  "It's Such A Good Feeling" (Fred Rogers), 4.5 x 4.5 art in 10 x 10 matted frame, Paper collage and quilling My friend Emily Gilman Beezley suggested our art group participate in this Inside Small "The Color of Music" show. I'm pleased that my piece was accepted! The requirements were to produce a piece of art smaller no larger than 10" x 10" (total) inspired by a piece of music. I recently saw this PBS broadcast, "Won't You Be My Neighbor" about Mr. Rogers, and was blown away. I don't remember being that interested in Mr. Rogers as a child, and unfortunately knew more about the mockeries of him than the man himself. After watching the documentary and learning more, I now LOVE and greatly admire Fred Rogers and everything he devoted his life to, namely... helping children feel loved and special. I wish I had watched more of his shows as a youngster. But one of my new favorite sayings is... Better late than never!
In 2005, an album of his songs by various award-winning artists was produced, "Songs from the Neighborhood" and earned a Grammy for Best Children's album. The songs are amazing and I'm so delighted to find them. Their tender message of love is so uplifting, especially during this difficult time. Here's another link to a video of the performers on the album. I especially like "It's You I Like" and "It's Such a Good Feeling" by B.J. Thomas (what a throwback and amazing voice!) My piece (above) was inspired by Mr. Rogers' fun, loving, friendly songs, and a nostalgic 1970's vibe. Hope you enjoy! Please visit "The Color of Music" Online Show for more amazing pieces and to vote for your favorite piece!! This piece is available for $225.00 plus shipping.
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After we took the winter cover off our air conditioner unit in May we noticed some wrens building a nest there.  Soon Evan noticed a mama wren sitting on her eggs. A few weeks after that... the baby wrens arrived! We heard them peeping loudly, stronger every day, for a few weeks... And then a few days ago.... they flew the coop! Below are some images of a brave one making his way out of the nest.  Fortunately, they were able to 'explore' on the grill.   Then they hopped down into the bushes below the a/c unit. Later, they made their way over to the nearby tree... Shortly after this we heard them peeping over in the neighbor's yard. It was soooo quiet after they left. We pray they survived and are doing well now! Thank you for taking care of the wrens, Lord! :-)  I didn't get any good close-ups of the babies, but here's a collage wren from Wren's Summer Song (2010).  You know it's been a long winter when I find myself repeatedly whistling the tune to The Weather Channel... The view outside our front door yesterday.   These little 'birds' are ready for spring!  The canada geese have returned to our backyard! 
'Captain Morgan' was so friendly and talkative!
Unfortunately, 'Peachie Cheeks' bit my finger twice while I was changing his water... :(
Thankfully, 'Captain Morgan' loved to be petted, and didn't bite me once! :)
As with any petting zoo there were those who were rather reserved and stand-off-ish... :)  This little cutie was resting after being manhandled by a very excited little boy!  Sw-i-i-i-i-mming in the mud, just swi-i-i-i-ming in the mud....! More photos while on vacation... Evan and friends at a Raptor Hill Falconer's Wildlife Sanctuary presentation with OBIE, the very cute barn owl. The detail on his feathers was breathtaking!  Another guest 'transferring' Obie to Evan      Interesting Facts about Barn Owls: The barn owl has exceptionally keen hearing and eyesight, making it a very effective hunter. It can see during the day, but its relatively small eyes (for an owl) are directed forward and are better adapted for night vision. The ears are asymmetrical; one is level with the nostril and the other is higher, nearer the forehead. They are covered with feathered flaps that close for loud noises and open for soft sounds. The barn owl's hearing is so sharp that it can easily hunt for voles and shrews, which are often concealed from view as they travel in runways beneath the grass. A family of 2 adults and 6 young may consume over 1,000 rodents during the 3-month nesting period.
Barn owls make a wide variety of sounds. The most common adult sounds are alarm shrieks, conversational calls (shorter, less intense shrieks), and a rapid squeaking or ticking, which is associated with the pair. The rasping, food-begging call of the young can be heard almost continuously from soon after sunset until just before sunrise. The young also hiss and bill-click when disturbed. While perched, the barn owl has a habit of lowering its head and swaying from side to side. The bird sleeps so soundly during the day that it is difficult to wake it up until darkness arrives. Other names for the barn owl are golden owl, white owl, monkey-faced owl and white-breasted barn owl.  While on vacation in VA, we attended this really cool raptor presentation by Jennifer Westhoff of the Raptor Hill Falconer's Wildlife Sanctuary. Here's Evan holding the lanner falcon, Lily.   The birds in our yard have had a tough time of it. The baby robins in this nest didn't make it... We were monitoring their downy little heads daily, then sadly, one day they disappeared -- most likely by a predator. HOWEVER, a pair of wrens built a nest in the folds of our a/c unit cover. Hence, we did NOT have air conditioning during this past heat wave... THANK GOD for cooler weather!!! Hopefully the baby birds will be out of the nest in the next few weeks, and we can have our a/c unit back for the next heat wave... :)  UPDATE - June 14 We hear peeping! The baby wren's are making some noise!! Yea! Their nest is almost hidden, so hopefully these little guys will have a chance to grow and fledge! |
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