Red Sun Setting

We have been the beneficiaries of Canadian wildfire smoke for days. It's not as bad as it was in NYC a couple weeks ago but there's a definite haze and it smells like a campfire outside. When I was coming back from my little walk this evening I noticed the sun was looking reddish and you can kind of see the haze. The smoke can go away any day now. It makes my lungs hurt.

This morning I saw a little female House Finch on the orange half. Later in the day another House Finch was perched on the grape jelly dish dipping its beak in. I haven't seen a Oriole since the last time I put a picture on here. Haven't seen a Hummingbird either. I don't know if they're coming early or if they've moved on.

I went out and clipped down all of the asparagus tops this afternoon. I don't go out and check for them (which I probably should do but I'm still peeved that it didn't get dug up when the garden was removed) and they were too tall to cut with the mower. Then I noticed how pretty the Stella d'Oro lilies looked nestled in the day lily leaves. I was not tempted to try to paint them again.

I spent a couple hours before and after lunch working on another manuscript scene. I think part of what I wrote needs to be deleted because it's just blabber and boring but some of it might get to stay.

Today's drawings from 20 Ways to Draw a Jellyfish are a seal, a sea serpent, a sea slug, a seashell, and a sponge. I especially like the sea serpent. And I just noticed that everything I drew today starts with an "S." How about that.

Around suppertime a pair of Downy Woodpeckers came to investigate the empty suet pellet feeder. This juvenile one stayed long enough to have its picture taken. I wasn't sure it was a Downy because the whole top of its head is rusty red but I searched a couple bird books and Sibley had pictures of them in all stages. I've never seen one like this.

I got another Click today and have almost 2800 Impressions but still no more sales. The Amazon Ads Challenge runs next month again so I signed up hoping to learn things that I missed last time. It can't hurt and it's free.

--Barbara