http://gildedspruce.com/fieldnotes Fieldnotes of artist Anne Johnston, with insights on landscapes. Sat, 25 Apr 2009 07:53:29 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en [caption id="attachment_64" align="alignleft" width="203" caption="The former railway now is a walking trail through gorgeous forests and past marshes"][/caption]It's a challenge. The pastel paintings need to be carefully matted and framed, and prepared for driving to Gallery 78 in Fredericton on Saturday. Beforehand, all are carefully photographed at high resolution - ... http://gildedspruce.com/fieldnotes/?p=63  For the last few days a young robin has been taking a bath in my bird bath. This morning I decided to take a picture, however, as soon as I appeared at the edge of the lawn it flew off. Then I spotted this white flower spider on my white ... http://gildedspruce.com/fieldnotes/?p=31 Spring garden flowers are starting to bloom, early tulips and daffodils have been blooming for about a week, with new ones every day. In the wild, the coltsfoot has bloomed and is starting to leave-out now, and the trout lilies are in full bloom. Masses of them by the stream. <>I ... http://gildedspruce.com/fieldnotes/?p=29 <> We've had a lot of birds at the feeder since the storm, more I think than  all winter! This fox sparrow arrived this morning, along with a robin , many goldfinches ( the males are quite yellow now), juncos and a crow. http://gildedspruce.com/fieldnotes/?p=28 Throughout the winter a mourning dove has occasionally been at the feeder. Suddenly last week there were three, and they are there every day. http://gildedspruce.com/fieldnotes/?p=26 Friday we had a nasty snow storm. Each evening after dark I look out to see if any animals are under the bird feeder cleaning up the fallout. Friday there were three little skunks. I believe they were last years kits, possibly born under our garden shed. They've been back ... http://gildedspruce.com/fieldnotes/?p=23 They appeared like magic. Last evening I looked out the window and there was a deer in the gap below the house, then another and another. As they started to move into the field more appeared. I think there must have been 5 or 6. http://gildedspruce.com/fieldnotes/?p=20 March 25. I saw the first robin of the spring this morning. There were 4, seemed quite at-home in the field. I put out a special blend of robin food--which includes berries. http://gildedspruce.com/fieldnotes/?p=18 Blue is the predominant color of my forest in a snowy winter; this will all change in spring to green. Both are favorite colors for me to paint. http://gildedspruce.com/fieldnotes/?p=17 We tapped the maples over 2 weeks ago , and finally the sap is coming in quantity. We freeze the pails of raw sap, then boil down the concentrated sugary liquid in the middle while discarding the frozen portions. I think it is going to be a poor yeild ... http://gildedspruce.com/fieldnotes/?p=14