Rattlesnake

I saw a rattlesnake on the trail this morning -- the first one I've seen since I started hiking six weeks ago. It's not a great picture, because I didn't have my camera with me, and I had to use my cell phone to take the picture. This is him -- curled up next to a rock, sunning himself. He was a very beautiful snake, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to see him and take his picture, but it makes me a little nervous to know that they're out there, waiting to bite me.

I've been doing trail maintenance on the trails I use the past couple of days. There's one woman who maintains a mile and a half of trail by herself, and I thought she could use some help. It's very overgrown from the spring rains, but we're slowly hacking away at it and getting it back in shape. Good exercise -- as if the hiking isn't enough!

Mr. Photogenic

Look at these great pics of Nelson that Alex took when she was here painting. Does she have an eye for photography, or what?

Accidental Art

Why are the plastic bowls I use to hold my paint more beautiful than my paintings?

House Painting Complete

The house painting is done. It's copper with a blue-green copper patina trim around the windows and doors.



Many thanks to Alex and Gerard of Shannon Painting for the beautiful paint job. It looks great!

Nelson Helps with Painting

This is Nelson, helping out with the house painting. The blue-green on his paws is the color of the trim. Photo by Alexandra Iorgulescu of Shannon Painting. I'll post pictures of the house when it's done -- probably later this week.

Brook Marie 1971 - 1996

Does anyone know what this is about? It's what appears to be a grave marker at the top of the Ridge Trail in the hills above Pacific Palisades. It says, "Brook Marie 1971 - 1996 She is loved." It has her picture on a small cross, and it's often decorated with fresh flowers, but I have never seen the flower bearers. I haven't been able to find anything about her on the Internet, and I'm wondering what happened to her.

UPDATE 6/5/06: On my hike this morning, I saw two people placing flowers on Brook's memorial marker. I stopped to talk, and they told me that Brook died in a car accident ten years ago. The memorial marker was placed at the top of the Ridge Trail because it was her favorite place to be.

Baby Pics

The baby spiders that live in the corner of the kitchen window hatched last night, and they're so cute. In another day or two, they'll all be gone -- off to start homes of their own elsewhere.

New Work

This technique has potential, but I haven't mastered the cracking yet. I have to play around with the thickness of the paint, and maybe try different mediums to see which works best. And I think the colors should be a little lighter, but I like the overall effect.

Funny Guy

Look at this guy! He looks like he owns the place. Nelson adores this chair in my studio. He is also fond of the painters' ladder. He sleeps in a different square created by the rungs everyday. He's a very funny cat.

Another Crime Scene

Crime scenes abound in my house. I stumbled upon this before leaving for class this morning:



Note to self: when sneaking around and hoping not to be discovered, check first to see that paws are not covered with mud.