Its been another very warm and humid day and all the animals feel the heat and are a bit cantankerous. The pigs however, seem serene and if anything, smiling. Their pen was cleaned out and new sawdust put down so they were rolling around it, happy as ....well pigs! This is the second group of pigs that were raised and they are approaching the 200 pound mark. Off to market in a few more weeks. Yes, boys and girls, remember where your food comes from...
I visited the vegetable garden when I got home from work today to find a cow and calf moose had wandered through likely the night before, trampling several plants and munching on some beet leaves. They came in through the gate, so I guess its time to add yet more fencing to the little garden.
I also discovered that deer flies are attracted to blue, so a blue bowl plastered with a sticky fly trap and set on a pole in the field worked wonders for the horrible insects, catching 5 or 6 in the first couple of hours.
I really hate deer flies. They are so persistant in flying around your head trying to bite and if they do bite, its painful. They can easily drive me indoors while doing a dance in the field trying to get them away from me.
I've been playing with watercolours a little more, but am not pleased with my efforts. Its too washed out. I need to be bolder with watercolours but never seem to for fear of overpowering the piece. I'll keep trying. After all, I have 3 pads of watercolour paper to get through before I can buy something new....
7 comments:
IMHO, that is a lovely watercolor! Captures it all perfectly.
I agree with Rose - a lovely soft watercolour, refreshing!
I wonder if you've read Galway Kinnell's poem 'St Francis and the Sow' - a beautiful ode to a pig - will send it to you if you like...
I think the watercolour is lovely, looks like a nice bright sunny day. I have the same problems when using them. I either use to much colour and the highlights are lost or its to light to make out what the subject is.
The pigs do look happy. I wish more people knew where their food came from. It kinda sad when people have no idea where milk even comes from. My dad bought a cow this year and I was like where are you going to put it lol but it was only a quarter of the cow. Said the meat tasted a lot better than meat bought in the store and he knew exactly what the cow was fed, unlike the beef bought in stores. He wants to get some chickens to raise for the eggs and meat. He does have room for a chicken coop, just have to worry about foxes in the area getting at the chickens.
Thanks Rose. I like parts of it, but it needs more contrast I think to really work.
Cathy, no I haven't read that poem, do send it, I'd love to see it.
Thank you Jennifer. Watercolour is tricky and I'm no expert in it for sure, but I like playing with it.
We raise animals, eggs, fruit and veggies here simply because I want to know where my food comes from, how it has been treated and what its been fed. If people were aware of the factory practices for meat, eggs and the chemicals on fruit and vegetables they might be more prone to grow their own.
I know that's not always possible, but buying the right things from the right places goes a long way.
The pig looks so content and clean and happy. They look to have a happy life. People's demand for food created a demand for slaughter and yet, realistically, we have to eat something and if the pigs weren't raised for market they wouldn't be raised at all. So, he has had a good life and will know no illness or pain but go on to nourish others and hopefully, end up in heaven. Our friends are ranchers and I have come to appreciate the love and care they have for animals. They live this life not to get rich but because of the way of life that it is. People should understand the love and care that is shown to the animals by most of the individuals that raise them. If more people raised animals - more of them would have the type of life you provide yours.
Your watercolour is subtle but beautifully balanced, Jeanette. Gorgeous mood and I love the reality of the water.
Love your piggies and would love to eat some, too. My dad was a rancher and I still miss the grass fed beef.
Your watercolor is nice. Soft feel. I admire you for keeping at it. :) It takes patience .. waiting for paint to dry.
Guess those empty sheets of paper will keep you at it for a while.
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