Baby birds and a kitty

If we're friends on Facebook you've probably seen photos of my mailbox nest. This has been a yearly occurrence for the last 3 or 4 years. Last year's wren babies didn't survive a predator so I've been keeping a close watch on these little ones (as if I could really do anything about anything if a bigger bird swoops in and decides to make a meal of them). Anyway.... this morning I woke to a lot of fussing coming from the front porch.

Apparently I wasn't the only one to hear the babies yelling for food. A neighborhood kitty also heard. We've had a beautiful calico hanging around our yard for a long time. I don't know who he belongs to but he certainly likes our space. So there he was, sitting on the front porch under the mailbox with huge, eager eyes. Thankfully he can't get to them but he sure causes chaos for the bird family trying to eat breakfast.

Look at those faces!

I shooed him away so mom and dad could feed their growing bunch. I watched them take turns bringing bugs and worms to the nest. Once the babies were satisfied it looked like they were doing some house cleaning. They appeared to have pieces of shell they were carrying out of the mailbox. Gotta keep things tidy.

Just to be sure they could keep on with their parental duties I sat with the front door open a bit so I could watch them and keep the kitty from disturbing them again. Near the top of the photo you can see one of the parents on the edge of the mail slot ready to take off again.

It's another beautiful, cool day today so I'll keep the windows and doors open and keep my ears open too so I can hopefully help the little wrens through another day without the scare of a large feline.

Last time I told you about the floral show happening at Magnolia Art Xchange. Here's my Camelia hanging at Ocala Union Station in one of the exhibit rooms. It was a really nice day- did a little painting, met some great people and got to visit with some old friends. And the photo below is just because...... This past Friday night was the Friday Art Walk in Tallahassee and Vera at the Signature Gallery emailed me this photo of "my walls" at the gallery. What a great place! And they sold 2 more of my paintings- a nest and a landscape. Oh happy day!

I'm going to finish my coffee and enjoy the rest of this beautiful, spring day in FL. It won't be long before we're all melting from the heat so it's wonderful to feel a cool breeze. Hope your day is great.

1 closes, 1 opens, and painting live!

So the show in Macon at the Macon Arts Alliance Gallery is coming to a close this week. If you haven't been you should check it out. I'll still have work there after the show too and there's lots of talented folks displaying there so if you miss this time there'll still be more to see.

And... coming up this week is the Magnolia Art Xchange show Blooming with Max where the Pioneer Garden Club will be presenting a floral show inspired by master artists. My painting Camelia will also be on display for the 2 day show.

Camelia

30x40

acrylic and gold leaf

The show is open to the public on Friday March 31st from 1pm-4pm and on Saturday April 1st from 10am-3pm. On Saturday I'll be there painting live. I've got another camelia painting started so this is what I'll be working on at the show.

What makes it even better? I'll be painting with my buddy Julie Shealy! I'm so excited!! You may have seen Julie's Bloomies at Gateway Bank this past year. She had a fabulous show running from Oct through December. I first met Julie when we worked together on an Artist Within project with the Marion Cultural Alliance. We don't get to see each other too often so I'm not sure if we'll spend more time painting or sharing grandchildren photos :)  but anyway.... if you can, come by Ocala Union Station and see us on Saturday.