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.
Oh, I’m with Don. This painting is excellent! I love the background color too. And that Mama robin is wonderful. You got a delightful picture of her and one of the babies. You must have a very welcoming yard for this robin.
Well, we have a LOT of trees!
Thanks, Tana.
Stay safe.
I agree with Don…love this background color.
Poor Mama robin must be tired. I’m sure you would see Papa robin feeding them too, if he was around.
It’s heating up in Michigan. It looks like we will have high 80’s and humid for the next week. The humidity doesn’t agree with me at all.
Stay safe
Nor does it agree with me. I understand.
Stay safe, Marilyn.
So very beautiful! The background color is perfect. Happy Friday!
Thank you for your kind words, April.
Stay safe.
Just a quick not to say that you are an incredible painter!!! Can’t believe you just started in the past few weeks. Unbelievable. Your friend you’ve never met, Chris
Thank you so much, Chris!
Stay safe.
Yes, the wisdom of still holding the Olympics; it’s a tough one. Here at home with me and the husband, we’ve made some new modifications since the Delta variant continues to explode in our environs: He has ended (pretty much before it could even begin) a part-time job that put him into ‘way too much contact with the greater public among several different ‘infected’ towns between three counties here in Southern Calif where our positive virus cases are swelling. Felt it was too much risk for me at home with my immuno compromise (breakthru infection would be rough on me; maybe not so much on him; but who knows; it’s all down to that oft-repeated mantra of assessing individual risk even though we’re vaccinated; he had worried he could be asymptomatic for the Delta variant and didn’t want to have to go for a Covid test so frequently in order to protect me; is easier to just stay home and how grateful are we as retirees that we CAN do that [a lot grateful]).
We’ve returned to sanitizing product before we bring it in the house. He may return to early-morning/senior shopping at the grocery store although he dreads getting up at those hours. We’ve cleared the calendar of everything but the most-essential medical appointments so as not to have to be ‘out there’ more than we need to be. (Not me, but my husband has been enjoying himself lately [with my encouragement], meeting up with friends, going out to eat, shopping at all hours and anywhere; NORMAL desires for everyday life after so much lockdown for all the many months.) He had a flight scheduled to the Upper Midwest after Labor Day; he has canceled his trip as of yesterday, to the disappointment of both of us. Was on a plane out of state in June; doesn’t want to now be doing that in September. Things have changed. Rapidly. These unvaccinated citizens are going to potentially make the rest of us sick and overwhelm the hospitals. Again. (Sigh.) I find I’m worrying so much about the children; these little ones under the age 12 who can’t get a vaccine.
But we’re back to distancing. Did a drive-by with a friend to exchange birthday gifts. She said, “Oh, Vicki, take off that mask; you’re vaccinated!” I stood up for myself and said, “It’s staying on; I like it on.”
It’s so bad about your male/papa bird. I understand how it makes you sad, Claudia. But I love how you’re very engaged in their lives; of course it’s also just fascinating. Amazing photo as usual.
Verdict is out but I’m thinking this could be your best painting yet because to draw those ‘basket’ handles (paint them I should say) had to be quite a challenge. For instance, when I used to paint a thousand years ago, I did one sunset piece with a rising moon where I found it really just impossible to do a round moon; I couldn’t get it right (of course I refused to sketch, so was trying to do it freehand with the brush). And, yes, agree with Don, fab colors. We’ve actually got some Roseville with that color or close to it, so you’re spot-on with your contrast/companion colorway. I continue to find it completely amazing that you are SO good as a beginner painter. At one point do we no longer call you a beginner?!
Have a wonderful weekend free of rain. I hope over here West that we get out of this latest heat wave (in a series of them) in the next day or two before it all starts up again. I’m so tired of 90s and humidity (that, natch, never brings rain with it). And the murky skies; the summer haze; yuck. At the beach yesterday, it was so gloriously cool at water’s edge around 10am; I didn’t want to leave to go inland!
It looks like my unease with visiting my former student was right on the nose. Because now, about ten days later, we’re being told to wear masks, to social distance, etc. you and your husband made the right decision.
I think you should still call me a beginner, Vicki.
We still want to get to a beach and we’ve still not done it. Sigh.
Stay safe!
Oh, I didn’t even think of that! Your intuition; I’m glad you listened to the little voice in your head about the student even though it made you feel troubled, understandably.
You’ll get to the beach eventually. But the plans on hold do seem interminable. Some people are proceeding; again, they have to determine their own risk and none of us should fault the other, although, sorry(!), I do fault people not getting the vaccine; it makes no sense to me at all. Again, I have several of those in my own family and realm of acquaintance and I try not to let it put a wedge between us, but I feel they are playing with fire of the worst kind with their anti-vax/anti-mask stance. The experts had always warned us about Fall of the year and the virus; just concerning as to how it ramped into high gear so quickly in summer, which is going to put the country not where it wants to be going into the critical autumn/winter months.
My husband and I had a solemn conversation yesterday (had it once; don’t want to ‘go there’ again), considering our advancing age, as to whether or not ‘virus’ will be a part of our lives til we kick. I hate the doomsday thing; it’s not very uplifting and I always vote for hope. But if enough of the world can’t get vaccine or won’t get vaccinated, apparently the ‘germs’/enemy virus will just keep ‘morphing’ and going into new variants, so we’ll have to get into our comfort zones of how to live with it, like ongoing, with no conclusion to it.
This is TMI, but I came across an article about U.S. citizens wanting to still hit the highways and byways on their summer road trips but still feeling a need to avoid public restrooms over lots of miles to their travel destinations by car. So, the inventive entrepreneurs have expanded on the ‘camping’/camp supplies theme by coming up with all kinds of portable/one-time-use ‘urinals’ (unisex ‘helps’ for man, woman, child; elderly) to carry in the car. Has some kind of substance in ‘the bag’ to quickly make a liquid into a solid (cat litter clumping effect??!!), closes like a zip-lock baggie when your ‘job’ is complete; toss it in the trash/garbage once you get to a receptacle/dumpster.
