Finding The Calm After The Road Rage

Last Tuesday, the traffic on the interstate was unusually heavy. With road rage closing in on me I made a quick decision to exit the highway for a less traveled route.  It took only one deep breath and a Roseate Spoonbill to know I had made the right choice.  There for my private viewing she waded elegantly in the shallow water by the roadside.  Without a car in sight I turned my wheel, circled around and stopped to do some serious bird watching and sketching.   With dusk approaching it was time for me to move on feeling grateful for the calming effect of nature, a bird and the back road home.

An Unexpected Visit

Unexpected,  she was waiting for me when I arrived at my studio.  Her sweetness and soft pastel hues made me smile. Hurry, I thought to myself she will fly aware, but she stayed waiting with patience  while I gathered my pen and paper. To my surprise this sometimes annoying bird radiated a gentle and sweet calm.  My hurry turned to tranquility as I finished her portrait.  I thanked her as she raised her wings and flew into the vast blue sky.

The Belted Kingfisher

Looking for shorebirds to draw I found instead a handsome kingfisher.

Rose Found a Home

Sometimes the home your artwork finds is one grand feeling. My Rose sold to Rose to give to Rose her granddaughter. Rose was the family’s name passed on thru several generations.  How sweet it is that my Rose sold to a family of Roses.

Elegant Grace

 

 

Strolling  thru the gardens I met up with her.  Poised and graceful she stood with feathers sparkling like a finely made exotic costume.  With confident elegance she began dancing to her music, and then, she was still and I knew what I wanted to capture while drawing Grace.

 

Five Hundred Small Steps

Yes, it might be a cliché the small steps analogy but today I say YEAH to small steps. Reaching 500 likes on my word press blog is special, so thanks all my likers I greatly appreciate it.

Lo and Behold

Lo and behold, “the sparkling  crowned egret” moved with me only to leave me behind.  She sparkled and glistened with the water beneath her. Spreading her wings she was off, leaving me only with a memory to take to my studio to draw.

The Sparkling Crowned Egret

Today, while walking I saw a great white egret. In front of me she stood with amazing grace and stillness. Following her lead I mindfully stilled myself and observed the varied shades of white that embraced her, I watched as her crown sparkled from the golden sun.   With the details of my view fixed in my mind I began to move on, wondering just how long she would remain still. 

The Bird That Changed My Mind.

Discouraged with how life was going way back in July, I stopped posting on my blog.  Computer woes,  hackers trying hard to hack,  the elections,  all left me wondering why bother?  It seemed everywhere I turned I found anxiety.   Running away to Neverland sounded like a good option.  But, one day on a slow long walk in the woods a black-capped chickadee changed my mind.  Right out of my hand she ate and chirped and just like that  life was spectacular.

Crow On My Porch.

Flying songbirds hop, skip and fly away but crow decided to stay.  He stood still, without a flinch, so still crow stood staring at me I thought he might not be real. How long crow stared was long enough to begin to make me uneasy.  So, I stomped my foot, jumped and twisted but still crow stood and stared.  For sure crow is not real I thought and then finally he walked away.