A Monday Update

8x10 Pastel Sketch of Aspens

Out the Window at RHR

by Lynn Thomas

MONDAY EVENING UPDATE; Got my largest pot down and made a big batch of spaghetti sauce today - probably 11 quarts - 7 of which went into the freezer. So I invited Sheral and Dick to come to dinner. We had a nice visit. The dinner menu included MC Key Lime Pie that I've had in the freezer just waiting for a good opportunity for dessert and not having to make anything myself. Sheral made us a salad and we had garlic toast. It was a pretty good meal for me being drastically out of energy. Joe washed up the pot afterwards.

Sheral and Dick brought back more CD's of the slides, the project Zane has been working on. I'll probably stick them in on Wednesday and take a look at what he's done with them. Maybe even more good photos to share now that the slides are digital.

Well, I don't know why, but Raven got sick big time on the carpet after her dinner. I'm sure she was trying to tell Joe she needed to get out, but he was asleep. So then I had to clean up the mess and get the carpet cleaner out, but that didn't take too long.

Then there was a nice surprise phone call, and Bonnie asked if I'd like her to go along with me to Jackson tomorrow, and I said "YES!!" And I'm really looking forward to getting to spend some time visiting with Bonnie. How great is that?? I'll pick her up at her house on the way in to Pinedale in the morning.

One of the phone calls I procrastinated making - to check on when and where to meet the shuttle - didn't get made, so hope the clinic knows in the morning. I'm sure they said 9 a.m. at the Pinedale Clinic. Did not get the list of phone calls accomplished, but did get Joe a dentist appointment.

So now I'm going to bed! I've been trying to watch the three Harry Potter movies, but you sure have to listen to every word to know what's going on and follow the story, so might switch to something else - like Babe or 101 Dalmatians.

Maybe no blog tomorrow.

Monday August 25 2008

Photos taken by Ruth at Round Hill
Thanks, Ruth!

The Round Hill Mixed Media Painting Retreat was wonderful. Being with the artist friends is always such a special blessing. We had a fun and productive four days together.

Attending were Melita (it's through her that we have the opportunity to go to Round Hill), Kay (who did all the shopping and organizing), Ruth, Dee, Justine, Lois, and me. Hank and Tom opened the place up, got the generator, the gas stoves and waterheaters working for us and then came back afterwards and shut it down. Propane and diesel were delivered while we were there, and another friend came up to make sure we got the oven pilot light going, While the men were there the gas hadn't gotten to flowing through the lines yet. So Lois got down on the floor later and got it lit. We were afraid we'd have to cook over a campfire or something.

We all worked very hard. I'm not sure how many pieces the others got done - lots - but I finished two older paintings, got a new small pastel scene of aspens done, worked on one of my commissions and got it nearly finished, and started a large oil painting of a pack trip in the high country. It's probably half done. Several of the artists like to paint outdoors - plein aire - and they did lots of that. I worked inside this time. I'll photograph the new paintings and show you later.

We had our usual gourmet meals, and way too much of it. We all tried our best to get it all eaten and not have to take any home, but it was not possible. Everyone took turns preparing a meal. I took fresh strawberry glaze pies and a big spinach dip in a bread bowl, and the four dozen muffins, two kinds. Everyone brings food to add to the larder.

After painting hours, they played Farkle. Don't know if you ever have, but its fun.

The weather was mostly cool but nice. We had a front go through the first night when the wind really roared through the cabin eaves and trees. A couple little sprinkles of rain was all we ever got, clouds and sunshine came and went daily.

The wildlife is fairly tame. We saw quite a few deer - there were four bucks together in the pictures today - one was big, lots of birds, antelope on the way coming and going, a treat of seeing a weasel, and squirrels who were bombarding the ground with pine cones the large reports sounding through the quiet. Funny that the largest buck deer was already gray and the smaller three were still in the brown summer coats.

Round Hill is a private lodge. Melita's neighbors own it as a place for their family and friends to come and vacation, hunt and fish, and they just invite us to use it nearly every year. We figured we have been coming to Round Hill for ten years now. Very special thanks to them for such a wonderful opportunity. We made them a small book of original art, two pages done by each artist and bound into a book form.

