Aaron Holland Fine Art

We went "scouting" for future painting sites on our way home today (Some of the other members of our Plein Air Painting group are fond of finding the best possible places to paint). We stopped to take note of a barn with some horses in front of it and record the location.

I was happily surprised to see that the horses actually came up to say hello and let themselves be petted and scratched under the head.

I called some friends of the family the other day to convey an important message.

The six year old son answered the phone and I said to him, "Hi Tommy, is your Dad or Mom available?"

He said quietly, "no, they're busy".

"Okay", I said, "well, is there anyone else that I could talk to? " Hoping he would pass me along to an older sibling.

"The Police are here", he murmered.

"Can I talk to them?" I asked with apprehension.

"no" said Tommy "They're busy"

"Okay" I said, becoming concerned. "Tommy, is anyone else there that I could talk to?"

"The Firemen are here."

"Tommy, could I talk to them." I stated with emphasis.

"no, they're busy too." said Tommy.

At this point I was very concerned, and I said calmy" Tommy, what are they all doing?"

"Looking for me" he whispered quietly...

*

The old professor finally decided to take all his disabled umbrellas to the
repairer's...

Next morning on his way to the office, when he got up to
leave the street car, he absentmindedly laid hold of the umbrella
belonging to a woman beside him, for he was in the habit of carrying
one. The woman cried "Stop thief!" rescued her umbrella and covered the
man with shame and confusion.

That same day, he stopped at the repairer's, and received all eight of
his umbrellas duly restored. As he entered a street car, with the
unwrapped umbrellas tucked under his arm, he was horrified to behold
glaring at him the lady of his morning adventure. Her voice came to him
charged with a withering scorn:

"Huh! Had a good day, didn't you!"

*-unknown

"I believe I have had the most trouble with a portrait which I painted in installments -- the head on one canvas and the bust on another.

The housemaid stood the bust up sideways, and now I don't know which way it goes. Some authorities think it belongs with the breastpin at the top, under the man's chin; others think it belongs the reverse way, on account of the collar, one of these saying, 'A person can wear a breastpin on his stomach if he wants to, but he can't wear his collar anywhere he dern pleases.' "

There are only a few rivers where I live.

One of them (though it is really only a stream) runs through a large open field of tall grass .

The day was hazy, and I followed the stream as it meandered through the grass, looking for a place to paint...

It was an enjoyable walk. I was heading back to the car to get my gear when there was a disturbance in the grass- a large movement. I was hoping to see a deer, which always makes the day better, but was happily surprised to see a large Turkey (about three feet, round) pop up not ten feet away.

Ahhhh, nature.

Turkeys are common, and I have seen a number of them, but none so close as this one. Just last week someone had mentioned that Benjamin Franklin had wanted to make it the National bird. This person laughed and expressed his relief that it was not chosen, because "it's rather a dumb bird", he said.

I didn't know about that, but those were my thoughts as I looked on this large bird.

He didn't fly away as I expected him to, instead he began cackling very loudly and flapping his wings and running around. I gave it a wide berth, but instead of running away he started running towards me. I moved back, he moved forward. I moved left, he moved right. It was not your typical square dance. All the time it was cackling loudly at the air.

I was pretty sure I could take it if I had to, but I didn't want to find out how I was going to do it.

I stopped to see if it would just keep going, but it kept circling and cackling and flapping its wings wildly.

I made loud noises and kicked at the air. Now I was looking as dumb as the Turkey. (A grown man yelling and kicking and waving his hands at a turkey smacks of the ridiculous, but I assure you it happened just as I am describing it).

Well, the Turkey finally ran off when the Vultures arrived.

I looked into one of their eyes (so cold as death). I could hear their wings flap just above me. Needless to say, I didn't stick around to talk Turkey with them.

I walked rather briskly from the scene scratching my head and decided I could surely find a more peaceful place to paint than this...