It was a close call for me and a direct hit for my poor studio. On October 15, I was painting during a big windstorm. Just as I was thinking that being in the studio was like being right IN the storm, the neighbor’s huge pine tree crashed down onto the roof. I was able to get out by climbing through a window but the damage is extensive.
Nandina berries encased in ice. Photo by Lisa Griffen.
Family visitors have left after the holidays and today was going to be my first day of getting back to my routine, but nature had other plans. We had snow yesterday. It was beautiful when it was falling and I love the way it transforms the landscape. It was also quite an adventure driving over to Village Gallery to hang the January show. As often happens in this area, the snow quickly turned to ice and today the entire area was shut down as it was too dangerous to drive. That meant a free day for my family and a postponement of my plans, but I don’t even mind.
The ice is bad for driving but possibly even more magical than the snow.
Buds are just starting on the lilac bush but they’re currently encased in ice. Photo by Lisa Griffen.
…the heat is making the paint bottles pop open! The Portland area is having a heat wave like nothing I can remember in my 24 years here. I don’t have air conditioning in the studio, so paint is drying too fast even in the late morning. Paintings are coming along very slowly and I’m keeping busy with other projects for now.