Cliffy's Mom's Blog: Today's Project

"Display on Dark Water", acrylic on canvas, 9x12"

After 87 years on the planet, my dear Dad has left for higher ground. I am so very sad. He was a great man, my best buddy and the source of so many good thoughts and conversations. I will miss him horribly, forever. It is still so early, and I haven't thought about how I am going to come to terms with this tremendous loss, but I feel every day pulling me farther away from his time here.

This is my firat painting since he's been gone, a fitting one as we often sat out on the deck at camp in the evenings, listening to the loons yodel and howl as they flew over to settle into Bailey's Lake. It was my favorite part of the days on Drummond.

Dad gave me a great gift in sharing his love for the natural world. He taught me respect for the earth and for all living things. When I am walking through the woods I usually see something that I can't wait to tell him about. I know I will always think of him when I am in the woods. I hope that, because of this, I will somehow be able to keep him close by.

Native Americans considered the loon the totem of dreams. To see a loon signifies that you are drawing closer to your dearest hopes and wishes. Of course, to the mainstream, a loon is a term for crazy -- which at this point in time, is totally accurate. With the current mess
of characters crawling out of the woodwork, it would have to be loons.

It's either that or vultures.