I thought all geese flew to warmer weather during the late fall months to avoid the cold and snow but I've seen quite a few different geese and swans around here this winter.
You can expect to find cats around a barn as sure as there are cows in it. If it wasn't for the hard work of the barn cat the mice and rats would be running the place.
Wouldn't it be nice if summer were here and the grass was green and the sun warm overhead? This painting is about as close as we are going to get for a few more months. The size of this painting is a lot larger than what I have been finishing lately, it is actually 13x21 unframed, which is large enough for me to complete in a couple of days. 
I guess I could call it the winter humdrums. After several landscapes I needed to brake away from the norm and try something out of my comfort zone that would challenge me as well as entertain me. I wasn't trying to reproduce this painting (Apple Picking, 1878) exactly (as if I could) but use my limited talents in this simple likeness. Homer used opaque water colors (gouche) to create a painting that was very dark so th sunlight striking the bonnets and folds of clothing would stand out. I've always appreciated this painting and am happy with my results. I'm going to frame it today and my wife already has a spot on the wall for it.