Like most artists, Maria can be temperamental. When she is broody or irritated, as she was yesterday, she will often go off to a corner of the farmhouse and sketch, or she might go off into the woods to meditate.

Last night, she went off to the dining room table and just sketched. It is somehow very healing for her, and when the black dog comes, I just leave her alone.

I did realize that this was another great portrait opportunity as she had taken out a dozen of her plants from the window to keep them warm in the cold wave and storm. Another face of Maria. I love all of them.