Energy and inspiration

So the old tilting tree had to be felled. The process involved much deliberating and risk assessment until Andy, Josh and I finally decided to go for it. Josh and I were positioned along the path with a rope and Andy choosing his spot to diamond cut and slice. Crack and fall. 4 weeks of wood. Sweet as.

The last three days have involved me refining my chainsaw and axing skills. Zen and the art of the swing. Half a ton of wood chopped in an hour is pretty satisfying...until you try to build a fire and you haven't any opened pinecones. It is all a fine balance! Caz has been busy photographing the olive harvest here at Moses that started for real yesterday on a sunny saturday. The cold and frost have come, the ideas have come, the energy is flowing, and a week of rain starts tomorrow. Time to plan, prepare, build, draw and consolidate.

89: Wed 24/11

Old listing tree is felled.

From afar the forest

Looks unchanged.

90: Thurs 25/11

Fifty years in these

Trunk rings stacked

Like a pile of giant sweets.

91: Fri 26/11

Sandy colour in the light

black jagged shapes underneath.

Vulture skims trees.

92: Sat 27/11

Relieve the trees

of their bounty -

here is your olive branch.

93: Sun 28/11

Frosty logs and grass

The green gold hillside

Winter sunlight gently short.

Back to the sketchbook

85: Sat 20/11

Trackside trees bow

To the flash of

The axe and saw blade.

86: Sun 21/11

The old folk mingle

With the ember smoke

Children's glee and sniffing dogs.

87: Mon 22/11

Bright race of clouds:

Peach, purple and blue

A welcome return.

88: Tues 23/11

The stones shimmer

mutating in pools

of colour on my page.

78: Sat 13/11

Rain washes the deserted town -

Headlights carve into the forest night.

79: Sun 14/11

The wagtail hops aside

As we collect logs.

The forest breathes.

80: Mon 15/11

On yellow tree hill

Moors tunnelled for gold.

81: Tues 16/11

Giant finger of cloud blots

Far star peak, rocks

Gently change colour.

82: Wed 17/11

Bird flashes before me

On the steps

As if from a catapult.

83: Thurs 18/11

The sky is dark within

the vast moon halo.

An illusion, but still a gift.

84: Fri 19/11

Fallen tree I shave your limbs.

Easel, house, spider?

Exhibition hung

So the nights are drawing in and there's a chill in the air. It's a time for fires: inside and out. We have all had some good walks on local paths. The most revealing was on 'painter's path', in which you can take in the whole vista looking back down the valley to Moses. I went there when Caroline was in the UK photographing. I spent 3 hours in the sun painting the view that included Andy and Vonnies house. It is called 'Cabeco' and means 'knoll.'

On Nov 5th Caroline and I returned from Porto airport to everyone sitting around a large fire. The experience of primal warmth, conversation under the stars and the mesmerising crackle and spitting the fire makes is incomparable. I expect there to be many more of those this winter.. We have also said goodbye to Johnny, Ollie and Anna after some great times. Have a great time in India Ollie and Anna and see you soon Johnny.

On Wednesday I finally finished the series of paintings I have been working on for the last 8 weeks. They weren't what I was expecting to see as a body of work but I am happy with many aspects of it. It definitely feels like I've relaxed in technique towards the end. It's amazing how long it takes to get to that state. For the next few weeks it's back to the sketchbook and a chance to use my new watercolour set. The exhibition went up yesterday and looks good. While we were hanging we got a few enquiries so hopefully that bodes well. The private view is on Tuesaday 16th and Andy and I will go out publicising in Amieira and Sendinho on Sunday. It will also be a good opportunity to meet some more local people. The local town Oleiros (or Trumpton) had a little drama yesterday also; one of the restaurants in the square had been shut with police tape! Nothing like this ever happens here so it's caused quite a stir.

So it has been a month of industry, relaxing, soul-searching, communion and fires. Still plenty of time to make sense of our place here and beyond if that is how it pans out. We are all looking forward to the arrival of Caroline's parents, Pat and Allan on Sunday for a week. It will be interesting to see what effect this place has on them.

71: Sat 6/11/10

Sardines smoke by the terrace edge

The stump waits as a drunken seat.

72: Sun 7/11/10

Old building watches

The new friends part

The camera clicks.

73: Mon 8/11/10

Pumpkins, dog and child.

All the scene needs now is

A wise old woman.

74: 9/11/10

Sunlight prisms through the swirling rain -

Am I dreaming?

75: Wed 10/11/10

Dogs fight, goat stares, donkey steals.

How manicured the terraces look.

76: Thurs 11/11/10

The paintings are themselves now

The fire goes out, vision speaks back.

77: Fri 12/11/10

Stranger wants a portrait drawing

or are you eyeing the pocket painting?

63: Fri 29/10

Mouse escapes from the cat's jaws

Squeaking like a punctured toy.

64: Sat 30/10

Orange heads bob through the green

juvili are nowhere to be seen.

65: Sun 31/10

Roar of the stream

Drips on the ledge

Wind a sonic boom.

66: Mon 1/11/10

Sunlight peppers the fallen log

Child sorts the kindling in neat piles.

67: Tues 2/11/10

Flash of blue and a rowdy squawk

It's a jay, testing some dry branches.

68: Wed 3/11/10

Bat thrown into

perfect silhouette against the glass.

The daughter laughs.

69: Thurs 4/11/10

Drunk on the november sun

Why are we in a pool hall now?

70: Fri 5/11/10

Mesmerisingly

The embers crackle and glow

Conversation neath the stars.