Can use discreetly in the car if you’re parked in the right place! Not very expensive to purchase either. Folds up flat and small to put in your handbag or glove compartment of the vehicle. I’m going to buy some for our SoCalif home ‘earthquake stash’/emergency supplies for when The Big One hits and temporarily wrecks our infrastructure. Anybody here who doesn’t have a bit of quake disaster prep on hand like bottled water, canned food, etc. is just stupid (I used to be one of the stupids; I tend to get in denial about our earthquake threat; lately, the bigger thing on our minds is wildfire threat/evacuation).
Anyway, gotta find the humor in these scary Covid times. I suppose this is more of my naivete/ignorance about such matters as the weewee dilemma of See The USA in a Chevrolet during a pandemic; can imagine cross-country truck drivers on a deadline might have used this sort of thing for years!
What is this item called? I wouldn’t mind having some on hand – it sounds like a great idea!
xo
Okay, the reason I came across the article was because I was fact-finding for a cousin who’s in his 70s and can’t travel easily because of a prostate issue which is sometimes just the way it goes with senior-aged men (and lots of older women have bladder problems, too, sometimes as a result of childbirth or surgery or whatever [and how about when any of us just drink too darn much caffeine before hitting the road and then find ourselves sorry for it!!!]).
Just get on Amazon and search stuff like:
Disposable urinal bags
Camping pee bags
Unisex Bags for Travel
Traffic Jam/Emergency pee bags
Travel John Resealable Urinal Bags
Travel Jane Disposable Urinal Bags
I’m not endorsing any of this; haven’t tried any of it; again, a slew of stuff on Amazon to choose from, all types; I never went further with it (yet) to check other stores!
Thanks, Vicki!
i love the overall look, lines, balance, details and the background color choice of this painting (too) … all of it. claudia, you just completely skipped the “beginner” stage in oil painting and zipped far ahead to “incredible artist”! :)
sad to think about mr. robin’s absence. sometimes i can’t watch nature shows on pbs or online for that reason, but i know that’s the way it is and try instead to focus on the beauty and sweet parts, how majestic nature is and how cute the babies are. great photo of mrs. robin and one of her babies (i’m trying to ignore the worm). glad you can watch from indoors and not worry about either disturbing them or getting dive-bombed.
i agree about the olympics and so many other things. don’t want to penalize people who are trying to do the right thing (like getting vaccinated, in my opinion), but i think precautions were lifted much too early (mid-february here … which was not only ridiculous, but also reckless … again, my opinion). i think they need to be put back in place, especially given so many breakthrough cases and tougher variants. that idea makes me sad … but we have to get a handle on this stuff. we have to get united as a country, as people everywhere.
end soapbox talk for the day. :)
i am so grateful that today is friday. not to wish away time. just been a long week. new boss started a couple days ago. kind of nerve-wracking (will spare you some details that are very shocking and wrong … oh, i am full of opinions today … ha). hope it works out. haven’t slept well or enough. also it’s hot and that tires me out. plus, something to look forward to … for doing the grocery runs last night, i get to spend all day saturday and sunday with members of my family! :) <3
keep safe and keep cool.
xo
kathy in iowa
I can’t watch most nature shows for that very reason. I get too upset.
Glad your work week is over and you can enjoy the weekend!
Stay safe, Kathy.
…hi, kathy; I sure hope you get some sleep this weekend; I agree with you that I feel the states lifted cautions too early/too soon on the virus, yet some of us got ‘scorned’ for being too cautious!
thanks very much, vicki.
lack of sleep due to a combination of bad things lately (high heat/humidity that i find exhausting, the will-it-ever-end? covid situation, lots of job stress, being gone 12+ hours a day m-f and 8 or 9 on weekends and especially worries about loved ones …), but things will get better.
and i know the whole world is hurting, angry, dealing with such stuff.
how are you? praying you stay safe, well and get lots of rain.
kathy in iowa
That wonderful mom!!! Doing the job she knows her babies need her to do.
I watched the Opening this morning. I would encourage everyone to do so. The program after the Parade of Nations was wonderful!!! I cried through several parts. I,too, did/do not agree with going forward, and hope and pray it goes as smoothly as it can. They said of the 600+ US athletes, about 100 are not vaccinated, and the vaccine is plentiful here. I can imagine there are many many more unvaccinated from the other countries. It truly seems to be some sort of world-wide social experiment.
We have 90* temps ahead for the next 7 days. ugh. Kind of over this. Take care.
Yes, why would anyone who is unvaccinated be allowed to compete? Seems like a simple question.
Unfortunately, we had to go to bed right after the US team appeared in the Parade of Nations. Too late! I’ll look for highlights today.
Stay safe, Chris.
Mama Robin takes my breath away.
I love the orange background. I wouldn’t have thought I would but somehow it just pops!
It’s more of a rust color, though I think it photographs as sort of orange.
Thanks so much, Jeanie.
Stay safe.
The background color is unexpected. I love it. I am looking forward to your next painting.
Wonderful photo of the robin.
Enjoy the sun. Maybe August will be dry and sunny.
Maybe! Fingers crossed that it’s not completely dry, but much less wet than it has been so far.
Stay safe, Kay.
Love the painting. Poor Mama Robin she is a hero. I too am back to staying home and being much more cautious. I just returned from a visit with friends, and I’m glad I got away for a few days. But if it was now, I wouldn’t go. Hugs!
We’re definitely hunkering down here, Linda.
Stay safe!