Monday, July 28, 2014

orchards in space


Summer country weekends have a comforting sameness. 
I check on the frogs, go wading, spend long periods of time looking 
at rocks, water, moss, ferns and wildflowers, and whatever else
comes my way. Tiny lizards, lichen, wild turkeys,
a great heron.


There are friends to visit, jaunts to galleries, used books stores, 
favorite places and events. The county fair! The cauliflower festival!
Of course there are chores and a house to maintain, 
but I always opt for r&r&r


relaxation, refreshment, recreation, because otherwise 
what is the point of a four-hour drive to a country house? 


Here is something new and green, growing out of the trunk 
of a fallen tree.

I'm starting a new blog, focussing on art and books, painting and writing.
Word is that people are reading fewer blogs these days, 
but there are places I want to explore, to go narrower and deeper than I do here.

I expect to continue to post here once a week or so.
No sudden moves.

The new blog is Orchards in Space.

xo, Jen

Thursday, July 17, 2014

a country weekend



wildflowers along the stone wall



standing behind the waterfall



a barn with a rocket


a barn with a crocodile


the road to town


a visit to Bibliobarn




and more wildflowers.







Monday, July 14, 2014

wild roses

 Purple flowering raspberry shrubs grow wild all around our house in the Catskills. Rubus odorous is a member of the rose family. I love the way they look in all their stages of growth. Their berries taste like a slightly tart raspberry. Of course I rarely see the berries--most of them get eaten by birds and other wildlife.


 They remind me of a scrubbier version of the lovely rugosa rose that grows wild around the beaches of New England. I took this picture in Maine. Their warm pinkness and sweet smell contrasts beautifully with the rocky beaches and chilly north Atlantic waters.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

orange roses, pink seas



Through the week I've watch the orange roses (here) go from debutantes 
to roses of a certain age.



 The color gradations knock me out.

These abstract closeups help me see them in a new way.

For me, that's what art does.


Yesterday, I finished a quasi-impressionistic painting of roses 
and painted this


and these.

It's been a hot weird week and it felt so good to break into something new.

I have a green land, pink seas series in mind
inspired by the peony bud in this post.

Peonies, they took over our lives for a while, didn't they?





Saturday, July 5, 2014

curious jen

 Orange roses.


It started at Two Old Tarts last weekend.
Orange roses among cakes and pies and tarts.
Instead of eating my dinner I kept taking pictures.


So when I saw a bunch of orange roses for sale
Enough for two vases. So I'd never be too far away from them.
Why? What is it about that color? And me and flowers?



 And why are cats endlessly amusing?
It rained all day and they hung out on their ironing board perch
while I primed the walls in the upstairs hall.


For five years there have been six large paint swatches 
in blues and greens on those walls.
And this picture.
Now it's a nice fresh primer white and I just might keep it white.
A big step for me. (Understand, my dining room is pink.)


Eventually Aji roused herself to investigate
the roses in my bedroom.


And I'm thinking it might be time to paint a mural.
Something with a cat or two. 
And orange roses.