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For the next 24 hours, this painting is specially priced at $135! 
After 24 hours, it will return to its retail price of $225.
75% of the proceeds will go to a wildfire relief fund. 

This painting is 7" x 10". Click here if you would like to purchase this watercolor.

On a recent Sunday drive, we headed out past Chesaw and did the loop down Toroda Creek to Wauconda. On the way, just before Beth Lake, we had to stop the car to get this photo. The reflections were so dark and clear and the sky was such a pretty blue. Who wouldn't want to paint this? The Okanogan Highlands, just ten or so miles south of the Canadian border in North Central Washington, never disappoints, as there is always something beautiful to see. 

In this good life, sometimes we have to head down that road less traveled to find that quiet place that allows us to disconnect. The Okanogan Highlands are a place just for that. I jokingly teased my friend JP that I hated all the traffic there, as we pulled out onto the major highway, seeing no other cars to the north or the south. It was something that happened over and over, so I couldn't very well bring it up every time. My cousin was driving, excited to be showing her country to my friend. Delighted to find a real "paper" map in the back seat, JP was happily following the twists and turns of the roads as we went. There wasn't really cell phone service up there, so it was good to have the map and a navigator. We drove through a couple very small towns, along a river, past fields, pastures, and very old barns. Some were leaning precariously; another's roof had fallen in. "One more payment and it's all ours," I said, laughing, as I remembered it was something my mom used to say. 

When we got up to Wauconda, I walked up the hill and stopped for a bit. I like to close my eyes and try to name four things I hear. There was a bit of a hum from the road down below, but that was it. Someone (maybe John Muir) once said, "Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt." Isn't that a great thought? Somewhere down a dirt road with no place to be and nothing to do sounds like a perfect Sunday afternoon.

We were so happy to be out seeing new places and sharing our favorite spots with JP. Of course, I got a lot of pictures, and I will treat you to more paintings from that October Sunday. My heart is happy.

Thank you for reading my musings today. Also, thank you for your support of my fundraising effort for wildfire relief.

May you find a quiet spot of your own to unplug from everything.

Sending hugs and lots of love,

Kristi