April Showers

Spring has had some false starts around here, coming in spurts between showers and colder weather. The few warmer, sunnier days got me out into the garden, planting vegetables, weeding and repotting worn out plants from the winter, but then the cooler days came slamming back causing me to huddle under blankets with a good book.

But, another trip to the coast, ala Pismo, Oceano, Avila, San Luis Obispo and Cambria finally convinced me that spring really is here.

I've never seen the hills so green and slathered in wild flowers.

And, the ocean views from atop Hwy 46 from Cambria were magnificent.

Of course, the ocean is always beautiful.

A few weeks ago, when blossoms opened on our ornamental cherry tree out front, I hounded Fred into taking me for a drive on the Blossom Trail, so starved was I for the colors of spring.

Even though the day was cloudy, I got a few nice shots of the San Joaquin Valley coming into bloom.

Since I've been blocked from writing fiction for quite a while now, I decided to swing my artistic tendencies back into painting, while still maintaining the photography, as amateurish as it is. (Nature is not easy to mess up, even in a bad photo taken while driving by at 65 mph, on a cloudy day, through a dirty windshield).

Inspired by the trips we’ve taken lately to the coast, I dusted off my old brushes and bought some new acrylic paints. I found a photo I’d taken in Tulum, Mexico a few years back and painted that.

Spring spurts of sun and warmth in between the darker, rainier days, remind me that there are always moments of beauty around us to celebrate and enter into.

Have a great spring.