My Home Away from Home ... or ... the Land of the Barn Grunt

Grooming kit on the floor, various and sundry spurs, whips, lead lines and bits hanging on the wall.

Helmet [a MUST, though I don't like wearing it, I do value my brain intact], mixing spoon for Bruno's  mash [mostly ground flax and supplements in the form of pellets], bug spray, massage lotion with coolant, hoof treatment, butazoladine [an analgesic and anti-inflammatory] , and of course carrots.

Bruno's "undershirt" that he wears under his blankets in the winter, our bridle [with a very kind "KK" bit], and a lunge line behind the bridle.

Behind the towel, side reins for lungeing, B's fly mask, another lunge line, and the mandatory broom.

We've had barn swallows in the barn for about the past 10 years. They are nesting now, and have at least one clutch of four babies.

No hot water here - we're tough! Sink draped with Bruno's protective boots [he must wear them or he rips off his shoes from over-striding], with various disinfectant washes and shampoos.

One view of the tack room - saddles, saddle pads, sheep-skin pad so the saddle feels comfortable for the Big Guy, polo wraps for his lower legs, and more stuff than I know is there, I'm sure.

Other view of tack room - more of the same, girths, wraps, whips towels, paper towels ...


Once upon a time, I was a princess. I lived in the city. I drove a cute little TR-6. And I spent all my money on clothes, make-up and all sorts of other frivolous things. Then, about thirty years ago, after a weird riding accident while holidaying in Puerto Vallarta, I decided to take riding lessons, so I would learn what to do when a horse reared up and went over backwards with me in the saddle. THAT was the beginning of my life as a barn grunt.
One of my sisters, Stephanie, coined the term "barn grunt". It is someone who lives, eats, breathes and everything else HORSEY. The frivolous life style flew out the window. The sports car was sold. My social life became non-existent [when you get up at 4 AM to go riding before work, it precludes staying up past 9 PM]. I developed muscles from riding, cleaning stalls and paddocks, and throwing around bales of hay. I became a regular at the nearby hospital as a result of riding accidents. And I have never been happier.
And then, eleven years ago, I moved out to the country. At one time, I kept my horse boarded in Southlands in the city. It was as close to rural as you could get in Vancouver. But my horse was getting "sour" - mean and crabby - from the crowding, so I moved Her Highness out here. A few months later, I was most fortunate to find this small farm. Actually, it found me, oddly enough. And here, I am as happy as the proverbial pig in a mud wallow.

Life Is GOOD

Bruno having a munch on the lower end of the yard, after a ride.

Gorgeous weather. Fruit trees in bloom.

Before

After. I did paint in a "ground" then the rest of the background looked really off. So I darkened a bit in the fall of leaves, and brought the grass green up higher, so the front of the goose would show more. These colors are off - still don't have photoshop. Otherwise I think The Mad Conductor is done.

I did a quick sketch of this last night.

This morning, I got it on wc. paper, and started a soft background w/w wash with aureolin, quin. gold and phthalo green.

This is a very rough color sketch I've done of the Burrard Bridge.

This is a more detailed sketch I've done for the painting. I'm doing a smaller one - about 10 x 17 in. - if and before I move to a larger format.

This is another sketch, from a very old photo, when the bridge was just completed in the mid-1930's. I like the more thrusting angle of this sketch. I may do both.


I finally have some time to myself for the next few days. The Boxer Girls were picked up by my sister on Saturday. We went for a 2 hour walk, then sat and had tea, and chatted. I love the two dogs, but they are very needy. My sister has no children and these are her surrogates. They usually stop eating, or eat very little when Denise is away. Mind you, at home they are very picky, too, and she hand-feeds them. Um ... NO!
Bruno and I have had some very good rides. He is g r a d u a l l y becoming more supple. As for me, I can feel my "riding muscles" starting to come back ... the core muscles, and the ones that enable you to crack walnuts with your thighs!! KIDDING! But sometimes it feels like it.
I'm back to work on Wednesday, and Friday and Saturday. I'm not sure how the dentist's arm is doing; it might be another two to three weeks of really working for a living. And I'll probably surprise myself, and find I'm missing the work when it's cut back again.
or not! :)

Today, I "Carpe'd the Diem"!

I played with the leaves around the goose's head, giving a bit more shape and detail.

I also shadowed him a lot more, darkened his feet, and added detail to his face. Done? - I think so, unless I play with the leaves some more.

