Enid Petherick - Notes from the Woods

December 8, 2004

Red...R-e-d...RED. My favorite colour--that which most stimulates, energizes,and unblocks inhibitions. Tones, tints and shades. Pure red, uninhibited, bold, aggressive. Red with yellow, boisterous, exuberant orange. Red with a dab of blue for lush and passionate purples. Red with a touch of white for the tenderness and femininity of pinks. Red with it's complement green for the most vibrant and living blacks. These thoughts run through my mind as I work on the painting before me, ' Red Embrace' in - what else? -variations of red.

And, oh yes, Santa Claus red, ho ho ho red, ebulient and cheerful.

Wishing you Seasons Greetings and the best New Year yet.

November 15, 2004

The root cellar is full--carrots, beets, parsnip, turnip, cabbage and a bumper crop of potatoes, both white and purple. A friend gave us some purple seed potatoes. A novelty because they are purple throughout and remain purple when cooked. I love the colour on the plate when they are served with green, yellow, orange, and red vegetables. It was a good year for legumes as well. Lots of fresh beans and peas in season and several jars of dried peas for winter. This was the first year scarlet runner beans produced, growing long rounded pods. I am curious to see if seed saved will germinate next year.

Stimulated by success, we prepared a new raised bed ready for strawberry plants next spring. Ralph took part of the fence down to facilitate bringing in wheelbarrows of mulch.

Two days after removing the fence, we watched three deer feeding on the remains of swiss chard and cabbage. Later we watched two of this year's fawns cavorting on the flats below the house. Every year the deer disappear at the beginning of hunting season and we anxiously await their return at its end. Now, hunting season over they are back.

Who says animals are not smart?

October 4th, 2004

The bald eagles are flying low over the river and perching in the treetops to watch the spawning kokanee below. Yearly the eagles have increased proportionate to the salmon. We can even pick out their favorite observation trees by the bent leader at the tip! Watching a bird lift from the water it stations itself to have lunch on a piece of driftwood and I can only imagine the fish speared in it's claws. To date I have not seen the actual catch and look forward to this in future.

One day an eagle left the river and --SURPRISE--landed in a tree near the house. Dipping it's head, it's strong beak worked and a large chunk of food disappeared. The action was repeated until, lunch finished, the eagle left to again soar over the river. A few days later another eagle settled in a fir within good view. This time the binoculars were handy. I was able to minutely study the magnificent bird. Wind ruffled a few of the feathers and they gleamed in sunshine, as meal finished , it perched and preened and surveyed it's world.

…A truly marvelous sight....and world. Sometimes it takes an eagle to remind us how privileged and blessed we are.

September 15th, 2004

Taking advantage of a beautiful sunny day, I settled myself sketch book in hand, under a birch tree in the garden. Dappled light filtering through half autumn leaves was mesmerizing. I became slowly aware of a bird flying from fence post to fence post, to finally settle atop a post on the opposite side of the garden. It began a series of rapid calls repeated over and over. I squinted to make out it's markings. It flew and landed closer! Large robin sized with warm brown colouring, it took an aggressive stance positioning it's feet wide apart and with chest pushed out, seemed to double in size. Body motionless but head swivelling and tilting to view all directions, it showed off the handsome dark and white bands around it's eyes and along the sides of it's head. The screeching increased as it turned in my direction. Now I realized I was the cause of it's distress and the reason for the commotion. No doubt about it. The bird left it's perch and began flying sweeps, each time coming closer to my head! My curiosity was piqued. I left, to seek information from our trusty Bird Book. (Does one admit retreat from such a tiny creature?)

Ah ha! The pieces of a puzzle fell into place. My bold and determined 'antagonist' was identifiable as a kestrel or sparrow hawk. All summer we had enjoyed a mouse free garden. No chewed plants or vegetables. The kestrel was one of the predators providing this service. I had been interfering on it's hunting ground and interrupting it's natural hunting process. I felt guilty. This was no way to reward a friend. I hope my ignorance has not discouraged this fiery little bird and wish it a speedy return and continued good hunting.



