Back on the Ranch

Almost everyone loves sunflowers. the are so bright and cheery. They attract all kinds of birds. They are so easy to maintain.

So here's a sunflower to brighten up your day. Our crop was all volunteer this year. We thank all those volunteers.

Everytime I show up at the ranch I get a special greeting from the hunting dogs (you'll get to see them some other time) ... and the horses. These guys are the friendliest I ever met. I like to think it's because they like me so much ..... but it's probably because they think some food is coming. They surely do like to eat. Apples from our tree are one of their favorite ... even the green ones.

Go feed your neighborhood horse today. He'll love you for it.

Plein Air in the High Sierras

Well we did not get up there at the crack o' dawn but we arrived in Hope Valley just a little after 8 am .... not bad for us. It was a beautiful day in the High Sierras. From Hope Valley we motored on up towards Blue Lake. Thaleia (http://www.thaleia.com/) led the way. and close behind was Dorothy and Carolyn ... with Unocchio and Carol pulling up the rear.

After painting in the meadow for a couple hours the pond called and we made our way up there.

It is so beautiful in the High Sierras ... I'd go there just to hike or picnic.

Pack up your picnic and go ... skip the restaurant ... skip the movie theater ..... go outside today and have some fun.

The Mountains - The Foal - The Flowers and the Tree

Today started off working in the office

... gotta catch up with the paperwork ... then we rushed on up to Tahoe. Of course, we do not rush up so fast we do not get some pictures.

Probably got over 200 interesting fotos of the High Sierras and Carson Valley in the Summertime. I love the summer ... here .. or there ... or anywhere.

Here in the desert we have such a varity of greens and browns amoung other colors that most do not observe. Lots of things to photograph and paint.

As we shot thru the valley there stood a group of horses glistening in the afternoon sunlight .... and a foal! We stopped and turned around in order to shoot the group.... especially the Foal. Of course he now slid off behing mama to hide from the strangers approaching. Took us a little while be we got him to come on out to see what it was all about.

We were headed up to Barton Memorial Hospital in South Lake Tahoe for a picture hanging for the Tahoe Art League. A fine bunch of artists. They put out some fantastic work, too. A certian amount will hang in the halls of the hospital for the next 6 months. Carol and I took a couple of mine to see if they would be hung. We also stuck around for a little while visiting and trying to help with what ever we might be able to do.

Outside the entrance was a flower garden. Had to shoot a couple shots there too. Flowers are always beauticul even the common ones. Then there was that red tree.... fantastic.

We took pictures on the way home too.

The brushes took a break today. We'll catch up tomorrow... maybe ... it's clinic day.

Stop and smell the roses....Today.