Backyard, beyond, and back again

Hello everyone!  I've been busy preparing things to sell at an open studios event that happened a little more than a week ago.  Now I have to replenish my stock of feltings!  Being occupied thusly has kept me from being here with you, so this is a catching up of sorts.  One of my favorite backyard birds is the California towhee...they do a little dance to stir up bugs and other fine edibles.  They are related to the speckled towhee which only visit the neighborhood occasionally...here is one from the big park nearby:

I'm sorry it's a little out of focus, but look at his charming beard that looks like upside down flames.

In the beginning of the month, I went on a trip to Mt. Lassen, which was hiding behind a cloak of fog and rain, so I'll have to return in better weather, but I found a place with a good cup of coffee; out behind was this old Ford with charming flames...

I wandered in the woods a bit and came upon these lovely horses, waiting for riders:

Now, back to the hummingbird...here is the one who built a nest in the apple tree, then fled because of a nasty encounter with a crow.  She abandoned her nest but came back one day to say hello and pick up some stuffing from the old nest to take to her new abode, but she didn't disclose the location:

And here is how that story played out in my imagination.  It's called "Hummingbird considering the risks of living in a neighborhood with crows."  I'm happy to say this piece has gone to live with a good friend.

That's all for now...

How it was, and Is.

Hello everyone.  The show opening went well!  It is easier to talk about my work in my imagination than it is in reality, but this was an opportunity to practice.  There were many artists in the show and each one brought 2 food items, so there was interesting delicious food and a lovely band.  My friend Marge graciously took these photos, as I was so occupied with talking.  Here are the 4 pictures I contributed:

This one is called "Too Much Phone":

More on the subject of this series can be found at www.steadfastcowpony.com  

Lately I've been sitting outside on my back porch at sunset time, listening to the birds and maybe working...this is the tree behind my studio at this time...someone told me this light is called 'alpenglow'...I love that word, even though I am nowhere near the Alps...

And then this...a minute later:

And lastly, here is Zoe, in her basket...she is visiting for a short while.  She's 15 and very sprightly, although you wouldn't necessarily know it from this picture:

That's all for now...may tax-time tax you lightly...xoxo...

Strange timing

The day after little Agnes died, I learned that 4 of my art pieces had been accepted in a local Cartoon and Humorous Art show.  One featured her as a character in a painting.  It was impossible to be very happy at that point, but I was grateful to have the work to do to ready the pictures for the show.  I had the pictures, which I'd painted using Photoshop, printed on silk, and then I mounted them on white needle felted wool, so that the effect would be soft.  Yesterday, I delivered them to the gallery, but took this picture first...you can see her little face, and the carved rock which the veterinary hospital sent to me, as well as the Keep Calm Carry On water bottle my son sent.  Once the show opens I'll post a photo of the pictures...at least I think I will...I am a big worrier about how they will look in public.  Anyway, all this has been therapeutic and a month has gone by, which is astonishing. 

That's all for now...