Notes from the Woods	Post a Message in my Readers' Forum!
Enid Petherick Artist and Observer of the Wilds
December 8, 2004 Red...R-e-d...RED. My favorite colour--that which most stimulates, energizes,and unblocks inhibitions. Tones, tints and shades. Pure red, uninhibited, bold, aggressive. Red with yellow, boisterous, exuberant orange. Red with a dab of blue for lush and passionate purples. Red with a touch of white for the tenderness and femininity of pinks. Red with it's complement green for the most vibrant and living blacks. These thoughts run through my mind as I work on the painting before me, ' Red Embrace' in - what else? -variations of red. And, oh yes, Santa Claus red, ho ho ho red, ebulient and cheerful. Wishing you Seasons Greetings and the best New Year yet. November 15, 2004 The root cellar is full--carrots, beets, parsnip, turnip, cabbage and a bumper crop of potatoes, both white and purple. A friend gave us some purple seed potatoes. A novelty because they are purple throughout and remain purple when cooked. I love the colour on the plate when they are served with green, yellow, orange, and red vegetables. It was a good year for legumes as well. Lots of fresh beans and peas in season and several jars of dried peas for winter. This was the first year scarlet runner beans produced, growing long rounded pods. I am curious to see if seed saved will germinate next year. Stimulated by success, we prepared a new raised bed ready for strawberry plants next spring. Ralph took part of the fence down to facilitate bringing in wheelbarrows of mulch. Two days after removing the fence, we watched three deer feeding on the remains of swiss chard and cabbage. Later we watched two of this year's fawns cavorting on the flats below the house. Every year the deer disappear at the beginning of hunting season and we anxiously await their return at its end. Now, hunting season over they are back. Who says animals are not smart? October 4th, 2004 The bald eagles are flying low over the river and perching in the treetops to watch the spawning kokanee below. Yearly the eagles have increased proportionate to the salmon. We can even pick out their favorite observation trees by the bent leader at the tip! Watching a bird lift from the water it stations itself to have lunch on a piece of driftwood and I can only imagine the fish speared in it's claws. To date I have not seen the actual catch and look forward to this in future. One day an eagle left the river and --SURPRISE--landed in a tree near the house. Dipping it's head, it's strong beak worked and a large chunk of food disappeared. The action was repeated until, lunch finished, the eagle left to again soar over the river. A few days later another eagle settled in a fir within good view. This time the binoculars were handy. I was able to minutely study the magnificent bird. Wind ruffled a few of the feathers and they gleamed in sunshine, as meal finished , it perched and preened and surveyed it's world. …A truly marvelous sight....and world. Sometimes it takes an eagle to remind us how privileged and blessed we are. September 15th, 2004 Taking advantage of a beautiful sunny day, I settled myself sketch book in hand, under a birch tree in the garden. Dappled light filtering through half autumn leaves was mesmerizing. I became slowly aware of a bird flying from fence post to fence post, to finally settle atop a post on the opposite side of the garden. It began a series of rapid calls repeated over and over. I squinted to make out it's markings. It flew and landed closer! Large robin sized with warm brown colouring, it took an aggressive stance positioning it's feet wide apart and with chest pushed out, seemed to double in size. Body motionless but head swivelling and tilting to view all directions, it showed off the handsome dark and white bands around it's eyes and along the sides of it's head. The screeching increased as it turned in my direction. Now I realized I was the cause of it's distress and the reason for the commotion. No doubt about it. The bird left it's perch and began flying sweeps, each time coming closer to my head! My curiosity was piqued. I left, to seek information from our trusty Bird Book. (Does one admit retreat from such a tiny creature?) Ah ha! The pieces of a puzzle fell into place. My bold and determined 'antagonist' was identifiable as a kestrel or sparrow hawk. All summer we had enjoyed a mouse free garden. No chewed plants or vegetables. The kestrel was one of the predators providing this service. I had been interfering on it's hunting ground and interrupting it's natural hunting process. I felt guilty. This was no way to reward a friend. I hope my ignorance has not discouraged this fiery little bird and wish it a speedy return and continued good hunting.
		Click here to visit Enid's gallery

		"This Land is Your Land" (detail)
Top
Previous "Notes from the Woods" Go to Columns Index Return to "What's Inside?" .