As I was painting, I thought about how ancient this place is and how many people, men and women, had discovered this place so long ago. This was long before I discovered this rugged and magnificent area.
In other years, I have come here in the autumn when the aspen leaves have turned to brilliant golds and yellows; however, I had never been here in the summer. The blue and green color tones are cleaner and brighter. The mosquitos are also present here in the summer to my chagrin. Fortunately, my friend and fellow painter had insect repellent with her. She saved me and allowed me to paint. Every once in a while a cool breeze would stir. This was a gift because as the breeze swept by, the flies and insects rode the air currents away from me if for only a few moments. The mosquito stings and sounds forced me to concentrate ever so much more on the shape of the mountains and the deepness of the forest. This was truly a gift because for some time I have wanted to paint faster and quicker outdoors to capture the fleeting light changes that occur. Gifts come in surprising ways, don't they?
September is upon us now. Soon the leaves will begin turning and we will have cooler evenings. The aspens will be calling me back to Hope Valley later this fall. In the meantime, we all have memories of our summer activites and sharings as we ease into autumn.
"In the garden, Autumn is, indeed the crowning glory of the year, bringing us the fruition of months of thought and care and toil. And at no season, safe perhaps in Daffodil time, do we get such superb colour effects as from August to November," Rose G. Kingsley, The Autumn garden, 1905.
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