29 December 2016: Fungus spotted in Quail Hollow

Fungus spotted in Quail Hollow, December 2016

Every Day in May 2016 #3: A Hammer - Piano hammers

Every Day in May Facebook Group #3: A Hammer, in this case piano hammers.

Every Day in May 2016 #2: Something Folded - A Paper Fan

Every Day in May Facebook Group Sketch: Something Folded - A Paper Fan.  When I was little, my grandmother used to fold our church bulletin into a fan, and we would fan each other during the Sunday service in the summer. A game of tic tac toe also helped to keep me still.

Every Day in May 2016 #1: A Toy - Catnip Bubbles

Every Day in May is a Facebook Group of over 1,000 artists who share a sketch of the same subject each day in May.  Day 1's assignment was to draw a toy.  I'm not sure who has more fun with this toy: Bojangles the Cat or my daughters.

Sunrise at Deerfield Beach, Florida

Sparrows in our room

Two sparrows flew into our hotel room while I was writing a card to my mother. They didn't stay long enough for a photo, so here's a quick sketch instead.

Wild Parrots

Nap among the Hibiscus

Gecko

He was very cooperative about being photographed, unlike Sailor the Cat.

Sailor the Yacht Club Cat

Sailor says "Hey!" to Sonny, Cher, Bojangles, Lili, Lulu, and even Bosco the Dog!  Any other cool cats or dogs out there that want a hello from Sailor the Yacht Club Cat?

Lamppost in Winter

Just had a wistful moment for Winter (believe it or not) - but I do love winter nights with a silent, light snowfall and maybe waking up to a snowday for the kids.  I had a message from my students at Frazer Elementary, and they were so excited about having a snow day!  I miss the 10-yr-old "Eagle Eyes" students with whom I work as a volunteer. They are such nice little people.

Florida Fighting Conch

The Lucky Ducky

Actually, the name of this boat (moored at the marina below our room) was the Lucky Lucy, but without my glasses on, I thought it said Lucky Ducky, and rather liked that name!

Flowers on the coffee table

Drink more water!

Seahorse with two little seahorses

Did you know that it's the male seahorse that carries and gives birth to the baby seahorses? The lady seahorse just deposits the eggs then swims away!  I painted this postcard for a friend's grand-child -- he will be getting a new brother or sister in August.  I imagine by then, his mother will be wishing she had been born a seahorse!  Watercolor pencil on 4x6 watercolor card.

Hibiscus

There are lots of hibiscus plants of every color by the Old Captiva House, where we have breakfast every morning.

Sie schläft wie ein Murmeltier...

A friend from Germany wrote to me that her grand-daughter "schläft wie ein Murmeltier." Literal translation: sleeps like a groundhog. We'd say she sleeps like a log.  Not sure which one is stranger -- probably ours!  Anyway, I painted her a postcard of a baby groundhog and explained our Groundhog Day tradition.  On Groundog Day, February 2nd, Buckeye Chuck, in Ohio, predicted six more weeks of winter. Punxsutawney Phil, in Pennsylvania, predicted an early spring.  I wish Phil were right, but my money is on Buckeye Chuck.

Snowy the Bunny

Snowy the Bunny (Adorabelle the Cat's new friend), after January's big snowstorm (approximately 30") in Central Pennsylvania.  From a photo sent by Wanda Nitterhouse.  I'll get around to painting scenes from Captiva, Florida, as soon as it warms up here!  It's in the 50s and 60s right now!