Waiting for the kiln to cool. . .

 

I've got about a half an hour before I can open the kiln and see if my glazing efforts have, once again, gone rogue. But I'd thought I'd share a few seasonal thoughts. The first is that my impatience with snow and cold is starting to surface. It's really too early for that, because in Maine, March is just another winter month. Still it has its moments. Westerners tend to think that they have a lock on beautiful sunsets, but we have our fair share, too. And while grand vistas are often preferred by some, I love seeing the sky through the trees. . . this time of year, with the leaves off the deciduous trees, a lot can be seen.

To the right is the state-of-the-moment in our yard. According to our snow measuring device (a stick in the ground), we still have 11" on the ground. You can see in this image where John has snow blown a path for me so I can get to the bird feeders without getting snow down my boots. But look closer, and you'll also see a path that the turkeys have made. They're all over the yard, and are really fun to see. Many have impressions of their feathers on the sides of the trough. . .probably from when they were frightened and either flapped their wings or took off.  

This little troupe has become a regular attraction at out feeders, often walking on my birdseed delivery trails. It's hard to appreciate how big they are, but they are at least as tall as my hip. They walk like Egyptians, run like little children (including the yelling), and fly like they're not quite sure it will work. But their feathers are extraordinary. Some are iridescent black, some brown striped, and their neck feathers are small and arranged in very orderly rows. I'd like to do a series of paintings on enamel that show the beauty of animal markings up close. So close that you can't really tell what it is. A sparrow's subtle pattern of browns, a chickadee's body/wing, a chipmunk's stripes. They're all much more complex than one might think, and likely beyond my skill level. No worries. Most of our skill levels lack that of nature. Off to Texas in two days. . .