Day 8. There you Always are

“Sometimes I Need Only to Stand Wherever I am to be Blessed” 8 in diamater, oil on canvas

Yesterday, after posting my painting with the great blue heron, I went for a run. I haven’t been running much lately–  the December marathon felt like a triple exclamation point and now I hardly know how to start the next sentence. But I went, and about halfway in, a great blue heron flew above and over me and then disappeared into the vast distance.

If you followed my 31 in 31 last year, you know that the great blue heron, particularly one flying above me on a run, was a big theme. And if you didn’t, you’re now all caught up. 

There you are, Love, I thought in reference to my day 7 painting. There you always are. 

When I look at today’s painting, I hear a line from Mary Oliver’s Poem “It was Early” which I’ve included below.

It was Early

By Mary Oliver

It was early, which has always been my hour to begin looking at the world

and of course, even in the darkness, to begin listening into it,

especially under the pines where the owl lives and sometimes calls out

as I walk by, as he did on this morning. So many gifts!

What do they mean?  In the marshes where the pink light was just arriving

the mink with his bristle tail was stalking the soft-eared mice,

and in the pines the cones were heavy, each one ordained to open.

Sometimes I need only to stand wherever I am to be blessed.

Little mink, let me watch you.

Little mice, run and run.

Dear pine cone, let me hold you as you open.

** I’m doing something a little different this year. I’ll post each painting at (or close to) 10 am each day this month and they will be available for purchase on my site. However, the pieces will not be shipped out or available for pick up until February 26, after the run of the gallery show.