Tales from the field #23

Sometimes life give you just what you need.  On Saturday I was at an art fair at Rainbow Stew in Yucca Valley.  My neighbor, Christine Chase, had brought a project to work on during the day.  She had a number of pieces of upcycled household objects that she assembled into a sculpture.  At the end of the day, we packed up a little early because it had gotten windy and we were starting to get blown away.  I helped Christine with the last few stages of taking down her tent safely.  As she was packing she realized that now that the project was complete, she didn’t have room for the sculpture  and the box that the pieces had been in.  She asked if I needed a box.  I said I didn’t, but had room to take it and recycle it appropriately.

As I disassembled the booth, it got windier.  Because it had been a 1-day show with no chance of rain, I’d put the loose canopy top on.  It’s easier to transport, I put it on the frame at home, but it isn’t waterproof.  As I had intended to leave it on until I returned home, I didn’t bring the bag it goes in.  As I was taking the booth down, it became obvious things would be safer if I removed the ‘sail’ from the top.  I was bemoaning the fact that I hadn’t brought the bag, but then suddenly realized why serendipity had given  me a box….

What do I need a box for? Oh, wait…..

Cloud Appreciation Society Newsletter

You never know when the CAS newsletter is going to turn up, but one just did.  I’m looking forward to seeing who won the poetry competition next week…..

(That’s definitely a skyscape I would love to paint for someone on the newsletter!)

A Dylan kinda day….

…..blowin’ in the wind.  Had to go to Palm Springs, then Moreno Valley yesterday, then home.  We were forecast a windstorm and we sure got it.  The ethereal, formless sky is very powerful when it moves fast.  I didn’t see any forecast for rain, but had rain coming home through Cabazon and into the desert floor.  (Had I known there was a possibility of rain I would’ve taken the other truck – the windshield wipers on my small truck do not work well.)  Saw lots of palm fronds blowing around in Palm Springs, and plenty of dust, a few limbs down.

When I got home, the trash can was on its side on the front porch, and the recycle can was gone entirely.  At 11pm and hungry, I was in no mood to go hunting for it, but this morning I found it in the side yard.  At that point I also found my 10 foot ocotillo had blown down.  Poor thing was in full bloom, and there was a verdin nest in the upper branches, now on the floor, and a distraught verdin hanging around.  I put the nest in one of the oleanders – it’s a ball-nest so I have no idea if it contains chicks, eggs or at this point, omelet.

Plans are underway to relocate the ocotillo to the south side yard by the fence.  Long shot, but it’s worth a try.  I need to wait until tomorrow until I have two other friends who, with my neighbor will help lift the viciously spiny creature, which probably weighs over 200lb.

So many spines….

Newer Work #65

After the rain the sun….. but this it what it can look like before the rain.  A mixture of distant rain and haboob.  We have a storm forecast for today – just enough to wash the air and muddy the ground.  But it’s not here yet…. (oh please, oh please, one more storm this winter…..)

#1247 After the rain, the sun. Refractured watercolor 10×8″ matted to fit 14×11″ frame, $105.