More Hummingbird

I can't stop. Whenever she sits on a perch where I can see her I grab the camera and snap away. Today I was lucky enough to get a photo of her with her wings abuzz. I saw a bunch of other visits but this one time she posed.

The lilies and irises up on the retaining wall are really popping up. It seems like every day they get taller. I can't wait until I see flower stalks shooting out of the clumps of leaves.

Look at the ferns! Two days ago they were barely out of the ground, still little green fists in the center of last year's crown, and now they're at least eight inches high.

I found another face to draw, it's the next page in 10-Step: People. She isn't perfect and doesn't match what's in the book but I am happy with what I managed. I'll keep working at it.

The next figure in 10-Step: Everyday Things was a table lamp. It wasn't until I took the picture that I realized that my lamp leans to the left. Maybe the table is tilted? These things are not nearly as much fun to draw as things in the 10-Step: Nature book but I'm trying to ration those pictures so that the book lasts longer. Of course, once I finish it I can always just start at the beginning again, can't I?

Today's toss was a tote bag.

This morning I was still getting a little whiff of sewer from the basement so I went down and poured more water down the floor drain. Hopefully that'll solve the problem.

I got a call from The Clearing this afternoon and was afraid that they were calling to say that next week's classes were cancelled but they were calling to say that they had a single room for me. Hooray! Of course that costs more but if I'm not going with a trusted friend I don't want to share a room with someone who isn't as COVID vigilant as I am. I also stuck two more N95 masks in my art supplies just in case the elastic on the others gives up the ghost.

--Barbara

Flowery

I was surprised to see that the lilac bush is starting to bloom. There aren't a lot of blossoms on it, I think it got a too-thorough haircut last fall but I'm not complaining. It smells terrific. I noticed it especially when I was ducking under the branches when I mowed the lawn this afternoon. I probably could have waited another week to mow but that would have stretched to nearly two weeks because of my week away. Better to get a jump on the weeds.

Mrs. Hummingbird visited the feeder this morning and I was lucky enough to be looking that way and have time to grab the camera and get her picture. When I went out to fill the feeders the other day I was distressed to see that the nectar feeder was nearly empty. Would the Hummingbirds come back if it ran out? So I tried to keep an eye out over the weekend and didn't see one but, whew, there was the little female today.

The last time I drew out of the You Can Draw in 30 Days book he had me trace a da Vinci drawing of a woman over and over. I saved the Bonus Challenge for the next time I drew out of that book. That came today and it was another face. I'm getting a lot of face time (see what I did there?) these days.

The next figure in 10-Step: Nature was California Poppy. I was sure that I wouldn't be able to draw the complicated leaves but I took my time and realized that I didn't have to reproduce them exactly. When we were out in California years and years ago I fell in love with the little poppies and tried to grow them but they never came back after the first year and I gave up. I figured that the winter here is just too cold for California flowers. I'm really loving the 10-Step series of books.

Today's toss was an old book that I found in a tote bag in the basement.

For the last week my basement has been smelling like sewage and I couldn't figure out where it was coming from. I figured that I had to be the floor drain but couldn't figure out how to fix it so I called a drain guy this morning anticipating another service call. He said that the water in the drain had either gone stagnant or dried up and all I had to do was fill a 5 gallon bucket halfway with cool water, pour it down the drain, and that would take care of the smell. I did what he said and I think that took care of it--and I didn't even have to pay a service charge. Hallelujah!

Lately I've been having a heck of a time seeing the computer screen, books, and my drawings clearly. I'd have to tip my head back a lot to see through the bottom of the bifocal part and that was uncomfortable. I realized that I could go to Eyemart Express and get a pair of reading glasses made that would solve the problem. So I went after my haircut today. In fact I got two pairs because two is the same price as one. Now I have reading glasses that live by the computer and reading glasses that live at the table where I draw and read books. Simple solution and for the low, low price of thirty-eight dollars and seventy-one cents. And one of the frames is named Barbara! They're even red. I had to buy them.

--Barbara

Fourth Time's the Charm

I drew that poor patient lady out of the 10-Steps: People book again today. Eureka! She looks human, like a real person, symmetrical. What a relief. I was beginning to think that I was doomed to never draw a decent face.

