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Biking

August 18, 2010 by larrysmailart

My "Harley-Honda"

I enjoy riding bikes. The only negative aspect for me is  after peddling along the trails for a time I have some discomfort on the back side, if you know what I mean. (Proper attire would aid with this discomfort, but I don’t feel very beautiful in spandex.)

 I often take time to ride between Kittanning and Rosston and back. The round trip is approximately 10 miles I have been told. The pluses are the ability to see friends and stop and chat with and to view the beautiful Allegheny River with the floral and wildlife that abounds along those waters. Also, I get some exercise. That can’t be a bad thing.

Fort Armstrong was near Fort Run (Manorville)

Foggy Morn at Rosston

I occasionally bike on the Freeport Trail and north of Kittanning too. I would like to visit the trail at Emlenton soon. I hear the beauty is awesome along the river and a tunnel is present. I don’t know why going there is such a problem for me. Retired people have so many things on their agenda ya know!

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Pennsylvania Big Game Series

August 9, 2010 by larrysmailart

ASPEN GOLD- ELK

Last year on the first day of the Pennsylvania regular deer season I was setting in a pine forest enjoying all nature had to offer. I was doodling down any ideas that came to thought within my feeble mind. As I sketched a White Pine the idea to do a wildlife series emerged among the grey matter that many refer to as a brain. The early results from that day were a sketch of a white-tail buck with a white pine. The interesting concept was that this series was to each be painted with much white as a background. Normally, a painting would be completely covered with painted background.

DENNING TIME- BLACK BEAR

Also, I would choose a strong upright with each painting. The elk painting has an aspen for strength; the turkey art yields to a beech tree and the bear has an  oak. I have another series painting in a preliminary phase featuring ring-necked pheasants. The upright on that painting is to be standing corn shocks.

BEECH-RIDGE (WILD TURKEYS)

The viewer may notice that the species depicted are either facing right or left. This was done intentionally so two paintings hanging on a wall would have the “critters” facing each other making for a pleasant balanced view. I have many ideas and beginnings if the series would become a desired art collection. For instance with the painting featuring the black bear another one could be painted depicting a mother bear and cubs in a summer scene. Of course, these bear would be facing right as a complement to the left-facing winter scene

AUTUMN GRANDEUR- WHITE-TAIL

I am hoping to find an art printer/ publisher interested with this concept capable of handling proper promotion and distribution of prints. Please, forward this blog information to anyone where interest may be found. I would appreciate any efforts.

Other series ideas include an upland game bird series; a furbearer series and actually an endless list of paintings could be possible!  Any ideas and/ or comments would be appreciated.

Posted in Misc. Nature, My Art, Wildlife | 4 Comments »

State Game Lands 247

August 6, 2010 by larrysmailart

State Game Lands 247 trail

I am feeling it! I am feeling the “dog days of summer” drifting towards fall-like days! I had a number of errands to run but I decided to hit the game lands between Skinall and Center hill and look for natural things of interest. Actually, I was looking forward with having both feet become saturated with dew. .. a great sensation!  (That is sarcasm.)

I was blessed to see lots of butterflies this morning. Have you ever noticed the intricate designs and colors on butterflies. They are truly beautiful insects.I saw dragonflies and damselflies at the pond area. They are tough to get photos of because they dart around continuously as the day warms.

Caterpillar stage of the monarch butterfly.

In the pond’s waters I saw several carp. They tend to keep the waters stirred up with their continual digging in the mud. The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) has erected several duck nesting sites here. Years ago, I carried all the “stuff” needed to erect a wood duck box. (Two trips on foot.. I was young then!)

Carp

On my return down the hill towards the road I saw several groundhogs and later met up with ny friend, Jerry Kespelher and Wildlife Conservation Officer Gary Toward both  PGC employees.

Posted in Butterflies and Insects, Misc. Nature | Leave a Comment »

Bode

August 2, 2010 by larrysmailart

I haven’t painted many paintings of pets. I don’t know why except the fact  I don’t pursue the issue for interest. I painted a Rotweiler named Logan two years ago and a Lab last year, I believe. I recently completed a painting featuring an acquaintance’s pet dog named Bode. Briefly, she (Kathy) spotted this dog in the woods near her parents home. With time the two became inseparable. She doesn’t know the reason why the dog was there… abandonment most probable. Fliers were placed about with no one responding.

"BODE"

I met Bode once and he is quite friendly. Health issues plaque him. I am totally aware of health issues with a beloved pet. Suzie, my springer spaniel is 95% blind due to complications from diabetus. However, she is quite the happy little dog. I feel for Bode and Kathy.

The photo I tried to take hasn’t captured the true colors of the  completed painting. I attempted approximately 10 to 12 photos with different outside lighting conditions. (The photo shown here was taken prior to adding additional colors to enhance the accuracy of Bode’s hair color.)

LATEST “BODE” PHOTO

The photo shown here is a true color of the above painting. I hope you enjoy the completed work.

"BODE" completed art

Posted in My Art | 2 Comments »

Summer Hike

July 30, 2010 by larrysmailart

Limestone Run

I decided the temperature was cool enough that a hike would be the proper thing to do. My “to do” list was changed. I headed for the Limestone Run area of Armstrong County to see what things of interest would be available. The climb to the top of the hill caused moisture to form within the various parts of my body prone to perspiration. (I had chosen to wear a light flannel shirt to help control skeeter bites.”   The walk allowed me to approach to about 20 feet of a resting deer. The deer was behind a fallen tree. The sudden snort alarmed me and the vegetation allowed only a hint of reddish- orange deer color to be viewed.

