WE HAVE BEEN HAVING LOTS OF VISITORS, BOTH HUMAN AND NON-HUMAN THAT
HAVE KEPT ME WELL AWAY FROM THIS BLOG. ALL GOOD INTENTIONS ON THE NEXT POSTINGS HAVE BEEN NULLIFIED AS A RESULT - SO I WILL TRY AGAIN! THIS COMING WEEKEND!
THE HUMAN VISITORS HAVE BEEN A MIX OF FAMILY, FRIENDS AND MANY CUSTOMERS TO OUR GALLERY.
THE NON-HUMANS HAVE BEEN A STRANGE MIX INDEED. CHOOK IS A STRAY CHICKEN THAT SUDDENLY WALKED IN AND TOOK OVER THE SPACE VACATED BY BANDIDO, THE BABY RACCOON, A FEW WEEKS AGO. BANDIDO IS STILL AROUND BUT HIDES MOST OF THE TIME.
 |
| BARRED STOWAWAY CHOOK - SHE MOVED JUST AS I SNAPPED THE IMAGE! |
 |
| EL BANDIDO |
THESE TWO CHEEKY LITTLE CRITTERS WERE RIGHT OUTSIDE MY OFFICE WINDOW, PERCHED ON THE SAME BRANCH, CHECKING TO SEE IF I WAS AT MY DESK. GOOD JOB IT WAS AT DIFFERENT TIMES OR I DOUBT THERE WOULD BE A CHOOK. LIVE CHOOK IS ONE OF THE FAVOURITE FOODS OF 'COONS! CHOOK, IF YOU ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE TERM, IS THE COLLOQUIAL AUSTRALIAN NAME FOR CHICKEN. I GUESS IT COMES FROM THE NOISE THEY MAKE!
THE LAST OF THE LARGE NON-HUMAN VISITORS THAT HAVE MOVED IN ARE A LOT OF FALLOW DEER, ONE FAWN IS IN THE ABOVE IMAGE CHEWING ON SOME PRECIOUS PLANTS IN FRONT OF MY STUDIO. I NEVER SAW DEER ON THIS PROPERTY FOR THE FIRST 25 YEARS THAT I LIVED HERE. THEY ARE NOW HERE ALMOST ALL THE TIME BECAUSE OF LOSS OF THEIR HABITAT TO NEW HOUSING. IT WOULD BE LOVELY IF THEY CAME IN TO JUST LOOK NICE AND MODEL FOR MY CERAMIC SUBSTRATE DRAWINGS AND GLAZE PAINTINGS. WHAT'S MORE, THEY WANT TO BE PAID WITH THE MOST EXPENSIVE AND RAREST PLANTS IN MY GARDEN!
WE HAVE A SEEMINGLY ENDLESS ARRAY OF BIRDS INCLUDING THREE VARIETIES OF HUMMINGBIRDS. THE AMOUNT OF FOOD THAT THEY EAT BETWEEN THEM KEEPS US IN THE LOW-INCOME BRACKET. THE PONDS ATTRACT HERONS, KINGFISHERS AND WILD DUCKS. THE ACTION IS NON-STOP AND A CONTINUUM OF IMAGES AND IDEAS FOR ME TO INTERPRET.
APOLOGIES
I PROMISED THAT MY NEXT POSTING WOULD BE ABOUT BRUSHES AND BRUSHWORK. IT IS PARTLY DONE, BUT IS PROVING MORE COMPLEX THAN I EXPECTED. SO THE NEXT POSTING WILL LOOK AT MORE OF THE GARDEN AND PLANTS IN MID - TO LATE SUMMER BLOOM. BRUSHES AND BRUSHWORK WILL FOLLOW THAT.
SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
Speak to me not of deer! This year they ate my hostas, the lilies, and day lilies....just the tender buds and leaves and a lot of the violets. Not the common purples that like weeds, but two varieties of white, bird's foot and dogtooth.
ReplyDeleteThankfully, Winter our little puppy (teen-ager?) with a big bark has learned to bark and chase deer and other animals. There are thousands of acres of woodland behind my house.....why us?
I am looking forward to your brushes and brushwork. I am looking at the cover of Making Marksas I write.
Thank you for the note, Robin; It's nice knowing what is happening in your part of the world. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteNo matter what your subject matter you are always interesting! Hope you are feeling better. Pray for us in Florida, Isaac is on the way. Nadine
ReplyDelete