Painting: Eaton Hamilton 2024 9″x12″ oil on oil board

ID: Three kids re-enact the evening after fishing, one holding rod and knife, one in apron eating something, one cooking fish in skillet over rock stove. Tones of brown, green, pink, yellow.

This was the closest I could come to a bear painting, I’m afraid, since I don’t paint animals. But oh the last weeks have been bearly bearable, at least if you ask me. Longer denizens of the area are likely used to it. There are 5 black bears wandering the streets and raiding the garbage, though two are cubs. Photos have been taken of bears trotting down the avenue with white garbage bags in their mouths. (Part of me doesn’t get it, bc presumably these are from the residents who’ve been here longer?) My dog walks are getting shorter and shorter and I’ve gotten her a bear bell which skeeves her out. It’s a fine time to be cuddled at home with our heartbeat puppy relaxing us bc it’s been wildly raining. The plants quiver with the Junuary weather, and I’m already counting down the days until it’s fall and I’m quivering too. The garden struggles.

The conservation officer was through here with a live trap, though I imagine she or he would have their hands full with the numbers we’ve got here. They didn’t leave the trap at any rate, preferring just to remind residents of the garbage rules (and probably the sad end to any habituated bears).

Hope your days have been a little less bear naked.