Years By The Creek: an Introduction

​My journey along Koshkonong Creek began in 2024 when my husband Steve and I bought 26 acres in Albion Township, with the creek marking the northern boundary. Half of the land is high ground with woods, fields under cultivation, and remnants of an old homestead. The rest consists of wetlands—what I sometimes  call “the swamp,” though that term doesn’t quite capture the gentle nature of this place. I truly cherish this place.
Immediately the land struck me as resilient, despite years of neglect. The Emerald Ash Borer had wiped out the black ash forest, so what was there even a decade ago is no longer. Except for four acres of rented, tilled land and a few trails used by hunters, dense vegetation had overgrown everything, including the once inhabited farmhouse.                                         

​We had owned the property for a week before realizing there was windmill scaffolding. A pumphouse was so buried beneath fallen and overgrowth that it was inaccessible. The farmhouse was visible, but half of it had fallen. A silo stood in silent testimony to the once active farming activity. Fortunately, the barn had been removed at some point in the past, so we were not faced with that hazard. Steve and I both saw the challenge and potential. 

​A month passed before we were able to access the creek on the northern border. We knew it was there, but because of heavy rain and thick vegetation, we couldn’t even walk to it until we put on waders and carried machetes. When we finally got there, it was magic.

"The Ashes on Koshkonong Creek" Watercolor, 14 x 21

​As an artist, I find endless subjects on this property to paint, both in watercolor and oil. I expect my desire to capture the surprises and intrigue of this precious place will continue for years to come.