The View From The Hayfield

This one of for Aunt Jean.

Pictures of home in the spring.

The baby calves are bawling

and the mama cows are highly suspicious of me

because I am walking instead of driving the cake pickup.

The meadowlarks and robins are singing

and the creek is even running with a little waterfall.

It's been dry the past two springs.

It really is the perfect time for "birding".

There are no leaves, so they are easy to find.

No bugs and no tall weeds to navigate.

No ticks yet either.

Just look at who was keeping an eye on me

as I walked the fence line of the hay field.

Not just suspicious mama cows.

Little Adventures on the Prairie

The pasque flowers must be blooming in the Black Hills.

I'm seeing photos of them on facebook.

So they are probably blooming on the north side of Mom & Dad's hill.

I've never seen them on the prairie,

but then, I've never looked before.

The pasque flower is South Dakota's state flower.

I have memories of home picking fists full on that north slope.

Erin and I went out hunting on the prairie.

We didn't find any pasque flowers but this is what we did find.

One hour on the prairie.

Horned larks.

Canada Geese.

Last year's grass and weeds and wildflowers.

Erin whined most of the drive.

That she was bored and hungry and tired.

But then we got out of the car.

And she discovered a great place

for

adventure.

The exploring began.

Little treasures in the ground.

Trails for the taking.

Geese and ducks and red-winged blackbirds to spy on.

Coyote tracks?

Or has one of the dogs been here?

A deep breath, before saying,

"Mom, I've never seen geese so close!"

Roots.

Discovering a wonderful place

for hide-and-seek.

"Mom, you count.  I'll hide."

Popping out of the cliffs

like a little prairie dog.

And thinking she is quite

sneaky . . .

My whiner did not want to go home.

In fact, she decided,

"This is a great place for an Easter egg hunt."

"I'm so creative.  I thought of that idea all by myself."

No pasque flowers.

But loads of fun.

Reminding myself not to miss the treasure that is there

when what you hope to find is not there.

One hour of abundance.

"I had a great time with you, Mom."

"Me too, Erin.  That was fun."

*

All photos copyright 2012 Jodene (Jodi) Shaw.

Bird Art ~ Memorial to Grandma Marj

I have 3 events coming up in which to take my art!

{Yeah!  So excited . . . some of my first bigger public events}

So, lot's of work to do

"in the studio"

{kitchen}

{Check out my studio friends here:  Studio JRU}

*

In my art journal, I had an idea to do a bird series

in memory of my Grandma Marj.

I get my boards, bird photos, and quotes.

Looking for items to collage with . . .

Last summer my Aunt Janet had sent a package

from Alaska

of a wall hanging sewing project that

my Grandma Marj had started but never finished.

I admit that when I got it, I had no idea what I would do with it.

Until last night.

Grandma had cut these pieces of fabric.

The colors are distinctly her colors.

Golden yellow, avocado, russet.

Her favorite bird book

was always a

Roger Tory Peterson.

I found these amazing quotes of his.

"Birds are eloquent expressions of life and vitality

and watching them makes you a bit

more alive."

"If you get bored with birds,

you get bored with life."

"The birds are HIS heavenly messengers,

not unlike the angels

which are always pictured

with

feathered wings."



I will not be able to part with these pieces.

Won't be finding them on my new Etsy site

{opened this week}

{happy dance!}

Thanks for all of the support!

So many have encouraged me with words,

with giving new homes to my work,

writing notes.

Really, it is fulfilling to do art for myself

but there is something full circle

about another heart finding delight in it.

There is a communication with that person that feels

special,

even

intimate

~

because

what

I

create

comes

out of

my

heart.

*

Jodene (Jodi) Shaw

copyright 2011.

South Dakota Summer: Hiking G. Coolidge Walk-In Fishing Area

Custer State Park 2010

Savoring our state of South Dakota

The Black Hills

This last week,

we hiked some trails that we never had before.

Tommy loves fishing.

In fact, he is never done fishing. 

So the Grace Coolidge Walk-In Fishing Area hike

was perfect for him.

Especially when he hooked a beautiful rainbow trout.

Erin was "hooked" too,

when her pink salmon eggs helped her reel in a chub.

Sydney and Erin were happy to wade in the creek crossings.

I was content to photograph reflections in the six pools on the trail

along with my favorite subjects:

my family.

And a few of my other favorite things:

birds, wildflowers & butterflies.

Sydney said it was a "butterfly festival"!

We saw so many, I had to buy a new butterfly book.

So that we could identify the unique ones we saw.

I am "all about" the name, the identity, the unique characteristics . . .

in a bird, a butterfly, a flower

 . . . a person.

This gray and black ragged-edged little one,

unfolded like a paper snowflake . . .

to reveal vibrant orange and ornate-edged wings.

Fun times with the people I love!

all copyright 2010 Jodene (Jodi) Shaw.