I have just photographed my most recent painting, Vanished Trail, which I'll deliver to Trailside Gallery in Scottsdale tomorrow for the Western Classics Show.  It is an unusual painting for me, for it includes water...lots of it.  It depicts the Verde River near our home.  Many of my pieces include dust and dry country and it was a comfortable change  to work with a riparian landscape.  The Verde is one of Arizona's major rivers and it actually begins at the bottom of the canyon just below our house. This scene occurred  near the Verde's headwaters.  My husband, Dean, was teaching a young horse to pack and the river canyon is a great school ground.  The next step in the filly's education, was to carry the weight of salt blocks and soon...she learned to carry the weight of a man. She is intelligent and learns quickly.  Currently, she is advancing her skills with a trainer and  is leaving a very favorable impression with him. Perhaps the soothing waters of the Verde were a good beginning for her.  She, Pinto and Dean followed the trails along the banks, dodging bushes and jumping ravines until their trail lead down the bank and vanished beneath the water's surface. She, then, trustingly followed their lead as they crossed the depths to the other side.    As I said, she learned quickly.   We're excited about her future and I am excited to share this painting with the gallery.