Opening weekend in Mineral King in 2018 was cold, drizzly, foggy and not conducive to any photos. Besides, my camera battery was dead.
The skies cleared briefly on Sunday evening. I borrowed Trail Guy’s camera for this:
Monday was glorious, sunny, bright, and warm(ish). I took this from our friend’s porch
Finally, here is the classic photograph.
And thus we begin another summer season in Mineral King.
Painting Drawing of the day:
That title might be a little bit over the top. May always feels like the end of spring with heat coming and bringing its browns. But my yard has been so beautiful in the early morning light. . . Trail Guy and his power tools, me and my girly pruning and weeding, but mostly God and his palette. . .
I could call these photos a “source of inspiration”, but while they do lift my spirits, I don’t view them as potential painting subjects. The reality of earning a living with art in a small place is that I have to paint what sells. Florals don’t sell for me. Instead, I can study the photos and figure out what makes them special in terms of light, shadow, shapes and color, and maybe apply those things to other subjects.
Hurrah?
Those 2 words together describe a work day last week. At the end of April with heat lurking around the corner, I found it difficult to stay positioned at the easels.
It was overcast, which made the flowers seem particularly bright and colorful. The 2 pinks grabbed my attention on the way to the studio.
It seemed like a good day to experiment with some of the mysterious settings on my camera and learn the differences.
Never mind for the photography lesson; get to work, Central California Artist!!
That’s enough painting. I NEED to evaluate those peculiar camera settings. Could ask The Google, I guess, but I’d rather figure it out myself. It is procrastination, but it is helpful. There is no Boss to tell me when it is time to learn new skills instead of producing new paintings. (Whatcha gonna do? Fire me?)
Last Sunday afternoon, we drove down to Lake Kaweah to go walking among the cockleburs. I think the dam was built in 1962 or ’63, so I don’t remember a time when it wasn’t there.
It is sort of ugly, but interesting at the same time. There are nicer places to walk in Three Rivers, but variety is a good thing. Keeps you and your brain from settling into a rut, something my paternal grandmother preferred to call a “groove”, which she said made for smoother travel.
There are old home sites and even a former swimming pool. A metal detector might yield some interesting results.
The bridge is interesting with its styling in the concrete. It crosses Horse Creek.
We followed Horse Creek for awhile.
Not much to it, but it became messy, so we went back to the road and followed it into a flock of red-wing blackbirds. Raucous critters.
The mallards and snowy egrets are quieter.
We encountered another bridge across Horse Creek and headed back. The flower is mustard.
This was a field trip just for fun, not for work. I don’t think there is anything pretty enough down there to paint, although a view of Alta Peak and Moro Rock with the lake in the foreground might appeal to a few folks.
Minus the cockleburs. . .
Say what? “Fall fun”. . . don’t you have work to do?
Yes. I do. There is another show coming this weekend. I’ll tell you about it tomorrow.
One last visit was made by Trail Guy; I was in Visalia at a backyard boutique. He had some final things to finalize, finally.
Here are his best photos from a very clear and sunny morning.
This will be a long post with lots of photos, and then I might run out of things to post about Mineral King for awhile.
It didn’t have to be the final Mineral King weekend, because the Park gates stay unlocked until October 25. But, life down the hill beckons, fall is very full of events for us, and we need to close things up when the weather is still good during a season of unpredictable weather.
We have taken on the responsibility of closing the Honeymoon Cabin for the past several years. This is a little cabin left after Disney destroyed the resort in advance of building their ski resort, which never happened. The cabin is now a mini museum of Mineral King history, open all summer to anyone who wanders in. It is at the beginning of the Eagle/Mosquito/White Chief trail.
This is the interior. It is about 10×10′.
After our chores, we had time for a final walk.
And then we made time for one final pass down the Nature Trail. It goes through so many changes in such a short season. . . in July it was packed with all variety of wildflowers. Now, just look at this:
This was an unusual summer in Mineral King for several reasons. Perhaps I’ll make a list for you next Friday.
Today, October 12, is the real Columbus Day. In fourteen hundred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Ferdinand and Isabella paid for the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria. It’s a fine holiday, but it has fallen out of favor.
Fake Columbus Day has also fallen into obscurity. It changes every year, just chasing the 3 day weekend. Only federal and bank employees are aware of it. Postal employees, too.
Who cares?
Careen, Nicole, Kim and I. Happy birthday to us.
Extra birthday wishes to Sylvia, Pam, (oh no – is yours the first or the second of Sept.?) and Ron T.! Happy birthday, friends!
Today’s post is for Marilyn, AKA The Captain. Just some photos of new flowers, and a get-well wish along with a birthday greeting.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARILYN! GET WELL SO WE CAN HIKE TOGETHER AND DISCOVER NEW FLOWERS TOGETHER AGAIN.
(Remember when we found Western Eupatorium??)
White Chief might be the most beautiful place accessible by foot from Mineral King. Short hike, steep, lots of variety. Any time Trail Guy encounters someone along the trail below the Eagle Lake/White Chief junction, he tells them they will be happier if they choose White Chief.
Here are more photos from our Eclipse Day White Chief walk/hike.
There are more photos, but they were on Trail Guy’s camera because I overworked my battery. Aiming at the sun may not have been such a good idea. . .
More tomorrow? Stay tuned. . .