Every kid loves a snow day. It gets them out of school work. I go to work to get a snow day!
Even Nellie likes a snow day.
What Golden doesn’t love the snow.
Be careful were you stand.
Definitely a snow day for the loggers.
Out here a snow day doesn’t get you out of work.
New snowfall on a Douglas-fir sapling.
There will be no cattle to load today.
Snow in the pines.
The big wind turbines don’t care if the snow is falling.
SNOW DAY!
Black birds feast.
The black birds hop from log to log. All the while, tilting their heads to and fro. Then after a brief pause they reach into the bark, and with surgical precision, pluck out a squirming grub. Then with heads thrown back they swallow the grub with the ease of an Olympic gymnast dismounting from a balance beam.
Hunting grubs on the burned logs.
This goes on all day in our log yard. As the logs from the fire salvage operations pour into the yard, so do the black birds. The swarm the logs for this feast of opportunity. Sometimes they engage in black bird battles for dominion over some particularly grub infested log. I think these birds get fatter every day. Soon they may not be able to fly.
Burned logs delivered to the log yard.
Salvage logging continues at break neck speed. The beetles invading the logs are an indicator of the oncoming decay. Next will be stain, splitting and then rot. Time and decay are our enemies. The black birds are a constant reminder of the ticking clock.
Ponderosa burn fire salvage. Where have all the squirrels gone?
A really big yard ornament.
So many of the loggers I know have big personalities. It only makes sense that they might have a little something that makes a big statement, or in this case a BIG something that makes a BIG statement. Why not have a vintage skid cat complete with logs and a chainsaw carved equipment operator of redwood.
Some days I need to experience the beauty in my world. Today was one of those days. Today was exceptional. Here are some pictures I would like to share with you. Today the sun shone warm. Tomorrow a storm is coming.
The morning ritual, ” Hey I need some attention here!”
As I sat down to upload the latest on Nellie’s progress, she came in and laid her head across my keyboard. I scratched her ears and then got up, because she wanted out. Settling back in to finish the post, I only had to wait about 30 seconds before the “boof boof” came from the front door, so up again and let her back in. Comfy again and ready to start, then she’s back. Head in my lap, because it’s 6:02, and we are late for breakfast. Breakfast is 6:00 am sharp. Back up to feed Tom and Nellie. Tom is our 14 year old golden. Sit down again, but then Tom is done and needs out, so back up. Once more down, and then here comes Nellie and she’s done and wants out. Up again. Finally, down and ready to finish. “Boof boof”, back up to let her back in. Now we can finish. A typical morning around here. I can’t understand why I don’t get more done.
I thought I might finish this painting this weekend, but it didn’t happen. So instead I will just give you another installment. I’ve done most of her final shading, and now need to finish the pheasant and the background detail. More to come.
Nellie installment 4.
This black oak tree was transformed by the fire into an incinerated silvan sculpture.
In the aftermath of a wildfire we are confronted with profound destruction that it leaves in it’s wake. Occasionally, afterwards there are strange and interesting forms that appear. This black oak tree was changed into an a new form. Once is was a beautiful green tree, now it stands like a statue in it’s monochrome setting.
The rock formation below was there all along, but the brush obscured the view and prevented access to it. The wildfire revealed it as if someone pulled a cover off of a sculpture.
Rock sculpture revealed by the wildfire.
THE FORESTER ARTIST 