Searching for fire agates high up on Saddle Mountain

Things you see rockhounding - Nothing, Arizona

I hit the ground running in 2021, feeling like I was on a roll with my painting. I’ve really been enjoying bringing animal-related puns to life, inspired by the critters and quirky things I see on walks around the neighborhood with my Lola dog. My first piece of the year, Flighty but Mighty, featured a guineafowl and a western diamondback rattlesnake. I’ve never seen a rattlesnake near my current home, but guineafowl do indeed live in the nearby “poultry neighborhood.”

The beautiful, speedy, and slightly weird guineafowl are actually native to Africa. Reading about them, I learned that they are very good at deterring snakes, usually by making intimidating noises. Sometimes they have been known to attack and even kill these slithery serpents. My painting is meant to convey more than a whimsical match between a wacky bird and a well-known venomous villain, though. It is a display of the unpredictability of nature, and the many ways we are stronger than we may believe that we are… sentiments that most of us likely learned in 2020 (p.s. - happy new year!).

Chickens seem to be some of the punniest creatures and I just kept cranking out poultry pieces, including several of my 2x3” miniature paintings. Almost all have found their forever homes, but as of this blog post, I still have three minis that you could call your own - visit my shop to purchase.

In mid-January, I had a house guest for a few days. I stepped into my living room and my eye was drawn through the window to my front yard where a fuzzy friend was making itself at home. I hopped out the front door to find a large domestic rabbit who was more than happy to meet me. Sure that someone nearby would be looking for this creature since it was very well acclimated to humans, I scooped him up and into the safety of my backyard.

Unfortunately, after much searching, it became apparent that Bunnypants (as I named him) had either been abandoned, strayed very far from home, or his owners weren’t looking all that hard. I was tempted to keep the sweet, fluffy bundle of joy, but my doggie Lola couldn’t seem to think of him as friend rather than food or foe. I’m very grateful to the Arizona Humane Society, who came to my rescue after Bunnypants’ five-day stay at my makeshift Bunny B&B and assured me that they would find him a good home.

Inspired by our happenstance friendship, I created the painting Some Bunny to Love. In addition to the likeness of Bunnypants, the painting features a bunny-ears prickly pear cactus in the background, including a few heart-shaped prickly pear pads that they often tend to grow in real life and one lonely but lovely cactus blossom.

I had the opportunity to show my artwork at Mood Room in Phoenix, and my painting Network will be on display at their Park Central locale through February 6. I am very grateful for the extra effort that Artlink is putting into promoting artists during this difficult time.

On a final art-related note, I have some incredibly exciting news! My painting Midcentury Magnate was selected by the Phoenix Airport Museum to hang in a juried exhibition of works by Arizona Watercolor Association artists. They received 165 entries for this show, and accepted just 26. I am truly so honored to have been chosen for this opportunity. The show will be on display at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Terminal 4, Level 3 from February 26, 2021, through September 24, 2021.

Overall the January weather was lovely and in the 60’s - 70’s, with some much-needed rain, some dramatic clouds, and even two episodes of hail, and weekends were spent on varied rockhounding adventures. We explored defunct mining areas near Wickenburg and Superior, continued our search for the largest Apache tear on record, sought out sparkly fire agates, and definitely scored a few cool finds!

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Flighty but Mighty 10x14”, Gouache on 140 lb. Arches Hot Press Watercolor Paper For sale as of this blog post - visit my online shop to purchase. — *Flighty but Mighty*
10x14”, Gouache on 140 lb. Arches Hot Press Watercolor Paper
For sale as of this blog post - visit my online shop to purchase.

Mediterrane-Hen 3x2”, Gouache on Paper SOLD. — *Mediterrane-Hen*
3x2”, Gouache on Paper
SOLD.

Egg-Spresso 3x2”, Gouache on Paper SOLD. — *Egg-Spresso*
3x2”, Gouache on Paper
SOLD.

Hot Chicken 3x2”, Gouache on Paper For sale as of this blog post - visit my online shop to purchase. — *Hot Chicken*
3x2”, Gouache on Paper
For sale as of this blog post - visit my online shop to purchase.

Beach Comb-er 3x2”, Gouache on Paper SOLD. — *Beach Comb-er*
3x2”, Gouache on Paper
SOLD.

Free Range O-Ranges 3x2”, Gouache on Paper For sale as of this blog post - visit my online shop to purchase. — *Free Range O-Ranges*
3x2”, Gouache on Paper
For sale as of this blog post - visit my online shop to purchase.

