ART BY SYL

INDIAN SUMMER IN COLORADO HIGH COUNTRY

2011-10-16T19:39:00.001-07:00

Where did summer go..We had our first snow fall a week ago..gardens are harvested, jams and jellies are done and the freezer is full of good food for winter. We have 5 cords of wood to keep us warm when the snow returns.

I have had a busy summer painting new pieces with new stones to work on. The horses below are painted on Chrysocolla and were fun to do..I haven't had a horse for many years, but do miss the country life.

These sassy little Mountain Quayle are painted on a piece of Picture Jasper and were shippped to Washington, then sold at the Denver Trade Show. Mountain Quayle are neat little birds and will come into your yard if you have a good water supply.

The Elk is painted on a natural colored piece

of Brazilian Agate. We are seeing lots of elk these days as the early snow fall has put the herds on the move from the high country down to the valley areas, plus it is hunting season. Elk and deer we never tire of seeing in our neighborhoods in Pagosa Country.

Tomorrow will a new day for painting. I

will be working on a Dusky Grouse which I got a photo of when we were out cutting wood. They live in the timber area in the Rockies and are very elusive birds. There is no open hunting season on them. So this will be a new challenge.

I will also spend some time in cleaning out the garden area, harvesting what's left of the carrots and just enjoy my life . Fall is a good time to reflect on things of the Lord and the beauty he created in nature as the fall colors are brilliant this year. Nature is God's stress reliever..

Time will be spent to clean out the birdhouses and get the winter bird feeders ready as the Chickadees and Nuthatches are making their appearance at the one feeder we have up

now, along with some woodpeckers and Stellar Blue Jays. I have new blogs posted on our web at www.livingrelaxedlifestyles and new paintings at www.sylsechoesofnature.net.

This is a painting of a Blue Heron just lifting from the water in flight. The photo I worked from was taken by Bob Zeller in San Angelo Texas. We have herons here on a little pond about 3 blocks from where we live, but I never seem to have may camera with me at the right time.

Well bye for now, God bless and take care...Syl

Summer Time in Colorado

2011-07-22T19:59:00.001-07:00

This American Gold Finch was a frequent visitor to our two window mount bird feeder this spring. I really enjoyed painting him on a piece of Brazilian Agate and was able to get up close to view him as I painted. I could see him, but he could not see me. Fun time doing the backyard bird watching thing.

At last, the snows finally melted and we had cool spring and then summer arrived with all of its beauty. This Monarch Butterfly was playing in my Columbines and was a

perfect match for this piece of Amethyst Sage/Chalcedony. I have a puddling area made of a plastic pot saucer with sand and some sandstone rock. I keep it wet and put slices of bananas on it, which in turn entice the fruit flies which these lovely butterflies feed on. We have a full line of butterfly feeders and houses on our Living Relaxed Lifestyles web site.

This is a little different for me to paint, a Golden Retreiver..We had a Golden Retriever Convention in Pagosa two weeks ago..It was a fun painting with lots of action ...

Well it is time to call it quits for the day...tomorrow will bring painting in the studio on Mountain Quail, then out to the garden to water and pull a few weeds..Love Summertime...toasty warm days and cools nights..

I hope this post finds all of you living a life based on trusting the Lord to provide and meet all of your needs..take care..and visit my new website (still a little under construction) www.sylsechoesofnature.net and www.livingrelaxedlifestyles.com.

I have lots of new paintings and a story about most of them.

Christmas Season in Pagosa Country

2010-12-12T17:01:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas from Pagosa Country..hard to believe tis the season already. We have a little snow, but not like last year. Actually we have been blessed with a fabulous Indian Summer and warm fall, which made up for our unseasonably cool summer. Gardens made but they were late..I was still picking tomatoes in October.

Posted here is a new painting of a bob cat on Amethyst Sage. I really enjoyed painting him as he just blends into the stone. I got to keep him around the studio for a few days before he embarked on his journey to Jackson Hole Wyoming.

This a new venture in my art portfolio..prints on my rock paintings. This piece featuring gray wolves was done on Chrysocolla. I photographed it, scanned in and cropped to fit into a 5"x7" mat, ready to frame. It retails for $15.00. I have a full line of prints on my http://www.etsy.com/yourshops/benja22. It has been a fun time creating this shop which I have titled Peace of the Rock Wildlife Prints..check it out.

Our other bus Living Relaxed Lifestyles is doing okay..takes lots of time and work to build an internet business..but also lots of challenges and fun along with it. I found a great line of bird feeders, bird houses and table top water fountains that we feature along with the Solus Sleep Aide..needless to say I indulged in some new bird feeder as we have lots of Black Capped Chickadees and Nuthatches as well as Stellar Jays. We really enjoy back yard birding and it is fun and relaxing. Here is a couple of new paintings on Chrysocolla of a chickadee and nuthatch..these are also available in prints..

Life is good in Pagosa Country as we have prepared for the winter months a head..Seed catalogs are already arriving and I know that as the snow blankets our landscape, life is growing and spring will arrive with new hope as will 2011 with its unknowns and doubts and fears..but remember to take action, look life squarely in the face and most of all look to the Lord for his game plan, not yours..He is the best CEO.

Take care and God Bless you all...

new site is www.reflectionsonstone.com

FALL IS IN THE AIR

2010-09-20T20:30:00.000-07:00

Here are three new pieces. Have enjoyed painting these .

We have lots of ducks and geese on the wing since the weather has changed. Definite indicator that fall is here. We are being blessed with a marvelous Indian Summer. In fact gardens are still growing.

We have little blue birds that sometimes winter here.. and lots of wonderful fluttering chickadees which have become one of my favorite birds to feed.

I have update my profile, and stand corrected this evening by my Grandson Aaron who emailed me that I needed to change the number of grandchildren, and also great grandchildren.

Have a good evening...and God Bless...check out my new website www.reflectionsonstone.com and also www.livingrelaxedlifestyles.com. We have lots of new and innovative ways to live relaxed...