A Valentine to Mother Earth

Tags

mother earth, rose diamond, sacred beings, true wealth, Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!

This year it feels more than appropriate to create a Valentine for Mother Earth and reflect on all the ways she’s needing our love. As I worked on this collage it was enlightening to listen to a recording from a new, free, teleseminar that I just subscribed to, organized by Rose Diamond in New Zealand. She named this series “True Wealth: Seeding a resilient new culture together. Check it out if you’re interested in the exciting developments in New Zealand and around the world.

This Valentine collage includes a few of my favorite photos taken during travels over the past few years, with the exception of porcupine, sent to me recently by a dear friend. They represent some of the sacred beings I hope to paint in the coming year. As usual, I placed the images in the corresponding directions and send this out as yet another prayer for protection of all the wildlife, everywhere.

May the passion for all of life warm your hearts!

Winter Solstice Mandala

On Sunday morning, December 18, 2011, I was delighted to participate in creating a seed mandala for feeding wildlife at the Open Space Visitors Center in Albuquerque, NM.

This Solstice event was planned by the OSVC Gallery Director Joshua Willis who invited me to design the mandala and help prepare the site for the event.  Joshua requested that a toad be featured in the design as a reminder of how sensitive we must all become to our natural environment.  There are a lot of Woodhouse toads on the property of OSVC, which is a very good indicator of the work that has been done to restore balance to the land in the area.  I added the sun pattern to celebrate the Solstice and also the elements of earth, air, water and fire to mark the directions.

We were blessed with beautiful weather, a wonderful group of participants and some talented photographers who recorded it all.  The birds were the guests of honor and they kept a careful watch on the proceedings, flying in as we finished preparing the feast.   What a perfect way to celebrate the season.

Thank you Elke for this video!

Screech Owl

This past summer a Screech Owl enjoyed hunting in our backyard. One night in particular I was delighted to catch sight of her as she silently flew into the yard and landed on the clothesline. I’d seen bird droppings earlier that day just below this spot and wondered who had been perched there overnight. Now I knew who the visitor was. A family of mice had been nesting under the fence along the property line and the owl waited patiently. Suddenly, she silently dove like a flash but came up empty and landed back on the clothesline for more waiting. When she dove again and didn’t return I assumed she’d gotten her prey and wished her well. The next morning a small owl pellet was on the chair beneath her perch. What a treat! Careful examination of the pellet revealed tiny mouse bones and fur.

I added moths to the painting as other symbols of transcendence in the night and enjoyed working them into the border design. Gradually, I realized the image was beginning to resemble a page from a children’s book, and I smiled as I dedicated it to my 7 year old grandson Eladio, who loves owls. He delights in having them roost in the trees in his yard and call to him at night. Barn Owls and Screech Owls are prevalent in his rural New Mexico town during the summer months and then in the fall the Great Horned Owls return.

The Screech Owl in this painting is one of the educational birds of Wildlife Rescue Inc. of New Mexico which I photographed last Spring at Photo Wild!, a special event for photographers and artists. She was having a hard time staying awake as the morning progressed and I was grateful to get a photo of her with her eyes fully open and alert. Sorry, little bird for keeping you up way past your bedtime.

And thank you Eladio, for inspiring me to wait up at night and watch for the owls to return.

Santa Cruz

How do you describe a week in Santa Cruz, CA? It finally occurred to me that a video would be the best answer, and so here is a slideshow of some of my photos from this trip. The music of Pat Humphries, of Emma’s Revolution, “Swimming to the Other Side” is one of my favorites.

The seals, egrets, otters, pelicans, gulls, Monarch butterflies, banana slugs, redwoods, jellyfish, dragonfish, sea turtle, seahorse and patterned rocks will all be dancing their way into new Icons. The women who housed, fed, transported, nurtured and guided me while I was there have already become true soul sisters and have danced into my heart. Thank you Diana, Ellen, Felicity, Jess, Majio and Ursi. You all inspire me.

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron has been a favorite of mine for many years, since I began walking along the banks of the Rio Grande in the south valley of Albuquerque back in 1987. Then, I would often surprise a heron resting in a tree or have one fly over my head as they moved up and down the main ditch. When I moved to the north valley and began exploring the area around the Nature Center I was delighted to see one…then two…and finally, three herons wading in the shallows of the river. During most of the year they were solitary, with a good amount of space between them, but in February you could see them pairing up and courting each other. Since I saw them year round it became an expected encounter, although I often had to search out numerous spots to find them. Then one day this past dry spring, they were gone. They migrated to a place where food and water were more plentiful…I wondered where. With so few visible wildlife in the bosque this summer it felt very lonely out there, and I worried, with the ongoing drought, will they ever return?

