Endurance

All the knots and scars on these trees demonstrate age and endurance. They are quiet majesty.

Yesterday was the first of a three-day plein air class. It was a good day. The weather was perfect. Not one drop of rain -- rain and watercolor do not go well together. It was hot but not unbearable, especially since I was lucky enough to find a lovely spot in the shade. I was delighted to discover two beetles (June bugs?) on a tree trunk and even happier when they did not fly away. Then, I realized these were shells left behind after a molt. Note the crack on the back where the growing bettle climbs out. It's amazing that it can squeeze out of such a small opening.
P.S. I did some searching online. This is most likely a cicada shell. Check out this Wikipedia posting complete with a short video of a cicada molting!