Enid Petherick: Artist and Observer of the Wilds
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Ever optimistic (and inspired by a couple of warm days), we began to plant the garden yesterday. Last year's garden was deemed one of our most successful--despite invasions by packrat, mice, and deer. We had planted enough for all. Fortunately, "Chubby" the gopher was content with the vegetation outside the garden fence.
8 May
My grant application from Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance has been approved. Yippee...rejuvenation! ! Now to develop the paintings for "Here Comes The Sun"--a tribute to the late Beatle, George Harrison.
6 May
Wind. Cold. Snow. Hail. Will the warmer weather never come? the vegetation is still in winter mode. Development of the tiny new buds is in limbo waiting for warmth before bursting forth. Happily there are adventurous (or foolhardy?) critters out there. The first robin brightened our day in February--although we sympathized with the little bird, fluffed out and perched forlornly on a sheltered branch.
15 April
We are cheered by the animals' return. Easter weekend three mule deer announced their presence by parading across the lane. Two days ago we were entertained by the antics of a young white-tail. From a standing position it appeared to bounce vertically as if on springs. It was joined by three more and all four crossed the river. Yesterday a visitor spotted a tanager--a surprising flash of colour in the brown/green landscape. ...And our gopher--ever fat--has been watching us from it's favorite stump.
5 March
"Billy" goat lounges against a tree watching with interest (amusement…?), the antics of a dancing deer. She prances and contorts on two legs. Rumba? Twist? Just what would a deer look like dancing? Push the imagination here. Is she dancing for sheer joy or is she trying to attract attention? Only once have I been privileged to watch a mountain goat close-up. Late one fall a goat ambled off the ridge behind our house. The heavy wool of its winter coat fell low over its legs. In awe, I watched it walk elegantly along the lane. Gorgeous, beautiful. Now how to get some character from that animal into my painting? These musings run through my mind as I work on drawings and sketches leading up to a large diptych. Aah fun.
22 February
We received the most severe snowstorm of the year last night. The brown splotched landscape which had us all anticipating early spring is now a pure enchanting white. The starkness of dark trees and exposed angles of undergrowth and rock are softly buried under 30 cm of fresh snow. Large flakes have fallen thickly all day. By evening Ralph decides it would be prudent to shovel the snow from the woodshed roof. I go to the back deck to admire the pristine landscape before it gets disturbed and am surprised to see a line of seven snowmobiles parked in the upper lane, and Ralph just stepping from the roof to talk to the leader. From Alberta, curiosity has led the group to follow our laneway signs off the logging road. An invitation for coffee is turned down (the youngest - two years - has had a long day), but perhaps they will return in the summer. Sometimes we are not happy if snowmobiles wreck our ski trails, but today this visit is a gift. They have packed a track for us over several kilometres of heavy snow.
"The Kiss"
Enid Petherick
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