This past Sunday evening, between the equinox and new moon, my friend MJ and I went for an evening walk to the river. As we entered the bosque we were greeted with a loud chorus of coyote yips. That was unexpected and gave us the sense there was something afoot. Next we saw a cottontail ahead of us on the trail and it nervously scooted into the brush for cover. As we walked the river trail ducks were coming in for a landing along with some geese. We reached the bench on the bosque trail just as it was beginning to get dark and MJ spotted something in the river. It looked too large for muskrat but without binoculars we couldn’t be sure what it was…but then right behind it was another one. The movement of the water around them suggested beaver but we couldn’t swear to it. Our attention shifted as Great Blue Heron swooped in, banking in it’s flight to head across the river to the shallows. My heart leaped for joy…you’ve returned! We sat there in absolute delight as small flocks of geese and ducks continued to arrive with a noisy welcome from their kin.

When night really began to take hold we reluctantly left our viewing area and headed through the bosque. A few steps into the dark trail we heard the distinctive call of a Great Horned Owl…and the reply of another…and then a louder call from a tree right near us. The owl in this nearby tree silently lifted off and flew a short distance away, just for a little space, thank you.

MJ and I couldn’t believe all that we had seen and heard this night after the long silence of summer. There was a bit of a dance in our step as we headed for home.

This painting of Great Blue Heron was completed in April, 2011, in time for a viewing at the “Rio del Corazon” event hosted by Voices from the American Land, a group of writers, editors and graphic designers in New Mexico. The event focused on the Rio Grande river and was held at the National Hispanic Cultural Center. It was an honor to have my paintings displayed along with the work of other local artists.

New Icon of Bald Eagle

Eagle has landed in my studio, resting on a shelf while the paint cures before framing can take place.  Usually I seal a painting with varnish for protection and before adding oil glazes, but decided to allow the egg tempera to dry naturally this time.  A soft glow will emanate from this image after being polished with cheesecloth as it cures.

This past winter a pair of bald eagles graced the Rio Grande bosque in Albuquerque and many of us made daily treks along the river hoping to see them.  It was always a thrill when we were rewarded with an encounter and there was no question I would paint one.  I decided on a solitary figure because that is what I usually saw, but added the mate in the border design.

Eagle rates high in the pantheon of animal spirits as a they represent the Great Spirit, the connection to the Divine.  They bridge the realms of Spirit and Earth, teaching us to see beyond what is now visible.  Bald Eagle is also connected to water and so I included the patterns of water, fish and clouds in the border.  The painting seems to be leading me to the direction of West, the element of Water and all the creatures who live there.

That’s what the recent trip and series of blogs was all about, “Searching for Salmon”.  The next few months (years?) will include traveling to and painting the sea life.  “Courage of Salmon” is on it’s way.  I love it!

Searching for Salmon: From Canyonlands…to home

Standing in front of Newspaper Rock in the Canyonlands this morning was educational, especially since we just happened to arrive there at the same time as a small guided tour group.

There are many layers of glyphs on this wall with the much older images under the “newer” ones. It was interesting to see which images excited each viewer.

After this quick stop we drove to Cortez, CO, had lunch, and then passed through Durango, where the fall colors are already beginning to show. We continued driving until we reached Navajo Lake in NM. Fred enjoyed some fly fishing time in the San Juan River along the quality waters area just below the lake. It’s all catch and release here and the beautiful weather brought out many groups in boats or waders. Once again our timing was far from perfect with it being mid- afternoon, and the fish were done feeding for the day.

After that we decided it really was time to head for home…and it feels so good to be here.

What were our favorite moments? That’s the question we’ve been asking each other on the way home.
For me, they were the first time we entered the Redwood forests, walking in the Stout Grove and sitting with one of the trees for about an hour at sunset…pure magical energy. All of the visits with the redwoods were special to me! Another moment was sitting at the banks of the Klamath River watching the salmon run, even though we only caught a bit of it. It was great just being there. Somehow, the Yurok reservation felt like New Mexico and I felt at home there. And, of course, camping on the beach with time spent walking in the surf, and watching the elk.
For Fred, it was seeing the bull elk walk down the beach at dusk, with the surf crashing behind him…and driving through the redwood forests. He also loved catching the small trout at the Klamath, and releasing it. And, he really enjoyed our stay at the River Terrace Inn at Green River, UT.
He really loves to drive and this was our first time using mostly back roads, through beautiful country. There were many other moments that will suddenly come to mind…Fern Canyon was awesome and timeless…the magnificence of Canyonlands…and even the endless open spaces of the Nevada desert were stunning.

Now to let it all sink in….thanks for sharing the journey with us!

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Pat & Fred

Searching for Salmon: Arches, Canyonlands…and Moab

There hasn’t been much to write about since leaving California and crossing through central Nevada. We had an interesting stay in Austin, NV, where the motels were all “vintage”. We stayed at the Pony Canyon Motel, which I swear had been a stop for the Pony Express riders, with the original Trail just down the road. It helped us get an unusually early start the next day, when we drove nine hours, until arriving at Green River, UT.

