73 F. Today's temperature was 73 (count 'em) lovely degrees. Even better? No wind. I threw open a few windows and tried to focus on tasks at home this morning, but I. Just. Couldn't.
So I gave up trying to be virtuous, grabbed my journal, and headed down to the river. I did walk there, a round trip of about 2.5 miles, so I told myself I scored at least a few points in the getting-some-exercise column.
There were a LOT of people down by the river this morning (clearly suffering from the same malady), so I tucked myself into a more-or-less hidden spot behind the bandshell and made a little drawing of the F Street bridge over the Arkansas River.
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| F Street bridge, downtown Salida |
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| My semi-hidden spot behind the bandshell. |
It felt quite nice to get out with my journal for a bit, especially since my practice has been sadly neglected through the winter months.
After my little field trip it was easier to work on projects in the studio, most importantly on a long-overdue birthday gift. It was great fun to carve some single-color linocuts, and then to play with the arrangement of the two separate blocks on different kinds of paper. (Full disclosure: the seated toad was carved a while back for another project. The leaping toad is a new block.)
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| Lino-toads |
I also pushed around a few ideas for new color linos, although I haven't committed to anything yet.
Tomorrow, however, I'll be back to indulging my restlessness with a trip to the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge. The trip to MVNWR, stopover site for several thousand sandhill cranes, is a spring ritual, but this year it's gotten a bit out of control. Tomorrow will be my third trip there in 10 days. Is it any wonder I'm not getting much work done?
How can I resist THIS, though?
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| Yes! All cranes! |
See? Not my fault. Wildlife spectacle is not to be missed, and with (ahem) spectacular spectacle weather, it would be pretty much criminal not to take advantage of the opportunity. That's my story, anyway, and I'm sticking with it. Monday will be a perfectly good day to tackle the to-do list.
Maybe.
def can't miss something like that! would be very impressive to witness
ReplyDeleteOoh, being there for sunrise was pretty great, despite me yawning the entire 90-minute drive from here to there! I guess I have to say I'm done for the season now, though. Other things need to be done, too. :-)
DeleteGosh what an experience! I bet the sound is amazing. It would be impossible to work knowing that was going on close by. Happy Spring to you.
ReplyDeleteThe sound IS amazing. Unfortunately most of the little video clips I took have the inglorious sound of people talking in the background. :-/
DeleteLovely to see your sketchbook page. The cranes must be an amazing sight.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kate. Yes, it's great to see (and hear!) so many birds in one place, and it's equally wonderful to have this annual reminder that the seasons still change and life goes forward whether we're paying attention or not.
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