A bit of painting fun

Ariel didn't find the yarn she was looking for but we did find some 'pouring' paints that were on discount. We decided to try our hands at pouring colors together over some plastic ornaments.

It wasn't as messy as we thought it would be and we just used an old plastic cup that we could wash the paint out of.

Ariel layered the first colors and did the pour.

She wasn't quite happy with the colors, so she added some more deep dark purple and a little bit of turquoise along with light purple.

We both loved this look which are a combination of her favorite colors.
 

Ariel did this mix also. I held the ornament on a butter knife horizontally, while she poured. I turned it as she poured and we got this. We experimented using regular acrylic paint with the pour paint and it rally worked out beautifully.

This was my attempt. I added red drops after the pour to get more 'red' on the ornament. I used regular acrylic paints as they are far cheaper than the pour ready ones. 

They actually dried a bit dull so I will have to add a gloss spray or paint  after they are fully dried.

 

Instead of using a ton of paint we decided to put the paint inside the ornaments and then shake it up and see what happened.

They turned out very different but also pretty and subtle. We used some yellow, pinks, and reds for a different type of look.

The paint usage was much much less as were the results.

The ornaments will probably sit for about 3 days to make sure they are all super dry before I finish them with a spray gloss or clear coat.

It was a nice quiet activity to do while we listened to Ariel's picks of music and had conversation.

She had made supper in the crock pot and we had turkey and gravy over stuffing. 

What a great day. 

Warning. This painting fun was very addictive and I could have gone on and on! I have some old glass ornaments that could use a face lift so I may try this pour method on one or two later.  

We'd also hit up Barnes and Noble to look at books. I found a Hiking Guide Book for Wisconsin that seemed pretty complete with directions and reviews of State Parks, and interesting hiking trails. 

Well

Hmmmm hmmm, hmmm. 

I've had an amazing week with so much taken care of! I checked off gobs of things I needed to have done here. I even built a paddock in an area for the mules in the winter to have another choice of hiding in the woods and brush. I may not let them be in there for deer gun season, but it will work out nicely if we have one of those easterly winds that come with bad ice/sleet events.

Here is a couple of leftover shots from the previous day's walk.

Friday night's sky made me feel calm and relaxed. It was stunning.

Saturday morning's drizzle ended and we had thick fog.

The neighbor's meadow developed fog that grew and changed and moved across the ground as well as rose through the trees in the valley.

Foggy mornings are amazing for Infrared Photography. So, I carried that camera with me also.

The Chrome Filter in IR turns leaves and any plant that have chlorophyll in them to a reddish hue depending on how much light they are absorbing and reflecting. The skies generally stay blue and the highlights can get very tricky.

However, a lot of trial and error can produce the results above. 

An acquaintance of mine via Flicker has lenses he uses to attach to his apple iPhone to take IR shots with it. It is a combination I think of a lens filter and perhaps an app? I don't know, but I know he prefers that over carrying his camera these days.

The things you can do these days with a cellphone camera!

Ariel came on Saturday morning and we are going to do some craft shopping. We watched some videos last night about acrylic paint pouring for Christmas Ornaments. We may try it, it sounds like a fun experiment to do. 

I like the abstract designs that pouring creates. Making a mess might be fun.

Michaels is having quite a sale on some items, so we will take the drive and do some girl shopping together along with a lunch date. Ariel is preparing supper so we'll have a nice evening doing fun stuff to celebrate her birthday.

A few things...

I got through another winterizing chore by having 608 Plumbing [and heating] come out and check out my LP wall heater and Mini Split. 

Dan the Heating Man came out and immediately gave his condolences. He and Rich had great discussions while Dan had worked on our wall unit a couple of years ago and when he came back to install the Mini Split. Dan is very kind and personable. 

He isn't just a heating dude. He is a concerned and empathetic tech.

Everything checked out with the LP heater and he found no leaks in the pipes or anywhere there shouldn't be.

It was worth the price [not much] for him to put my mind at ease for this winter's heat.

Olive texted me that she made some homemade chili and bread if I'd come and have lunch with her and her little boy Orson.  

I felt restless when I got home so Charlie and I went for a color --> leaf peeping walk in the neighbor's forest. I could see colors but getting to those trees was a challenge because of the logging.

This was the view from our land.

The overcast sky and slight drizzle made the colors seem more brilliant. We crossed the meadow and eventually made some headway into the logged area.

Some of the brilliant trees were impossible to get to or photograph because of all the downed stuff on the ground and hang ups of tree tops.

I did manage to get some nice shots. 

These three were in the rain.

I did get to see one of the brilliant red trees and the sun poked out briefly when I shot this one.

I eventually found the old trail which used to be absolutely stunning in the fall. I took a photo.

