Gone to Ground

‘Gone to ground’ usually means someone has gone into hiding.

The phrase originally referred to a fox going into his hiding hole when he was being chased during a hunt. From this perspective, it seems more like seeking the safety of home or burrow than simply hiding away.

My sense of home is strongest when I am out wandering among the creeks, collecting rocks, or when getting down close to the forest floor while looking at plants or critters. When I go out for a wander, whether it’s a slow drive down our dirt road or a hike up the mountain, it is as if everything else in the world outside disappears, not me.

Although if I didn’t let anyone know I was heading out, then perhaps it does look a bit like I’ve disappeared without a trace.

Gone to Ground for a Few Minutes

Sometimes I leave the house a few minutes earlier than I need to when I’m going to town, especially if it’s near sunrise.

And by the same token, sometimes I take more time getting home, especially when it’s near sunset. At those two opposite ends of the daylight hours, the lighting is often perfect. I see too many beautiful sights to drive past without stopping.

Gone to Ground for a Long Time

In some ways, choosing to move out here in the middle of nowhere that has become this place called Wild Ozark, it is as if I’ve gone to ground for a long time, maybe for the rest of my life. Or at least until one or the other of us can no longer maintain this lifestyle. The simple act of driving the six miles of dirt road to reach our gate is an action that unwinds. With each mile, I disappear a little deeper into the hills. A little farther down into the burrow of safety and seclusion.

Inspiration for Paintings

Everything that moves me becomes inspiration for my paintings. When I’m in the mood for going to ground, then I see a lot of inspiring sights that compel me to stop. To linger and immerse in the light, mood, and soundscapes of nature.

If you’d like to see the art inspired by this wild land, click here to go to my porfolio. And if you’d like to buy some property in this neck of the woods so you can find your own place to go to ground, text or call me. My contact info is below.