Wet Weather and Watercolor

Left: "North Fork of the Virgin River" 8 x 12 by Roland Lee

We have had unprecedented moisture in the state of Utah the past few days, which is fortunate for the ski resorts but disastrous for the canyons and deserts. We experienced both as we were pounded by the white stuff while visiting our grandkids in northern Utah, then endured a looooong snowy drive back home only to find the southern deserts being flooded by burgeoning rivers. It's amazing to see nature's incredible power at work and see the landscape carved before our eyes. It is indeed a thing of beauty and terror at the same time. Today I posted a painting on my website of the north fork of the Virgin River the way it looked only a short time ago--quiet, gentle, and harmless. The irony is obvious.

Underneath that big pile of white stuff is my truck. Brrrrr!

Flying with the Wright Brothers at the National Finals Rodeo

Roland Lee (center) with Saddle Bronc riders Jesse Wright (left) and Cody Wright at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas Nevada.

Each year we head south to Las Vegas for the National Finals Rodeo. Of course we spend plenty of time checking out the artists and artisans at the "Cowboy Christmas" show before the rodeo.While there yesterday we stopped at G bar G to visit with a couple of our Utah contestants, brothers Cody Wright and Jesse Wright who are ranked (today) #1 and #3 in the world in Saddle Bronc.