I got back home about 3 p.m. yesterday afternoon. I paid attention to about how far it is from home - around 90 miles and two hours straight driving - it's across the Green River Valley over in the Wyoming Range to the west, and very remote.

Joe and the dogs seem to have done fine without me. I've already got the laundry done up and put away this morning and a big chunk of the email taken care of. I need to make us some appointments - Joe needs his teeth cleaned and an eye appointment in Rock Springs, and I need a haircut. Guess I better check on when the TV repairmen are coming, and call the man who said he would come to tune up my computer and get the scanner going. Didn't get the photos from the weekend downloaded yet so will do that and post a few in the next week or so. Today's photos were taken by Ruth when we were out photographing the four buck deer.

I finished the book "Pushing My Shadow" about a lady who spent WW II in the near east and Europe, trekking and teaching at schools. Also "Teton Tales" by Paul Petzolt - interesting about the early climing history. Now I'm in to "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle. It's very good and I wish I had read it 40 years ago, and 30 and 20 and 10.

Boy what a wonderful day out this morning. I'm sorry to think the summer is nearly over. Maybe I can paint today. Tomorrow is chemo day again. I'll meet the shuttle in Pinedale. My friend Judi left yesterday on her winter's sojourn to Houston. Hope she and Vicky have a good and safe trip.

Sheral and Dick are coming over this afternoon. They just got back from Denver.

Sunday August 24 2008

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BE BACK FROM ROUND HILL LATER TODAY

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Ponds on Horse Creek

Plein Air Oil Painting

Done at a Past Round Hill Retreat

by Lynn Thomas

Saturday August 23 2008

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WE'RE GONE TO ROUND HILL

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811 Touch of Autumn

12 x 12 plein Air Oil Painting

done at a past Round Hill Retreat

By Lynn Thomas

Friday August 22 2008

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STILL GONE PAINTIN'

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844 - Middle Piney Creek

11x14 Plein Air Oil Painting

from a past Rount Hill Painting Retreat

By Lynn Thomas

Thursday August 21 2008

GONE PAINTING'

810 Round Hill Retreat

11x14 Oil Plein Air Painting

from a past Routh Hill Painting Retreat

by Lynn Thomas

'Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.'

Wednesday August 20 2008

812 - Approaching Storm - Muddy Canyon

11x14 Plein Air Oil Painting

by Lynn Thomas

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A small essay from about ten years ago

Friday, October 22, 1999

Sun Dance

Yesterday I went for a long bike ride with the dogs. It was a beautiful fall day when everything is warm and golden. We pedaled up Muddy Canyon, walked across Doc’s meadow to watch and listen to the creek for a while. Admittedly, I’ve been getting older, so pedaling uphill is hard. Sometimes I get off the bike and walk, pushing it along up the hills or rocky spots.

On the way home its downhill or level, and I wanted to keep pedaling without stopping to get more of a workout. I was facing West, into the lowering afternoon Sun. For some reason it looked like a pole between me and the Sun. I didn’t want to look right at the Sun to try to figure out what the pole was, because it ‘s not good for your eyes. So I just let it be there. I had the feeling of hanging from the pole, looking into the Sun, as if it were the Plains Indians’ spiritual endurance test of the Sun Dance. Of course, I wasn’t hanging for 3 or 4 days by my pierced breasts, but I did have the fascinating momentary image of my own personal Sun Dance. I did vow to try to keep my body, mind and spirit as healthy as possible and not to give up when anything in my life gets difficult.

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Today I'm making 3 doz muffins, spinach dip with bread bowl and strawberry glaze pies to take to Round Hill. Actually making the glaze and taking the rest to put together there, since I don't think the pies would travel very well over the long gravel roads Plus I didn't pack yesterday so have to do it today. I took a little walk again this morning. Looking toward the west was a heavy pall of smoke again, and by 11 am it has reached our valley, making it terribly hazy. I wonder where this fire is?

I probably won't blog for several days because there will be no interenet where we're going, But I will take the laptop just for the heck of it. And then catch up how the weekend goes when I get back. I'll get some pictures to share too. We're all really looking forward to the painting retreat and being together.