Ruisseau

After a week or more of unseasonal drizzle and cloud, the sun finally decided to pop out again last Thursday. Would have taken the opportunity to finish off that 'stream' painting I started a couple of weeks ago but, by late afternoon (when the shadows are exactly right), the clouds had returned. Sunny all day yesterday though so I knocked up a quick Thermos of tea and nipped down the stream. Well, when I say "nipped", I really mean "slogged" - there's a one mile drive followed by a quarter mile march carrying easel over shoulder, painting in one hand and two bags of equipment in t'other. Last time, I took the dogs (have to hold Sprock on lead part of the way - tricky with only two hands, both of which are full), but this time I left them at home. Felt a bit guilty. Anyway, got set up and rattled off a couple of hours' paint sploshing. Stopped just before the valley darkened into shadow. Took a couple of snaps, had a couple of fags and teas, packed up (messy business cleaning a palette), trudged off back to the car, drove home, picked up dogs, drove up Pierrefitte way and had a lovely walk in the evening sun. Eventually got home at about nineish. Great, these long sunny evenings.