A Great Buffalo Hunt

In keeping with a post in January of this year,  I am enjoying making art this spring and all the nice activities that go with that.  Yesterday Cheryl and I along with a few friends attended a beautiful demo in Good Art Gallery here in Fredericksburg. We were offered coffee, bottled water or a glass of Champagne to sip as we sat over two hours watching Arizona artist Becky Joy paint a stunning sunset. This was a real treat to watch someone so talented and so generous in sharing her knowledge.  See some of her landscapes at beckyjoy.com 

Becky has a book for sale on her web site which I have ordered, and also a number of art hints and demos on YouTube. Her art work and workshop information are also on the website. As well as a fine artist she is a fine teacher. They do not always come together.

 

Today Cheryl and I were invited to photograph a small group of 10 Bison.  There are several herds of these iconic animals in our county, but most are just distant shapes in a pasture when you are trying to picture them.  We timed our arrival with their morning feeding of protein cakes and were quite near them! Their owner cautioned us not to put a hand through the fence near these huge animals.  A four week old calf was our main interest. 

The cows are larger than domestic cattle, and the bull is a force of nature!

Cheryl has painted buffalo many times from photos she has made in Yellowstone.  But to have a little calf near us to enjoy and picture was a rare treat.  

 Above, friends Nancy and Bill,  then the gentleman who owns the bison next to yours truly.

Cheryl and I took over a dozen shots of the baby.

 

 Below, Lecia Duke, owner of Chocolat in Fredericksburg, with Bill and Nancy.  These three arranged our wonderful morning.

 

With the extraordinary rain we have had, the country side is lush and green and blooming.  There were so many tempting things to stop and picture that we could not take it all in.  A few shots of some charming buildings on the way home finished our morning.   

 

 E.

 

 

 

 

Details from a Hill Country Collection

Fine New England Antiques  are appreciated by some of us deep in the heart of Texas just as they are by collectors in more traditional settings. A recent party afforded an opportunity to enjoy a beautiful collection as well as a visit with friends I have loved over the years. The few pictures I took give barely a glimpse of this light and spacious home filled with beautiful early Americana. Take a peek here and enjoy!

A cupboard filled with great early redware never hurts to show off!  The thyme in a little iron posnet is a sweet touch I want to copy for my own house.

 

 

An unusually nice early table with a great stance!

 

 

 

The drop front desk has a superb untouched surface as do most of the pieces in the house.

I loved the books in a box!

 

Natural material softens hard surfaces and adds a casual texture.

 

A bed made by Jack O'Neill blends with antiques.

 

The Breakfast table overlooks the deck shown in an earlier post above the pool.

Assembling lunch for twenty.

 

 

 

 

Note the fine little tape loom on the wall. Because the house is uncluttered the depth of the collection only gradually sinks in, as cupboard after cupboard holds such treasures.

Excellent use of high spaces all over the house adds interest in generous rooms. 

 

The thumb latch and knocker once graced the front door of my own dear cape.    edyth 

 

Sunday afternoon at Hondo's on Main St.

Fredericksburg is about many things.  Underneath is a descent community of patriotic Church going southerners in a remarkably pleasant mix.  For frosting we have wild flowers and wineries and music and art of all stripes. I was at Hondo's with my brother this afternoon for a pleasant hour and a half.  Always a happy bunch of people, toddlers to oldsters and many with dogs on leash.  Different ones get up to dance as they feel like it. The setting is a series of shady arbors and a bandstand.  It's all right to sing along some.

Music: Gospel with Melissa Weatherly and the Any Given Sunday Band
with a good sound.  The Austin Music scene influences Fredericksburg and vice versa.

  

 

Collecting money for the band

Dancing

 

I love my town.  e

Thanks to my brother Chale for these pictures!

 

Three days in the country to paint

Artist friends invited me to paint with them and we had gray rainy days so did not try to paint plein air.  Instead we painted inside their beautiful studio and I had a great time.  Three days, three small paintings for me.  With so many really outstanding art galleries and art events in town, it is daunting to put brush to canvas.

The bottom one of these three is from a Cape Ann photo taken in 2013. as are the following ones I have just finished here at home.

They are all on my breakfast table drying.   e