I'm back?

I know I have been absent from blog land for a long time and I thought it was time to say hello again.

My medical problem is not solved but it is stable for now. I am waiting for surgery - I don't have a date yet.

What did I do with my summer? First I had a great vacation in Italy and then returned home to rest and enjoy the summer.

I did almost no painting until the last month, but now I have something to show I thought I'd get a post together.

Earlier in the summer one morning I looked out to see a Goldfinch on my feeder, later in the day they were two.

 

The next day the family arrived, a bit unclear on how to hang on to and get food from the feeder, leading to some cute photo ops. 

 

 

There was some swaying, some pushing and shoving as they vied for the best spots on the feeder; reminded me a bit of dinner when I was growing up where we kids always seemed to thwart our parents' efforts at a quiet orderly meal.

What are you up to?

Yeah, I'm talking to you!

He's pushing me.

Oops, Dad's watching.

Now, just settle down!

Ah, order at last!

Little angels?

 

The Goldfinch family did share the feeder from time to time, but they were daily and welcome guests.

 

 

 



So I was inspired to paint the little family. It's a watercolour, called "Goldfinch Lunchtime":

 

 

For more details on this painting at GillianOlsonArt.blogspot.com

 

 

I will try to post a bit more regularly. Yours, a bit weakly, but with whimsy, Gillian.

Gold Rush

A few days ago when I returned home there was quite a chorus of birdsong coming from next door. Not a song and a reply, but a great confusion of song, dozens of birds singing at once.

I watched and listened for some time but still wasn't sure what kind of birds they were.

I went inside for a while and then noticed quite a number of birds fly onto my feeders. A different crowd than I normally see ... and then more and more. So I got the camera.

Pine Siskins! Baby Pine Siskins at that, at least two dozen of them; on the feeders and the ground under the feeders, on the fence and in the trees. At first I thought they were Goldfinches but early readers set me straight.

This chickadee was in the minority for once.

They foraged in the grass under the feeders.

Some of them seemed a little confused, standing on top and hanging underneath the feeder.

This sparrow does not look pleased with all the unexpected company.

Such a cutie, and looking a bit younger than some of the others.

This little one curled up on the feeder and

Nodded right off ..........

Sorry here's a second picture ...

So much activity around the feeders, obviously more than one brood.

They have been around for a few days now and are growing quickly. I only saw the adults once at the very beginning, maybe they have gone off by themselves for a rest.

I have been trying to keep the feeders stocked.

That's my birdie offering for this week.

I did get some painting done though, another seashore painting called "Beach Buddies".

A watercolour of course, for more information follow this link: GillianOlsonArt.blogspot.ca

This and other recent works are featured on cards at on my website (PS Whimsy) under New Items and Specials:

CARDS (with envelopes): 1 for $4, 4 cards for $14 and right now when you buy 4 of the same card you can use the bonus coupon to receive another card free.

Thank you so much for stopping by, and a special thank you to all those who leave comments for me, I really appreciate hearing from you.

 Happy Whimsy Wednesday, until next time ..............

"OK" weekend - a bit of everything

We spent last weekend in south end of the Okanagan Valley, in south central British Columbia (many just refer to the valley as the "OK"). We went to the OK to attend a wine dinner at the Orofino Winery (in nearby Similkameen Valley) and to visit friends and a few wineries.

This post has three parts: first the dinner, followed by some flora and then fauna (aka critters) from the Similkameen and Okanagan Valleys.

As I mentioned in the introduction the dinner was at Orofino Winery near Caston in the Similkameen Valley. The Winery partnered again this year with Joy Road Caterers to offer a 1.6 mile dinner; almost all the ingredients were sourced from within 1.6 miles of the winery. We arrived for the dinner (on a shuttle bus), and were greeted by our hosts, John and Virginia, and offered a glass of one of their newest wine offerings Moscato Frizzante.

The table were setup on the patio right beside the winery and John had set up a windbreak with grape pallets and wine barrels to shelter us from any late evening breeze. There were blue skies, beautiful summer weather and wonderful aromas from the outdoor kitchen set up for the event.

As we enjoyed our frissante the appetizers were passed.

The crackers were made from milled locally grown rye.

Time to find our places and sit down for the dinner. In our places were menus, the tables were decorated with local flowers and the view was of the sun on the hillside. 

Here are a couple of reflections for you: the first is the hills reflected in one of the winery windows and the second  the patio setting for the dinner (this one is a bit of a stretch I admit).

And then a hush settled over the tables as the dinner was served.

Wouldn't be a winery without grapes and grapevines.

Some of the flowers, trees and plants

Buganvillia



Almond "fruit"



And here are the critters I promised. This one is looking for the rest of the flock, seems that the blog lady separated it from the rest.

Two pigmy goats, very cute and quite anxious to have their heads scratched, which is why the next couple of pictures are a bit too close up. These guys are fully grown but only about 18 inches tall. You will no doubt notice the rectangular pupils, a trait shared with sheep, and cows I think.

After much scratching they finally settled down for a portrait shot, a little later the brown one settled his chin on the white one and both dozed off.

The rest of the chickens.



Which came first?



A few birds collected at a feeder in the early morning much to the delight of our friends' cat, Zee.

House finch

Gold Finch

"Zee" enjoying the bird activity

Pine Siskin

A dove and a baby bird hanging around near the feeder, maybe they enjoyed watching the indoor cat.

So when I say an OK weekend I mean a weekend filled with friends, good food and wine, beautiful weather and interesting critters to watch.

When I took this it reminded me of something but for the life of me I can't remember what.

Loved the colours and patterns reflected in this tasting sample.



Something different this week. I finished this painting, intended for a card, it is a watercolour called "Age old question?": 

Thank you for stopping by, I appreciate your visit and I read and enjoy all your comments.

Happy Whimsy Wednesday, until next time ............