SMALL TREASURES

Life has been a bit busy while developing online courses this summer but I always get myself out into the woods several times a week to refresh and recharge.  (See one of my favorite comics below).  Yesterday I took my faithful four legged friend with me to Borderland State Park in Easton, MA for a lovely romp down the trails.   Along the way I spotted some moss that had been uprooted and remembered a great large flat boulder further along the trail.  I tethered my companion and foraged for finishing touches. He's quite used to my nature art stops and patiently waits for me to finish.

BORDERLAND STATE PARK, NORTH EASTON, MA - WEST END TRAIL

I had only three feathers.  A beetle, since passed volunteered his spirit to be included.  The mandala is little and beautiful, a small treasure of treasures.

Many acorns are on the ground.  I am keeping an eye out for hickory and beechnuts.  The red and black wild raspberries are a plenty.  ENJOY!

I will be writing about a bit of exciting news a little later in the month.  A large mandala installation is in the works.  Plan on visiting it if you are in the Easton area.  In fact maybe you want to help me forage. :)


For now I leave you with this picture.  I will translate it for you.

What are you doing?

I am using my tablet.

What model is it?

It is called the sky.

Does it have good applications?

Oh yes!  It has the sun, the moon, clouds and stars...

How long does the battery last?

 A long time.  I never have to recharge it.  It recharges me.

.

CROP CIRCLES AND STAYING DRY

When it isn't possible to create in the woods due to darkness, weather or location there is always pencil, pens, ruler and paper.  The Sunday after camping I chose to stay inside in a dry spot, listen to instrumental music and draw.  I thought I would share.  I do believe this mandala will become my new logo.   I used a black sharpie on watercolor paper.  It will be interesting to see it after applying water color pencil.  Stay tuned.....

8.5" x 8.5"  WATERCOLOR PAPER AND SHARPIE INK

And here is an asymmetrical mandala that I did during our pouring rain night while staying dry in the tent.  People say it looks like crop circles.  Maybe....

Sketch paper and sharpie ink.  I usually fill in with colored permanent marker but I am letting it sit for awhile to percolate.

So whether you can get to nature and use her paint box of colors and textures or not you can always create from your heart.  It is an amazing meditation.  If your mind begins to wander you know it and are brought back to the mandala and it's symmetry. Yes, symmetry even in the asymmetrical "crop circle" drawings.  It is all sacred geometry.

Draw some mandalas.  It is wonderfully relaxing.  I highly suggest you get some supplies and begin yesterday.

TEMPORARY LANDSCAPING

Summer is moving forward quickly.  Linda and I had the opportunity to book an amazing campsite at Harold Parker State Park in Andover for two weeknights.  I made sure to choose a campsite that I had seen during a drive-thru tour of the Lorraine Camping area.  It was rather large, flat with few roots and located by the drop off to the water.  The first night was clear.  We had the rain-fly off so that we could sleep protected from the mosquitoes and still see the sky.  After midnight and all the way until dawn it was so quiet.  HEAVEN.  The following day was clear and left time to sit, read, walk, recline in the hammock, listen to the sounds of nature and of course make mandalas.

HAROLD PARKER STATE PARK (LORRAINE CAMPING), ANDOVER, MA

AFTER AN ENTIRE NIGHT OF HEAVY RAIN THE MUSHROOM BURST

The theme of the day was "Honoring the Wild Mushroom." of which there were plenty in the immediate area.  I chose a big red one and built around it.  Linda chose a teeny tiny orange clump and built smaller scale.  I truly wish we had more clear days there to do more but the clouds and rain moved in.  Thank goodness for the BIG tent.  It is like having a portable cabin.  We were safe and sound and dry all through the rainy night.  Before packing up and moving out I checked the condition of our temporary landscaping and the mushroom mandalas looked only gently disturbed.

LINDA'S TINY MUSHROOMS SURROUNDED BY ACORN TOPS, PINE CONES, MOSS AND LICHEN.  FANCIFUL AND FAIRY WORTHY.

THE FAMOUS BIG TENT FACING THE LAKE WITH TEMPORARY LANDSCAPE ART

Loraine Camping closes for the season after the first week of September.  Sniff.  I love that spot.  Next year I will reserve early and get a nice long weekend or maybe a whole week playing and sleeping in the woods.

Nature is out there and she is waiting for you.  Go visit.  Take your inner child, your kids and TAKE YOUR TIME.


Saluti
Patt


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