Back at last

First a preview of what I have been up to in the studio:

 

More on these to come but first news and a few photos.


Well I have recently had surgery on both my eyes and the difference is dramatic. I thought I was just having trouble with seeing close up, but now that I have had surgery everything has crisp edges again and I can see to read and paint. Hooray!

What was the problem???

Well when I had cataract surgery just over 2 years ago I didn't expect the cataracts to come back, and that is essentially what happened.

This is my distinctly non-medical explanation: some cataract tissue remained in the eye when the new lens was implanted and over time it grew to obscure the back of the artificial lens. The problem is corrected by a laser which "drills" about 100 little holes in the tissue clouding the lens and voila I see almost 20:20 again. Almost instantly.

It is an outpatient procedure and I was fine to take the bus home, I spent the entire trip reading the back of the bus ticket (tiny print) and all the signs along the way. What joy!

Here are a few pictures that I took recently of some fall sites or is that sights?

 

A perfect fall day at the beach and in the park.

 

 

Time for a look around...

 

 

Grooming time at the pond...

 

 

 

Time for a bath...

 

Who you looking at?

 

Mirror, mirror.... now that's better

 

This little fellow was so cute... 

 

and stopped to have a good look at me... 

 

 

maybe, just maybe ...

 

 

no I don't think so ..........

 

 

then realizing that I had no food to offer and was off

 

 

I have been fairly busy with a couple of projects recently:

 

First a new website just for my art at www.gillianolsonart.com 

Second an Esty site to sell digital downloads of some of my work at https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/pswhimsy?page=1#save

 

Check them out and let me know what you think.

 

 

So I gave you a preview of two paintings and without further ado here they are:

 

 

First a poured watercolour of a Venetian mask called "Carnival 2"; this one is sold, thanks J

 

 

Second a watercolour painting of a statue seen in Italy last summer, I call him "The Professor":

 

You can see more details on my new art website (link above).

 

Well it is nice to be back, that is all for today, thanks for dropping by and happy Whimsy Wednesday.

 

Gillian







 

Who's Watching Who

Well I am back.

Bird watching is a curious phrase, I often feel like the watched rather than the watcher as in these pictures:

Asleep?  I don't think so...

Watching while having a dip...an eye out all the time.

 

 

 

This eagle was surveying its surroundings, taking in me and everyone else passing by.

 

 

 The Redwing blackbirds have been back for a while and are staking out their territory around the pond.



 

 

 

A Rufus sided Towhee taking a rest from foraging in the undergrowth.

A Robin catching the early worm still has a bit of time to keep and eye on me.



..and this Chickadee stopped to watch me pass.

 

 

The Crows are always alert.

 



It is two weeks since my surgery and I am feeling much better, still sleeping a lot but able to get out and walk now. The fresh air is wonderful and I even took my camera with me yesterday and came home with these shots.

 

I have started splashing a bit of paint around in the last couple of days but have nothing to show yet.

 

Spring seems to have snuck up on me this year, I think it came while I was napping. I am looking forward to improving my fitness, flexing my artistic muscles and enjoying the new season.

 

Until next time, happy Wednesday, thanks for stopping by.........

 

Gillian 

 



Peanut Gallery

Peanuts have been very popular with the birds and critters at our place, so much so that I went out and got the large economy size bag.

First there is this handsome Stellar Jay. You may recall that he likes to check out all the peanuts in the tray before he chooses the "one" he wants.

 

Apparently he has made his choice and then show us his beautiful belly as he departs.

 

There are a number of squirrels, at least 3 different ones, that are also very fond of nuts; actually any kind of food will do for squirrels. There is one black one ...

 

and a couple of gray ones, one much larger than the other.

 



Then there is the crow, waiting patiently, not a squawker, he just hangs around and waits for peanuts or .......

 

He doesn't care where I put them, in the tray, on the lawn, or on this garden lantern; it's all OK with him.

 

He always eats the nuts, sometimes close by and sometimes flying away with them.

 

The Stellar Jay will eat the nuts first thing in the morning but most other times he hides them for later. I don't have a picture but last week I noticed him down on my lawn rearranging the fallen blossoms off my Camilla tree; later when I investigated there were nuts under one or two of the fallen blossoms.

 

 

The Jay also hides nuts in my planters, which explains the scenes below.

 

He digs and digs and digs getting quite filthy.

Occasionally he took a break and looked around, confused, where has it gone?

Then, has he found it?

Yes ...

and off he goes with his prize.

I had cleaned up that planter to put flowers in it, but maybe I'll just leave it, the squirrel show is quite funny!

On the topic of squirrels, I did get a painting finished this week, and yes it was of a squirrel. This is a watercolour that I have named "Do I Smell Peanuts?". It is inspired by a picture that my friend Judy took. Thanks Judy.



This one is sold already so no new post this week on my art blog.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by, I hope you have enjoyed my "peanut gallery".

Happy Whimsy Wednesday, until next week ..................