ON READING FAVORITE BLOGS

Isn’t it fun to follow blogs that hold significance and satisfaction? Of course, for me that would include blogs of my family, when those are posted. However the lives of my immediate are busy and each remarks that finding the time (and topic) to post is a challenge. Or maybe it’s sometimes a matter of priorities. Or a computer breaks down. Or a hard-drive self-destructs. Or another “social media” site calls more strongly to them (I miss out ‘cause I don’t go there!).Or family crises arise! All of these are hindering someone in my blog-life right now.

If I had my druthers, everyone I love – especially family – would post a little something every day, sort of like “checking in” with their lives and thoughts and share what’s keeping them busy and what’s on their minds. Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. That’s part of what those “social media” sites claim to be about. Personally, I prefer, and trust, the blog sites more. So once or twice a day I keep lookin’ to see whether any of my own has posted. When someone has, it’s a special moment for me.

Other than family, I regularly follow fewer than a dozen other specific sites, and only half of those are bloggers. Most are special friends. A few are precious individuals who only post a couple of times a year (Bummer!). And that leaves two or three sites that are important to me for my own reasons. For example, being “hobby poor”. I have dozens of former pursuits, dormant interests, and intriguing fields of interest I continue to track because of life-long passion or enduring curiosity, or a current lack of opportunity. So I have found a few neat places on line to keep those interests simmering on the back burners of my mind, to rewarm a metaphor or two.

One of my favorite bloggers is currently inactive because of a family crisis. I don’t have any confirmed details at all, except it seems that this individual has taken on a caregiver’s role for a loved one and consequently, among other disruptions, has had to temporarily abandon publishing a fascinating and artistic blog. I know I may be reading much more into the situation than is justified, but bear with me. I know that putting off a satisfying and creative endeavor in behalf of a higher and much more urgent calling is willingly done. Nevertheless, there is a sense of loss and distraction to manage until it becomes possible to once again take up that former effort to which one has been dedicated with great passion. In this case the only hint I have to work with is the mention of a medical condition which if confirmed would certainly be life threatening. When such tragedy strikes, whole families experience turmoil and each individual – whether spouse, child, or other – faces a sometimes prolonged period of adaptation and compromise. Meanwhile one passion replaces another and the blog languishes.

[BTW, In this case, so vaguely described, please join me in praying for the one afflicted, the ones thrust into caregiving roles, the disruptions of life thus caused to families, and someday for a happy return to the former joys of life.]

Conclusion? Well, I’m not sure. I probably had you in mind if your computer is currently acting goofy, if your hard-drive is being rescued, if your car is in the shop, if you are out of place and life is out of joint, if your current schedule is way too busy, if Murphy has been your recent companion, if you are un/or/under/employed, if parenting is presently a puzzle, if your mattress just broke another spring, if you are struggling with a chronic health condition.

In any of those cases, OR if you are enjoying a neat string of blessings, if you feel like you somehow just won some sort of lottery, if recent days have been filled with happiness and thoughtful friends, if a nagging problem has been neatly resolved, well… Do this:

Blog it. I’d love to read all about it. Writing about it will help you feel better, and some of the rest of us can come alongside and lend a little support.

PLEIN AIR ON THE EAST FORK OF THE LEWIS RIVER

First of all, let me explain the term "plein air": it's a French expression for painting or drawing outdoors. In modern usage, as I understand it, plein air generally refers to painting , and often presumes the artist is using oils, although pastels, watercolors, and acrylics are also employed.

Here is a picture taken at the location selected for the first September plein air outing of the NOPG (Northwest Oil Painter's Guild). This is a portion of the south bank of the East Fork of the Lewis River about eight miles east of Woodland, Washington. Haapa Park, a small boat launch facility which is part of the Clark County Park system offers a wonderful picnic area overlooking the river, plenty of parking, some walking paths and lawn areas, and a nice bathroom building.

The object of painting outdoors is to capture the selected scenery and a given moment of light and color in a single effort. Practically, this is an almost impossible task, considering the light is always changing, especially on a cloud driven day, and the activity of life does not pause to pose for the artist. At best a quick effort is made to block-in the general view, establish the basic shapes and values and colors, and hope to complete the painting later at home, perhaps with the help of reference photographs or sketches. Experience and practice seem to be important elements in the task, neither of which I adequately possess, yet. Still, I am equipped, and willing to learn, and I do enjoy the element of getting outdoors to experience beautiful places and real air.

My outfit currently is a Russian Yarka painting case which features collapsible legs, a built-in easel, interior storage for tubes of paint, brushes, and a carefully selected minimum of essential materials and supplies. Using suggestions in a well known plein air book, I have made several modifications to the unit which somewhat speed set-up before painting and the clean-up afterward. Typically, I am probably over supplied and carry more gear than I might really need and more tools than I will actually require. Gradually, I hope to reduce the kit to the basics I actually use; this will save weight, simplify the outings considerably, and allow me to focus on the purpose of painting rather than on the transportation of cargo.

Before I opened a tube of paint yesterday, I took this picture of my set-up. It took two trips to carry my load so I'm going to find a basket or such on wheels which means more equipment. Still, can you tell from the pictures what a lovely place this was to spend several hours? With a dynamic sky, plenty of bird-life, a little fishing-boat traffic on the river, the first colors of autumn putting dashes of reds and rusts, and yellows into the dozens of unique greens along the riverbanks, and companion painters, it was a most enjoyable afternoon.

Perhaps after I get past my tyro phase and gain a little confidence in what I am doing as a rookie painter, I will chance sharing a shot or two of my compositions. Frankly, I don't think they are much to look at yet, but, any work in progress doesn't look very good until the last few carefully placed and applied strokes suddenly make a picture "pop". Hey! Did you see the blue in that Kingfisher and hear him squawk? Now that's neat!

Meanwhile, you have a small idea of what I am up to and what I am up against. I am going to concentrate mostly on landscape and outdoor themes. So what kind of paintings do you like?