I took this photo while we were in the stables on Saturday. Painting perfect pose, I’d say. He’ll probably find his way onto canvas and into my exhibition next spring.

Still much to do, I am plugging along at my project list. Yesterday I uploaded all of my projects for the year (so far) to my gallery, you can flip through those if you’d like and get a sneak preview at one of my new illustrations that will soon be appearing on a blog near you!

My to-do’s to-day are plentiful, so I better get started. Have a good day!

We met Kiki today on a farm. We stopped so that I could photograph a horse for a portrait , but he was gone to show. We’ll have to go back for that photograph. Kiki followed us into the barn and she must have known that we’re allergic to cats, because she decided to rub her pretty furry self all over our legs. I knew just by looking at her that she’s with kitten, which made her “awww” factor just skyrocket. We were flattered when she decided she was going to come home with us, and followed us to the car. No kidding, she was determined.

Look at her, about to jump right up on Caty’s lap, and send us directly to the nearest emergency room for a nice epi cocktail. Sorry Kiki, achoo to you. I wish. :sniffle: :honnnnnnnnnnnk:

We also met a 1 week old colt with the curliest little mane I’ve ever seen – and a mama that was highly protective of her newborn. The daddy was a doll, he and I snuggled and he gave me kisses and snorted warm air in my ear (and down my neck) – I think I’m in love. I didn’t even sneeze! Yahoo!

On your mark, get set, raspberries!!!
(I apologize for the intrusive watermarks, there have been some people using my images lately who are violating my ToU by altering them, cropping out my copyright. Some people sure do spoil it for everyone.)

Seeing our house finches eating together as a couple side by side is a rare treat. Usually they take turns, and sometimes she is on the sock with him but she’s always “beneath” him, at the bottom of the sock while he’s at the top. I was happy to see them “sitting across from eachother” having breakfast this morning.

I get all excited when the flowers start comin’ up, I forget what they are (it’s been so long!) so I just start throwing names at them. My poor Dwarf Irises were deemed Crocus for a few days, until the Crocus showed up.

So, these are Crocus. A little bling-bling for your spring-spring today!

Also, we had another visitor who was most striking. I took a couple hundred photographs of her yesterday while sitting out in the studio. I’m so easily distracted! Show me a new bird and I’ll drop my paintbrushes in a nanosecond and be clicking away with the camera.

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We spent the entire day outside yesterday, enjoying 70-degree weather, getting a 5 hour upper body workout (raking and weeding for 5 hours burns 2,082 calories, don’tchyaknow?) making our yard purdiful for spring. We’ll be planting more wildflower seed, some watermelon and pumpkin, some forever pink hydrangea, heuchera, blazing star, monarda and penstemon for our hummingbirds.

I photographed this house finch (not to be confused with a purple finch, which looks pretty much identical, so it’s beyond me if I’ve identified him correctly or not), he and his striped ladyfriend were feeding on the thistle socks. (Yes I put the feeders back up when I saw the goldfinch, I couldn’t stop myself!) I had so many good shots of this guy it was hard to pick one, so I let the monkey do it.

(Yes, I’ll be painting both of ’em, I think!)

We made some steak fajitas (easy recipe forthcoming), some nachos, and we invited Ben & Jerry over after dinner. It was a nice spring day, I can’t wait for more of them!

We’ll spend a good chunk of the day outside again today. It’s cooler, of course, and I hear it’s supposed to snow tomorrow. I’ll be taking advantage of the mini-spring (tease) as long as it sticks around.

How’s the weather by you? Got a few spare bedrooms, say, four of ’em? Or a spare house to rent out?

If you have the right temp, we just may show up at your place.

I’d love to enter this photograph into a contest, or something. She’s beautiful. The photos I captured of the other side of her wee little head tell a sad story, she’s suffering from conjuntivitis. I tried to find someone around here that might be willing to treat her, but no luck.

Knowing her future, it makes this photograph even more spectacular to me, because she looks awfully angelic, doesn’t she? Like she should have a faint glow of a halo around her head. Awwwww. Pretty birdie.