Audrey

She will be deeply missed.  Yesterday was the funeral of our dear friend, Audrey. Audrey gave us strength.  She was in the woodcarving class, on Thursdays, in the building next to where I was in the pen & ink drawing class.  She was a deeply spiritual person and she passed that feeling on in her ways.  She knew where she was in this life and made the best of everything.  My husband always had the stool next to her in woodcarving.  They saved each other's seats.  It was meant to be that way; she got inside his head and encouraged him every chance she got.  And then she never missed coming in to our drawing class next door to see what we were doing and to bring in whatever beautiful carving that she was working on to show us...and they were all beautiful.  She was a wonderful carver.  I am so lucky to have many of her pieces in my possession and I display them proudly.   Danielle has a little collection too, that Audrey so generously gave to her.  What treasures they are.

The service at the church yesterday was so meaningful.  There was not a dry eye.  She was so active in her church and her minister knew her like a book.  The good book.  Philippians 4:6-7  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Yes, "you're home" now.  Thank you for including us in your life.  You made a deep dent.  But I miss you.....

Adding things...

I guess now I am making a village!  Besides the one with the tiny boat, I reduced some little houses that I had drawn and put them into the landscapes too.

This little house tucks right into the valley.

Added a setting sun in the boat picture, as I know the person who is getting this loves to be out on the water at that time of the day.

And well, here's Henri.  He was playing with Wrigley (the golden next door) yesterday and they switched balls.  Wrigley had been rolling on it and so now Henri won't leave it alone.  I will have to steal it away and switch back again.


Now the next pictures come with a warning!  You know, doves are not the best housekeepers!  And now, the babies are on more than pigeon milk for their diet and so.....

Look how big they are getting!

O boy...

Proud Mama!

Working...

In between watching my bird's nest, I was feeling very creative, so I donned this new little long artsy dress I bought (haven't worn a dress in years, but it's just me) and got busy...

Lots of coated papers to use up.  I want to make some new ones!  So I ripped and ironed them on watercolor paper in shades of sky/water/land/sky/water/land...

and made about five of them...

and cut them into little rectangles to attach again to watercolor paper for cards...

I need a card for someone who boats and so I am looking and looking...

trying to choose where that boat can sail...

hmmm...

the dove family

I can't stop watching these doves!  Here is Mommy and a couple of little heads popping up.

And here comes Daddy to relieve her for a while.  So my two parent doves are safe and sound!  I was worried that one didn't survive the storm, but here he came, faithful as ever...

to take over the feedings.  When I take pictures from my art room, they are a little blurry because I am taking them through a screen.  Sometimes I take my camera with me when I go downstairs to water the garden and then sneak a couple of pictures from there, but I don't want to push my luck and make them stressful.

Mommy Dove

Here she is today with her two little hungry babies.

Isn't she beautiful?

I am reading "mourning doves of both sexes feed their hatchlings something called pigeon milk; a substance that oozes from teh lining of the parent's crop (an expanded, muscular pouch near the gullet or throat) and contains more protein and fat than either human or cow's milk.  Hatchlings eat nothing but pigeon milk until they're three days old; after that they're gradually weaned onto a diet of seeds.  The parents continue to feed the hatchlings until they're totally feathered out."  

and look at those little fluffy guys.  Little miracles!

an Artsy morning

Danielle was here yesterday and we did a little art project, which we haven't had time to do in quite a while.  Another great idea from Deep Space Sparkle; O'Keefe Inspired Graphic Flowers!  ..."instead of focusing on the center of a flower and creating a detailed drawing, it's fun to jazz up Georgia with some graphic qualities."

Babies!

Early this morning there was a terribly windy rainstorm.  I had to leave the house early to pick up Danielle and there was a dead dove on my driveway!  I have been watching these doves sitting on their nest for a while now and was so worried that that dove was one of mine.  I mean...panick.

When I returned home, Danielle and I watched all morning for the other parent dove to come...and I still only saw the one.  Maybe they look so much alike that they are both still okay, I am hoping.  And besides...

all of a sudden, I see more little heads popping up!

The babies are hatched!  This parent has been faithful all day and I am still hoping there are two.

changing of the guard...

Once again, we have doves nesting.  This time they have chosen the window box on our shed.  I can watch them perfectly from my art room and yesterday morning I witnessed the changing of the guard.  I was so excited!  Above is "Mommy Dove".  Below is "Daddy Dove".  They have a big job ahead of them.

"Eggs are incubated for 14 to 15 days.  The female dove sits on the eggs at night and during part of the day.  The male dove stands guard at night, often some distance away.  During the day, the male relieves the female so she can eat and drink.  Toward the end of the 14 day incubation period, both parents often incubate the eggs together to provide additional heat and humidity."  www.diamonddove.info

Art Show

Art Show today in Orland Park, today and tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday.  It's from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the shopping center on the NE corner of LaGrange and 143rd Street.  We will be there to represent The Center.

Here we were; Lois in the tent for The Center above and Marge in her tent below. Early in the day, there were lots of people passing through.  It was a hot day, but for the most part, a nice breeze.

The chicken

See this chicken?  I bought it many years ago at an art fair.  A really nice artist had made it and I thought of her every time I looked at it.  It was nice and distressed-looking when I bought it; just what I liked.  Over the years, while it enjoyed whatever it was picking out of my garden, it because more and more weathered and I loved that look.  I had pulled it out and had it sitting over among some other things that I was moving; deciding maybe to put it in the vegetable garden instead of the flower garden.  The next thing I knew, my hubby came in from the garage saying "you know that old chicken you had outside?  i gave it a nice new coat of paint.  Now all you have to do is to give him a nice yellow beak and a couple of eyes!"

I didn't have the heart to tell him.  What could I say..."thank you dear."

Thursday's Summer Art

Our art class thoroughly enjoyed Lesley's garden yesterday.  It was a warm day but there was a nice breeze blowing through the garden.

Lots of interesting and pretty things all around to spark our creativity.

The morning went by...

and it was soon time for lunch...

and time for the critique with Lois, which we all enjoy and learn so much from each other's artwork.  The first, above, is Joan's beautiful drawing.

Lesley's.  Looks just like the fairies could come dancing out.

Annette's.

Leona worked with watercolor pencils today and a pen & ink below.

I love windows and so I chose this lovely ivy-covered one to look at all morning.

Deb's.

Pat's.

Marge's two watercolors, above and below.

Tish's beautiful colors of the garden.

Lois always manages to finish a wonderful drawing in between helping all of us.

and soon it was time to end another week's session.  A beautiful day!