White Ibis - Juvenile

A friend of ours, Evan Speck, took a picture of an immature White Ibis and posted it on FB on Indiana Birds. It is a great photo. I liked it so much I had to draw it. If you look at the two pictures he posted you will see in the second photo only one antennae sticking out of the bird's bill. Fab photos. I am often inspired by his photos. Thanks Evan for letting me paint from your photos.

Wedding Journal

My Daughter is getting married next month.  I was trying to think of something special to do for her (them). They are of an age that they don't need or want any thing really. This wedding journal is what I have come up with.  She and her fiance are eloping to Key West, Fl for the tying of the knot. The good thing about this is that we are invited. 

The front and back of the journal is covered with paper that has sand on it. I thought that quite appropriate since they are having the ceremony on Smathers Beach.

Key West is a lively town. It has it's own seal.

We are staying in a nice (large) home that has it's own pool.

They have a few friends that will also join the entourage. They are quite the partiers so I am sure most of the hot pubs will be explored.

There will no doubt be a bit of sightseeing. At least on our part.

I have made tags for family and friends to send a greeting to them while they are in FL. I haven't received them all back to put into the book. But you can get the idea of what I have going for them.

Her ring is gorgeous. She can hardly wait to wear it. Those of you  that are married can surely remember that feeling of anticipation. I found a beautiful scripture that I thought appropriate (top right on the ring page) and a poem about love (on lower right) written by Maya Angelou.

I made another pocket for more tags, receipts, or what ever they want keep in it. 

I saw this quote on Pinterist and borrowed it. 

I must say I got a little syrupy on one page. Can't help myself. 

I did an acrostic poem with their ( her soon to be) last name.

Since the Officiant mentioned that her powers were official by the Conch Republic I also did a painting based on The Conch Republic seal.

I printed the vows on cloud paper and pasted them into the book. 

The painting on the right below is of the beach where they will be married.

Then I tried to think of some fun things that we might do while there. Like snorkeling, 

Watching sunsets. 

And hoping that they live happily ever after.

Don't worry, she never looks at my artsy blog. It will be a nice surprise. So if you have been wondering where I have been I have been home working quite a bit on this book. It usually takes me forever to fill one of these books. It feels like I have been working on it forever too. ha... Now I can relax and enjoy spring. If it ever gets here.

OOPS.... I forgot to add the beads to the side of the Journal. Here they are attached. 

The little glass vial at the end of the brown beads is a receptical for some of the sand from the beach where they will marry. Geez, now if I can remember to put some in it.

I am telling you for not having to do much but order flowers for the event I am a bit scattered. ha... Is it finished now?  I certainly hope so.

Animal Wednesday - Parrot and Woodpecker

Yes, I have been a bit busy lately. I have done a few sketches. This one is a Lilac-crowned Parrot done on a card for a fellow blogger, Lilac Lamb, that has befallen an accident. She should have it by now so that is why I am posting. I hope she feels better even though it is going to take time for her to fully recover. 

The image below is something that stuck in my head and I couldn't get it out unless I sketched it. We were driving into the park where we walk Annie and I saw a red-bellied woodpecker fly onto a tree branch. I put up my bins and saw this face looking back at me from a dark hole in the tree. It was so cute. 

Have you had any wildlife encounters lately?  Happy Animal Wednesday.

Etegami

I received this beautiful post card from a dear friend, Teri, of Teri's Painted Daisies. She is doing a new (to me) Japanese art form called Etegami. While I don't exactly understand the form I love the results.

This winter has frozen my muse however I am beginning to feel a thaw with the mail box erupting with this beautiful postcard.  Thank you so much Teri.

Animal Wednesday - White-winged Scoter

My Dearly Beloved and I got a phone call from a birding friend about an unusual bird sighting for our area. A couple of White-winged Scoters showed up on a small lake not far from where we live.  I was so excited about this sighting I had to share it with you.

This duck nests way up in the tundra or around lakes and ponds in Alaska and Northern Canada. 

 I have seen them up on Lake Erie. They are common on the East Coast during winter. It is rare to see this handsome duck this far inland. 

Have a look at this large bill. 

It is quite colorful. 

They can dive to 40 feet to feed on shellfish beds. 

This guy looks so graceful as he dives. 

Sometimes making a big splash. 

This is the closest I have ever been to a White-winged Scoter. I watched him for some time.

When he bobbed up this time he acted very secretive. 

There was actually two of these handsome birds feeding in the same area. This one was headed away from the other one. Further out from where we were sitting watching. Obviously he had something. I have often wondered what these ducks eat when they are inland like this. 

If you enlarge (just click on the picture) the photo below you can see what he has. A Crayfish. You can see the claw open. The poor crayfish doesn't have a chance against this duck. 

He took the crayfish as far away as he could and then devoured it. Their powerful gizzards can crush hard-shelled clams that require a hammer blow to break. 

So this crayfish was like a soft appetizer for the Scoter. 

He looks quite happy with himself don't you think?

After getting the crayfish down he decided to take a nap. He moved in close to a couple of Pied-billed Grebes.  His traveling companion was still diving looking for his lunch.

I hope you enjoyed seeing this White-winged Scoter as much as I did. It was obviously an overcast snowy day. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have had some interesting sightings this winter.