It feels like the calm before a storm, no wind, no birds (except the chickens) or insects (except for the flies). Just very, very quiet. The other day the wind was blowing so hard this guy really got his feathers ruffled.

Cleaning off my camera, I came across some flower photos I took last month,


The dahlias are all dug up now, ready to be packed in sawdust and put in the basement.

I was just amazed at this red-headed woodpecker! I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it for myself.

He pulled out a big chunk of suet

and hopped up to an empty hole at the top of the log, put the chunk into the hole and pecked it into smaller chunks.

I’m stuck on my Baltimore Oriole drawing, just something about the feathers I’m having trouble with,

so I’ve started working on a female grosbeak,

I’m liking the way this one is turning out so far.