The bleeding hearts have started blooming. I love the little arching stems with the line of dangling hearts. The plant has a lot more growing and blossoming to do before its time is up.

And the forsythia still has its cheerful yellow blooms but now it's getting leaves too. I suppose that the leaves will push the flowers off the stems but that's the way of nature.

I found a few purple violets mixed in with the drift of white ones in the back yard. I went to fill the gas can today so that I can mow the lawn tomorrow. I realized that I need to mow this week because next week I'll be away at the watercolor workshop (COVID willing).

The next figure in the 15-Minute Artist book was a long-stemmed rose. It was harder than I thought to draw the flower, to get all those petals wrapped around the center. I think that there's another way to draw a rose in the 10-Step: Flowers book, I saw it when I flipped through. I'll give it a shot one of these days.

It was a perfect day today, sunny and warm. I opened all the windows and the patio door and let in all the fresh air that could crowd through the screens. And when I went out to clean and refill the birdbath I heard the neighbor's baby fussing on the patio so I went over to chat her up to see if I could get her to stop crying. Her daddy was doing some yard work so I got to hold her and talk to her. She's 10 weeks old and pretty darned cute.

I finally folded the basket of laundry I washed last week today and tossed some pajamas that I haven't worn in years. Not giving them drawer room anymore.

--Barbara

Not An Eating Onion

But an ornamental one. That's the allium that has started to bloom in front. When I planted them years ago I expected to get a softball sized puff of purple florets but this is barely ping pong size. Pretty but a little disappointing. Maybe if I had a cluster of them instead of singletons it'd make more of a show.

The hot weather we've been having has really greened up the grass. I was impressed at the contrast between the lawn and the Cardinal this morning when he landed in the grass and hopped around pecking at fallen seed.

The heat has also sounded the death knell for the daffodils but the tulips right behind them are happy in the heat. It supposed to cool down into the low 70s and high 60s in mid-week. I'm looking forward to that.

The next figure in Lesson K of the 3-D book was called Kissing Killers. Not a great name for a nice drawing of a pair of orcas, aka killer whales.

In the 10-Step: Nature book the next figure was a camellia. I'm especially pleased with the way that the leaves turned out

When I finished drawing this afternoon, I sat myself down and finished the Owl Sock--just in time to put it away with the other hand-knit socks for winter. Ah well, it'll be ready when autumn winds blow again.

Today's toss was a pair of stock photo books that were in a bag I dug through downstairs. In that bag were also a whole mitt full of scissors that I have been looking for off and on for years. I knew that Mom had a bunch of scissors, not her fancy fabric scissors, I have those, but couldn't remember where I'd put them. In that bag with the stock photo books and the Exacto knife. So that's where all that stuff was.

I've been diligent about putting in the eye drops I got from the doc last week. My eyes are some better, they don't burn and squirt tears as frequently as they had been but I was sure that it'd be an instant cure. Guess there's no such thing also probably why he didn't want to see me for 3-4 weeks. I'm getting pretty good at hitting my eye with the darned drops though.

--Barbara

Peter Cottontail

This bunny is a regular in the afternoon under the birdfeeders. It comes hopping in, looks around, and then tucks in. There has been another one with different markings but this one seems to come most often. 

There's a few more leaves on the honeysuckle vine. Maybe the last few steamy days will speed up the leafing out process. Trees sure have responded to the 90 degrees and humid days. There are leaves popping out all over. The only time I was outside today was filling the birdfeeders before lunch and I can say that it felt like the dog days of August out there today. Ugh.

The next lesson in the 30 Days book was the human face. I didn't read the text, just followed the drawings at first and didn't do too badly.

Then I read the directions which said to use tracing paper and trace the drawing which was by Leonardo da Vinci so I did that. The tracings are much better than my drawing but he said that tracing isn't cheating, it's a way to train your hand to make the right marks. That makes sense, I guess.

I liked this Cardinal. I think it looks like someone called its name to get its attention.before it turned around and got busy pecking at the safflower seeds.

I added a couple sections onto the Simple Alpaca Shawl last night and tonight. Pretty soon it'll be time to add in the next skein. I have a long way to go.

