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		Flowers for Lydia, Placerville, CA
		May 5: This evening, right after a long walk, I got to work. It's usually a good sign, and reflects my enthusiasm for the situation, when I start right out with a decent painting. The family was out somewhere, so I played the dulcimer to celebrate and painted some more... It's good for the art to be with people who aren't familiar. There's a need to prove myself. And it's always good when someone you're staying with knows a little about the lay of the land. My host here is a geologist working on water quality monitoring. He was able to produce local topo and bedrock maps, told me where the creek flows, where to walk, and that the greenish rock I'd seen around here is serpentine... It's an interesting, comfortable family -- and the first family with children I've stayed with on this tour. Jacob's 9, and I think Lydia is 12. I find them intriguing and inspiring. They seem to like me alright, too. Doing art turns out to be a good way to connect with them.