Seth and I returned home last night after a few days away to find our town has nearly turned completely black and white.  All of our neighbors were building great piles of leaves and that Fall smell of burning leaves filled our car as we pulled into our drive.  This time of year always makes me so thankful!  Thankful for where we live, for the life we have, for the colors and the baby squirrels emerging from their summer nests.  You should see these baby squirrels I spotted on my morning walk.  They were about the size of my hand with long velvety white tails.  I went back for a picture, but instead got the warning look of a very protective parent. Next time, perhaps.  :)

And now, as I sit in my studio and listen to the thunder clapping and the rain pounding I am thankful for work.  It's the kind of work I miss when I'm away.  The kind of work that is always on my mind.  I am so grateful to be in my own home with a line-up of customers.  It is the best life.

So thank you to all of the wonderful people who believe in what I do and allow me to paint all day long!  You are truly the best and most loyal customers.  I am thankful for you!

long walks

In spite of everything going on in my life at the moment, I've been taking nice long walks around this small town several times a day.  The trees are brilliant in their fall displays and are dropping their gold and plum colored leaves before me as I crunch my way down the rain-soaked sidewalks.  The neighborhood squirrels and and black and white cats greet me as I stroll by, barely noticing me in their nut cracking frenzy and lazy strolls through late blooming gardens.  This is what my life has come to- talking to squirrels and cats, pointing my camera up into my neighbor's tree to get a better view of their black capped chickadees.

I'm not crazy, I tell myself.  Just a little lonely from time to time.  It's to be expected, right?  All of my time has been spent quietly pushing paint across large and intimidating canvases, thinking of my husband far away, texting my little sister and best friend in excess.

But he's home now and sick to boot!  A sick Seth is certainly better than no Seth at all.  And before I know it next week will be here and all of the big-scary-intimidating things I've been anxious about for months will be over (namely quitting my day job, starting my own business, hanging my gallery show, giving my artist talk on opening night to room full of people).

Then, the fun begins!  Three months of painting houses and portraits and sitting outside on my porch swing and drinking lots of apple cider and reading books and dates with Seth and visiting family and friends.  I'm so excited!

What is it like where you are?  Are the trees all changing?  What are your plans for Fall?