We got an email from the watercolor teacher today telling about the things she's planning to teach us. It sounds exciting and a little intimidating. I also discovered that I know another one of the men in class. Hooray! Should be fun. I decided today not to go up a day early because I won't have a friend to hang out with. Why spend fifty bucks to be alone up there when I can be alone at home for free? Only a week and a day until I go.

--Barbara

Ferns

This hot weather we've had the last few days has really sent the fern fronds popping. One variety, I don't remember its name, sends up tall curls of fronds on dark purple stems that remind me of a bishop's staff.

The other fern grows from the center of last year's plant and starts out as a cluster of little green fists that unfurl in bright green fronds.

I cleaned out the finch feeder and realized how moldy it was. Yuk. I had a time getting all of the old seed and crud out of the feeder so when I went back to the birdseed store for the forgotten finch seed I broke down and bought a new feeder. I was afraid that I'd never attract Goldfinches again if I used the old, moldy feeder. I can remove the bottom of this feeder and clean it out which will be better for keeping the seed nice for the birdies.

The daily art page today was all about shading, making shade swatches, and then drawing a simple object using different degrees of shading. I won't bore you with that dull picture but I loved the next figure in the 15-Minute Artist. It was a toadstool and I think it looks like a cartoon. I love it!

Then I took another go at the face I've been drawing for the last two days. I think the eyes are a little better but I didn't make the nose long enough. I'm determined to make this poor lady look decent. I'll try again.

After that I turned to the next page in the 10-Step: Everyday Things book to find an umbrella which was easy and fun to draw. I am especially enchanted by the puddle. I don't know why.

The last couple days I kept seeing a dark gray bird with a black cap on its head and couldn't figure out what kind of bird it was. Naturally it didn't stay around or come close enough to have its picture taken so I could identify it and show it to you but I paged through my bird books this afternoon and found it. It's a Gray Catbird called that because its call sounds like a cat crying. Eerie. Maybe it'll come closer so I can take its picture one of these days.

I went out to pull the tall, yellow-flowered weeds (not dandelions, those are still short) in the yard which were the only reason that I'd need to mow and nearly melted. It was 90 degrees and humid and it wasn't even 11 o'clock in the morning. Tomorrow is supposed to be another hot and humid day and then it's supposed to cool down to normal early next week. I sincerely hope that it isn't hot and humid for my week at The Clearing for which I leave in eight more days. But who's counting?

Today's toss was a pair of shoes that I hated to get rid of but haven't worn in probably three years. They're waterproof garden/rain shoes with chickens printed on them. I love them but don't wear them so why keep them. 

--Barbara

Mr. & Mrs. Goldfinch

Both of them came to the feeders a couple times today. I got them both on the frame once but she was blurry so all we have is the Mr. in this picture. I meant to get some finch seed when I went to the birdseed store today but didn't remember it until I got home. Man, that's what I get for leaving my list in the car. I also thought I saw an Indigo Bunting flying away from the feeders, twice, but maybe it was just a Brown-headed Cowbird's black feathers' iridescence. I hope not, I want an Indigo Bunting to come.

It was foggy and kind of chilly this morning, and it's supposed to get close to 90 and be humid for the next two days. What is with the weather? I'm getting whiplash from the temperature swings.

The daily art page said to make marks using dry brush techniques. I had to look it up and don't think that I succeeded. I'm hoping that I'll learn how to do it in watercolor class--in eleven days!

I took another stab at the face I drew yesterday. The eyes are a little better but not great. I'll try again tomorrow. I'm determined to make her look human instead of creepy and wonky. I'll get there, after all, they say that practice makes perfect. I'm not going for perfect, I'll settle for adequate.

I sat on the couch tonight, watched things that I'd DVR'd, and knitted on the Simple Alpaca Shawl. It's just knits, purls, and yarn overs and it grows by 4 stitches every right-side row so it's growing fast. It'll be nice and snuggly when next winter comes, if I manage to stick with it when the rows get looooong.

This afternoon I sat and read more of The Seaview and found a glaring timeline booboo three-quarters of the way through the novel. It's going to take some creativity to fix it. Man, I hate having to think.

Today's toss was a bag of car care products that was lurking on a shelf in the garage. The bag caught my eye when I came home from the birdseed store and I knew that if I hadn't used it by now I never would use it. I'm not the sort to detail my ride.

--Barbara