I can't wait to take a shot of this spot again in the winter with a fresh snowfall. It will be interesting to see how it changes. You can see through this forest now to another section of the hillside about a quarter mile away that hasn't been logged yet.

However, here is a shot from 2 years ago in approximately the same spot. The forest was so thick, you cannot see past the trail bend.

The forest regrowth could take up to 30 to 50 years to replace some of the trees. With the onslaught of invasive species of trees and weeds, it may never attain this beauty again. 

Careful and considerate logging would have provided a better result for the future of the forest. Anyway, that is my opinion.

It was still a beautiful walk and I think winter will bring more adventures as long as the loggers have moved on to the next section. 

To give you an idea of how large this section of land is, one of my walks that takes me in a large circle and back to my land is a 3 mile hike through two valleys.

My last note for this Friday.

Charlie and I went on another adventure to the Subaru Dealership. We had an issue and noise with my Outback which needed to be checked out.

When I turned in my keys with Charlie on leash at the service desk, the service people recognized Charlie and hollered out....

CHARLIE!!!!

then asked my name so they could look up my reason for being there.

I don't want to brag, but dang it, this little dog is SO personable that no one forgets him!

Charlie received a gift from the manager. It is called a Suba-Chew Dog Toy. Charlie was so smitten with it! 

it is supposed to look like an Outback, but Charlie quickly made it look 

like a horrid wreck had occurred.

There is a funny story about my visit to the dealership. The issue was taken care of which was covered under the warranty we'd purchased in 2018.

I'd hate to say it, but Subaru has treated me like royalty for the past 10 years that I've dealt with them.

Colors & Mojo

Fall is an amazing colorful time to be out and about if the weather is good. Through the fall, the sunrise decorates my eating area with unbelievable colors. I can't help but look at it in wonder.

Charlie and I took a drive to the Kickapoo Valley Reserve for a nice quiet afternoon walk. Note to self. Sunday afternoons are the busy times at the Reserve. 

However, there are enough trails that one can find a peaceful one to trek and not be bothered by others. On the main path, we encountered a lot of dog walkers, bicyclists, and a few horses. We kept to ourselves and found the trailhead to the Blackhawk Trail.

As expected, we didn't see anyone when we got on this trail.

Charlie got hot walking on the mowed path with no breeze, so I gave him a lift up and he enjoyed sniffing the air while I did the walking.

I really didn't pick the right time of day to go on this trail, but I felt the need to get out and get some fresh air after cleaning in the spare room most of the morning. I was making headway, but got stuck in a decision on how to pack things up or toss them out.

A hike would change my focus and then I could get back to the issue.

I've taken so many shots of this trail over the years I've hiked it, yet each time it seems new and refreshing to me. I didn't hike it hard as I had all the time I wanted. I could walk and pause when I saw something interesting.

With the winds we'd had a couple of weeks ago, so many trees have already lost their leaves. But deep in the forest I found a beautiful canopy of maples and other trees. The colors were just beginning to pop and glow.

Count me lucky. I found some glorious colors.

 

With the past two days being rainy and cold, I finished a purge and clean project. 

I identified the medals and ribbons on Rich's uniform and put the uniforms back in the bag so I can explain them to his grandchildren and even perhaps his daughter if she'd want to hear it. She might be impressed, though her father never talked about it.

I finished the table project and have given it a place of honor. Right away, I decided to use it for a fall Still Life.

I then couldn't help but set up another spot. This one is a planter, but I love the face on it. I use it mostly as a vase when I can.

This is the first time in ... a very long time that I've actually worked on something like Still Life or even Lego Photography. 

It felt good to goof off a bit. 

That table hosts my haunted mansion right at the moment. The Vampire Lady says, "Come on in, all are welcome!"

This is the first time in a long time that I've felt like having a bit of creative fun. I was afraid it had left me for good, but phew, there it is.

The old table - stand

I decided to work on Rich's old night stand that he'd had for years. It is a simple piece of furniture with nicks, scars, and chips on it. The top of the table is a nightmare of circles, scrapes, scratches, and water damage from his CPAP.

I find it actually quite charming and a good reminder of what we have gone through for so many years. The top will be preserved like this with scars, scrapes, scratches, nail holes and layers of dark old varnish finishes that had been used over the years. 

The water marks from the CPAP will remain as it gives the top a certain charm.

Gnarly. Just like my pet name for Rich.

Below is the table before I started work on it. It is a simple piece that he purchased at auction years ago. I rescued it from storage in the garage where it had gotten wet and muddy. I'd cleaned it up and offered to paint it then. Rich said no, it was just a crude piece of furniture he'd picked up and it wasn't worth the effort. He said it would serve his purpose as a CPAP holder.

I didn't want to toss this table with so much character and history. So I decided to paint it.

