This isn’t the best photo, but here’s the latest in my Pottery Portraits series. This is a basket vase in the Clematis pattern. I am unable to use Lightroom, my photo editor, because it’s on my laptop. I would have sharpened the photo and resized it, etc., etc., by my hands are tied. So this is what you get. I’m happy with this one – the handles were my biggest challenge. In fact, I had started a portrait of it a while back but the handles threw me, so I moved on to another vase. Glad I tried it again.
I got a little daring with the background color, but I like it. Don really likes it.
I miss my laptop.
I did a lot of weed pulling yesterday and that was satisfying. Today will be….wait for it…sunny. All day. So we’re going to mow the front lawn, and we’ll time the mowing of the area outside of the kitchen window (where the nest is) when mama is absent from the nest. Yes, she’s still doing it on her own. And yes, I know that normally, both parents take turns feeding the babies. I’ve watched robins and their broods many times – one time they were right outside my window on the balcony of a place I was staying in while working in Wisconsin. I got to watch the entire cycle. That’s how I know papa is absent. She is doing it all. I worry for her as she must be exhausted and there are probably at least 7 or 8 more days of this until they fledge and even then, she’ll be the only one helping them while they’re on the ground. I’ve called her my hero before and that’s even more true now. I don’t know what happened to papa, I don’t even like to think what happened to papa. If they are the same pair that had babies in the nest by the shed, he was a diligent, hard-working dad. It’s sad.
I stood in the bathroom, camera in hand, for a long while, waiting for mama to feed the babies. It’s hard to get a clear picture when there are black walnut leaves all around the nest, but here you can see her feeding one of the babies. I know there are at least two babies, but I think there are three.
We’ll probably take a short break from Wallander (last night’s episode was incredibly powerful) to watch the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics. I always enjoy them. I’m not sure actually going through with them was a good idea, however. And I keep reading of decisions made by the Tokyo contingent as well as the IOC that I find quite troubling. But watching a contest between superb athletes is always exciting, so here we go.
Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
