As we drove up to Blue Mounds I could see the beautiful cliffs.  We passed the miniature church on our left (read about it at Roadside America http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/4456) as we entered the park.  Ben, Orion and I visited that church the first time we came to Blue Mounds on our “Southern Minnesota Adventure” back in spring 2012.  I could see the bison herd on my right in the distance as we entered the park, a beauteous sight.

We got to the park and checked in.  I had mentioned to the park ranger that we had been here a few years ago and I was excited to be back.  She told me they didn't have a lake anymore!  I was surprised to hear that the old Civilian Conservation Corps dam built in the 1940′s had burst (official pictures at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/blue_mounds/storm.html).  Three years ago we had crossed that dam during our hike.  Ole, our English Springer Spaniel, was in dog heaven sniffing out golfer holes and flushing birds like no tomorrow.

When we pulled up to our cart in site it was one of the most beautiful camping spots I had ever been to.  Large Sioux Quartzite boulders, green grass, a stream and beautiful trees.  A gorgeous day.  We set up our tent, canopy and made P, B and J’s.  Then we hiked over to the bison observation deck to check out the scene.  We could not see a single bison!  I set up my painting station anyway because the view was spectacular.  The rolling tallgrass prairie, and cloudy blue skies were just what I needed to paint.  Ben and Orion helped me sage smudge my sacred work area and offer tobacco before I set to work painting.  Ben and Orion wandered about taking pictures of the land while I put down my first brush strokes.  No bison, but big sky prairie and rocks.  Painting #1 took an hour and a half.  Not bad for a 8″x10″!  

I then decided to move down the road where I could see the bison herd off in the distance.  The herd was so far away it was hard to make them out.  As any artist can tell you, a painting has phases.  The first few strokes usually feel euphorically amazing to lay down.  They are wonderful, creative, bright, full of potential.  You think “This WILL be a masterpiece!”  But then time passes, strokes become harder to put down, tighter, less playful, focused.  The painting is in it’s ugly teenage years.  “Fuck, this is awful!”  I exclaimed to the bright prairie sun.  “Just please make this less ugly.  Nobody look at me painting this piece of shit, please...  Oh God, a passerby.  Look focused!” “Nice painting!”  The young man shouts from the window of his minivan.  Oh man, really?  I’m flattered but really you don’t have to say anything.  I’m sorry Great Spirit, you gave me this one task and I’d done fucked it up...

Eventually Ben and Orion came out to visit me.  I asked Ben’s opinion “You need better transitions, rocks- eh don’t look rocky.”  Then he looked me in the eye and said “You don’t look good.  You need water.”  He was right, I could not remember drinking much water at all, and the sun was so hot and bright out there, even under my Aussie cowboy hat.  Ben fetched me water, and after a few sips I felt like a new woman.

I busted through some of those hurdles, and another man stopped his SUV in the road.  This time he came out of the car and sauntered over to me.  “I really like your work!  Do you do many farm paintings?  Do you sell your work?  We love the prairie!”  Score!  We chatted for a bit and I gave him a business card before he and his family drove away back to Nebraska.  My painting was finally on the upswing again and coming together.

I got another lovely visit from my family and decided to pack it up and call it a day.  We ate dinner, had a butt-load of smores, and took a hike down to the busted out dam.  Orion on our way back decided he didn't want to walk anymore and threw a full out temper tantrum.  He stopped in the road and refused to come unless we carried him.  Ben and I had been carrying him a bit up to this point so we said “If you don’t walk, we will leave you here to live with the coyotes!”  Orion refused, so Ben and I walked about an eighth mile down the road and stopped.  Orion was still standing in the same spot screaming at us to come pick him up.  Instead, Ben and I stood there holding each other in the beautiful sunset and laughing while Orion stood there and screamed.  Got to take those romantic moments while you can!  It was too beautiful outside to not be happy.  Eventually Orion started walking toward us, still screaming.  We looked at him and so he walked backed to where he had been standing originally and screamed some more.  I turned to Ben and said “Just ignore him” We both watched him out of the corner of our eyes walk toward us.  That whole episode only took a half an hour or so.  We have the patience of saints :)