It will take more than a coat or two. But the top will stay the same with a coat of acrylic on it's surface to preserve the scars.

I can hear Rich telling me that it is not worth my time and effort and that I can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

But here it is. A fun little project to keep me busy. I'm not sure I like the feel of the chalk paint after it has dried, but I can deal with that in a top coat to seal it. I do like the soft pastel colors though.

The table will end up resting at the end of the new cabinets I built for storage. I'm using one of the cabinets for organizing my craft supplies. 

I have my eye on the next two paint projects to keep me busy through the next dark months when I may be stuck inside with poor weather.

I'll start work on the first chair pictured here soon and leave the other one until after Christmas when I use it as the Christmas Tree Chair.

In the mean time while paint was drying, Charlie and I took a nice hike. Life in the fast lane sure is exciting.

 

Myrick Park - LaCrosse

I haven't been back to Myrick Park in over 10 years. The last time I was there was probably 2010. So I decided to make the short trip from the Craft Store to the City Park.

One would not think of a marsh land park in a city as a place that would be popular. But Myrick Park is extremely popular for the students of the University of LaCrosse to take walks in and for members of the public to have picnics in.

On any day the park is busy with moms and kids, business folks having lunch, students and teachers taking a walk, or the general public bicycling on trails. 

The LaCrosse River Marsh offers so much in nature to see. Birds, plants, and wildlife. On my walk I saw Herons, Muskrats, Turtles, Frogs, Snakes, Squirrels, and Raccoons. I did get a shot of the Heron when I stopped to talk with a nature photographer. I didn't bring a long lens, but I did grab a shot of him/her.

The photographer, George, was relatively new to the area but was enjoying photographing the marsh's diverse wildlife. He had a HUUUMONGOUS Monster lens that needed a tripod to sturdy it. I thought about lens envy but that left my mind quickly. I didn't want to carry anything that cumbersome.

We chatted a while and then I continued on my walk. The only irritating part of the walk was those who had speedy E-bikes that were racing up and down the main trail. I felt like I had to watch for traffic.

I turned off the main paved trail to walk out to a viewpoint. I did not have a huge zoom lens, so I missed the turtles way out on logs and of course, the muskrat sitting on a stump.

I did however get a shot of a squirrel. I know, not exciting. But hey, it was wildlife.

It is interesting to note that the marsh has a gas pipeline and other utilities running through it. I don't think it really affected the beauty of the Marsh at all. I found the power lines to be a reminder that we were in the middle of a city.

Infrared Photo

 I'd brought my IR camera along as I knew there would be great elements for infrared. Sky, water, trees, foliage, and green pond scum.

I wanted to get to the floating docks to look out over the Marsh to the east where the bluffs rise above the Marsh towards Grand Dads Bluff [another must see in LaCrosse]. 

But I had to stop and admire this giant Cottonwood. It is one of the biggest trees I've ever seen.

There are several Memorial Benches in the area and a few that are arranged in a circle to look out between the willow trees to the west.

Below is an Infrared Image I took standing at the base of the tree looking upwards.

It was at this tree that I met a father and son on little E bikes that were more like little electric motorcycles. The kid nearly ran into me as he was very wobbly. The dad stopped and we talked about the tree. He had a milk crate on the back of his bike thing. He picked up his mini collie and put him in the crate before they took off again.

I decided to be polite and keep my opinion about his wobbly kid running into pedestrians. Basically, I think some of these E bikes are totally out of control. Too much speed for a bike - walking trail.

I made it to the floating docks and looked out over the Marsh to Highway 16 which I'd just taken to get to the Marsh. Far in the distance a train had stopped on the tracks. I could hear the traffic noise in the distance over the calm waters. When the train started up again, you could hear the couplings of each train car clack clack as they engaged.

The train with the bluffs behind it.

The other end of the trail loop was closed for repair works, so I backtracked the same way I'd come. I stopped once more to ask George if he found any more interesting wildlife. He told me what he had seen and we parted ways.

The following is copied from the Myrick Park website. I know I will be going back with my BIG lens to look for wildlife and migrating birds in the spring. I'll probably go back in the winter to admire the stark marsh landscape when it is frozen.

Myrick Park was one of the earliest known parks in the City of La Crosse. This large park is a place for both relaxation and play. It features the Kid’s Coulee play area, beautiful shelters, and lets you see nature up close if you choose to hike on the marsh trails. The La Crosse River Marsh borders Myrick Park and is an excellent example of a riparian (river) wetland. Marshes usually have a greater variety of plants and animals than do grasslands or forests, and are essential for drought and flood control. The Marsh is 1,077 acres and is included in the Mississippi River Floodplain. Trails through the Marsh are accessible from Myrick Park.