Cascading Clouds Austria Pastel

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Austria is a lovely country. I had a chance to visit it the summer of 2009 as a guest of a woman I met while living in Florence, Italy. Sylvia took me hiking during several of the days I stayed with her in her charming village south of Salzburg.

I tend to move slower than most people. This is because I stop a lot and look at all kinds of things. Paths in the mountains do not always involve retracing one’s steps in order to return. And even if they did, the light will most definitely be different. So, I tend to pause to glance back often. One day in Austria the afternoon light began to change fast. You could smell the impending rain in the air. I turned to look behind me and was completely blown away by the loveliness of the sky.

Clouds seemed to be gushing towards us over the mountains like a river bursting from a dam. I saw pinks and purples in the light and dark parts of the changing sky. It was a moment to stop and drink in. Sylvia and I did just that. I felt mesmerized and at peace. I wanted to stay longer, but my friend was concerned about the approaching darkness and rain.

I wish that I could paint smells. But maybe the pastel painting I created of this Austrian landscape will remind you sometime of the peace, drama, and beauty of the Natural world. Maybe you can recall the scent of approaching rain. I hope that you enjoy “Cascading Clouds – Austria”. She is a pastel on board and measures 16” x 20”

Wildflowers, Water, and Herbs in Alps Mountains, Cercivento, Italy

Cari Amici,

The mountains seem to hold everything, including these small gems of wildflowers that I have photographed. These images were taken in the Alps of Cervicento, Italia, in the region called Carnia (Alpi Carniche) I have always loved blue flowers, especially when wild. The flowers in these first two images are named “Eyes of the Madonna” and I do not know the name of the other tiny blue wildflowers that have the white or yellow center with the dark dot inside.



This red flower is called a mountain rose (by my friend at least). She does not have much of a fragrance either, but is still quite lovely.


Allora, water is my favorite thing to drink. Only, I prefer simply H-2-0. No bubbles. No chemicals. No minerals. Just the beauty of three – 2 hydrogens plus one oxygen. Cercivento has the best tasting tap water that I have had the pleasure to drink in Italy (and elsewhere). It comes from mountain streams, such as the one you see me drinking from and at another, filling up bottles. (OK, yes these bottles are plastic, but I did not prepare adequately and wanted a proper souvenir of my trip.)


It is near these pure water streams high up in the mountains that the following medicinal herb grows. Although my friend did not know the name of this plant, I was enticed to try it. (I am sometimes amazed at how trusting I am!)
One eats the spicy leaves, not the flowers. If you know what plant this is, please share the information by way of this blog or my e-mail address. Va bene?

So, I hope you enjoy these images and that you start noticing how beautiful are the small things around you.

And now, I bid you good evening as I return to determining my summer teaching schedule in Texas.

Ciao ragazzi!
Kelly