Ordinary Beauty

I am now officially the owner of 31.36 acres of land in the “red” part of Washington state.

Sweet.

While I am disappointed in the quality of community in that area, the beauty of my property overcomes my abhorence of the prevailing attitudes in the neighborhood.

Funny, I don’t intend to ever really occupy the space, but I’ve longed to own it for years. On Tuesday, we recorded the Deed which transferred the land from my father’s estate into my name. And now, I look forward to paying taxes on a splendid piece of real estate, and I daydream about developing it such that it can be an artist’s retreat. You know, a wee cabin and a deep well of cold water.

I’ve painted in those fields, have written pages about their creatures and the philosophies that come of living “in nature”. Those months I spent immersed in my different art forms were rich and I cherish them. Artist retreat, yes.

Here and there about are the remains of an old homestead, and there are rumours that moonshine was distilled there. Couple that with the current scat–the bear, cougar, owl, and deer droppings–and the spot has a hearty, romantic quality.Shall I drop you a line when it’s time for the road-building work party?