Aspen Autumn in the Rockies Painting

Hope you enjoy my latest paintings

Summer Boondocking at Army Corps of Engineers Campground, Conchas Lake State Park, New Mexico

    The land where time as the world counts it no longer exists, time of day is now, the urgent intrusion of society’s regimented day is a thing of the long past, at least by a day. Boondocking in my RV at the all but deserted Army Corps of Engineers Conchas Lake, New Mexico campground. Army Corps of Engineers Campground Lake Conchas , The Campsitephotos.com video shows the most improved campgrounds and doesn't feature the largely unimpoved campground operated by Army Corps of Engineers that I stayed at. But it's a nice video of the area so here's the link: Conchas Lake Campgrounds Video The entrance to this campground is the farthest south. It is actually the last camping area south.  I had to drive around a bit until I saw a sign for it.  A sailboat drifts around its anchor in lazy circles out in the quiet cove with only its flag fluttering at the top of its bare mast.  Days are hot for this early in June, the 5th, when I got here.  The dominant sound is of the soughing breeze in the Chinese elm trees that are outside my door, punctuated occasionally by the chattering birds or a distant motor boat out on the lake, crickets and locusts and katydids.  Some of these wonderful bugs sound almost metallic in their hum.  What glorious organs for sound the Lord has created for even these smallest of creatures to sing their praises. It’s easy for my heart to be still here as my thoughts are turned from what is highly praised by the world as life but which is little more than clamorous effort to ignore God or obscure Him.

     Today I will wear my swimsuit with maybe some shorts as my only concession to covering up.  There is no one close enough to see or care.  Time to get some sun on my flaccid flesh. There is no cell service and no internet here.  I can’t communicate even if I wanted to.  There are no intrusions…from anything human anyway.
    Temperatures were 99 in the RV until the sun went down.  The temperature was 75 this morning after I got up. The dogs and cats soon learned the pleasures of being wet on a hot day.
    Got to use my solar panels, inverter and batteries.  Ran a fan in the afternoon, lights, and then TV in evening just to see how it worked. Wow! How freeing.

    The stars were a frosty mass across the night sky last evening, last warm evening, 85 at bedtime, late lightning to the south.  Am so grateful that I have water provided at this huge wide open campsite.  Was going to leave this morning but the peace of this place has convinced me to give it another day.  We were hot when we got here and set up after noon.  Today I walked the dogs in my jammies and a robe. A cool breeze is wafting from the north of the lake.  At this rate I can see how one day can lead to another, and another, and another…in one endless seam with free water at a free campsite that is huge and uncrowded (deserted).  I am the only one here besides the camp hosts and I have sand in my shoes!
  “…The Lord will bless his people with peace.” Ps. 29:11.
All those years when I’d dream of fulltime Rving…this was what I had  pictured in my mind.  You don't experience it until  boondocking, free from all the constraints of full hookups in an urbanized and sometimes crowded space in what seemed like a parking lot.  Only people with money can afford what I am enjoying today for free because I am not limited to spaces with hookups.  My solar panels batteries and inverter were well worth this freedom.
     I walked the dogs in utter solitude last night.  I love the precious tiny lizards that scurry from the cover of a tiny tuft of grass to the  roots of the tree and back again this morning.  Morris is examining a cute little green stinkbug.  He will get a surprise if he threatens her.  Lucky for him the lizard has captured his attention.
    There is something unexpectedly glorious about not having many of the “conveniences” of modern life.

Paintings Update

Have been doing some fun painting in my wonderfully mobile RV studio. Here's an update for those who are interested.

Have opened a Gallery on Etsy.com . Here's a link WyomingRoaming Gallery

Easy 1 Minute Do It Yourself Tough Waterproof RV Ceiling Vent Pillow

Winter RVing calls for vent pillows. Make your own in a flash without sewing a stitch. If you can stuff an envelope and seal it you can do this. For each vent you will need a square of  1" thick craft foam that can be cut to about an inch larger than your vent opening frame, and a 14.5"x19"  self-sealing white poly mailing envelope (I used padded bubble poly mailers since they are nice and puffy but plain poly mailers would work too just be sure to get your foam cut an inch larger than your vent opening).

 My vent frames are about 14.5x 14" so I cut my foam into about a 15"x15"x1" squares.  I stuffed one foam square into a poly mailer and pulled the flap down far enough to make the envelope snug around the foam then sealed it. Voila! I had a waterproof vent pillow. I stuffed one in each vent opening and they work wonderfully.

 Being in a poly envelope makes them tough and waterproof, too! I purchased the 1" squares of 16"x16"craft urethane foam squares in packages of 2 in the sewing and craft notions at Wal-Mart for about $6.00 per package.You can purchase the large mailers in Wal-Mart's office supplies section or office supply stores for about $1 or $2 apiece.. E-SupplyStore.com has 25 for $12. I already notice the difference in the RV. I've been able to retain heat without running my heaters nearly as often even when the wind is blowing. If they get grimy just wipe them off with a damp cloth. They're waterproof and I have 3 of  them for a total of about $16 or about $4 apiece.

Campsite Photos Dot Com

I absolutely love this website and their YouTube videos. Fun to see where the good places to park are in state campgrounds etc.. Pick your state and your park and watch the video review of each campsite. Total fun. Check it out. Campsitephotosdotcom You Tube Channel

Just can't stop painting. North Platte River Bend at Henry, Nebraska. Such a peaceful bend at sunset.

RV Art Studio

Below is a shot I took tonight of my RV Art Studio. It's small but it works for me and its completely mobile! This is where one of the little recliners used to sit in the back by the picture window. Now it's my studio and I love it. Need to dust my modeling light off though!

Here's my latest painting, Jenny Lake Reflections

My Latest Paintings of Wyoming and Nebraska

Have been doing some painting the past couple of months. Moved one of my old recliners that had failed out of the back of the RV and set up  my studio by the picture window where the chair used to sit. Of course my window faces north here so that is perfect non directional light for painting during the daytime. I love my new mobile studio. So many days it was impossible to paint outside, too cold, too windy, too hot.... Now I can paint in the comfort of the RV night or day. See what you think of my paintings.

The above painting is Aspen Lace.

This one is called Midnight Flight.

This is the first in my Nebraska Oregon Trail Landmark Series, Guardian of Mitchell Pass, Scotts Bluff National Monument. If you've never visited this place be sure to put it on your bucket list. They have a wonderful collection of William Henry Jackson photographs, the largest in the world, at the visitors center.

 This is Oxbow Bend Evening, with gorgeous Mt. Moran as the subject.

Midsummer Tetons from the Broken Pine

Below Treeline at Douglas Lake in the Wind River Range

. The Birdwatcher depicts my rescued siamese, Macaroni. I tried to capture the maniacal look he gets in his eyes whenever he watches birds. This is done as an ACEO card which is only 2 1/2" x 3 1/2".

. As you can see I have pretty good light in my RV studio even at night with my modeling light if not a lot of room. But a great view out the windows always!