Pairs

Lots of pairs in the park. This pair of chickadees was working on a nest.

 

First one

 

 

 

... and then off it flew to be replaced by the other...

 

of the pair. I tried unsuccessfully to get them both in one picture.

Next there were pairs of crows.

 

 

 

This pair were grooming each other.

 

This pair of Mallards was taking turns keeping watch, here she is dosing.

 

Then she wakes, and stretches ...

 

and he nods off.

 

Flower pairs:

 

 

 

And I couldn't resist taking pictures of shells on the high tide line, not exactly pairs.

 

 

Now here we have a pair of pears. Why you ask? 

 

Well I have been working on another set of recipe cards; watercolour paintings on cards, and each card contains a recipe card for the pictured ingredient.

 

So there you have it a pair of pears:

 

A pair of pears to pare.

 

Imagine the tongue twisting verse that could result ;^)

 

Here are some new paintings.

 

Two watercolours; first a Lily

 

 

and one of Gooseneck Barnacles.

 

 

And finally here is an ink and watercolour for a new food themed card:

 

 

These cards are 5" x 5" and include a recipe insert that features the pictured ingredient. What is the recipe for the walnuts ... you will have to go to my card website, PS Whimsy, and have a look. (Hint it is under the Food Icon and is the first of the Series 2 recipes).

 

Until next time...

Thank you for all your kind comments on my last post.

 

Thanks for stopping by,

 

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 

 



It's open

The park at Jericho Beach has been behind construction fences for many months, but it finally opened just a few days ago. The bunny above seems to be inspecting the new area.

For months this has been the view:

The park was closed while the old pier was removed then opened temporarily only to be closed again after a storm washed out the new beach.

Here are some views of the newly opened area of the park:

The established trees have been surrounded by native plantings and the beach has been restored.

These "perches" have been installed for the birds to view the park and the beach.

I saw an eagle in one of the trees too but I did not have my camera with me.

The wood sculpture looks good in its new surroundings. This is a sculpture dating from the Habitat Forum on this site in 1976:

Some of the blackberry bushes, which the rabbits retreat to for safety, have been removed but the rabbits still seem to be thriving.

and on the beach life goes on.

At the pond a short walk away, the redwing blackbirds are back and staking out their territories.

The ducks seem to be enjoying the milder weather and a bit of sunshine.

It was bath time as I walked past

even the crows were getting in on the act.

  Signs of fall and winter still dominate

But the geese and ducks are pairing up 

 and there are buds on many trees

the snowdrops are up too and crocuses not far behind

and with the viburnum flowers adding their delicate scent  

can spring be far away?

I am finally finishing a project that was started a long time ago too. I have finally framed a series of paintings featuring teddies (stuffed animals) and tigers (also stuffed).

Here are the first two in the series, first "Something in the Air":

A watercolour of teddies and tiger, imagine that the small stuffed toy in the centre has just farted and the other stuffed animals are reacting.

The second is "The Games' Afoot":

Here Sherlock Holmes and Watson (in the waistcoat at the back) are investigating ...............

All these paintings are watercolours,

the other two in this series next week ............

Thank you for dropping by, happy whimsy Wednesday, until next week ....................................