The Bear up the Tree on Third Street!

And who says nothing happens in this sleepy little town?

(Besides, me, that is!)

Okay, okay, I admit, it might not be the most original title, I admit! But this happened last week in my little town, not kidding. It seems that the bears have really enjoyed wandering the back streets of Naramata in search of bird seed, garbage and unruly composts.

We'd been out for a family dinner and upon returning, Larry (the glass guy) had left a message on our machine telling us about the bear up the tree, on Third Street. The tree was across from Larry's house and next the the public library. A group of people gathered on the lawn to check the poor cinnamon bear out.

I personally feel sorry for the bears. in 2003, here was a large forest fire behind Naramata which took weeks to contain. There is a lot less food in the mountains than there used to be. it makes sense to a bear to go where there is food. It makes sense to conservation Canada to make sure man and nature never mix- in the heart of the Naramata village, anyway.

As far as I know, this little bear has remained elusive. Let's hope he somehow makes his way back to the mountains on his own. Run little bear, run!

Side note:

I painted the crowd with no one in particular in mind, yet the people now kind of remind me of people I know- the scooter on the far right is Larry's- the guy who lives across the street from the bear siting. Larry and I have the same scooter so we are kindred scooter spirits!

The boy and the mother with the child remind me of my British friends Cerian, Jack and Baby Geordan, AKA The Ginger Prince. Next to Cerian is Virginia from the States, my neighbour in Turkey, and next to her is my Journo friend Jonathan Lewis with the camera. Rene says the man in the baseball cap looks like my Dad's hunter friend Ron, and I think the girl next to him reminds me of a teenage version of my sister, though the Birkenstocks are for Guy and Esbie! and the dog on the far right, is Nugget, who made an appearance in my last painting too.

Currently, my paintings are hanging in the Village Grounds in Naramata. This painting and "The Orchard Pruners" will be on display from Monday on.

A more formal announcement coming!

xxMelanie