Egg Plant 3x2”, Gouache on Paper For sale as of this blog post - visit my online shop to purchase. — *Egg Plant*
3x2”, Gouache on Paper
For sale as of this blog post - visit my online shop to purchase.

Meditate-Hen 5x7”, Gouache and Watercolor on 140 lb. Arches Hot Press Watercolor Paper For sale as of this blog post - visit my online shop to purchase. — Meditate-Hen
5x7”, Gouache and Watercolor on 140 lb. Arches Hot Press Watercolor Paper
For sale as of this blog post - visit my online shop to purchase.

Some Bunny to Love 10x8”, Gouache and Watercolor on 140 lb. Arches Hot Press Watercolor Paper For sale as of this blog post - visit my online shop to purchase. — *Some Bunny to Love*
10x8”, Gouache and Watercolor on 140 lb. Arches Hot Press Watercolor Paper
For sale as of this blog post - visit my online shop to purchase.

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Following a lovely sunny last Sunday in January day at Encinitas' Cardiff State Beach, I wound my way through the hills to Fallbrook, California, the place I would call "home" for the next two weeks. In more ways than one, my Airbnb at Equinox Farms was sure to be a different experience than my previous temporary residences.

First of all, I would be staying in a camper. Although I did a fair amount of tent camping as a kid, I haven't camped at all in years, and had never actually slept in a camper. When looking at Southern California Airbnb options, this was certainly one of the most reasonable arrangements, so I decided to see how I fared in one for a couple of weeks.

Roosevelt the alpaca gives me the stare-down

More interesting than staying in a camper, though, was the property on which it sits. My host Tricia and her husband reside in their home on the property, and have created a beautiful and peaceful oasis of a little farm here. The camper looks out on their menagerie of critters, which include an alpaca, a llama, two miniature horses, a full size horse, two goats, chickens, ducks, a pig, and a couple dogs.

The day after I arrived, I came down with either a tremendous migraine or a terrible 24-hour stomach bug. Being sick is pretty miserable, but being sick all alone is even worse. I'm not one to ask for help, but when Tricia learned I wasn't well, I eagerly accepted the Sprite, crackers, and rice she delivered to my door. It did, indeed, cure whatever it was that ailed me.

Fallbrook is a cute little town that is apparently known as the Avocado Capitol of the World, and I have definitely eaten my fair share of these delectable fruits over the course of the past two weeks. I also enjoyed some local flavor at area restaurants, chowing down on a hearty breakfast at Fallbrook's Main Street Cafe and devouring some seriously spicy Thai food at Thai Thai.

My day trips have included time to enjoy the rugged and beautiful coastline at La Jolla's Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, the retro vibe at Oceanside's pier and downtown, strolling the streets of Temecula, foggy trips to Carlsbad's Ponto Beach and to the top of Palomar Mountain, and the artsy streets and breathtaking oceanfront of Laguna Beach.

After months in more rural locales, it took me a bit to get used to the way people drive here, but outside their cars, I've found them to be incredibly, surprisingly friendly. Aside from a brief trip to San Diego years ago, I have mostly experienced the culture in northern California. I don't care to delve into negativity, but I'll just say that the demeanor around here seems markedly different from my previous impression of Californians.

One of my favorite pieces I created in Fallbrook, inspired by a pelican I saw on the pier at Oceanside, CA

I have enjoyed the places I've visited, their lush green scenery in stark contrast to the ruggedly beautiful Arizona desert. The hills are covered with boulders that look like they were sprinkled there by a hand from the sky, and the roads in the countryside boast orchards of avocados, oranges, and grapefruit. In other parts of the country, we forget how much of our food comes from this gargantuan state.

However, I truly think what I will miss more than anything is this lovely place I have called home. The camper, while small, really has everything I need. I can gaze out my window and see bunnies, a pig, chickens, and a miniature horse frolicking - all in the same unbelievable scene. I have also been quite productive, cranking out paintings at a relatively quick pace.

Painting of Dolly Llama I created for Tricia in gratitude for her hospitality

But most of all, my host Tricia has been an absolute delight. I have had little interaction with most of my other Airbnb hosts, and really didn't want or need to. They have certainly been responsive if I needed them - this is just a much different arrangement. A successful photographer and businesswoman with a whole lot on her plate, Tricia always had time for a few moments of lovely chitchat. She made great recommendations. She made me feel at home. I'm delighted to have met her and shared her space for a bit.

I'm not ready to take up residence in southern California anytime soon, but this place has definitely carved out a little boulder-shaped niche in my heart. Hasta la vista, Fallbrook!

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