Do you smell the MAPLE SYRUP?

Does MAPLE SMELL MEAN SPRING?

Buddha is waiting for spring, as well as I...Waiting for the first walk on sleeping brown muddy grass.  Looking for clues of spring.  Usually the Iris's are peeking their green tips, even before the snow falls.
Knowing in time they will be there for your early viewing pleasure.  Though the spotty show of crocus and delicate stance of bloodroot is still a few months away.
I think going through the process in my head, helps to survive the NE winter and its sometime dreary attire.
My daughter got out of the car the other night and thoughtlessly said,"I smell maple syrup mom"..
I thought,"yay! Its not my imagination!"  Another treasure of living in the 4 season zone, is watching the art of tree tapping,syrup sapping, maple smelling, smoke house dwelling~ fun!
  I do remember as a 5 year old, my dad tapping the trees on our then wonderful ol' farmhouse.  I also remember my mother dreading the mess that would soon be hers.   But i think she liked the home made maple syrup as much as my dad liked tapping the trees.  It was all up to mother nature, and as many naturalists know, its fun to try to guess in your head, if the clues you have observed over the years, have given you enough knowledge to take on this feat or will you have to use the written word from the old timers from long ago.
Maybe a combination, just like learning anything...
I do enjoy trying to figure this stuff out though.  From the syrup from the maple tree to the color of OX blood., for paint pigments..who first thought to use these things in our evolving world. ?

I guess i have rambled enough, have a new computer, new pass words, new format, new everything. Maybe ill be able to check in more then once every 4 months,,,
Oh yes, and to talk about ART!!! LETS PAINT!!!!

class yesterday...6/26

We did basic flower shapes, trying to THINK like a flower, how it grows, wich ones are loose and wich ones are controlled.  What one grow in, and who grows out.,..We only have 3 months to paint from life in the garden.,,,so hopefully, this will prepare us to do so!

We missed you Kelly and Eilene!

 As one can see, Buddah loves watching one end of the pond,  while the lady looks from another veiw.
We are all waiting patiently for the lotus and pond lilies to make their appearence.   Then we can all paitn them!
But the peoni, poppies and iris's are looking just fine!

LOTUS UPDATE

I believe the lotus plant in the pond has at least 4 shoots!  It wintered well, so we WILL have some blooms again this year. We have 12 gold fish and lots of little black ones and a big black one!

Trying to get the painting MOJO back....

I have been working on "BIRCH TREES" requested by a student, and they really are beautiful....they hold light that other trees dont, they all age differently, some are grouped, some are alone....they really are an amazing subject.  I came across an artist that captures them quite well. I  beleive her name is CECE TURNER....artist out of Texas...any way, looking to get over the gray lump in life,,,
What is a sail-boat with out a sail?

I think i will do this in pencil, I need to keep my head preoccupied til the sun is warm!

POMaGRANITES?

I had never even tasted a pomagranite, but i must say, I am OVER THE MOON when i look at the luscious colors it has to offer!. All the shades of pinks and reds, to a rich blood red in the center to a soft delicate pink on the exterior of this curious fruit!  I purchased a couple at work, not sure why...to eat, or to paint.??
 being new to the POM world, i was curious as to how to cut it, like, a tomatoe, if you cut it wrong, you have a real mess on your hands, and it may be messy to look at as well.

The only Poms i have seen, were in pictures of paintings done by the masters...the light hitting the seeds as they are sprawled across a dish of light, the contrast of deep tissue red, and the only highlighting is atop of those delicate seeds.  Were they always as rich to eat, as to paint?  Have they always been known to be healthy, or has science just made us aware?  How could something with such posture, not be magnificent for the soul!  How could it NOT be almost the core of visual surprise and delight...where does this magnificent fruit come from?
Are there more?