"Peebles Rd. - North of Toad Lake Rd." -- plein air field study -- oil on birch panel -- 8x10" -- Margie Guyot

This was the second painting I did yesterday afternoon. It was about half a mile south of the first painting. 13 degrees out. I had to wear 2 pairs of gloves. After finishing this one, I had to drive a couple blocks down to find a spot to turn around. Then I saw the Toad Lake Road sign. Brought back memories of last spring. It was the first time I'd driven home from Ellsworth and wasn't quite sure which road to take. I got onto Toad Lake Road. What a mistake that was! It's a dirt road that turns into a swamp! Goes for miles, twisting around in the farmlands. I've got 4WD, but there were times I thought I'd be stuck in the sea of mud. There was a lake back there and I'm sure it had plenty of toads.

"Peebles Road - S. of Essex Rd." -- plein air field study -- oil on gessoed panel -- 8x10" -- Margie Guyot

The 50 mph winds from yesterday died down somewhat, but it still was quite chilly to be out. The high got up to about 13 degrees with a windchill factor of minus 1 degree. I parked my Explorer on the side of the road and set up my easel right in front, using the vehicle as a kind of windblock. Had to wear 2 pairs of gloves. The blue sky began peeking out this afternoon, which was good to see. We've had a number of days of storms.

The land around here is quite beautiful, rather like Vermont, with rolling hills, ponds and streams. It's big farming country up this way, with lots of orchards and vineyards.

"Peebles Road, Looking South" -- field study on panel -- 8x10" -- Margie Guyot

Yes, it was 50 degrees. And yes, it was sunny. But my gawd -- the wind! It was roaring in off Lake Michigan, blowing straight across the empty farmers' fields, where it tried desperately to rip my hat off, blow over my easel and drive me insane! 5 times it blew the palette off the easel, landing the full, gooey color mess smack-dab onto my jacket. I was just covered with paint by the time I finished this little field study. Ordinarily I can paint & not get a drop on me. Not today!

Everybody was so excited to finally had a sunny, warm day! Our first "nice" day since last October. I knew I'd be out painting. The land around here is pretty hilly in places, with remnants of pine forests here and there. Many cherry and apple orchards in this area as well. I seem to gravitate towards picking a north-and-south-running road, then looking south. I like the perspective and colors. The blue haze in the distant hills. Noticing all the colors is so addictive!

I parked on the side of the road and kind of wondered if I'd be stuck. So if it wasn't the wind that did me in, it would be the muck. I'm not a big fan of wind. The wind, the Mistral, drove Van Gogh nutty and by God, I guess that's good enough for me. By the time I finished this, I'd felt battered. Covered in oil paint and battered from stem to stern. Exhausted from trying to hold my palette down and my hat and a paintbrush all at the same time.

The wind was so strong, it kept blowing my hand around. The hand holding the brush. Damn! And I was slowly sinking into the mud. But at least the mosquitoes weren't out yet.

Was glad to finish this. Drove straight home and threw my clothes into the washer. Had a cup of tea, some guacamole & Ritz crackers, changed clothes, then went back out again...