as I try to reconstruct my missing month.  I promised to let you know how the art created for the Centennial Barn Art Show and competition fared.  I'm pleased to report that "Barn Life" earned a 2nd place ribbon in the painting category.  Woo-hoo!

Of my two submissions in photography, "Held Together" received an Honorable Mention, for which I was most grateful.


To read more about this
exhibit:  www.mywindsornow.com/news/17602355-113/artists-bring-their-best-for-first-call-to-Entry-Competition-at-Boardwalk-Gallery

"Held Together" earns an Honorable Mention at the Centennial Barn Art
Show at the Boardwalk Gallery in Windsor.

Then, I was one of the "fortunate few" to get the newly released Windows 10, installed by my darling husband. (Thanks, Honey.) 

Oh, my.  Not being at the tip of the computer savvy bubble even on a good day, this new operating opportunity brought in a forced learning curve that has introduced me to numerous Microsoft help-assistants working the night shift in the Philippines.

Trying to do my own "help" research proved frustrating as well because upon repeated occasions I would dead-end with a screen that said "This page is not yet in working order"--or something to the effect that Windows 10 was way behind in proving adequate help options. 

I feel like the Gingerbread Man who says, "Run, run as fast as you can!  You can't catch me I'm the Gingerbread Man!"  He outwits the little old man, the little old lady and a bevy of other characters, only to be outwitted by a sly hungry fox. So far I've avoided my sly clever fox but I've nearly crashed a few computers just trying to attach a couple of photo images with an email.

Then, to add madness to mayhem, I got a new camera.  Oh, yes.  Just when I thought I couldn't be more confused, I decided to ride another learning curve. This little number is burgundy red, a Canon SX710GHS with a 30x optical zoom lens. It's still small enough to throw into a bag but powerful enough to allow me the close-ups I want both with a zoom and a macro lens. 

So I don't spend the rest of this post lamenting the passing of August and the arrival of Windows 10, let me instead share some of my favorite images taken with my new camera in what must have been August.

Playing with Molly in the Cache la Poudre River always makes me smile!
 

Mountains daisies attract visitors.
 

August zinnias deepen with intense color.

Dramatic skies announce stormy weather in the high country.

 

A mountain chipmunk nibbles on a tasty seed.

    

Blue skies prevail when the winds are strong.

Wild sunflowers bloom in mass enthusiasm.

Thistle seeds prepare to fly!

Goodbye August.  Hello September.
 

Before I close I wanted to also let you know that I think I have redone my settings to allow comments.  Oops.  I thought that was set correctly but today I re-watched the blog tutorial videos and made some adjustments.  If you've wanted to comment with earlier posts and it didn't allow you to do so, please try again.

Creating "Barn Life"

The A.H. Myers Barn celebrates its centennial birthday this summer.

My friend Susan and her husband live in the country and on a property that includes a wonderful barn that turns 100 years old this year.

It is a classic design and built by an Eaton pioneer, A. H. Myers.

To celebrate this centennial birthday, they are hosting a party Aug. 1 with art, crafts, collectibles, living history (complete with actors in the role of Al Myers and a couple of his farm hands,) music, food and "all the usual party stuff," according to the invitation.  In addition, they are also hosting a Barn Dance Party that night!

In conjunction with this centennial celebration and since Susan is an artist, my friend Suzette decided to hold an exhibit of barn-inspired art, specifically photography, painting and mixed media, Aug. 8, at her gallery, Boardwalk Gallery, in Windsor.  The deadline for submissions was July 25, yesterday, and I'm delighted to report that I made the deadline with my three submissions--two photographs and one really large whimsical painting.

But, making that deadline was no easy feat.

First, as any good procrastinator would do, I waited until July 15 to actually go and meet the barn.  Since I was planning on only submitting three photographs I figured I had plenty of time to select images from the evening's photo shoot with Suzette, get them enlarged, framed and ready for both the barn display and the gallery exhibit deadline.

But, I hadn't counted on being charmed by a most wondrous barn and all the magical energy surrounding it.  

