Autumn Days in RMNP and The Farmette

There's a subtle change in the air and in the landscape. The days are shorter and mornings are cooler. Bull elk are beginning to bugle in preparation for rutting. From our apartment I hear their strange sounds in the distance. This morning in RMNP I photographed a bull on a mountainside.  The third one I've caught on camera in the past week. They're such magnificent animals. I may start a whole page just devoted to the elk. (The bush in the foreground of the photo is full of fall color.)

Our backyard has changed from green, pink and purple -- to tan, brown and gold. 

Yesterday Dennis participated in the Lyons Farmette Plein Air.  A benefit for the Boulder County Arts Alliance. The farmette is a delightful place and I enjoyed capturing the event with my camera. The artists' work hung on trees and fences.

Dennis enjoyed painting the irrigation canal. 

Betsy, the farmette owner and host (along with her husband Mike) dubbed the painting Redneck Riviera, which is what they call the canal.

It's always a pleasure to meet the other artists. Seeing them paint with chickens scratching around them brought a smile to my face.

The gardens of the farmette are beautiful. So many lovely flowers to paint.

 

After Dennis finished painting, we took advantage of the delicious catered food and the fantastic music.

I love the quaintness of the farmette.

The farmette animals seem to love it, too.

Even on the farmette, autumn has arrived.

Tomorrow we head off on a road trip to the Western slope. More joy!

Just Plein Fun

Here at the Reinke homestead we've been busier than a one-armed paper hanger. Here's the last two weeks in review.
Plein Air Rockies took place in Estes Park August 14 -  27. 

As a participating artist, Dennis spent most of the two weeks painting in RMNP and the Allenspark and Estes Park areas. On August 22 at daybreak we scoured the Rim Lake Trailhead for painting subjects.


The early morning light gave the clouds and landscape an ethereal glow.

 A field of cheerful wildflowers greeted us...

As did a young bunny.

I couldn't resist photographing this handsome artist...

Later in the morning we drove to a spot overlooking Horseshoe Park in RMNP where Dennis painted and I worked on my novel...

On one of my leg-stretching breaks I shot some photographs. This one taken over Dennis' shoulder is a favorite...

I saw this little guy peeking at me while eating his breakfast. Before he scurried away I managed to get this shot...

 Rockies Plein Air culminated with a Quick Draw and Auction on August 28.

Twenty-three artists gathered on the Riverwalk to paint everything from portraits

 and still lifes

 to landscapes. 

The artists were given 90 minutes to complete and frame their work, then it was judged and entered into the auction. Dennis won second place with his watercolor, which went on to sell at auction to a lovely couple. 

We had a great time with our artist friends and look forward to next year's event.

That same weekend my two grandchildren came to stay with us. On Sunday before we drove to Loveland to meet their parents, Emma and Oliver expended energy at the Riverwalk playground.

The Boulder County Arts Alliance is hosting a plein air this Saturday. Dennis has been out painting farms in Boulder County. I tagged along last Thursday and got this photo of an abandoned mine in the hillside.

While he's not painting, Dennis and I continue to look at real estate. This past Saturday we drove to Grand Lake 

and on to Georgetown to look around. On the drive back home I snapped this photo of Sleeping Indian Mountain. Can you see the profile of the Indian's face?

And that's the condensed version of the last two weeks. Still having fun.