The year has started off bright and sunny, but cold cold cold. 

My 2009 started off early holding my horse for the farrier at 8:30 am. Best part of the cold was that the mud was frozen. The worst part was that my toes froze!  Mid-afternoon it was warm enough to venture out to ride. Dakota was a good girl in spite of the fact we haven’t worked much since the days got short (may the economy pick up so I can add a light near the arena).

My husband has been at the recording studio, working on final tracks and mixing for a new Cagle & Nash CD. My son, the drummer, went to Athens (GA) for New Years Eve. So I spent the rest of my New Years Day working on some neglected art projects…and I hope to add new pages with some paintings and photography soon.

May everyone have a….

from Stanley the Cat

These are the last of the fall tree color pictures of this season. 

Crepe Myrtle late afternoon.

The next one depends on the gold of my dappled buckskin mare for color.

Gold horse, green tree, dark shadows.

Nandina

Crepe Myrtle

All the leaves are on the ground now…but the big Maple in my front yard was brilliant this year! Here are some photos of them and of the new necklaces they inspired.

Yellow maple branch

Maple Leaf Pendant

Yellow Maple and Blue Sky

Double Leaf Pendant

Some years ago I spent my lunch break at my day job sitting in my car — eating crackers and yogurt — and sketching in a small bound book. It was this time of year and the oaks were blazing red. All I had was a black pen. The notation next to the sketch reads “Oh, glorious pagan oak, nodding his flame red crown to God.” 

This year I recorded the oaks (and maples, and elms, and crepe myrtles, and…) with my camera. And then followed up with some jewelry designs.

One of the chestnut oaks in my front yard.

Oak inspired pendant and earring set.

Early morning trees at the edge of the front pasture.

Polymer jewelry in progress in the studio.