My blog has moved

You will be automatically redirected to the new address.

If that does not occur, please visit http://umberdove.com/blog;.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Being Out and Returning In

Being Out
I needed to get out the city today, to breath in the crisp air of autumn swirling down from the mountains and feel the fullness of my stride covering un-humanized land, rich with bear scat and elk prints and a plethora of woodpeckers flashing white rumps in the sun.
There is something about miles of land that causes all the little shutters in my chest to fly open and the wild wind whistles through like the rustle of aspens on the riverbanks.
I need that.  Truly I do.
* * *

I should mention I'm home!  The weekend was exactly what it needed to be: laughter until my cheeks ached, phenomenal dining, authentic sharing of heart, two women whom I'm honored to count as dear friends, one babe with a grin the size of Texas, and plenty of whiskey all around.
It's such an interesting life, such an interesting dichotomy:
True community deepens my heart, refocuses my purpose, brings me laughter and a sense of "I am not alone in this crazy thing called life."
Wild solitude broadens my heart, clears my head, brings me bliss and a sense of "I belong here with my feet on this earth."

I suppose I just want the best of both worlds.
I suppose that's not a bad thing to want.
* * *

It's a rambling sort of afternoon, easy and thoughtful.  I'm grateful.  I'm thirsty.  I'm in the middle of painting a gray fox and two quails.  I have piles of sketches littering the metal bench: necklaces, earrings, odonata wings abound, more than I'll be able to make this week.  I've been trying to grab a photo of the cheekiest squirrel who scrambles up and down the juniper, boldly spying in on me (BC keeps faux threatening to buy a pellet gun, I keep faux threatening to buy a squirrel feeder.  Either way, we've got money on Freyja catching one before the year runs out, little huntress that she is).

It's good out there people.  It's good in here too.

I'd love to hear what you're up to today!  

14 comments:

pencilfox said...

today: i'm living life with both feet plants firmly on this earth.
well, that, and attending book club this evening....

[LOVE that photo of the four of you....]

xo

pencilfox said...

DUH. maybe today i'm learning to proofread a bit closer....

PLANTED. not "plants"....

UmberDove said...

Foxy - no, no I think that was exactly it, with your feet-plants in that rich alaskan soil. :)

Allisunny S. said...

I miss you like whoa.

xoxox,
A

julianna avila said...

Got to spend the day with my big-soul mare so the best sort of day :-) And now I smell like a horse so that's kinda a bonus....

cbumpmax said...

Busy day helping youngsters stretch their academic muscles and am now listening to my children's laughter. It's a good place to be. :)

Jenni @ NotReallyAFarm said...

I never comment (well, hardly ever), but love reading what you're up to. Today I am mostly stomping feet impatiently while waiting for my new boots to arrive, paying someone to tame my wild hair, taking a long idling lunch with a friend, and running over the hills. A lovely day!

Pat in east TN said...

Yesterday we went hiking and sat by a beautiful, roaring waterfall. Just what my soul needed!

UmberDove said...

Sunny - like WHOA NELLIE!

Julianna - ah! I have the BEST kind of envy hearing that! Such. Love.

Cbump - I have no doubt those two will soon be dangerously sharp... ;)

Jenni - Well Hello! Every single piece of your day... could have been mine! I heartily approve! And thank you for sharing too! (p.s. what color boots?)

Pat - So perfect. Not far from where we were yesterday there is a row of waterfalls I think I had nearly forgotten about. Next time I'm out there, I think they may need to be the destination. Thanks for the reminder!!!!

Rosy Revolver said...

I poured over fresh books and played with a Monkey. Then and now, with gratitude for friends and a wistful glance towards the west.

UmberDove said...

Rosy - nothing like a breath of fresh air, new art books and a monkey! I miss you already!

creative quest said...

Wow, what you said about community and alone-ity... was simply perfectly put. I feel exactly my own version of that truth... ringing, ringing.
Thank you.
This was a lovely note of clarity to carry me from computer work (post yoga - yay) to studio work.
I'm excited to get my hands on silver today... There are good creations coming out of me....and you all too I'm sure.

prairiegirl said...

Me three. I need to see woodpeckers and antelope eyes. i'm jonesin' for moose and to look up into a pondierosa pine. And the air! That high mountain air! Once a week I'm ready for yet another trip.
I'm so glad you got away. First to see your sistas, then to commune with the tracks and rumps and sky.
WHOA I'm glad yer back! xo

UmberDove said...

Creative - It is a good truth to feel, to integrate. Now I hope those fingers were black and gritty with silver dust!!

Prairie - I need to send you a northern flicker feather so we can each wear one tucked behind an ear while traipsing through the wild hills.