birds — Page 19

Mid-Week Minutia

July 7, 2021 at 9:15 am by Claudia

I’m using my vintage Vernor’s crate to hold my painting supplies. It’s portable, should I need to move to another part of the cottage. Plus, I really love this crate, having grown up in Michigan where Vernor’s Ginger Ale (the best, in my opinion) was manufactured. When I lived in downtown Detroit, I used to drive by the main plant on my way home.

We seem to be in a humid/thunderstorm weather pattern here, with more on the docket today. I keep a close watch on our mama robin and the nest, though in reality, there’s nothing I can do. So far, I’ve learned that the female robin builds the nest, lays the eggs (of course) and keeps them warm. Ahem. Where’s dad? I have to give it to the Carolina wrens: he build the nest, she approved it, did the egg laying, and they both fed the babies. I know that papa robin will step in once the babies are born but so far…he’s an absentee father.

I have a book arriving today that I’ve long wanted to read. It’s by David Sibley, an authority on birds. Title: What it’s Like to be a Bird: From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing–What Birds are Doing and Why. I can’t wait to start reading it.

One of Don’s birthday presents from me was the new biography of famed director, Mike Nichols. (Sort of a present for me, too, as I can’t wait to read it.) He is devouring it. It’s written by Mark Harris, who I follow on Twitter. He is married to Tony Kushner, who wrote the prize winning play, Angels in America. There’s a lot of talent in that family.

It’s a gorgeous, albeit humid, morning. The light is beautiful, everything is blooming, mama is sitting on her eggs right outside our kitchen window.

And the mullein, or verbascum, that grows wild here is all over the back forty. I think we have more plants than we’ve ever had before. It sometimes grows to over 6 feet tall and has an almost ‘forest primeval’ look to it. These are the flowers. There are splashes of yellow everywhere. Mullein is often used as an herb.

I’m starting a new Roseville painting today.

And that’s it for today!

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Mama Robin

July 6, 2021 at 9:11 am by Claudia

This mama is sitting on a nest right outside our kitchen window. We noticed that she had officially taken up residence yesterday morning. And then…later in the day…we saw her lay an egg! It was extraordinary.

She’s there again this morning. I read that robins lay one egg a day, so I suspect there’s more coming. But, having said that, we have very strong thunderstorms coming today and tomorrow and this particular nest location isn’t at all protected. It’s in the crook of a branch on a black walnut tree with nothing overhead. I wonder how well she will weather the storm and/or if she might abandon the nest.

Fingers crossed that all goes well for mama and the eggs.

We mowed yesterday. It’s the first time I’ve mowed in a while as I’ve been dealing with shoulder and neck pain for over a month. I finally reached the point where I felt I could join in again, though Don mowed a bit more than me. It felt so good to be back at it. I also pulled a lot of weeds because the gardens had become messy during my ‘resting phase.’

We were tuckered out.

Coneflowers are everywhere. They’ve sprung up in new places. That’s what I love about them. They’re strong, beautiful, and they self-seed. What’s not to love?

And down by the street:

These beauties.

We’re off Lowes this morning to get a few things. Don wants to get going early because of the incoming storms, so after I post this, I’ll throw on some clothes and we’ll head out.

I finished the Elly Griffiths and now I’ll tuck into the next one in the series. I preordered the next Louise Penny, which comes out next month. Can’t wait.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

Water Lily, Number 5

June 30, 2021 at 8:53 am by Claudia

Number 5 is finished, unless I tweak it a bit more today.

Water Lily, one of my favorite pieces. I distinctly remember bidding on it on eBay.

I learn something every time I tackle a painting. I am reminded that I am new to this, so I have to be kind to myself while challenging myself to grow. I love really getting to know these pieces of pottery in a way I didn’t before I studied them in detail. And the result is that I fall in love with them again.

I’m not sure what the next piece will be – I have a lot of small pieces and low-to-the-surface planters, etc., but I think the higher, more vertical pieces are best for these studies – at least, right now.

I sat in the kitchen, sweating, for two hours in order to finish this one yesterday. One more day of this dreadful heat and humidity and then we’re going to get thunderstorms and rain for the next couple of days as the system breaks up and moves out. Our brains are mush. Don put the container of dry brown rice away in the refrigerator instead of the pantry. Whoops. Half the time we don’t know what day it is.

Oh wait a minute…that’s normal for us.

I water around 7 am and keep refilling the birdbath all day. Speaking of birds, yesterday, I noticed a robin up in the branch of the black walnut tree right outside our kitchen. He kept moving around and I thought he might be preening himself. Today, I looked out there and realized he’s making a nest. I mean it when I say it’s right outside our window. Very close to the house. So this morning we watched him work and work at making his nest. He sort of stamps his feet to tamp down the nest materials and his whole body vibrates. I’m going to take some photos.

Of course, this means we’re eventually in for another round of chirping and attacks. But watching all of this happen is an incredible opportunity, so we’ll put up with it.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Mid-Week Minutia

Mama Robin

Water Lily, Number 5

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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