My husband and I have just returned from our travels.  We did spend time with family, but we also toured the Canyon Lands of Southern Utah.  In our younger days we passed by the area several times, but never took time to stop, we had family and business obligations.

This time we ambled our way through Zion, Bryce Canyon, the Escalante Staircase National Monument, and Capital Reef National Park.  What an incredible feast for the senses. The canyons, the colors, the silence, I am in love.  If I were younger and less settled I could see moving to the area for a time to further explore all the wonders it has to offer.  It is so different from Montana's mountains, and valleys.

But, I am settled so I am settling for trying to capture with oils and canvas the splendor of the region.  I have a small study on the easel now, and so far-so good.  I am already planning a larger painting of the same subject. 

In other news, I had a clumsy moment and dropped my latest painting, unfortunately it fell on something sharp, and it has a tear in it.  I was very upset, but got over that and I have repaired the tear.  Google is a wonderful invention!  But it definitely has a "Friends and Family" price now.  Since I have to break out the paint to repair the tear I have decided to work on it a bit more.  We shall see if that is a good or bad decision.