Sunday, October 11, 2009

bounty / illumine


solo post - L

I had 3 apples... I was going to paint them – then I saw the recipe for Apple Crostata... no more apples to paint. SO I went to the market and bought some more fruit and those wonderful sunflowers I shared yesterday. This morning I arranged the items I bought and now I have an abundance of photographs and good starts for at least 3 paintings. One of the compositions really excites me. But first I just had to get outside.
The temperature was perfect so I decided before painting that I should get some exercise. So off I went to Big Trees Forest for a nice hike in the woods. Well I can't go for a walk in the woods without my camera but for the sake of exercise I should have left it at home. I kept seeing things I just couldn't pass by. I was stopping every few yards to take a photo. So my hike turned into a leisurely stroll. You know when you slow down enough to "see" – there is all kinds of beauty around us. (To make me feel like I was actually getting some exercise I decided to walk the trail 2 times instead of just once). The walk did me good even if I didn't get my heart rate up.

Nature is man's teacher. She unfolds her treasures to his search, unseals his eye, illumes his mind, and purifies his heart; an influence breathes from all the sights and sounds of her existence. ~Alfred Billings Street

Once home, I set to work trying to decide which "set up" to start painting. My mom always said, "Begun is half done." Well I'm glad to say, I am more than half done now. Yeah. It's been a good weekend.

I talked to T – she hasn't totally abandoned the blog. She and some friends went to a corn maze this weekend and she said she took some photos. I can't wait to see them. First she said she had to do marine environment homework and start on her next design project. I'll wait - patiently. : )

12 comments:

ELK said...

yes.
lovely.
moms & patience.
hand in hand.

Line said...

your photos on Flickr are so lovely, nature is so grandiose"

Char said...

gorgeous shots in that flickr set - I loved seeing them all. the mushrooms were so frilly and delicate. how is your crostata? I think that is the best recipe ever! I overdid a bit on the orange zest but loved it. I added craisins to one of them (I made two).

S. Etole said...

That was a delightful walk through the woods ... thank you for taking us along with you.

d smith kaich jones said...

Yes, these images are lovely, but these words draw me in and stop me still, I had 3 apples. Oh dear me - what an incredible phrase, those 4 little words. Seriously, I felt quietened with those words, felt that all was well.

xoxo
Debi

Anonymous said...

I laughed to read that you ate your still-life before you had a chance to paint it. Too funny.

You had exactly the kind of day I had trying to balance fitness for the body with fitness for a creative heart. We could have been taking that walk together.

Loved the photographs!!!

Gayle said...

We had a walk like that yesterday. I love your nature photos! I hope you show us your paintings when you are ready.

Shelli said...

First, I'm so glad to read in your earlier post that your vacation was rejuvenating... What a great experience!

I love these photos! I wish I had more time for things like painting.... I guess these are the kinds of things I can pursue when my kids are off to college!

And please don't tell me that's not exercise - then I never get any exercise! Ha.

Puna said...

Lovely, really lovely. Especially the mushrooms. I'm such a sucker for those lately.

Relyn Lawson said...

I'm with Debit. I had three apples... What is it about that phrase? It feels like it could inspire an entire book.

robin-bird said...

i was smiling by the time i read "i walked the trail twice" at which point i laughed. what a sweetly written description of your heart and how it responds to the natural world. i love that about you of course :) thank you so much for your comments the other day. you make me feel so loved and appreciated. i hope that you are feeling more balanced yourself :) i am feeling more tuned in and yet it is an ongoing effort.

robin-bird said...

p.s. he he hee...to me "i had three apples..." sound like the beginning of a goofy joke; "there was a monk, a priest and a stripper......."
;)

footnote

The photos on the left are taken by me, Leslye, the mother. The photos on the right are taken by my daughter, Taylor – unless otherwise noted. Comments are always welcome. thanks
If you care to visit, I, Leslye, have another blog - AutumnSun where I ramble around different paths and pleasures of my own.