3/31

Home again with my two dogs and a friend’s visiting mutt.
My pack surrounding me as we work the yard. 
They are company.

3/30

A problem day saved by creativity, a useful model found 
Off the streets, welcomed as much for good nature as
Capacity for stillness.

3/29

If I get nothing more out of this time than 
To keep my brush clean, colors clean and brushwork
Definitive, its good.

3/28

Amidst well laid plans things can go amiss
And from that serendipity emerge, as today
In this workshop.

A better demo resulted and we all learned more.
And this group has been fun to be with, not necessary,
but certainly appreciated.

3/27

Up early to drive to another workshop
Closer and I like the fellow’s work,
Loose and luscious.

3/26

A neighbor remarks we are here at G-d’s amusement.
Bred his ewes to lamb well after the snows - two dozen
born last night.

3/25

Tonight is a as close to perfect a winter night
Can be here. Soft fat snow on a quiet evening
Prettily ladens all.

3/24

How do I feel now, living alone? Grateful 
For  my animals, my friends but being alone
Isn’t so easy

Yet also not as hard as it was, I miss you, always.
It is not what I have any longer, what is is, yesterday,
Tomorrow and now.

3/23

With you days would fly, fully, completely by only you and me,
With nary a glance, concern, of what was happening
Beyond our sphere.

Without you, I have had days, months years, too long
Without support, caring, gnawing through my soul
Beyond my hope.

In the long cold of these past several weeks, I’ve come 
Perhaps, to a place, recognizing, accepting, a change into
My own sphere.

3/22

While confirming plans for a later date,
A friend allowed if those fell through, she’d come here.
Its been awhile.

How long she asked? And I thought, the painting bunch?
Maybe last spring. Really? Really. Company rarely is 
my reality now.

I know it is up to me to put in the effort, invite, arrange.
Mostly, though, it only proves, what I already know, how
Alone I am.

3/21

The zero turn, the old tractor, have had their yearly check-ups. 
Good to go another year.  Duty, and convenience, combined
This is good.

3/20

Decisions, they appear and I need assess their importance.
What is serious, what not so. The door today, if I sell soon?
To much money,

But not if I stay any time. This house is worthy of upkeep
I am caretaker and, for now, it is mine. Mine to enjoy and
Mine the responsibility.... 

As I learn not all decisions are equal. 

3/19

Dear I am doing the yard work. It needs doing and
Needs renaming. I need the exercise, would rather not
Pay for gym, 

Or yardworker. Doing this work? I will say doing this
Gives me some satisfaction on both counts, if
Not much joy. 

3/18

A mulling about day, doing painting, doing chores,
Not going very far. I have to admit, a day close to
How we’d spend.

Except, of course, you are not here and where ever
You are, I can not be. All I can do is hold you here
Within my heart.

3/17

After a sullen-hued morning, highlighting
Only mud, it did start to snow, finally blanketing 
Everything with splendor.

3/16

Baked bread for a dinner tonight,
Broke bread with a slew of friends, couples
All, friends also.

3/15

Up early, drive to Annapolis. Good to see a demo
By a painter I admire.  Analyze, then paint with passion
Or vice versa. 

Good to see others' work, see a friend's painting
Get artists' choice. Good to stop by a gallery and
A wine shop. 

Good to arrive home with the sun still up 
To gift a bottle of wine to neighbors, good
To watch sunset. 

3/14

In between vortex colds an evening soft in light
In temps, the sky fading to indigo, while geese 
In faraway fields 

Are a hum beneath the chirps of songbirds and
The hoot of owls floating on air, still as only
Dusk can bring. 

3/13

A small change taken: set a timer, 60 mins, do yardwork
Until the hour is up. Pick a project, there are plenty
And do it,

If not every day then at least five in the week.
Paint, errands, chores, give each time, a lot
Can be done.

3/12

There are things needing changing which
I address as I have the will, not always
with great success.

That is all right, I will take the small ones
In gratitude. Move past a bad morning, a sketch not 
done ‘til afternoon,

Yet preceded by a quiet hour working outside, with
The go-go’s help. Then, a good nap surrounded,
Solitude with critters.

3/11

A day well spent, close to my new ideal,  
With time at dusk to sit watching 
The go go's play, 

While geese in numbers honked. Deer slop 
Through mud marsh to higher ground bedding down 
With snorting huffs,  

As farm machinery hums 
And cranes glide at tree top, movement in 
The serene twilight.

3/10

Tea in the morning, paint after that, attend to chores,
Then an evening with friends, dinner and talk,
Home to bed.

3/9

Breakfast, coffee and good eggs and sausage, 
Watch the sun come on the water and the ducks, 
Geese and songbirds.

More coffee with another friend, chance to chat
With her, see her studio and work and discuss
A few mediums.

Easy drive home, like the new car, enjoying 
The added hour of daylight, busy in the my studio
Until dinner time.

3/8

Painting in this friend’s studio
With it’s beautiful light and space
Is a joy.

We visit in town, come back to paint more,
Then spend the evening with wine, salad
And fried oysters.

3/7

A day spent mostly in the gallery
Even in the midst of sad news
Still well spent.

An evening enjoying the gallery openings
Seeing the town filled with people
Dining with friends.

3/6

Road trip, the go-go's and me
To a friends house by a river
In southern maryland 

Her husbands birthday with 
A table filled with their family, friends 
Enjoyed it all.

3/5

Remember love. To have it is/was such a gift,
Sweeter than any other given, meant to be cherished
While, and after,

However hard after might be, I am reminded of
Dr Seuss’ words: Don't cry because it's over, smile 
because it happened.

3/4

It has been a month of morning exercises, a month only,
And how that first painting, that bunny, has paved the way
For my lessons:

Look for the subtle under-colors, that give the whole form,
The edge that compliments the line, lost and not, and how
The light falls. 

Do the active thing,  consider discipline, let these invite 
Joy, encourage purpose. Allow solitude its healing graces,
And remember love.

3/3

Woke to a gray morn that heralded the soft snow
To follow.  A day of translucent light, cold temps
And beautiful colors.

Moved my box from window to window, painting
The serene views of untrammeled snows stretching
Away from me.

Moved through the quiet rooms of this house,
Enjoying the quality of its spaces and the comfort
Of its rooms.  

3/2

A beautiful warm day and I painted another
Dead bird but then took the dogs for a good walk,
And a brushing.

Tomorrow I’ll not make the long drive to the gallery, 
Work, alone, spend little time with a friend or hurry
Back before snow.

I will stay and enjoy the day, my clean house, 
Prep for the storm, then dine with friends and enjoy
Some, the oscars.

3/1

Today the ceiling was fixed and repainted
A new door was ordered for workshop
I still need

Those two windows fixed. I am ambivalent, 
Yet, about living here but this house still
Deserves good care.