A POEM

Blue Winter

  by Robert Francis

Winter uses all the blues there are.
One shade of blue for water, one for ice,
Another blue for shadows over snow.
The clear or cloudy sky uses blue twice-
Both different blues. And hills row after row
Are colored blue according to how far.
You know the bluejay's double-blur device
Shows best when there are no green leaves to show.
And Sirius is a winterbluegreen star. 

MORE FLORIDA PHOTOS TO KEEP YOU WARM

From our 2nd week on Anna Maria Island and around...



Great White Egret, long and tall and sleek - also not afraid of people as he/she was used to fisherfolk coming in with their boats or catching good stuff he/she could share :)

What do you call a group of Snowy Egrets?  These guys and gals were hanging out at the Anna Maria City Pier, waiting for something good to be brought up in a net from the fisherfolk netting bait fish.  The Pier was busy with people walking back and forth and these bold ones would move a bit and then reposition themselves.  

Saw this interested spikey spider (red spikes sticking out of the black body) in a web - in fact, saw many of them along the nature walk we took at Leffis Key south of Anna Maria and Holmes Beach.

After a trip to St. Petersburg to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation group (for Sweetie's continuing research), we drove back into St. Pete to see the permanent Chihuly Collection at the Morean Arts Center.  Some of his glasswork (this was from a ceiling) reminded me of the spider and web.

After touring the Chihuly, we walked across the street to the HotShop to see glassblowers in action.  Unfortunately, I had a migraine all day and couldn't enjoy the brightness of the kiln/hotbox as much as I normally would, plus it takes a long time to make one vase!

The glassworker's name was Eidelweiss.  Interesting first name.  While she put the vase-in-progress in and out of the hotbox, I went back into the shop and looked at all the beautiful things for sale.

Loved the warm golden reflections on this large Chihuly vase.  





Looks like we are going to have a warm, snowless Christmas - which suits me just fine!  Hope you get the Christmas you wish for, wherever you are; and if you have to travel, be safe.

WARMER WEATHER IN FLORIDA THAN KENTUCKY

Sweetie and I got away for 2 weeks to Anna Maria Island, staying in a friend's place while they were visiting family up here = works for everyone!

Here are just a few photos from the first week.  More to come from Week 2 later...

Right now, like everyone, I am accepting presents I ordered online, doing grocery shopping, catching up on laundry and emails, etc = the usual stuff one has to do after a vacation. All while trying to adjust to temperatures in the 20'sF after 2 weeks of temperatures in the 70'sF :)


Great White Egret on pier.

A foggy day on the beach at Anna Maria (Bean Point).

Seagull parents with Mom sitting on eggs and Dad watching over her, carefully.  We didn't get too close so they wouldn't spook, but they were right on the beach where people walk all the time.

These Snowy Egrets were ready to do some off-roading in this guy's truck! ha ha  

Actually, this was at a fishing boat launch area and they were waiting for the owner of the truck to return in his boat with some fresh fish for lunch! ha ha

I pick up fallen grape leaves on our walks, and set up these three pretty ones.  This may become a future painting.


The holidays are here.  The crowds are everywhere one goes.  The music plays in stores.  The wrapping paper needs to be purchased and the presents wrapped. The cards are mailed (unless more come in).  

Wish you all a Happy Holiday season and snow (if you like that kind of stuff) or sunshine and a rainbow (if you are somewhere warm).

A hint of a rainbow on Anna Maria Island, 
December 2016.

USA CROWS FINISHED

This one is finished.  


USA Crows 2016


On Fabriano Artistico 140# cold press paper - 15 x 22 inches

A COUPLE MORE CARDS

Just a few more cards to be sent out this year.  Added a bit of irridescent paint to give it a little sparkle (which doesn't show well here).  

Working small helps but I wish I was more inventive when it came to the cards.  However, I don't think most people would want crows or bees on their Christmas/Holiday cards! ha ha

USA CROWS

Just two crows thinking about the brutal election just past, and the divisiveness that has not stopped.  I guess we'll see what happens in 2017, eh?

This isn't finished but here's how I did it:
Draw it out, mask the whites, paint the flag and let the colors drip and drizzle.
Repaint the flag, remove the masking, wet the crows and using sandpaper, scrape off watercolor pencils of the colors you want.

USA Crows

Half sheet (15 x 22 inches) 
on Fabriano Artistico 140# cold press watercolor paper


I'll finish and share again later...


Have a wonderful holiday season.  
Love more, live more, enjoy each other more, 
and please be good to yourselves.