Almost Home

Almost Home • 8" x 8" x 2" • oil on canvas

My sketchbooks are loaded with sketches like this painting. They just seem to flow out of my mind. I can't say where this red barn is and I'm not sure who this person is, or the horse. I do know that I painted it without a reference photo. My first horse was a gorgeous grey Arabian who I rode through hills like these. This also looks like the hills I was riding through the last couple of years. I do know that my daughter and I both ride gray horses right now. I do know that my whole life I've had dreams of a red house on a hill. I would love to own a horse again. I am halfway there; I feel so fortunate to be able to lease 2 gorgeous grey horses who are completely different. An amazing giant warmblood hunter in the wine country and an adorable quarter horse in the headlands near the beach.

Today we had an earthquake. It was only a 4.2, but, my little dog knew it was coming and was hiding. The sea lions have disappeared again they believe it is because they can feel the earthquake coming. These animals are so in tune with nature. They really can predict earthquakes with a sense humans seem to be missing. I was up on the mountain with some friends and we couldn't feel the quake but all of our phones rang at the same time with calls from our family members who felt the shaking.

It was foggy and cold all day today; the sun never came out. Cold here is around 50 degrees. I am definitely a warm weather girl. My nose, fingers and toes were numb all day. I went on a mountain hike and all you could see was the golden grass, bushes, trees and rocks that were right in front of you. My friends and followed the trail out to the wrong street and walked home through the neighborhoods.

Today was my nephews first birthday. The time flies so fast. I couldn't get down to the south bay for his party but I got a fun video of it on email and he clearly had a great and happy time surrounded with loving friends and family. Happy Birthday Evan!