On the fifth morning of our painting workshop in Taos, I took my students to a lovely and peaceful meadow behind the The San Geronimo Lodge, about 5 minutes away from the Taos Plaza. The sage and grasses were so dried up--practically colorless. I had a tough time with this--being a colorist. But out in the middle of this dry straw colored grass was a beautiful display of purple asters. Still, no rain, but the clouds were surely dramatic and a bit threatening at times. Kathleen Elsey