I have named her "Grim". To me, she looks like a cross between a gargoyle and a flying monkey from The Wizard of Oz. My aunt came out for a visit yesterday, and brought her for me. She said this is how I am when I am working as much as I am now. NOT very nice!! Downright grumpy!!!

Cute 7/8 profile

Majesty

And this is Majesty. The photo was given to me by Mary Sheehan Wynn, a good blogging friend. Gypsy Woman [my nickname for Mary] is about as horse-mad as I am. Hard to believe! She goes down each winter to Florida, to paint and teach. While there, Mary visited an animal rescue home, Kowiachobee Animal Preserve. A couple there loves animals, and are caring for a menagerie of mammals, reptiles and birds. Majesty had been abandoned by his owners, and left tied to a tree. He had dropped about 400 pounds when he was rescued. Now he is fattened up, safe and LOVED. Mary would like me to do a painting of Majesty. I'm THRILLED! What a handsome, noble and gentle face.
As for the "carpe diem", today I did my income tax, and mailed it [last minute as always], picked up some flax for Bruno at the feed store, visited a horsey friend nearby, picked up some watercolor paper at the art supply store, and rode BrunZ. I am trying to pack as much into my days off as possible!!!

Buddy's Home ... and ... What a Small World

There he is, up beside Birdie, whose portrait "The Laughing Labrador" I did seven years ago. And down below, the hockey game. [Duncan is a big fan; Pat and I just groan and shake our heads.]

I asked Pat and Duncan to pose by their painting. They are both so happy with the portrait.

The mad conductor, directing "The Rite of Spring".  At least, he looks like a conductor to me. He is coming along nicely - should be done soon.

I had an unexpected day off, as the dentist with the broken arm was told to take it easy; her arm has been quite painful. So I got some painting done, worked on ideas for the bridge painting, and went for a two hour hike in the woods with Pat and four dogs - her two, and the Boxer Girls. Yes, they are staying with me again this week. In crossing a narrow bridge by one of the water jumps on the trail, Shayna [the cute, scruffy one] got loose, and took off. I went off in pursuit, through bog and mud, and came home sloshing in my boots. Ah yes ... country life! We did manage to retrieve Miss Shayna, too.
I also picked up the painting today. And in conversation with the owner of the gallery, we discovered we are neighbors. She and her husband moved a few months ago to a property almost right across the street. We didn't know it till today. She admitted that she and her husband are quite quiet. Pat and I, in passing the house on one of our many walks, thought the home was deserted; there was never any activity. Now I know. Denise badly broke her arm riding two years ago, and has just started again, so there will be activity and horses there soon.

So Far, So Good ...

I've started on the goose. And for the background, I put in a wet, thin wash of aureolin, and then drizzled thin strips of a green mixture with vertical strokes to suggest grass.

This photo, and the ones below, are some references I'd like to use for the Vancouver scene. It's of the Burrard Street Bridge,  one of three bridges connecting Vancouver south with the downtown core. For me, the view of the water, the mountains and the old bridge give a strong sense of the city. I like the softening effect of the fog.

Slightly different angle, and I LOVE that old ship in front.

I'd like to get the colors of sunset in the painting.

Another angle. I like the feel this photo creates of looking up at the massiveness of the bridge.

Vancouver really is beautiful - over-developed, but beautiful.

I'M BACK ... for a bit

I didn't like where the last rendition of this was going, so, OF COURSE, I started again.

It's a narrower format, with a softer [hopefully]  positive/negative space effect of willow leaves.

I am here now. I'll probably bring a very thin yellow wash in front of goose, with drizzles of the leaf colors flowing vertically, in a wet-in-wet wash.

Bruno looks like a giant anteater here. He's actually reaching down with his choppers to scratch at some obnoxious insect. I even had an opportunity to ride the lad today. OH, I'M IN HEAVEN TODAY!!!!

I WILL be Back Painting SOON!!!

The office

The Bug and me, before a drastic and much-needed haircut

Shayna and Lucy

And the chins

They're so cute

Himself

Lucy at the paddock gate


One of the dentists with whom I work broke her arm, so I am doing more than twice the office time I usually do. And this week, the Boxer girls are here for a week.  So parts of my life are being a bit neglected, namely Bruno and painting. I miss them so very much I almost feel like I'm living in a gray, numbing haze. But this won't last too much longer. And I have some painting ideas percolating in my head, and the weather is improving for riding. So onwards and upwards, or as Crystal Cook says "HUZZH!!!"