Butterflies, Birds, & More
Yesterday I managed to get out for a short while to one of my favorite nearby parks in search of butterflies to photograph.
In only minutes I spotted a swallowtail, and Immediately I photographed it.
After taking just a few photos, it flew off. I waited around as swallowtails tend to return to the same general area several times before taking off entirely. But it did not return. As I looked at the butterfly bush, I saw something fuzzy.
When I got closer, I realized it was a frightened looking baby bird!
After taking a couple photos, I left it alone hoping that its mama would find him. I was glad to see the little guy fly off. I walked around a bit more, but I couldn’t find any more butterflies to photograph.
Instead I photographed some flowers.
I like the lighting in this one.
This afternoon I went out for an hour to another place in the area that has some large gardens. I had a bit more luck for a short while.While there were no swallowtails, there were some monarchs.
Yes, I know some of them are same old, same old, but it was fun and I am glad to get a few more photos today than yesterday. I’ll probably go out again during the week as I’m determined to get more swallowtails in good lighting.
Anyway … I have a some good, new books that I want to talk about in the coming days, and I’m going to have some give-aways. But, more importantly, I need to return to making art. I’ve been sidetracked with huge clean-outs, dyeing watercolor paper and digitally printing some for journals, and too much playing with my ipad. While I was beating myself up for not bothering to enter anything into the Schweinfurth show and not having anything ready to enter into Quilt National, I decided to stop stressing over it. I’ve had some good accomplishments over the years, and I can enjoy knowing that I finally have something in this year’s Visions show. Plus I’ll be visiting San Jose to see the International Techstyle Art Biennial at the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles and the Zer01 Festival. Here’s where you can find more info on the ITAB show, where I have a piece being exhibited, and Zer01. Otherwise, I’m going to finish my tech column for The Prof Quilter and finish an article that I’m writing for The Quilt Life. Then I’m going to *try to relax and enjoy my “wet” work area where I now have a new sink and my “dry” work area which is now newly cleaned-out and better organized than it ever has been. Now to finish that column!