Challenge Day 9 : Blue Pipe

                                                                     "Blue Pipe"

                                                          Oil Painting on Canvas "12x24"

                                                                     Available Here

On a farm work is never done, much like housework, and there is always something that requires maintenance or improvement. Like much of the Southwest, we are experiencing a significant drought in the Sacramento Mountains. Not knowing how much water is left or when the drought will end necessitates responsible and efficient use of that finite and essential resource of water. In order maintain the health and growth of our orchard we have steadily transitioned to modern and efficient irrigation systems. The scene depicted in the painting is our work truck staged with the new irrigation pipe waiting to be installed.  As I stated earlier work on the farm is never done and every time you set out to accomplish a task you first spend a day repairing tools and equipment so that you can start the task and then finish it.  The truck depicted in the painting is a workhorse, but it certainly demands attention to keep it working. I'm not sure what it is about our dogs, but they all seem to possess a bit of destructive nature. You may have already read the story of Whiskey, the flower destroying dog, but if not, it can be found  here.  In the past year we have had to completely replace  the electrical systems of two of our farm trucks.  The culprit of the damage is, none other than our Blue Heeler Cattledog, Moe.  An almost obsessive compulsive affliction takes over Moe when in pursuit of squirrels, such that when squirrels have taken refuge in the undercarriages of vehicles, Moe after having waited patiently for hours,proceeds to tear out electrical systems and essentially attempts to dismantle the vehicle around the squirrel. My husband, loves Moe, however, he has not been amused by Moe's antics, but I hope that you are and that when you look at this painting you can imagine Moe waiting under the truck patiently for a squirrel to depart its hiding spot.



                                Moe, squirrel hunter extraordinaire and dismantler of vehicles