Spring in the Northwest

Drinking: Just plain old whole bean coffee for me... Costa Rican ~ French Roast, please!

Delighted: I was delighted to discover some new (for me) natural media photoshop brushes. I don't know why I didn't try using these years ago. I see all sorts of new approaches to a more painterly style possible.

Weather: No snow here... and the sun is out and it's very spring-like. Mostly because it's a brand new year and the Holidays are over. Usually I declare spring shortly thereafter. There are lots of little green shoots poking up.

Amazed: I was amazed to discover that there is a beaver lodge right here in the neighborhood! Yes indeed... wild beaver on the shores of Lake Washington, right in the middle of Seattle.

We had heard accounts of them slapping their mighty beaver tails at sunset and we once saw one swim past in the daytime. They're nocturnal and very secretive. Oddly, their den is right beside a sewer outlet too...

I think it's nice that there are still wild places like that around in the city still. Here's a photo of the beaver lodge... notice the green shoots too.

Reading: Margaret Forster: Memoirs of a Victorian Gentleman. I think I'll probably wind up reading every one of Margaret Forster's books. It's telling when you can read any page and it seems like it was written just for you.

Drawing: Pencils to a new book with Northwest scenes in abundance.