Illustration Friday: Blur
Originally uploaded by Sultry

Peet the Parakeet lives at Petland and watches his pals spin in circles around him.

Hope it isn't "cheating" to use a photo to this degree. But I'm learning the range of my camera as well as working on drawing and painting. I've included the original photograph for comparison.

Little Things

In spite of glorious weather, a devoted husband and prospering adult children, I've been under some sort of cloud for a while. I am well aware that there are still clouds in my sky, and that it is up to me to focus, ignore or deny their impact.

But I've had a small success or two.

I signed up and actually went to a (relatively) early bird walk this morning at Connemara Conservancy. There I found 25 or 30 like minded bird watchers. Some older and as creaky as me, many with binoculars or cameras with GIANT lenses. Through a 'scope I saw a Lincoln's Sparrow, (above left) a kestrel and hawk (missed the name of the specific kind.).

I had to turn back early because I had a professional peer meeding, but at that point I saw two red-bellied woodpeckers. I think the guide called them flickers, but I haven't been able to find out what is the difference, if any. Bird identification has lots of detailed mysteries.

I made it back to the car, home and to a friends house in time to be punctual for a mini seminar of peers about the deterioration of family life advantageous to child rearing. I hadn't read the book, because I assumed it would be "more of the same. But apparently it isn't. The author explores the tensions between "family values" and "individualism." As with the argument about healthcare, I don't understand why it needs to be so oppositional.

The bird walk was my third longish walk in three days.

When I got home, DH wanted some together time, so we went (no surprise) to Legacy Books. He got a new book by a favorite "hard" SF author. I got a discounted book of folk tales about confronting fear, Richard Russo's That Old Cape Magic, and two (2!) knitting novels. I hope to substitute reading for late night eating.

I finished two steps in a secret knitting projects.

DOING helps combat those dark gray clouds.

Illustration Friday: Thin

A friendship can weather most things and thrive in thin soil,

but it needs a little mulch of letters and phone calls

and small silly presents every so often--

just to save it from drying out completely.

Pam Brown

Some of us, as we age, think we might turn into witches, or that we can "afford" to eat as much chocolate as we want. Margaret and Helen have been friends for 60 years and blog about what they think and feel. As we approach All Saint's Day, Hallowe'en, The Day of the Dead, I invite you to head over to their place and read how much fun one can have even after "a certain age.

It's a relief to me, I'll tell you!

Sky Moon Leaves

I sometimes enjoy photoshop art as much as painting. AND there's no clean-up or turpentine fume lightheadedness afterward.

With thanks to "Uncle Mike in Knoxville" for permission to "mess with" his photograph. :-D

Illustration Friday: Fast

"It is an old and ironic habit of human beings

to run faster when we have lost our way."
Rollo May

Daddy's girl

Daddy's girl
Originally uploaded by Sultry

This darling came in to Starbucks with her dad... after karate I suppose. I hope he appreciates her adoration, beauty and openheartedness.

Click on the image to go to the photostream where there are more pictures of her. I think these shots make me as happy as any I've taken so far.

Illustration Friday: Frozen

People praise virtue, but they hate it, they run away from it.
It freezes you to death, and in this world, you've got to keep your feet warm.

Denis Diderot

Click on image to see higher resolution version at Flickr.