WHO TURNED OFF THE HEAT?!!!!!

I'm making sure the birds are well fed.

There's Bruno inside, having his hay.

The pond is frozen solid.

The lad is staying warm, with 2 padded blankets, and lots of hay.

I thought I'd try a painting of this, NOT that I like the snow, but the grasses do make an interesting and complex composition.

My favorite tree [yes, I have a favorite tree!] in the park.

Out for a quick walk with the dog. WOW, was it cold!!!


Our weather has suddenly become most un-Vancouver-like.  Out in the countryside, we've had temperatures down to -7C at night, and it feels much colder ... you know, the sort of cold that freezes the inside of your nose. And we've had a fair bit of snow over the past 3 days, about 8 inches. So that means no riding, just stuffing Bruno full of hay, and making sure he has warm water [carried from the house]. If horses do not have potable water, they could develop an impaction in the colon, colic, and possibly die - serious business!
All this means I am also getting on with Buddy's portrait. And I am going through my photo reference to find some flowers with HOT colors! 

I've finished "mapping" the colors of his face, and am starting in with the blacks. As always, all your comments are so very welcome!

ShedRow Christmas Event ... or ... DAMN, It's Cold!!!

Brunz at morning hay

Icicles from his blankets

   I woke up early to head out for the show, wanting to have plenty of time in case the roads were bad with more snow. Well, I first had to use a hair-dryer to heat the window frame so I could close the frozen-open window. Yeah, off to a good start!

   Then I went down to the barn to feed Bruno, who was quite warm and happy, thank you very much. The icicles on his blankets indicate he was warm enough to melt the snow on his blankets. Then, pack up, and off to the show.

   The roads were very clear, plowed and salted, so the drive was not the problem I'd anticipated. So I arrived at Barb's, set up, and was there in the barn till 4:00. It was COLD in the barn, but only 2 exhibitors left because of it. The rest of us visited, chatted, sipped hot drinks, and I think had a good time. I did sell a framed painting [one I almost didn't bring] to a woman who was very happy with her purchase. For me, having someone that pleased and excited about having and displaying one of my paintings,  is worth much more  than the sale.

Barb greeting Santa

The farm looks very different under snow

Santa stopping for a "smokie", before he heads out 

Onno's car , loaded with salt for the driveway

Again, looking very different

Mallards in the back pond

This close-up of a tulip has gone to a good home

The Dreaded Moment Has Arrived ...

View from front door

Around the corner

Poor hollyhocks

A valiant effort by lupines and calendula

Bruno, the blue bit in the distance, out in his field

   Yup, it came last night, the dreaded cold and snowfall. Thankfully there is very little snow, and I hear not much more is forecast. However, it is going to be below freezing during the day, and, dammit, I have to be at an art fair tomorrow and it is an open air venue.

   I don't even want to say much about winter, the cold, the snow, and the dark except that I hate it. You can't ride; horses don't ski very well. You can't drive; I've had two accidents in the snow,  one of them involving me spinning in circles on Highway 99, and only being stopped by the cement divider. I REALLY hate the snow!!!

   Enough! More about the show tomorrow.