I’ve never known anyone who possesses the energy that Maria has. Her head is spinning with art ideas, designs, money,  farm chores, firewood,  animals, Flo, and shipping and mailing problems.

She even worries about not getting outside to clean up Bud’s poop before he eats it.

She gets up in the morning thinking about the score of things she needs to do and does them. Like the man she married, she has trouble relaxing. Our heads are like electrical strikes in storms.

She is the Wiley E. Coyote of artists. We are working on relaxing; when we finished our little book fair, we carved out the rest of the afternoon to be calm, quiet, and relaxed.

I’ve taken many photos of Maria, but I’m not sure I ever really caught here when she was as relaxed as she was this afternoon.

The thing is, we pulled it off. Towards dusk, I looked over at the wood stove and saw Maria sitting quietly, as relaxed as I’d ever seen her. She never sits over there in front of the fire unless she stokes it.

Her face looked as calm and peaceful as I remember seeing it. I was very happy to see t.

I picked up the Leica 2 and fired away.

As I write, she is now in the kitchen whipping up another batch of Butternut Squash Custard. That is right after she took a long walk in the woods. She says these things relax her, but I’m glad I took the shot.

We’re hoping for a repeat tomorrow. I’m optimistic and was grateful to take this photo.