Sunday, May 29, 2011

Birds of a Feather


The other day when we went to the junkyard we stopped at a small flower and herb nursery along the way. I was so enamored with the birds, I forgot to take photos of any flowers. The owner said I could have this rooster, but I said I didn't think my neighbors would appreciate that. The rooster was busy scratching in the thick mulch looking for bugs and wasn't even phased by me. Apparently the owner had given three roosters away the day before. I was wondering why he had so many roosters.


Later I saw this stylized metal rooster sculpture and was inspired by it. He's got a cute looking personality. He'd be nice on a tile, I think. I tried sketching him, but my sketch wasn't loose enough. I need more practice. He reminds me of the kind of rooster Meredith's sister Lee would have drawn on a tile. Click on the link to see some of Lee's tiles, I especially like the blue rhino.


Then under the shade cloth I saw this large parrot. Behind the parrot is a green bean vine trained to grow up on a cable. The vines shade the windows from the hot summer sun, which I thought was a pretty ingenious way to reduce air conditioning costs. Yesterday it was 95 F but the weatherman said it felt like 105 F. Now that's hot even for Florida. Hope you are having a good weekend.

15 comments:

  1. Oh I love the parrot! A Macaw? Beautiful colours and I love the lines around the eyes too. I believe they live for a long time.

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  2. Hi Anna, thanks, you noticed details I didn't see I'll have to go back and check them out.

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  3. I love that metal rooster, too. Sort of folk art, which can be very fun.

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  4. Hi Teresa, thanks, yes it has that folksie look to it. I tend to draw things too realistic and wish I could be more loose with my sketches, practice makes perfect.

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  5. Those are wonderful photos!

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  6. Hi Helen, thanks, the birds were really showing off that day. Wait till you see my next post with more photos from the junkyard, Gary and I both took some of them, so stay tuned.

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  7. Hi Linda,
    Florida heat is nothing to mess with. Last August John & I got a 10 day taste of a Florida heat wave.. OMGoodness!!
    I love the birds!! I'll take the that metal Rooster. So cute.

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  8. Hi Cindy, thanks, yeah August is supposed to be hot, but right now it's already like August. Ugh. That rooster was so cute and fairly large too.

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  9. Hi Dennis, thanks, you always have such a unique take on things. I have a very special flower pot pots coming up for you very soon; I just know you are going to love it.

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  10. I thought Arkansas was supposed to be cool in the summer. I was stunned by the number of 100+ days. (21 consecutive days last summer.) Only good thing is our season isn't as long as Florida's.
    I would love the live rooster, my neighbors have their own.

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  11. Hi Patti, thanks, no Arkansas is not cool, not even in the mountains, what's the highest point 1200 feet. they have a short growing season due to the cool weather then extreme heat, I found that out when I lived there and had a terrible time growing any vegetables because they would either freeze or wilt due to heat. that's why they grow rice and soy beans in Arkansas - heat.

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  12. What a handsome rooster, and I love the metal sculpture one too. About 14 years ago we had two roosters, and they were the most companionable fellows to have out in the garden. They were a lot of fun, and would occasionally come to the open back door of our house and crow loudly... usually if I was talking to someone on the telephone. We enjoyed hearing them crow, and they loved to eat porridge (we would make extra for them when we had porridge for breakfast).

    I like the way that you are using tabs on your blog for your Statement and photos of pottery, I must try doing that on mine, it seems a good way of managing information that you want people to be able to find easily.

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  13. Hi Peter, thanks, can you send me an email; I have lost your personal one and I wanted to send you a personal note. How wonderful that the roosters would greet you at the door and like porridge, what is porridge anyway? I'm liking the top links and they're easy to create in blogger too, try it you'll like them.

    With food prices they way they are going I was half thinking of getting some hens, but then I thought about having to take care of them and I am liking my time in the studio, so I decided not to do it, besides I'd worry about them in the cold, the heat, the rain and about the wild animals getting them.

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  14. Hi Linda,
    I'll send you an Email. Porridge is a Scottish national treasure! Essentially rolled oats and water brought to the boil on the stove and simmered until it makes a smooth and gloopy substance (like thick slip). According to legend, the Scottish tend to add lots of salt... but others, (south of the border) like brown sugar, milk and a blob of yoghurt or cream. I like to throw in raisins or dates when I am cooking. It is good hot food for a cold day!

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