Signs of Spring

One or two days of spring weather, and I am so happy. We have seen so many sweet signs of spring, including some that we have never seen before. Over the weekend, we were setting the table in the early evening, looked out, and saw movement by the bayberry bushes. Bruce ran for the binoculars, and I ran for my camera. Unfortunately, it was one of those dreary March low light days, so you can barely see this flock of turkey hens. I had heard them way in the distance when we first moved here, but have never seen them around here at all. Bruce counted 13 of them, as I trotted down the path to the woods.

There are two behind the shrubs to the left, and maybe three
heading toward the woods of Camp Colegate

Now they are all going single file to the back of the woods

Bruce and I took a walk through the woods the other evening, one of the rare afternoons that the sun was out. I transplanted so many of my bulbs and wildflowers from Landen to the woods back here. It makes for a nice little treat to stroll back there and find these delightful surprises. The contrast against the drab woods floor makes them even more of a delight.

Scilla

Grace on the daffodil trail



Hellebores



So Good to be Painting Again

It has been so wet here at Camp Colegate. Bruce and I went out after work Thursday and cut our decorative grass, but we made more of a mud fest than we improved the looks of our landscape. This is why the painting has been so therapeutic. I actually rush through my morning chores, to give me unlimited time in my 'studio' in the afternoon. Hardly anything bests heading downstairs to pull out the paints and crank up the classics. I am amazed with how absorbed I become in the painting.  I'm also surrounded by two of my paintings I did as a teen. I only wish I had not thrown out my still life and landscape. It would have been fun to compare. I also have Julia's award winning water color and Valerie's leaf study on the wall nearby.

I dabbled in oil painting in junior or senior high. My sister Annie had bought a nice wooden paintbox that she used, and like her golf clubs (I still have those), she graciously handed them down to me as she became busier as a young adult. Sometimes I wonder what would have become of me had I not had the advantage of spending time in our Forest Glen basement, painting and listening to music. I only wish every teen had that oppportunity. When Ann and Davey married, the paintbox joined their partnership. I believe Davey picked up painting then, and thank goodness, they kept them despite their move to Michigan and back to Ohio. A few years ago I asked Ann if she still had the paintobox, thinking not. But she did, and delivered it to Ohio from Florida a few years ago.  Just being able to handle the wooden box was like having an old friend back. I am so thankful that Ann repacked that paint box as many times as she did. That paintbox will make another journey in about three years, heading down to the Piedmont. Ann and Davey are painting again at workshops at The Villages. I hope she doesn't ask for me to return the travelling paintbox.

My most recent paintings have been more of a personal experience that I wanted to share with others, and not necessarily the best composition. I was sorting through my inspirational photos, and decided to paint a landscape with good composition. When we move South, we would love to pick up all five acres of Camp Colegate and plunk them down South. Talk about 'move in ready.' Unfortunately, that is impossible, so I am painting as much of Camp Colegate as I possibly can.

Sunrise at Camp Colegate
Laying down the initial color, with reference photo at the bottom



Sunrise at Camp Colegate
Bet I add some finishing touches late this afternoon



Dawn Greets the Woods

Posting this to view at Pat's house later on today. Trying to paint outside the box and get some vibrancy into my paintings, but maybe this painting got away from me. Doesn't look that wild on the canvas.

Painting Studio
'Dawn Greets the Woods' on work easel, 'Peaceful Picnic' on black easel

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

What's so Great about March?

Answer: Woodcock mating behavior. Years ago I was so bored with winter, attended an unusual program offered by the Cincinnati Nature Center, and learned how and when to watch for these gamebirds in the early spring. Although I'm a little fuzzy on my timeline, I believe we had recently purchased our property, We couldn't wait for spring to come again so we could watch for woodcock activity out in Clarksville. The wait was well worth it, as we listened for the characteristic 'peent' and spiral descents. The first year there were so many woodcock, that the event was somewhat like fireworks. Since then our woodcock sightings have been more akin to solitary occurrences, perhaps due to loss of habitat with the final home building and introduction of lawns and dogs.

This year has not been disappointing. I had been talking with our neighbors, Todd and Nancy, about the diminishing wild birds, and was delighted that evening when I put up the hens. I do this at dusk, which is prime woodcock time. I heard the familiar call that accompanies the circular dance on the ground, and narrowed it down to the hedgerow between Todd's pasture and field. Good news.

