Animal Wednesday - Dickcissel

This past Sunday we were out birding and my DB got a great picture of a Dickcissel perched on a weed. There aren't so many around right now. Many have already flown South.

Happy Animal Wednesday. For more animals go to Auntie Mim's Blog here.

I tried to do a post for tomorrow but BLogger has decided it must be posted today. Sorry.

Blooming Tuesday - Lotus

This Sunday while we were out birding we drove by a pond that has a huge stand of lotus. They are about finished blooming this time of year. There were a few blooms left. This one was surrounded by a bud, a spent flower and a pod. I just had to try to get it on paper. The wind was blowing them so hard the big leaves were turning over and the bloom seemed to be waving goodbye.

Happy Blooming Tuesday to everyone.

It won't be long and the lotus will have filled this pond. Some years it is dried up enough that I can collect some of the pods to use in dried arrangements. Not this year. This area has had way more rain than where we live.

Sunday Safari

I thought this drawing was appropriate for this Sunday Safari. Not exactly a church painting but it is the fruit of a Jack-in-the-pulpit.  I have a few that grow on the side of the house where my room is located. I walked out there trying to find a butterfly that flitted by and found this instead. I am so excited. I hope the critters don't find it and eat the seeds before they ripen and fall to the ground. I just love this flower.

Another visitor right outside my window was a juvenile hummingbird. He loves the blooms of the hostas. The bloom is too deep for him to dip into so he has made a hole at the base of the flower to sip the nectar. 

It obviously wears him out so he has to rest from time to time. The House wren doesn't like him hanging out around the nest. The hummer sits on guard in the tree too.  

I won't be surprised if the wrens come out tomorrow. They sit at the hole chittering, begging for more food. It will be interesting to watch.

I hope you all had a good weekend.

Saturday 20 Minute Challenge

Teri writing about her 20 minute challenge here gave me inspiration today. I did a 20 minute sketch of the actors in the movie we saw last night. I bet you can't recognize any of them. Oh well. I did it in ink from pictures on the official site of Cowboys and Aliens.

As strange as the premise might seem it was an entertaining movie. Not my first pick but a friend of mine wanted to see the movie. What are friends for?? We do things together and it turned out to be some mindless entertainment with good popcorn and great friends.

Twenty Minute Blog for more inspiration.