No, not an early celebration of the Fourth of July . . . but a celebration, none the less, of one year of blogging! My, my, how time flies when you are having fun.

A couple hours of finish up, tighten up, clean up . . . and this one will be ready for a frame tomorrow. I guess I could have waited till it was done to post but what the hey . . . I'm here now!

Weekend back yard distractions again today. Pop robin was warming up earlier this morning as one of the young robins bounced around in the grass and sat in nearby trees being a very squeeky chirper! Have only seen the one young one, so not sure if all three survived or just this one.

'Construction' continues . . . and of course, one should always begin at the foundation and build upwards!

More 'construction' underway again, today. Working in that square format again too.

The latest finished work, 11" square.
The square compositional field is not the easiest ground to work within, ask any artist! But every once in awhile, I like to challenge myself to see if I can come up with an interesting idea and composition within the square format. I think this one works, at least I hope it does.

A little more of the current work. Still 'cleaning things up' but should be completed tomorrow.
As to the goings on in the back yard, not too much today. I have seen the male robin a few times, but not the female and don't know where the little ones are at this stage. At the very least, I have some fine, fine robin reference.

An interesting day in the back yard! Mom and Pop robin have been busy digging up worms and flying around, being aware of me sitting in the studio with the screen door open and trying to photograph them, the entire time. I looked into the nest this morning and was alarmed to find it empty! When I finally got into the studio, which is in my lower level,and I opened the french door to get some fresh air, I thought I heard some chirping coming from just outside the door where there is a big overgrown bush (directly beneath where the nest is outside the dining room window) and within a bit, I realized the chicks must have been somewhere under that tangled mess as Mom and Pop were constantly digging up worms and transporting them over to the bush area. They would wait till I stepped away from the doorway or was out of sight, before ducking under the growth and I guess, feeding the little ones. So, on and off during the day, as I worked at the drawing board, did laundry and listened to La Fanciulla Del West (ahhhh, Puccini!), I took advantage of this great reference material and got over a hundred, I guess, descent images of the pair, and here are a few to enjoy.

And now . . for something completely different! Embarkation on three months of bridge works. Stay tuned . . .

A sequence of shots taken this morning of 'the good mother' robin and family. The three hatchlings are doing just fine, it appears, and mom is doing her best to feed and care for them. She has been skittish often when I pull up the blinds to get a better look, but this morning she seemed to just spy back at me in the dining room, patiently waiting for me to take a few pictures and then flying off to dig up some more worms, I guess! The little hungry begars seem to be flourishing.

'Bricks & Mortar, Flesh & Bone', image size - 9" x 13".

I am most pleased and honored to have received word this week that 'Close of Day' has been selected for inclusion in this year's Birds in Art exhibition at the Woodson Art Museum in Wisconsin. This will be my 15th year of inclusion in this international scope exhibition and my work, along with that of another 90 or so artists, will be on exhibition at the Woodson from early September through early November. The museum is located in north central Wisconsin in Wausau and I hope to attend the opening reception the weekend following Labor Day. Several of my artist friends are also happy to be a part of this year's hanging, including my good friends, Paula and Lyn (links to their blogs appear at the right). Unfortunately, once again, my good friend Carel P did not make the cut and for what it is worth, I think the jury missed a fine, fine work (check out his entry through the link to his blog also at right).

A check of the nest late yesterday afternoon brought a surprise . . . hatchlings! Not sure if all three are there, will have to check again today to see if I can count them, but very excited to watch the progress of these little guys.

And the building goes on.

A bit of masonry going on here today. Stay tuned!

Pop robin, sitting off in the tree line, a safe distance away, but keeping an eye on me as I worked outside today. Things continue to go well at the nest!

Some images from this past weekend's Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, held at the Howard County Fair Grounds, not too far from where I live.



Just some of the 'faces in the crowd!'

Mom robin, comfortably sitting on the nest this morning as I am outside refinishing frames today. I guess she is getting used to my being around and not flying off any more.

An interesting discovery this morning, while out mowing the grass. I had noticed this nest for the first time last week, but made an assumption that it was not being used and did not think more of it. Today, as I came out the back door, I realized a bird flew off and apparently from the nest. I went back in the house and peeked out through the dining room window, the ledge of which held the nest, and discovered three eggs in the nest. I shall be keeping an eye on the nest over the next weeks and see what might develop.

'Frisky', 8.5" x 16.5".