A Creekside Journal

The Daffodils Have Returned!

2012-02-17T08:38:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to see the daffodils waking up in the beds around the cabin! In about December of 2010, I had given myself the task of manifesting a Daffodil and the game of seeing how long it would take before I "ran into" either a real flower, a photographic impression, or even an artificial daffodil. I simply launched a little "rocket of desire" over hoping to see that cheerful yellow in the grey of winter. Occasionally I would remember and daydream about these, my favorite flowers. It was nearing our third month creek side, when one day, there it was - the first daffodil right next to the front door! But more surprising, I was soon to discover that the gardens here are filled with hundreds of daffodils in a dozen varieties and the home was soon surrounded in a brilliant blaze of yellow! My "rocket of desire" hit a target somewhere! So, now we've come full circle on a year and the daffodils are back, ready to open any day now! I'm SO excited!

Full Circle

2012-01-14T11:56:00.000-08:00

Fall passed quickly in a blaze of color and the seasons have come full circle now, back to the time of year when we first arrived here creekside. I had been apprehensive about losing the lush vegetation, but now that the silvery grey stalks of bare trees have revealed themselves, we can once again see the looming red rocks and the deer are crossing the creek in larger numbers than before, and less timid over our presence than last year.

Musician Gary Sroutsos was here for a visit in November, just as the fall colors peaked and together we all visited the spot in the creek that I love the most. He and Rick captured this shot of me enjoying the grandeur.

What Fall feels like...

2011-10-24T15:02:00.000-07:00

Falling or Flying?

2011-10-17T15:09:00.000-07:00

The trees in front of the cabin are raining small yellow leaves throughout the day now! Not to be confused with the yellow butterflies: It caught me by surprise at first, when the falling leaves danced in the wind and then playfully flew away!

This painting was created after finding a blue butterfly wing in the garden this summer. I took the artistic approach here, letting the blue highlights dominate. The actual wing could appear quite dark up close, but it was the reflected color that caused me to leave the garden path to retrieve the specimen.

4 x 6 oil on gallery wrap canvas

Sun to the Left - Moon to the Right!

2011-10-12T10:18:00.000-07:00

I was offered a chance for a jeep ride at "Day in the West" in Sedona yesterday. We loaded up and took the old Schnebley Hill Road off into the hills, up on the Rim as sunset approached. What magnificent landscape set ablaze by the sun! Still, as magnificent as the setting Sun itself looked in the distance, it was the rising Moon that created the breathless moment for me. And what a vantage point...to have Sun on my left shoulder and Moon on my right with the amazing copper earth folding like beautiful fabric in between! Aaah!

The Squirrel that fell in love with Meadowlark!

2011-09-02T13:50:00.000-07:00

"Lynn – attached is the picture of the squirrel that fell in love with you both last week. Robert and I totally enjoyed your music and agree with the squirrel – it was fascinating! Thank you." - Linda C.

note: Meadowlark is the name of our duo with flute & guitar. This sweet creature paused in his treetop romp to come down and listen; first on the ground, then on the bench of the child size picnic table, and finally, he stretched out long on the table top to listen to the music awhile! Thank you to guests Robert and Linda who were enjoying breakfast while we performed creekside at the Briar Patch Inn on Oak Creek, Sedona.

Riding the Wave

2011-08-28T18:13:00.000-07:00

Seems we're all riding a wave of energy these days- even with summer dragging things into slow motion, the wave persists! Several friends have mentioned low energy days, or even low energy weeks, and I began to notice that these trends were happening in waves. Talking with good friends in Tombstone, the subject came up again. I promised them I'd post a blog where we could share our thoughts on this... certainly not to perpetuate THAT energy, but instead to share uplifting ideas and energy that will surpass this (possibly global) tendency. Chime in any time! As for myself, I've found tai chi is working wonders to free up any stagnant physical energy that might be getting in the way!

Slowing Down

2011-08-14T19:53:00.000-07:00

Just as thoughts of Monday were creeping into my afternoon nap, I opened my eyes to see the gift of a brilliant double rainbow out the big window from my place on the couch. The sunshower was falling in big drops as I hurried outside with the camera. Here are some images of the magnificent afternoon sky....

And a large snail making his way along the garden path....one more reminder to slow down and enjoy it all!

Mother Nature Sets a Tea Party

2011-08-04T20:55:00.000-07:00

4:00 p.m. each day seems to signal the onset of thunderstorms and rain, now that it's August! On Monday, the rain fell hard enough to make me suspect a microburst. Lots of unusual sounds on the roof. Then the sun came out, and a visit to the rapidly rising water's edge told another story...

First, giant chess pieces began floating by in the muddy red creek. Rook, pawn, bishop; black and white. Then a full picnic table, complete with both benches surfed by. I took photos of these, as it was so odd. I waited hours for the White Rabbit and the Queen of Hearts, but they never showed!

I've always loved the quote from Alice in Wonderland, "Oh how do we get back to that beautiful garden?" I'm sure I've arrived! All of the sweet creatures and stunning landscape, just outside my window!
But after the storm there is half of the huge Juniper tree resting on the rooftop where it fell and the squirrels are having a tea party there...while the picnic table, planted upright on the bank across the creek, waits for the rest of the cast!

Local color... not just red!

2011-07-28T07:59:00.000-07:00

Our first hike into the backwoods, early one morning in January, 2011.

Just to give an even greater feel for the magnificence of this place, I thought I'd include one of my photos, here and there along the way. I promise to post some of the new wildlife paintings within the next couple of days!

When we arrived Creekside...

2011-07-26T15:47:00.000-07:00

...it was January. Cold and grey, following rare snowfall in Sedona. My eyes searched the quiet land for signs of wildlife. Some days passed and then we began to see the deer, timidly crossing the cold waters at the foot of the property. This first small painting from creekside is titled, "Where The Deer Cross". (5X7 Oil)

Slowly the deer revealed themselves more often, closer and closer. They continue to fascinate me! Here's the first doe portrait, titled "Deer Friend". This one is 12' X 12" and is watercolor on canvas.