It has been a struggle the last couple of years to remain interested in my art. I think about it a lot, but can’t seem to get going. I don’t exactly know why. But, anyway, here is my latest piece of artwork. I actually did it in February. I can’t believe how fast time flies… I was very surprised that I was able to do anything at all, let alone such a beautiful horse. LOL! It is graphite and white charcoal.
We have had three mockingbird nests, in addition to what we don’t even know we have. We get a LOT of birds around here. I’m sure we have cardinal nests, sparrows, finches, etc. But, I only know for sure about the mockingbirds, because they put their nests so low that I can see into them. The following photos are of the mockingbird nest in the maple tree that is directly across from our large kitchen window. The recent heavy rains have cocked the nest until it looks like the baby will fall out, but they are making it work. I can see into it much better. LOL! I set up my camera on the tripod at the window (which makes it look like I am aiming at my neighbors back door LOL!) and got these wonderful pics. I wish I could have gotten better shots of mama packing the food into the baby’s goozle. But, I got what I got…
Mama with a mouthful of worms. Baby stretching his neck waiting to be stuffed.
Mama stuffing baby’s mouth behind a privacy screen of leaves.
“Is that all?”
I did not have any idea what was going on, above, until I began the editing process and was able to zoom in on it. This is Baby presenting his poop to Mama.
Apparently, this is how the nest stays so clean. Mama whisks away the poop before it can touch the nest. Very interesting. I never knew that….
“Okay, now I need more food!”
“Here you go.”
Baby settling down.
“Maybe a little more?”
Mama taking a break while keeping baby dry and warm in the rain.
One of the other nests is in a boxwood right next to the garage door. It had four babies in it. I haven’t looked at it lately.
The last one is in one of the climbing roses in front of the house. It had four eggs in it, but then the last time I looked there were three eggs missing and one left. It had obviously been abandoned. I think a blue jay probably had his way with it.
Just this morning, I saw Mama Mockingbird of the Maple Tree Nest chasing a squirrel who knew that he had better get out of town. It was funny! They went back and forth along the fence until the squirrel finally got under the fence and went up the oak tree in our neighbors yard. Don’t mess with Mama or her babies. Actually, the Maple Tree Nest only has one baby.
Well, how about a health update, if you are interested? Ron is doing fairly well, although he has back and neck pain. His dupuytren’s disease in his hands is back with a vengeance after having a very painful and expensive injection. Now, we are looking at surgery on both hands. One at a time. Here is a link if you want to see what I am talking about: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dupuytren’s_contracture
Because my cancer numbers were rising and a scan showed more cancer, I am in my second round of chemo and immuno. My rheumatoid arthritis is pretty bad, because of taking the treatments again. But, it could be worse. My doc says that my cancer numbers are back down with treatment. I don’t know how long I will need to do this. I am able to get around, but I have good days and bad days. The good days are painful. The bad days… Well, we don’t want to think about those. Thank the Lord that warm sunny days are here. The rainy cold weather is a killer.
I have been crocheting a lot, but not really making anything worthwhile. Just trying to keep my hands flexible and moving.
Maybe, one of these days, I will get back into my art. My studio has become our junk room. I will need to get in there and clean up and organize if I am to produce anything worthwhile. Well, that and get off my rear end…
I hope all is well with all of you.
“My trials have been fewer than my sins, and when I have kissed the rod it has fallen from thy hands.”
— Part of a prayer from The Valley of Vision
Virginia C. McCoy Fine Art 