Category: Musings
This is an index of posts that fall into my “Musings” category. Usually it’s on a topic that has no other defined focus, but sometimes these are also my philosophical-type posts. Subscribe to Wild Ozark™ » Musings by Email
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Northern Lights in the Ozarks
I’d always wanted to see the aurora borealis, and this year I’ve seen it twice. Northern Lights in the Ozarks are pretty rare to see. How did this Happen? These colors are the result of the electrons from the sun …
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The Things I See at Wild Ozark
The other day as I was driving to the office for work, I saw a beaver at the second bridge. I stopped to watch it and took some video. Then on the way home that day, I saw deer, mostly …
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Paintings from Earth Pigments
My path to becoming a painter was sort of traveled in reverse. I found the pigment first, but wasn’t sure how to make use of them. After some experimenting and research, I made a set of watercolor paints. And then …
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Experiencing Nature and the Rule of 3
There’s a technique for dealing with anxiety that involves observation. It goes by many different names, but the one I know by is called the Rule of 3. I’ve found it to be excellent, not only for anxiety, but also …
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How to Add Nature to Your Life
Research shows that having a connection to nature is beneficial to mental health, and those who spend time outdoors are likely also enjoying physical benefits. But, those who either live in cities, don’t like the usual ways people experience …
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Random Nature Connection – Resistance to Change
This is an older post, from 2015 about resistance to change. With so much change in the air these days, it felt like a good time to repost an old post. When I see the ice lifting tiny rocks and …
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What Constitutes Nature?
When you think of ‘nature’, you’re probably thinking of green spaces, trees, creeks, rivers, etc. But what else could that word encompass? This post is about questions pertaining to perspective and perception; about what constitutes nature. Gloria is probably more …
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Seeing the Milky Way & Scorpio Constellations
After dark last night, we sat on our balcony and waited for our eyes to adjust. Seeing the Milky Way is always special, even here where we can see it often. The night was perfect for viewing – the moon …
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Mindfulness | Hermit Diary
While the world was in Covid shutdowns, I’d begun making blog posts I called ‘Hermit Journals‘. While I’m glad we’re not still in lockdown, I miss making those entries. So I’m going to start them up again as …
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Wearing Many Hats & Vacuuming the Cat
First of all, let me say that vacuuming the cat went way better than I expected it would. This post is a departure from my recent types of posts. This is me practicing getting a blog post written, about whatever …
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What Makes the Art My Own?
I’ve been struggling with a decision about whether to purchase blue pigment or continue using the indigo. While I can source local indigo or grow my own, it isn’t a permanent pigment. Does it matter if I use outsourced pigments? …
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Busy Times at Wild Ozark
Spring ushers in busy times at Wild Ozark. I’ve got a host of things I’m working on, and Rob does too. Most of mine are real estate, art and garden related, and most of his are solar and homestead tasks.…
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Four of Wands
This is an example of the imagery that arises when I let my imagination guide my artwork. It’s one of the earlier paintings I did after finding out I could make paint from the rocks here, titled “Four of Wands”. …
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The Land Inspires
There was a time when I thought it was only this particular place I call Wild Ozark that held such importance in my life. While I do truly love this place I’m planted, over the years, through travel and difficult …
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Ephemeral Anticipation
Around this time of year, when the grass starts to green up here and there, it stirs me to watch for the short-lived, earliest spring flowers like bloodroot. It’s the annual ‘ephemeral anticipation’ time. The vernal witch hazel is just …
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Little Rock Pile on the Counter
When I walk around out here, I’m always finding rocks that I like for some reason or other. Sometimes, it’s a good pigment source. Sometimes, there’s a fossil imprint I like. If it’s small enough, it comes home with me …
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Running Errands, Preparing for Bad Weather
The approaching weekend and the week after has foreboding forecasts, so today I spent the day running errands. And preparing for bad weather. That usually means COLD weather out here. The only other thing we get during warmer months is …
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Cutting Firewood, an Endless Homestead Task
Today is Christmas day and the family festivities are over. I had taken some pictures the other day with the intention to write a blog post about firewood, an endless homestead task. But time got away from me and so …
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2024 Art & Life Plans
Sometimes art & life plans work in synchronistic harmony here at Wild Ozark, just because everything here acts as inspiration for my art. But, it always feels like I’m flying by the seat of my pants. No routine, just trying …
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My Real Name: Roxann Riedel
Today I went to the Madison County Sheriff’s office to get fingerprinted. I expected to have black finger tips all day, but they don’t do it with ink pads anymore. They use something like a scanner instead, so that was …
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Art Goals | Baby Steps Towards The Art I Love
One of my art goals is to be able to paint scenes like the ones I’ve admired in other artworks. Now that I’ve begun using my pigments in oils, I feel as if I might actually be able to reach …
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Picking Up Rocks, Digging up Mountain Mint, & Ordering Art Calendars
Today was a busy day of getting orders processed. The first one took me down to the creek to do a little bit of picking up rocks. That was a relaxing little while of walking around, looking at rocks, stooping …
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Obstacles in my Art Journey | Painting a Portrait
I find it odd that I can paint an animal fairly well, but throw a human into the mix, and if there’s a face, I balk. Human faces are one of the biggest obstacles in my art journey, and I …
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Making a Temporary Fix in the Morning, Painting in the Afternoon
I was mending fences with a temporary fix in the morning, painting in the afternoon, and keeping a close eye on Rob in between. Temporary Fix, Twice and a Dead Battery Thursday morning, when Rob took his morning walk, I …