April 20, 2011

White Dog and I think one of the best features of our house is the enclosed front porch with screened arch topped windows. The porch is sheltered by two ancient mulberrys and is a lovely environment to watch sunrise, breakfast, just hang out, or observe the world unnoticed. We cover the windows during the winter as an energy saver and reopen things in Spring after the windy season (to keep out dust). Sometimes Mother Nature beats us to the window uncovering and her gusty breaths rip the plastic from its moorings. The picture is a rendering Steve did in Revit as a sample for his class.

The porch is Quinn's favorite spot to nap. He loves the concrete floor and will often sleep, head under the loveseat, through the afternoon. This is where I paint during the "nice" seasons.

This is where I was this afternoon, working on a Welcome to the World present for Ava Mae, a very dear friend's soon to arrive girl infant. Yes, Quinn was napping, under the cafe table. White Dog was beside me. Puff lay on the welcome mat at the front door and Nuka was sprawled across the entryway into the house.

A slight breeze rustled our new leaves on the trees. The birds sang. The sun glittered between the branches. It was the perfect calm and peaceable aura under which to work on a baby's gift. Suddenly, I looked at White Dog and she cocked her head.

Yes, it was music. Not a car passing with it's stereo too loud or the young adults next door "jamming out"...it was a band tuning up and in minutes the neighborhood was filled with a concert. We live one block off of historic Route 66 and it is still the center of our neighborhood. It seems some of the shops or boutiques were celebrating something with a party!

The music was eclectic--some reggae, some folk, a little hiphop--and was pleasantly upbeat. All afternoon the WDA and I enjoyed the music as I sketched our project, paused for a jerky snack, watched Michael come home, and privately communed with nature.

When the music stopped late afternoon, the silence was a bit jarring, but then the UPS truck drove down the street which prompted new music--the White Dog Army Deliveryman Chorus!