Animal Wednesday - Videos

I know I've been absent all week, things have been busy (VERY busy) at work, and I got a stomach bug that lingered thru the weekend. I'll tell the work tale later in the week, for now - let's enjoy videos and photos from recent kayaking trips.

The swans didn't like it when I got too close to them, but were they ever magnificent when they took off.



Listen to this one with your eyes closed, it's not particularly pretty - the point was to catch the bird sounds which were incredible in that section of the river. The birds were so loud, and raucous - flying about, swooping down to get sips of water from the river; protecting their nests - it really was amazing.


These swans were making noise and waddling around. None of the swans were interested in having us get too close


I saw a muskrat swimming along. At first I thought it was a beaver but was way too small, and when I saw that skinny ratty tale - well..hello rat by another name!



He looked to have a cozy house amongst the tree roots.

Happy Animal Wednesday everyone!

Animal Wednesday - A Daffodil weekend Dog Parage

This was the cutest parade ever. Dogs of all sizes and shapes and people of all sizes, shapes and ages happily walking their decorated pooches down Main Street.

Happy Animal Wednesday!!!

Discussing new art

I occasionally remember the original reason that I started this blog - it really was to work on new artwork, get feedback from others - sort of put it all out there. Since I am shy (I really am KJ, it's true!) and wither from confrontation - especially about art - I felt blogging was a safer way to get feedback.

Anyway, that has worked and not worked for me. Blogging has turned into a precious part of my life in terms of meeting people, expanding my horizons and thoughts, challenging me with sharing my art thru exchanges - you know it all...and I love it.

But, I still like the original concept - so am going to share a new set of drawings and the explanation behind them.

When we were kayaking last week, it was a peaceful time. We paddled slowly along, watching wildlife and just drifting. Of course, my thoughts drifted below the surface of the water, wondering who was down there and what they were doing. I imagined little water people, swimming around with the fishes and laughing up at these big earth people in boats. I started to imagine a whole new world under the water and dreamed up the Water Lily Girls. Came home and decided to draw them. What you see here is a work in process, and I have about 5 more drawing in process. Let me just state that I am not happy with the watercolors, they got blotchy and messy but right now I don't care. I was using a new paper that absorbed the color in a different way than I am used to. Doesn't matter at all, I plan to redraw the ones that I am not happy with. I wrote the explanation below to get me started on who they were and what they do.

Water lily girls live in lakes and ponds. They are made of a watery substance and can swim thru the lake like an earth girl would walk on the ground. They live on the bottom of the lake in little houses, with lily pad leafs for doors and windows. They have fish for pets and have to take them for walks, just like an earth girl would take her dog for a walk. The ride pond turtles for fun, and swim with schools of fish in a race. Their favorite thing to do is to climb onto lily pads when it's raining and dance in the warm rain. At night they climb onto the lily pads and grass around the pond and play. They leave their wet footprints behind, which early morning earth girls call Morning Dew.

It's like little Miss Em meets the fishes. But not really. These creatures are somewhat mischievous and not scared of much. (How do you explain that characters that you made up have totally different personalities? But they do! This is the first time I have realized this!)

Anyway, just thought I'd share. Have a lovely day...

What the kids made me do

After they dug up my entire flower bed that I've been wanting dug up for a few years - the nephs came in to play on the MAC.

You can have alot of giggles on that photo thing on the iMAC.

Early Sunday AM

It's early, early Sunday morning. I'm checking out blogs and leaving comments and suddenly realize that one of my nephews, who are both here this weekend, had signed into his google account and had not signed out. So if any of you see a comment from brianmcglynn....it's really me. I'm used to being the only one who uses this computer, so never check the sign in.

So yes, the boys are here this weekend and we've had a great time so far. Friday night dinner with their mom; then I took them home and we watched some movie. Up early Sat AM to fly to Nantucket for Daffodil weekend. It was a fantastic day, gorgeous flying. Both boys got a chance to sit up front with Uncle T who let them fly the plane for awhile and he taught them a few things about how to hold the plane steady and all that kind of stuff. Home to a cookout, and just hanging around. Today I will have them do some work in the garden, so they can earn a bit of money (yikes, gotta go to the ATM!)


Sean in the front on the way home.


Brian sleeping in the back on the way home.


I never tire of being with these kids. Of course, I adore them and feel closer to them than any of my other nieces and nephews. But they are also so easy to be with - we talk and share funny memories, and discuss things so openly. One of them is going to the prom next week and conversation led to a discussion on what girls expect the boys to do. We all agreed that we (the aunt and uncle) had no clue as to what girls these days expect - and he'd better check quick with friends. (but I'm thinking a good night kiss is in order!). We talked about college, and looking at schools and when to start doing that. We talked about books and movies and I showed them some new artwork. They talked to Uncle T about sports and cars and flying and maybe some other stuff that I'm not privy to. They know that Uncle T needs a GPS locator on him so that when we lose him, it wouldn't be so hard to find him in a crowd. They know that I will stop for any dog that looks my way. I know that they don't like mayonnaise on their sandwiches or items like potato salad.

They're family, and it's good to spend the weekend with family.

More Nantucket pictures later in the week. On Daffodil weekend there is an antique car parade and tailgate picnic party and this year they had a DOG parade. So you know what you'll be seeing on Animal Wednesday don't you. Here's a promo shot of one cute pooch.

Peaceful

We went kayaking after work tonight. Peaceful, a bit windy but lovely. Red-winged blackbirds everywhere. Geese, ducks, frogs.

A lovely way to finish the day.

Animal Wednesday -random

I've been going thru some older things, trying to see what I've done, what's been posted, what hasen't. Found this Black and white odd fish thing that I've always liked.

And recently Cris ( I think it was Cris) posted about a red billed duck and I remembered this drawing. I still don't know what type of duck it it...but I like his red beak.

Happy Animal Wednesday everyone! I'm getting back in the saddle after being away for a few days - the weather here has been gorgeous, great for evening bike riding which we did last night. Saw frogs galore - hopping from pond to pond. Stopped and watched a beaver...and he stopped and watched me with interest. Did I have my camera??? no, of course not!!! But him I'll draw from memory this week.