Land-Snorkeling, and new painting

Happy week-end to you all!

First I want to tell you I finished my first painting since arriving in Pennsylvania and it is posted on my painting blog. You can view it by clicking on my little painter girl on the side-bar.

Also I bet you are wondering what land-snorkeling is. Well, it is going out checking for neat places to set up and paint, or to take photos so you can paint later in the studio. I feel like I struck it rich the other day when I was out to the Erie NWR just a few miles west of where I live. I came across some awesome scenes!

This is an area for wood duck nesting as well as other birds. It is a swampy area between the road and those trees in the back.

Just a neat little part of the reserve I found as I was driving in. Some of the lily pads looked like they were going to begin to flower (if thats what you call what they do)

Here is a part of the larger wetlands area. There are 2 Canadian geese swimming away from me.

Another shot of the expanse of the wetlands reserve.

A while later this single goose was gonking and coming closer. One on the other side of the road was answering. Soon I got to see him lift off and was fortunate to capture this with my camera.

I took a break and took Izzy for a short walk on the hiking trail and when we returned these 2 geese families were coming up to and on the bank. I just love seeing the baby goslings!

We left that area and headed away but wandered down this other side road. I was rewarded for my efforts, as here I found a painting gold-mine, so the speak. I am not posting the actual pictures of the area as I will be going back there soon, weather cooperating, to paint there and I want it to be a surprise. I absolutely fell in love with this area!

We spent about 3 hrs there at the reserve, and when leaving took another back road home. Again It was a very rewarding trip as I came across these beautiful PA country scenes.

Holstein cows peacefully grazing.....

......living at this beautiful farm.

And last but not least the 2 big, strong, gorgeous draft horses.

It was an awesome day. See? I AM at a work camp.......

camping in the country and working on paintings!