Penguin Love and a Treasure Hunt

Penguins–what could be more black and white, which is the theme for this week's Scribble Picnic. Did this in rather of a hurry using a 4B pencil in my little sketchbook. I don't appreciate the imperfections of the paper showing up when scanned and enlarged, but can't put the blame for all of them on the paper!

I will be spending the next three days at our huge garage sale (with other families) as part of the annual U.S. Highway 36 Treasure Hunt (400 miles of antique and garage sales across Kansas!) I don't know how every year we manage to pull enough junk treasure out of the house to be able to keep doing this. Oh well, as long as it keeps going out! You can check out more black and white contributions to the picnic here.

Scribble Picnic–Bird

     We're blessed to have many trees around our house, which also means many birds. My husband likes to grow birdhouse gourds and hang them up for the wrens. Their chattering, which I love to hear, goes on and on throughout the day this time of year! We also have a large rock in our backyard. It has somewhat of a basin on the top, so when that is kept full of water it attracts a wide variety of birds–finches, robins, bluebirds, wrens, sparrows, orioles, cardinals, bluejays,...

     Many years ago my brother who lives in the city mentioned "how noisy" it is here in the country after the birds woke him with their early morning singing! He wasn't really complaining, just commenting!

     I already posted this drawing of a ceramic bird figurine from a class I took years ago, but I'll share it again, as it's one of my favorites. 

     And just because, here's a quick little colored pencil sketch of a bird of no particular variety.

Joining Michael at Scribble Picnic for this week's bird theme. Fly on over here to see the other birds at the picnic.

Alaskan Wildlife, Part 2

These are some of my favorites of the wildlife we saw on our trip to Alaska last summer.

-Tufted Puffin-

: )

 -contemplative Sea Otter-

In Seward there were rabbits of all colors hopping around the residential area.  I happened to see this greedy one.  Or, maybe he was just really hungry. Or, maybe he was headed somewhere to share!

I never dreamed I'd have the opportunity to see whales in my life! I don't remember for certain, but I think this was a beluga.

-Moose!-
They are quite common in Alaska, with signs all along the roads advising caution and to be alert for them along the roads. This family actually lives in Benny's sister's neighborhood. She said the twins were two years old, and would stay with their mother one more year.  But, they were something I had really, really hoped to see while we were there, so I was sure grateful that they made an appearance right toward the end of our visit!

"All things bright and beautiful, 
All creatures great and small, 
All things wise and wonderful, 
The Lord God made them all."

Alaskan Wildlife

On our first day in Alaska (last summer), this eagle and a gorgeous blue sky welcomed us.

 -A lone Harbor Seal swimming up the Kenai Bay-

I named him Murphy!

Murphy stopped to smile for the camera!

-Some of the birds on Gull Island-

I think these are mostly Common Murres and some Pelagic Cormorants off to the right, but do you see the two Tufted Puffins?

 

 Papa Eagle watches over his family (that was in another tree) at Homer.

This was a cute squirrel, but he was really a thief after the contents of Laura's bird feeder!

 

-Steller Sea Lions slipping and sliding, and soaking up some sun in (I think) Resurrection Bay-

Seeing these animals and birds was great, but in part 2 of Alaska Wildlife, I'll show the ones that were my favorites!

Chirp, Chirp! #1--Singing Sunshine

Caught this oriole swaying on a branch outside my kitchen window early one May.  Love its color!