I went with the intention of telling the story of age, 100 years of cold winter mornings, hot summer days, ferocious wind storms and soggy, wet springs.  What I found was a very nice, solid, strong, well-kept barn--but little to indicate it was built in 1915.

Walking up the driveway towards the barn I met two sweet cows, Sally and Annie, leisurely lying in their pasture in the late afternoon sunshine.

Sally and Annie rest in cool shade.

As I continued to walk by they ambled up to the fence to allow me to say hello and pet their heads.

Then I met the goats, ducks and an ancient 22 year old cat who Susan describes is "in Hospice."  

All, including the cat, remarkably, were enthusiastic in saying hello and wanting my attention.

Paul, the male goat, sticks his head  through the fence
and tries to kiss my camera.

Paul and Betsy...

Full of playful energy, the goats were happy to have my complete attention. As were the ducks and cat.

add the quacking ducks, Alexander and "The Other Guy"...

...and one very old and friendly cat, Cletis.

I took lots of photos of the barn, but knew that I had very little for an evening's photo shoot.  

But, I had something else--I felt something else and began to describe a crazy, whimsical painting that was coming together in my head. 

As I explained to Suzette, my reaction to the barn was more than just a nice sturdy structure--it was all the LIFE that made this barn so quirky and appealing.

That night I could not sleep with images of a painting dancing in my head--which is a bit unexpected because I don't think of myself as a painter--even though I like painting. When I thought about it, I hadn't actually painted anything in the last four years except canvas shoes and old leather cowboy boots.

When I finally woke from restless sleep, I surprised Ken by launching myself out of bed to scribble down a silly poem that had been composed in an earlier moment:

Hey belfie-zelfie,
the GOAT took a selfie
while the COW did extreme sports above.
The ancient black CAT laughed to see
such a sight and the DUCKS
kum-ba-yawd about LOVE.

It was my road map to "Barn Life," a painting I intended to create on a 30" x 40" canvas, that just happened to be ready and waiting on an easel in my garage painting cubicle.  (I had intended to paint wildflowers a year ago and simply never began.)

With remarkable enthusiasm and rusty drawing skills, I tied on my apron (it reminds me of Mr. Roger's sweater) and found a piece of vine charcoal.  I don't often sketch out a drawing first but this painting relied on a wacky cast of characters that had to have exact placement.

Early sketch of "Barn Life."   

I will not confess how many times I began a sketch and wiped it away--the joy of charcoal on canvas.  Over and over, changing a line here, a character there.

I also decided to use oil paints and not acrylics.  I like that oil is forgiving, of sorts, and that I can work with the pigment longer than just a nano-second in art time.

In my revised "how to meet the July 25 deadline" thinking I had to finish and submit by July 25--not have the canvas dry and ready to hang

That would give me a week before its debut at the barn party Aug. 1.  Challenging but do-able. Right?

"Barn Life" begins to take shape in my painting cubicle in my garage studio. 

This work relies on the barn as the stable center structure brimming with energy and life--including Paul, the male goat who is a photo-hog taking a selfie; the two male ducks roasting marshmallows and singing about love; Sally-the-cow and Betsy-the-goat looking out from the second floor of the barn; Annie-the-cow leaping over the barn's roof; and Cletis, the intrepid ancient cat amused by the whole darn thing.

With my CDs playing continuously and zero calorie fizzy water and diet root beer handy, I began to paint and returned to it every day, spending hours in front of the easel.  As this week progressed I also managed to get my two photography submissions selected and sent off for enlargements.  By Friday night, I knew that all I had left were some of the small but significant details for Saturday's painting--and, if all went well, I would finish in time to take a photo to attach to my submission form!

"Paul, the Selfie--goat" and the other animals
slowly emerge as characters.

"Paul-the-Selfie-goat" in detail.

Yesterday about 5-ish I knew that "Barn Life" was completed and Ken held a backdrop cloth to aid me in my effort to take a more professional image of it.  That image along with my two photography entries were all submitted online MAKING THE JULY 25 deadline!  Woo-hoo!

These are my submissions:

"Barn Life"

 

"Ageless Reflections"

"Held Together"

I will let you know the rest of the story in my next post.