We live in an area with multiple mountain ranges, some which run parallel to the coast, and other which run perpendicular. As a result, the terrain and weather varies in each quite a lot. Here, a view of Mt. Boney in the spring, as a storm comes in. The wildflowers are in bloom and all is right with the world!
I did a painting in pastels yesterday. Out of practice! Plus, I had to contend with curling paper, new pastels that are softer than what I am used to, a new fixative, and the fact that one of my boxes of 90 colors fell to the floor. You can imagine that mess. A day later, and the pastels are out, still jumbled, along with the curling paper, etc.
Antidote needed!
Flowers are always cheerful subjects, particularly those in a field. Walking through the field, hearing the birds and hum of insects, feeling the itch of the grasses, is something I love and wanted to capture. I think I did. Such happiness!
Spring Break ends today. I go back to work tomorrow. Friday, a friend came over around sunrise, and we headed out to the local open space, Wildwood, which encircles the city where I live. It’s a wonderful place, especially in spring when the flowers bloom. As I have said before, California has had a drought for the past 6 years, but this year our rainy season was phenomenal (by desert standards). The result is that things are green and growing, instead of the dreary brown, brown, brown. The fields and hills are covered with a lot of wildflowers, in yellow and purples primarily, with so many different ones it is hard to remember all their names. Some, though, include wild morning glory, mountain sunflower, allium, fiddleneck, red stem filaree, lupine, lacey phacelia, and blue dicks.
Well, probably officially the second day of Spring Break! I spent Friday doing all the things I usually do on Friday mornings – cleaning, organizing, grocery shopping, and so on.
Today, I got up early, determined to finish up a couple of rolls of film. When I ran out of film, I was sort of cursing the fact I hadn’t another roll with me, or a decent digital camera. All I had was my phone, but it did an okay job. In general, I don’t really like the pictures from cell phones – mine is a Galaxy S5 – but you can get a decent shot or two. I think they tend to overdo the sharpening or whatever they do.
I headed out around 7:00 to a local open space, Wildwood. I took the Moonrise Trail, but veered to the right rather than the left as the path was crazy muddy. It was definitely a delight! Sunflowers, lupine, morning glory, mustard, allium, and others I recognize but don’t know the names. In particular, the image “Tiny Pink Flowers” was a bit of a favorite – these flowers are about 1/4 inch across – less than .5 cm, I am sure.
Ink, Yarn & Beer 