The New View

I'm still settling in, hoping to finally get at least some of the studio unpacked and set up this weekend. Starting to itch...  In the meantime, I'm working on making peace with my more "urban" place for daily walks and the loss of my lake view, searching for fresh bits of inspiration. The new view out the back of my townhouse is an essential part of being ok with losing the old view. 

From my kitchen, I used to look across an expanse of open field to see deer feeding along a treeline of mostly firs and tamaracks. Now the trees are just yards away from my living room and dining room windows, and include those same tamaracks that turn color in the fall.

I'd seen a squirrel venturing out on the lawn and wondered if any deer lurked in those trees - the stand is not very deep and act as buffer between a railroad line and highway. The other day, I got my answer. Maybe in the spring, I'll get visited by a moose.

As for my daily walk, it takes me through my little development and past a Goodwill store (surprisingly tempting that store but I put blinders on and keep walking!). Between the sidewalk and street in front of the store is a ditch full of cattails.

And a little farther down, the ditch full of water and leaves provided this bit of beauty.

The street "t"s at a busy crossroad lined with a variety of business. It appears to be zoned for mixed use as I spotted a few houses as well. But it is not solid business, one gap showing me the stand of trees I'd spotted from my upstairs window when they turned golden a month ago.  Yes, my familiar inspiration backed by mountains.

Back home, that lawn out back sprouted some interesting mushrooms. Just goes to show that if you keep your eyes and mind open, beauty and inspiration can be found most anywhere.