Saturday the sun just glowed and I wanted to stay out all day. I almost did and came home with a sunburned face. It was a day filled with birding and friends, joy and sunshine. I blogged about our class here and the Hawk Festival here.When our instructor and most of the class headed for the Hawk Festival four of us stayed behind to go on the Fry's Landing Trail and I am so glad we did. I was hoping to see some Spring butterflies and I finally spotted a Mourning Cloak fluttering around and landing on a white Birch tree. What an awesome contrast between butterfly and tree with the sun dappling where the butterfly landed.
The Mourning Cloak cooperated by basking in the sun while I got in a few shots. Excited to see the first butterfly of the season I also knew it was going to end up in my handmade nature journal. Already thoughts are lingering in my head to do a painting of this on canvas.
My lists seem to be working and planning everything on the calendar to make room for painting and the feeling gives me hope.
Now for Lily... I had to share this with you. Nancy of the Zen Birderfeeder sent me a window feeder which didn't see much activity all winter. Lately I have seen some Chickadees come and grab some sunflower seeds from it. Well as you can see we had a new visitor to the feeder and Lily didn't know what to think of this.
At first she pawed and pawed at the window and the squirrel would stop and look then go back to eating.
Since Lily couldn't get the squirrel's attention she finally settled back and just watched till the squirrel had his fill and moved on.This morning I found the feeder on the ground and I'm not sure if it fell from our high winds last night or from critters. I'll put it back up and see what happens. I have a feeling it will be quite entertaining this summer with the feeder and Lily.
What a joyful sketch of the butterfly! Love the directional "swipes" in the background.
ReplyDeleteHad to smile at Lily and the squirrel. We have 3 cats that are constantly tormented by lizards and squirrels - that pay the cats no attention whatsoever! Should be very entertaining!
Love those shots of Lily and the squirrel. She'd be right at home here! As for the butterfly sketch -- it's fantastic! It's really wonderful how you've used colour and so delicate and just ... oh ... wonderful. (Me? Out of words?)
ReplyDeleteLove your squirrel story and pictures!
ReplyDeleteSaturday was a glorious day on Presque Isle. Love your sketch of the mourning cloak. Your cat is so cute watching that squirrel. I love watching our cats watching the birds.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful painting of the butterfly, Toni. It does deserve a larger work.
ReplyDeleteTotally enchanted by your window birdfeeder visitor and 'watcher'. I can't get our garden birds to try my feeder. Don't know what I'm doing wrong. Meantime I couldn't keep the pigeons from decapitating the cyclamen on the kitchen windowsill - they totally stripped the pots and even then I didn't manage to get a photo. Grrrr..
lol at Lily :)
ReplyDeletelovely butterfly drawing :D captured the texture of the birch tree perfectly.
Wonderful butterfly, Toni - so delicately painted.
ReplyDeletePoor Lily, getting teased by that squirrel...they jump up on our back fence and torment our dogs, too. I'm sure Lily is going to have a great time watching your birds this year!
Lovely butterfly!
ReplyDeleteLilly is definitely going to have a lot of fun watching the birds at the feeder.
Your art is beautiful! And I love the photos and story of your cat and the squirrel - it reminds me of the adventures of our own cat, Skitzi. Very sweet!
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful and so natural painting Toni!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it funny how those squirrels know they are safe behind a window?!
Wonderful sketch!
ReplyDeleteI love the kitty and the feeder photos..Lately we have been having a nighttime visitor come to our bedroom window feeder. My kittie goes crazy..I had to sleep on the couch last night while he tried to catch the silly thing. I am going to try to capture it in a photo tonight to find out what it is.
Toni, What cute pictures of Lily watching the squirrel. I bet she was almost chattering (that's what my kitty used to do when something was close like that). I'll be watching to see what happens with the butterfly.
ReplyDeleteYour sketch is gorgeous. I think you are right about it being a candidate for a full fledged painting. Poor Lily. What torment.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you've been experiencing some great birding events! Your hawk and owl pictures were wonderful and I LOVE your mourning cloak sketch! Such a cute shot of Lily and the squirrel at the feeder!
ReplyDeleteLaurie, the swipes were put on the paper before the book was bound. You don't know what you will get till it is done.
ReplyDeleteAndrea thanks. You out of words! oh my.
Anonymous thank you
Linda I know you can relate on all counts. :)
Robyn it could be the type of seed you are using. And if there are a lot of cats around they may take longer to come to the feeder.
Thanks Jennifer. Hope you are feeling better.
Diahn thank you.
Carolyn, thanks yes Lily sure will.
Angela thank you and welcome.
Teri it was funny and yes it was if he knew he was safe.
Dawn You will have to post those pictures once you get them. I'll keep an eye out.
Diane ha she would get a heavy breathing going. But she has chatted sometimes.
Thanks Lisa. yes a full fledged painting keeps haunting me.
Barb thanks. If you ever get to this end of the state let me know.
What a great catch in the butterfly. Wonderful job. I could sit and watch Lily and the squirrel all day.
ReplyDelete:-) That's funny! What great shots of Lily and the visitor. And the butterfly is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI love seeing other artists' sketchbooks - thanks for giving us a peek! I can just feel the sunlight and sense the velvety texture of the mourning cloak's wings.
ReplyDeleteThat is one cute squirrel, but poor Lily! In our old house we had a ground-level deck and our resident chipmunk would come and sit right by the sliding-glass door with its back turned to our indoor cat and groom itself. Our cat was beside herself with frustration. I swear that chipmunk did it just for spite.
Hi Toni - fun series of photos with your cat at the window. Here's some help on re-hanging the feeder:
ReplyDeletehttp://wildbirdsunlimited.typepad.com/the_zen_birdfeeder/2009/04/top-5-ways-to-make-your-window-feeders-stay-on-the-window.html
Fill it with safflower and raise it up if you want to keep the squirrel off. Of course, then Lily won't have any entertainment!
The butterfly art piece really sings of spring! And I enjoyed the pics of your patient cat.
ReplyDeleteOh what a great blog you have.. Love kitty watching over the seed.
ReplyDeletesmiles, Deena
Your artwork is amazing!
ReplyDeleteAre you well, Toni? Hope everything is going OK. Blessings
ReplyDelete