Back in the summer of ’06 in Lama, New Mexico where we (Len, my honey and I) are building a geodesic dome home,  he had had a pit dug the year before.    Hence the word ‘ soterano’,  in Spanish it means root cellar.

Now this summer of ’06 was hot and sometimes wet and we started to hear frog like sounds coming out of the open soterano.  There was a puddle of still water in this 10 x10 x10 foot hole in the dry high desert landscape of northeastern New Mexico.     And we were hearing frogs?         Hold on now,

but sure enough if we sat really still on the edge of this pit we could see little itty bitty movements in the mud.  So of course we went in.  We slipped and slid and Explored!!!!…..

You need to understand that this pit, this hole in the ground was just dug up for the first time in probably human history.

here, right here the center post will go

That this dirt hadn’t been exposed to sun and light and open air since who knows when.      And here were these amazing teeny, tiny little brown baby lookin’ frogs with HUGE round, green as grass eyes;  singing and mating, chasing, catching and eating flys.

WHERE did they come from?  There are no frogs that we’re  aware of  on this high mountain mesa in north eastern New Mexico.

We, Len and I, think that they emerged after being dug up and exposed to the elements that they needed to come alive.  So we believe

Anyway……. on with the story;

So here it is springtime of ’08 and we now have a house floor

L O V E lives here

and walls over the sotarano.

Sugar Shack

I took on the task of carving

Steps to

into the hard-packed earth to create steps down into our root cellar so  I was spending a lot of time there and saw a few more interesting things……

These mountain lion prints showed up after a rainy cold snap this summer.  Nice huh?

cougar was here

And then there were these:

ancient mushroom/flower

ancient mushrooms in sotarano

closer

another close up

We’ve looked them up and can’t seem to make much since out of them other that that they are mushroom flower looking plants:

Anybody have any idea or are they an ancient flower/mushroom?

Here it is May 6, 2012

We now have a solid lived in for 3 years geodesic dome over this soterano, and I’m missing all that beautiful heat of summer down in there. Just thought I would repost (and it’s raining, yeah, or sprinkling anyway)

peace n abundance,

CheyAnne

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yellow rose sketch with my watercolors

on an afternoon was we were listening to coast-to-coast

my new Yellow Rose blossom

I love, love, love yellow roses.

Back 30 years ago as of July 24, 1982, when we brought our first son home from the hospital, my yellow rose was blooming and I fell in love with this color.

My favorite yellow that I just adore is the yellow that is tinged with pink on the edges, but it seems a little harder to find.  This is a Knockout from Wal-Mart, and it’s just yellow, but such a wonderful rich lemon yellow that changes to white as it stays open.  And the scent is just heavenly and fragrant, A little spicy and yet sweet too.  At first I wanted the yellow to last longer, but the more I grow it the more the white grows on me too.  Perfect for a moon garden. Seems to be doing pretty well with a little rose food and moisture.  So out came my watercolours, just to sketch, not necessarily produce a finished painting.

yellow rose watercolour sketch

and I tried another one with a darker background, but lost my momentum

sketch w subject

I hope you enjoy and have a wonderful day.

I have lots of original watercolor paintings, finished and everything, on my etsy shop along with beautiful photographs.

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I am offering giclees for sale at the moment

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I’ve been so, so busy working in town, building our second dome, starting mini-gardens and PAINTING…..

my second painting of “Ponies in Meadows” series.

All my life I’ve been heading here, dreaming of here, manifesting my life here, and painting what I love:

"azúcar / Sugar" on my deck

So now all she needs is to get her picture taken by Barry Norris Studio, a world class professional  printing studio,

"Sugar" in the Springtime Orchard

along with his sister “Springtime She Cardinal”  so prints can be numbered or not.  Not sure what the  pros and cons of all that are just yet.

Won’t be long and if you would like to purchase either painting, please let me know through my email here on my etsy links and I will take $25. off either or both if you purchase both at the same time., original painting when you mention this comment (first come first serve).

Sugar and Cardinal SpringTime WaterColours

peace n abundance,

CheyAnne

I hope your spring is as magical as mine.

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(cause can we ever stop at one?)

Golden White Yellow Glow Rose

I was soooo struck by the light this morning.

Must be because I started my morning with this beautiful rainbow around the sun before it peaked over the eastern horizon.  Just out my kitchen window.

Rainbow around the Sun

pretty cool, yes?

rose glow

Heart of a Yellow Rose

this is a Knock-Out rose that I bought last year.  I Love it.  I’ve been growing it all winter inside and it has burst forth in early springtime glowery.  yup that’s a work I just made up and it is so true for this rose.  Rich yellow buds at the first signs of uncurling

warm yellow rosebud

or a cooler version of the same rosebud

cool yellow rosebud

and then to open up yellow and fade to white.  They smell great and look amazing.  Few petals so that each one stands out on it’s own.

I remember reading on Pioneer Woman’s blog about Knock Out roses and how she thought they were pretty awesome.  Well I think so too cause even when it seems like roses are too picky, these aren’t and they give you wonderful lemony spicy flowers to enjoy.

If any of these strike your fancy for a beautiful rose photo for your wall, you can find them on my Etsy shop

peace n abundance,

CheyAnne

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fields of purple

Purple Crocus Pushing Thru Watercolour

I painted this for all those people in love with my Purple Crocus Pushing Thru Photograph

purple crocus pushin thru

This has been a super=duper popular photo for tons of Etsy Treasuries Lately.  Everyone wants spring to be here Now.  Me too.

If the watercolour is of interest to you, you may pre-purchase this for $75. Just let me know and I will send you and invoice through you email.

Thank you so much for checking out my site, and I would love to hear your comments.

peace n abundance,

CheyAnne

ps. Rose your piece will be ready this week. Hopefully Wednesday, Thursday at the latest.

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Dusted

and this is the post she read.

http://wp.me/pj6XA-kS

CandyCorn Pueblo Ponies

Ponies that stand out like a beacon to us that love horses…

pony moving thru cottonwoods

if you look closer you will see him looking back too…..

First Snow and October Autumn Leaves of Gold

Autumn Gold and Turquoise Blue Windows of Old

Please Don't Throw Rocks in the Pond

thru the aspens there sits a house

that use to house of master of crafts

and this is only half of what I saw on my way to work….. on this fine October Morning outside of Taos, New Mexico in El Prado.

Exquisite Pink Peony Watercolor

I think this is so romantic, delicate and soft

this sold on my etsy store and I’ve order another one from my printer  @ iprintfromhome   (I have the link to them on the right side of my blog page)

If you would like one, just let me know I can get them in different sizes