For interesting photos of woodcock, please visit the following website (just click on it):
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=woodcock+photos&qpvt=woodcock+photos&FORM=IGRE

In addition to woodcock song, we also have the chorus of toad trill and spring peepers.  We're now greeted with songs of the Red Winged Blackbirds when we step outside. I love the raucous celebration of spring mating. Unfortunately, we are entering one of the worst mud seasons ever. That has prompted me to move downstairs to the basement in the afternoon, where the unheated but thermally protected space is now conducive to spending time in my 'art studio'. I couldn't possibly have spent time down there the last three months, when I cocooned upstairs in front of the fireplace with my knitting and crocheting. I've finished a painting inspired by Susie, which looks really wild when I photographed it. All the wet paint is reflecting back, and I did apply a few touch ups after taking this photo, but did want to share with my sisters. Ann and Davey are taking art lessons in The Villages, and enjoying it as much as I am. There's nothing better than finishing up one's morning chores, heading down the basement, cranking up the music, and getting totally lost in a painting for a few hours.



"Peaceful Picnic"
 After planning and hosting a shower for Susie's best friend,
Susie visited Camp Colegate for a day of relaxation and communing with nature.



Fine Arts Blitz

Thanks goodness we still have newspapers with Arts and Entertainment sections, or we would miss out on so many inspiring and moving performances and exhibits.  We were fortunate to read about the 326th birthday celebration of Bach, and bless Bruce, who quickly agreed to attend the performance at the Cathedral Bascilica of the Assumption in Covington, Kentucky.

I also wanted to catch the new exhibit at the Taft, "American Impressionists in the Garden", so we left late morning to have lunch at their lovely cafe, then toured the exhibit and the main gallery. For once I remembered to offer my cafe punch card (one free lunch with 10 punches), and remarked to Bruce that by the time I remembered to have my card completed, that the card would no longer be valid. Of course, that had happened, but the staff completed my card and told me that was now good for two family memberships. Wallah! A $120 value. I was delighted. The Taft was lovely as usual, and so inspiring. On to the Cathedral.

This unbelievable church is located in the 'bowl' of the old German community by the Ohio River. Heading North from the airport toward Cincinnati, the Cathedral is a few blocks off to the right as you approach the I-75 bridge. As the Catholic population grew after the Civil War, several diocese were combined and proceeded to erect this irreplaceable architectural triumph. Built at the turn of the century with private donations from the parish and a large donation from the Walsh distillery famly, the cathedral was modeled after the Notre Dame in Paris, with that imposing medieval French Gothic style, complete with flying buttresses, high pinnacles, and gargoyles. There are 82 stained-glass windows, and one of the largest in the United States, measuring 24' x 67'. Craftsmen and artisans from Germany and Italy contributed to the building, including local artist Frank Duveneck.

There are a number of nationally renown organs in the TriState area, and the cathedral happens to be home to two of them. The larger organ has 4,000 pipes in 65 ranks. The pipes and parts were rescued from many organs in now-demolished churches. The smaller Schwab organ was rescued from St. Joseph's by the 89-year old organist and music director, back in 1970.  Robert Schaeffer (in his musical role since 1949) and his son Greg have lovingly cared and resotred these organs, and launched their concert series to restore and maintain these rare treasures. Bryan Mock, organist at Christ Church in Glendale, presented the Sunday afternoon concert. To see photos of the cathedral, please explore the pages of the concert series:

http://cathedralconcertseries.org/timbrel_splash.html    

I didn't think we would be permitted to take photos inside the church, but we were, and I did. So lovely. We were only restricted from taking photos in the chapel. The local artist Frank Duveneck painted the lovely murals in there. What an artist! Please enjoy my photos of the cathedral:

The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption
Note the largest stained glass window in the United States

Interior view of the stained glass window



The Schwab Organ: hand carried piece by piece (rescued) by father and son to the Cathedral
from another church that was being demolished. The 92 YO father was in the audience yesterday,
and the son hosted the concert, which was held in the memory of their wife and mother, another talented musician.



Bryan Mock played this beautiful organ for our concert. Incredible music.



March 1st

She who was bored is busy as all get out. I meant to post the evening of March 1st, as it was such a glorious day. We came out of the grey and gloom, to sunshine and more seasonally appropriate temperatures. What struck me on my daily walk was the gift of the arrival of toad trill from across the highway. The toads must be thick in the fields as they seek mates. I was picking up highway trash and treated to the most delightful toad songfest. Later in the evening we heard spring peepers. These are all our many precursors of spring.

The toad song seems to come from the distant treeline.
We keep watching for the deer to come out of the woods in the evening after dinner.
Another sign of spring at Camp Colegate.

This is the view to the back from our bathroom.
I am so taken with the numerous and tall twisted locust branches.
We are not sure, but feel that this happened when the tornado came through here in 1999.