All Saints Day

Last spring I took a series of photos around my Mom's church in Uptergrove, while everyone was inside. The low, bright sun and the long shadows were irresistible. Luckily I had a camera in my purse. I got some beautiful shots.

5x7 Acrylic on Canvas Board

After that I spent more Sundays in the cemetery than inside. The headstones are very old and there is a farm just beyond the fence. Sometimes curious white cows would come up to the fence. Doing little sketches made me feel peaceful and close to something spiritual. My own version of religion. My dear Mom now rests in this cemetery. I planted some crocuses there today. Mom would have liked that.

My painting looks a little more sinister than I intended. Perhaps the shadows and clouds are too dark, making it look like a big storm is on the way. But I painted this one quickly, and left it as is. It is a bit over dramatic, but I like it. And I still have the photo for another try on another day.

Valuable Lessons Learned Today:

• Keep a camera handy and take lots of photos wherever you go. 
• Make sure you have fully charged batteries.
• Don't leave the SD card in the computer. There's nothing more infuriating that stopping by a beautiful autumn scene breathtakingly lit by the afternoon sun, taking out your camera, turning it on and seeing the message "No Memory Card". This may or may not have happened to me last week.