Friday Flashback

Just some pages from my old, senior-year-of-high-school sketch book. There won't be much new stuff these next few weeks, I've just started an internship that is wearing me out everyday (so far at least... or maybe it's just the unusual heat) but I'll see what can be done, it should get easier.

Works in Progress

Beginning to pack for nine weeks of internship and hiking, and cataloging old sketchbook pages, not to mention working on a new painting that should be finished in the next month or so (Only because I won't be bringing it with me downstate- gotta keep it light).

Another starbeast inspired by my cat Figaro, rest in peace.

Sketchings and General Miscellany

     And here I was, thinking that things would calm down after school ended. Nope. I've managed to scope a (paid!!) internship and a (paid!!) hiking trip with a friend in Vermont for vegetation surveys this summer, so i've been packing away and sorting all of the stuff that has accumulated in my apartment this last year while also preparing for these two jobs. It's going to be a lot of driving- 6/7 hours to the internship, then about the same to Vermont and then do the reverse to get home in August. I'm really excited, although I still haven't had the chance to work with animals. It;s ironic a bit as I'm majoring in Wildlife Sciences.... But whatever. :)
     Anyways, I picked up another sketchbook, this time to more or less destroy like we did in art classes in high school. Havn't gotten very far other than a few ink and marker pages though. I'm going to wreck a good third of it before I have to leave next Tuesday, and that should be enough to keep me busy when I'm not working or in New York City (which will be an hour's train ride away! Woot!!).

Just a quick little thing regarding a story idea formed while being laid up. Note: don't try to teach yourself how to sketeboard.

     My mom and I went to Beaver Lake last Thursday. Unfortunatly we couldn't go to Letchworth as originally planned because I did a Stupid Thing and almost broke my ankle (a week later and it's all bruised and still swollen... but not broken thankfully). It was still lovely though, even if we didn't find the overly friendly ruffed grouse resident. My ornithology professor may or may not have managed to get the bird to perch on his shoulder. This is why you really shouldn't feed wildlife from your hand, they get used to it and don't associate humans with danger.

This fellow and his pond-mate modelled for us. Pretty sure people have fed them as well.

Hehehe, so many carnivorous plants.

My baby kale. Going to be so delicious in a few months!

 

     And then there's this derp, Scout. Followed me around everywhere, acting more like a kitten than anything else- and, for the record, he is a small, demonic leopard. Almost 20 pounds of muscle who likes to sneak around and scare your pants off in the middle of the night.
     Still have some packing to do, but I'll be back soon hopefully. Peace out and chicken nuggets, guys.

Green Lakes

Just a little adventure to celebrate the survival of yet another semester. :D There'll be more photo sets like this throughout the summer, helping a friend do veg surveys in Vermont early June, hopefully an internship in the Catskills, a trip to NYC in the works and my one goal for the next few months is to see a moose, which may include a trip up to Maine...

The reefs (yes reefs, in upstate New York!) were stunning. Green Lake and Round lake are both really deep after a sudden drop off; equal parts stunning and terrifying. And I cannot forget the color, the bluest blue to have ever blued in the history of blue.
More stuff to come soon now that there are no more exams, salamanders or assignments!

Sliver of Summer

It probably not going to last long, I am after all in upstate New York, where the weather has a peculiar attitude. So this May Day evening will be spent in the company of vanilla gelato with dandelion syrup on the front porch, basking in the city heat and enjoying my first day without classes.

Spring always jumps out from the shadows suddenly here. One minute you have the option of snoe-shoeing to and from classes, and the next the snowdrops and robins are out in full force. The cemetery is full of grey squirrels and pale green and blushing pink buds. And two days later you remember that you have shorts at home and no longer have to don jeans and three sweaters. Sneakers and aviators come out of their dusty corners of your closets.

But you always have to remember to savor it. Before too long it will be blisteringly hot and mosquitos and black flies will come from the wood work. They have to arouse from slumber too. And then it will be autumn again and the chill will creep back into the air. Spring, spring is indeed special.

I hope you are all having a wonderful first of May :)