The “fungus among us” time of the year is at hand. The rainy, hot and humid days with ample rain has allowed many specie of fungus’ to grow in the woods.                                                  

Indian Pipes- a parasitic plant.

                                                                                                                                                     

While strolling along the creek I noticed the shiny shell of a turtle. The “wood Turtle” had, apparently, recently left the water. He wasn’t very considerate to me and avoided coming  out of it’s shell for a good photo. Eventually, I placed him back into the water and in short order the head and feet emerged and off the turtle went. My dad used to call them “land turtles”. However, they are always in the water or close to the H2O supply.

Wood Turtle

I edged around the creek’s bend and I could see muddy water along the shore. I thought a turtle may be digging  around, but upon checking, deer tracks were scattered along the bank. They get thirsty too.   

Posted in Butterflies and Insects, Misc. Nature | Leave a Comment »

Few Hours At The River

July 28, 2010 by larrysmailart

I spent a few hours along the mighty Allegheny River this morning. A fog engulfed the area. I enjoy watching the fog drift past me like  wisps of smoke from a wood fire. One never knows what might appear as the fog lifts.

I didn’t have a lot of worms, but, I did manage to catch a couple of nice smallmouth bass.  I had some subtle nibbles at times. The end of the pole would dance, but ever so slightly. Suckers?   I used to catch a lot of Eastern Sand  (We would call them Sand Pikes in our youth.) Darters. is fish never grew to over nine inches or so. They were difficult to catch. Their mouths were small so bigger hooks caused many a miss. I had one interesting thing happen. A muskie followed one of my retrieves to within six feet of me. The Two-footer remained in site for several minutes.

Mother mallard (Notice the yellow duckling.)

Other critter sightings included a mother duck with two ducklings and various small birds. I quit around 9:00 in the morning and eventually went to the church to prepare a 16 foot 18th century-style cardboard ship for vacation Bible school.

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Butterflies

July 27, 2010 by larrysmailart

Black Swallowtail

Monarch butterfly on a swamp milkweed flower.

 
I knew I would be recycling this day so a summer hike surely would be good.  You know the old phrase:  Kill two birds …. I chose to concentrate on some old gas well roads in hopes of finding bear tracks or, better yet, see one. Wild critters were not in abundance this morning, but as the sun warmed the flowers many butterflies began to flutter around. 

I saw my first monarch butterfly this morning. I, casually,

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

checked some milkweed leaves for the white, yellow and black striped caterpillars. I didn’t find any of the caterpillars. However, I discovered two on my “personal stash” of milkweed plants.

Bumblebee on Bull Thistle

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Fishing and Wildflowers

July 15, 2010 by larrysmailart

On Monday, July 12th, my friend, Frank Maus and I spent some quality time trolling for muskies. Although we didn’t catch any we enjoyed the day on the Allegheny River. (I jinxed him!)  We did see deer; gulls and other things of interest. I saw one muskie at the surface of the water.

Fort Run/ Allegheny River

The mouth of Fort Run flowing into the Allegheny River.

Today, July 15th, I fished a little south of the lock at Kittanning, PA. I failed to have any luck too. (Frank jinxed me from afar!) I saw some mallards; gulls and a plover. I watched two young fellers wade across to the island. They were waist deep.

The island.

  

I decided to do some exploring for whatever I could find of interest. Wildflowers seemed to take the priority since many were in blossom along the shoreline.

Cardinal flower...a vivid red color.

              

Oswego….better known as Bee Balm.

                                                                        

Turk's Cap Lily

Posted in Fishing, Wildflowers | 2 Comments »

THE MUSIC I PLAY

July 8, 2010 by larrysmailart

I enjoy playing music.  After quitting the nightclub and bar scene around 1982, the guitar was seldom picked up. When the mood to play “hit me” I would play along with albums and cassettes at that time. My aunt was instrumental at my resurgence when she and others started a campground along Cherry Run called Maple Grove. She asked to come around and with further encouragement from my wife, Laurie, I did just that.

Acoustic guitar work with the gospel band; IN TRANSITION

Playing along with Roy Rubin from New Castle

I have played many types of music and my style of playing varies dramatically depending on the fellow musicians I am engaged with at the time. I can’t explain this  but the variances just happen. Since I started to play the guitar once again I have played many types of music: contemporary and traditional gospel and hymns; traditional country and bluegrass; polkas; square dance  music; western swing…I occasionally may  play some rock but, to be honest, I do not actively seek it.  (Maybe a sign of maturing.) Prior to my quitting, I played  country; top 40; oldies; hard rock; country rock and others.

I am happy to be able to set in and improvise (fake) my way through with many bands. I have made many friends since coming back to music.

The photos above are a few of the nine or ten bands I played along with over the 4th of July weekend. (That can be tiring.)

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A MORNING ALONG THE ALLEGHENY

June 29, 2010 by larrysmailart

A great morning indeed! The weather is changing, so I decided to head out early for some morning fishing. I had a lot of worms gathered in recent landscaping ventures.  I went below the dam at Kittanning and wet some worms to see what I could catch.

All told, I caught one smallmouth bass; one channel catfish; one flathead catfish; one sauger and one carp. I missed a few nice bites due to messing around with my camera or watching critters.

Other wildlife sightings included; gulls; vulture; mergansers; mallards; various small birds and a big Norwegian Rat!

I had to quit by 10:00 to go with my step father, Bob to pick up some cabinets for his garage.

Posted in Fishing | 2 Comments »

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