Already the thawing is beginning, the ice has lifted and the rocks are becoming uncovered along the embankment. Winter is not yet over, there will be another snowfall shortly, the last big one of the season. Soon, in a few weeks there will be a cover of Daffodils on the slope and the stream will be flowing more quickly with runoff from melting snow and rain.
This is water which is actually leaving from the pond that is just behind my back, as I stand and paint while looking through and around the limbs of young White Pine trees. I had been out jogging, and as I was coming down a neighboring slope from where I stood to paint this setting, the difference in the morning light brought this stream to my attention. As the view was fairly blocked otherwise, I hadn’t noticed it before. Coming back a few days later I set-up to paint and was challenged by the dense growth of young trees. Using bungee cords and rope, I was able to secure several sets of major branches aside from these adjoining trees without damaging them. This greatly improved my situation and allowed me to make studies and paint.