A really pleasant stay at the River Terrace Inn helped immensely, as you can see in Fred’s smile.

Today we had planned to begin a two or three day stay in Arches and Canyonlands. The crowds and intense heat changed those plans quickly…in fact, the long, hot drive into Canyonlands only made me long for the foggy, lush forests we’d left on the coast. Traffic jams in Arches cut short our visit there, after we saw Balanced Rock and hiked the short trail to view Delicate Arch.

Canyonlands was much less congested, although still very busy. Most visitors were European and very enthusiastic about the amazing views. Slowly, the grandeur of it all drew us in as we made our way through the Island in the Sky section of the park.

Tonight we’re staying in Moab and tomorrow will head down toward the Needles section of the park, with a stop at Newspaper Rock to view the petroglyphs. We’re really starting to get road weary and are longing for home. One more stop for some fishing along the San Juan River should cap off this trip nicely.

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Pat & Fred

Searching for Salmon: Trinity River…and Salmon

Fred chose the route for today, that would turn us eastward following the Trinity River along Hwy. 299, and across the state. He hoped to spend some time fishing the river too. I hated to leave the coast and the redwood forests, but the further south we traveled the more congested it became, and the forests were no longer wild with old growth. It was time to change direction and once again follow the rivers.

As I read the description of the Trinity river it all came together. The Trinity actually feeds into the Klamath River and is another major route for the salmon run. At the eastern end of the Trinity is a lake, created by a dam, and next to the dam is the Trinity Fish Hatchery where the salmon, who were born there, return. I called the hatchery to check this information and yes, the salmon were there.

We set out from the now familiar coolness of the fog along the coast but quickly moved up into the mountains and warm sunshine. This must be the dry season for northern California, but it seems unusually warm and dry.

The day passed quickly with beautiful scenery along the two lane road. Fred only stopped once for fishing, admiring the crystal clear water, but it was obvious the fish were taking a break.

To get to the hatchery we turned north and drove up to Lewiston Lake. We were the only visitors and were greeted by the director who was delighted to educate us about the Trinity River salmon.

He explained that Mother Nature has devised a protection plan against catastrophic disasters by having two salmon runs each year. The first one begins in early Spring when the Coho, Chinook and Steelhead enter the Klamath River during April and May. They take their time moving slowly upriver throughout the summer and arrive at the dam in late August. The ladders at the hatchery are opened just after Labor Day and the salmon come up into the holding tanks. By the time they arrive their skin is dark and they are a bit ragged looking. Next week the spawning will take place under the direction of the staff at the hatchery.

The second run begins in the Fall, and that is what we witnessed at the Klamath River this week. They arrive in the upper Trinity River in mid- October after a journey of about 155 miles.

Of course, many salmon spawn naturally in the river as they return to the places they were born. Some even travel as far as Iron Gate, a journey of over 200 miles. It really is awesome.

I think I’m ready to head home and begin the work of honoring Salmon, but there’s a lot to reflect on and a lot of miles yet to be explored.

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Pat & Fred

Searching for Salmon: Thursday, 9/15, South on Hwy. 101

The sun popped out from beneath the clouds long enough to give us a stunning sunset on the beach last night. Everyone in the campground gathered as sun worshippers to honor the spectacle.

Then we slept with the rising tide roaring in our dreams.
In the morning I went down to the surf’s edge to offer a prayer to the directions, again thanking the salmon for their presence and asking for continued guidance.

We set out early with the first stop at the Lady Bird Johnson Redwood Grove, just a few miles down the road. The sun was actually peeking through the fog while we quietly enjoyed this lovely trail. A forest fire from “a long time ago,” according to the printed guide, had left trees hallowed out but still alive. “Redwoods don’t die easily, they regenerate themselves with seed ladened burls when threatened by fire and storms”. We saw evidence of this throughout the forest. The photo below was taken while standing inside a hollow tree and looking up.

As we continued south on Hwy. 101 we left behind the stillness of the National Parks and entered the realm of human activity in the small towns that dot the coastline. The fog had returned so our picnic lunch at Stone Lagoon was a surreal experience of the quiet lagoon, sand, ocean waves and sky all were enveloped in a seamless cloud. Further down the coast we stopped at Patrick’s Point to stand out on a cliff edge looking at the fault line running through the rocks.

A strange little ditty started forming in my head as we walked the area…”standing on the fault line, waiting for the “big one”…and then decided this wasn’t something I wanted to call in. We’ve stood on fault lines all along this coast and had it repeatedly pointed out to us in the park signs. It’s all a part of life here and a part of the landscape.

After passing through the towns of Trinidad and Eureka we began looking for a place to stop for the night and found it in Fortuna. We wanted a place with hot showers, wifi and outlets to recharge all the cameras, phones and gadgets that are fun to have but useless when off the grid. It was good to have been off the grid for a few days.
Now we have to figure out which way to go from here.

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Pat & Fred