Chris and Bailen

Our friend Chris was passing through this weekend, and was kind enough to let me paint her, so I took the opportunity to do my first in a series of portraits of felons.  Bailen (puppy) was moving around even more than Chris, so...it's not very finished. But I am hoping to get a few more chances, neither of them seemed to mind sitting for me too much  :)
XO

Weekly #1. Arcata Community Forrest

Hiked about...an hour? maybe through the Arcata forrest. Was on the western edge and think I crossed into the private territory and was following logging paths.  Anyway, settled into this mushroom scene just in time to get about 30 minutes in before it started raining. Then hiked around another hour or more exploring the woods. Just when I thought I might be really lost, I stumbled onto a frisbee golf course! Not lost. Lol.

Muddy boots and good feelings.  Here's to a paintings every week!

Farmer's Market

Mind you, this is the *Winter* farmer's market.

:)

I've never seen varieties of garlic like this in LA, or anywhere, have you?

And this is just a sweet mural in the burrito shop.

The Potawot Community Garden, a cherry I think??

And the Mad River.

Lovely place, no?

Warm up

Settled into workshop!  SO EXCITING.
First two little warm-ups. (From a photo. the same photo, as you can tell that they are almost identical in rendition! Lol)

Arcata second week

Wow. So much has happened.
Where did I stop last time?
About a week of apartment hunting and finding.
Holiday Monday with Jax's lovely family in Marin County.


Tuesday at the De Young with friends. Keith Herring exhibit.

Wednesday slower drive back into Arcata,
First stop was Point Reyes. Nature center was SO FUN!
I'll get the animal pix I took from Jax to post.  We could have spent hours there.
And adopted two new creatures into our clan. So stoked!


Stopped at an honor system farmer's stand :)

Also stopped at an Afghani rug importer's new digs.
(***Will look up business name too)
Such a sweet guy who moved to a beautiful place to live a more peaceful existence. Will barter for certain recreational goods :)
Sat shoe-less in his room of carpets and chatted.  He showed us a documentary about how the rugs are made in Afghanistan.
Jax and I will save up for one. A BIG ONE!
:)

Back in Arcata, Wednesday we signed out lease! 4 Bedroom house. Lovely home that the brother and sister renting to us were raised in.  Never been rented. Great energy. Great shared spaces and yard for gardening, and WORK SHOP!!!

(this is the before.)
It is heavenly.

By Saturday my hands were swollen and all my muscles were sore, but we had a mostly settled in HOME! Just so so so lovely. Jax and I got a night or two alone in the house before roommates started moving in. (Which was also lovely, the community here is top notch)

Second day in, smoking on the side porch, which overlooks the neighbor's simply stunning vegetable garden, two young cats approached and let us (Jax) pet them.  We'd been observing each other from across the yard for two days. Guess that was enough for all parties to determine friendship status.
Jax was delighted. It was adorable. And then they wrassled in the tree next to the porch until one got throw out.

Seriously.  What kind of life was I living before??

Couldn't bear to leave so soon for a few jobs I booked in LA this week so I passed them along.
Feeling fabulous.

 More pictures soon. We don't have internet at home yet.

Love!