There's been a lot of water flowing under the bridge since I was last here. Said a sad last farewell to a very dear, long-time friend and mentor (Barb, you're in my heart, always!), one of my girls' lost one of her friends at much too young an age - and I've tried to be there for another good friend through a recent loss of her own. Edit: Please forgive me for taking so long to make my way back here. It's just seemed like a lot of sadness going on, in a relatively short amount of time. It's been easier to just touch base with a word or two on facebook during wild times...but I don't want you to think I've forgotten you or this little corner of the web. I haven't - I couldn't! I just haven't had the words for all that's in my heart...still haven't, really.
There have been a lot of highs and lows, shadow and light. Sweet and bittersweet...
Then there's been all of life's other little curveballs, thrown in between, with their accompanying cast of characters making their cameos. Repairmen, mechanics, etc...Nice people that you don't really ever want to have to see whilst doing their jobs, but you're awfully glad they're there doing them, when you need them. While I try not to sweat the small stuff (or not as much as I used to), it all does seem to take up an awful lot of time (and makes me wish for some sort of life anti-perspirant).
But life seems to be taking a break right now, with some cooler breezes, at last (knocking on wood). If I've learned anything during this time, it's how precious and sweet each moment, each person in our lives is...So if anyone is still out there, peeking in - I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. Hi! Hope you are well! I'm here.Trying to get back into tune - and lighten up! Life and the internet keeps on humming, with or without me, so I might as well try to sing along (and not sweat about it all).
Moving right along, like a - hummingbird? Yes...they move fast, yet they don't sweat. (Enough with the sweating, already! Sorry I just get stuck on these metaphors, sometimes...). But hummingbirds don't get stuck...(well, not usually, anyway. Please don't tell me any sad hummingbirds getting stuck stories!). Hummers just look for the sweet - and they seem to be a theme around here, this year. I've been seeing them everywhere. Maybe because we hung up a new feeder for them here last fall and have been enjoying their visits, ever since. I can never seem to catch them at it with the camera, though. They're too fast and I'm too slow.
So I decided to start trying to paint them. Here's one work in progress. Acrylic on a little 4x4 canvas. It's still at the underpainting stage and already I'm thinking of remodeling. Taking out that fence, for one thing. Hummers don't like to be fenced in...I'll post another pic later, after the remodeling.
And here are a couple of watercolors, inspired by a photo/painting challenge issued on Facebook, from my blogging friend Gemma. I posted this one for the challenge :
The next one was an extra I did, that was inspired by Sharon Lovejoy's photo of a Thumbelina-sized, baby hummingbird, that she posted on Facebook.
I thought to make it up to whoever might still be out there, looking for the occasional post from me, I might give this little hummer baby away. So if you're there and would like a chance at a hummingbird watercolor (on 3-1/2" x 5-1/2" heavy Fabriano paper - strong enough to either matt or mail, if you want to send it to someone else as a card) - leave a comment, below. You can just say 'hi.'Or 'hey, you.' If there's anyone - or more than one of you -- I'll draw a name randomly on Friday and let you know.
Hope this spring is being kind to you. Keep on humming a happy song...
p.s. thank you to those who have emailed me during this long hiatus. You raised my spirit up. I'm still trying to catch up - I've been a terrible correspondent, but I appreciate your words more than I can say.
*Winners have now been announced in the following post, so entries are now closed.
**Also, thank you for your kind words. I am mostly at peace with it all, but it took some time to get there, so I did want to explain to you why I've been away.
Oh Tinker, I didna know you were grieving. You were missed but I thought maybe you were having FUN with the family. It is so hard to say goodbye. :-(
Thank you for posting your Hummingbird on FB. That was fun. LOVE your art as always.
Posted by: gemma | May 06, 2014 at 07:01 AM
Sending HUGE hugs for your losses Tinker. I didn't know you have a FB page. I don't, but sometimes can at least read them. Maybe I will be able to find yours. Thinking about you... xoxoxo
Posted by: judie | May 06, 2014 at 01:42 PM