Nature at its Finest!

My favorite detail of this piece is the red eyed tree frog. I've posted him before on my blog. He really represents some of my finest detail work. It could be that I was inspired by my love of animals, reptiles, birds and bugs. Well, scratch the bugs. But they do feed my beloved birds and frogs. So I guess they're O.K. As long as they are on the tongue of a frog instead of on me! But it is mostly because of the insane beauty of the tree frog. What a great subject!  I've never seen a red eyed tree frog in the wild. I have seen a blue jean's frog though.

Blue Jean's Frog.  Although,that's probably not his official name!

These images were taken on a night hike in Puerto Veijo, Costa Rica. Shortly after I photographed these little frogs, it started pouring dogs and cats!

Flora and fauna

Dominical, Costa Rica

And since I painted that jungle piece so many years ago, we've actually stayed in jungle cabanas with similar amazing views! This one was breath taking. And you heard all of the jungle noises you'd expect to hear from a location such as this. But, I did nickname this place Casa Construction. It lived up to it's name. Let me tell you. Maybe, I'll fill you in on that next week.

Sunrise and sunset were visually stirring here. Dominical, Costa Rica will always feel like home.

Nature is the theme for www.illustrationfriday.com this week.

Saturday's Critters

My World Wednesday

Goathouse

What's this little bird up to?

Fly Catcher?

She's getting closer to her destination.  I love the pattern in the background.

Now we see where she is and what she's doing.  I love that in Costa Rica an indoor nest is just another day in paradise. Illuminating!

At the front door.

Peeking out. 

These photos were taken at a great restaurant in between Dominical and the French/Costa Rican town of Ojochal.  When we first visited the Dominical area it was called Going Bananas.  Then it turned into Roadhouse. Now it's called Goathouse.  Well, they were all good.  But after tasting the killer Ginger Sesame Mahi at Goathouse, I really hope that the Goats are here to stay. 

BHAAAAAA!

Saturday's Critters

Bird d'Pot

Wild Bird Wednesday

My World Wednesday

Corkscrew Creatures

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Since I posted a green heron from our 2014 excursion in Corkscrew Swamp last week, I thought it would be timely to post some of the critters we saw this year. In 2015. We didn't see one green heron this year though!

 Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is the most peaceful of Florida boardwalks. But you won't have it to your self. (Unfortunately there's other tourists) You'll share it with all kinds of critters big and small. Seen and unseen. Heard and unheard. Look up and you'll see a pileated headed wood peckers doing some damage in the tree tops.

And spider webs reflecting the morning light.

Ibis will be high up above. And below.

An old wood stork might look down from above.

Delicate swamp petals will delight.

Fringed and feathered white egrets will patrol the swamp.

Alligators will bellow from below. This one really did!

Great blue herons will sneak up on a snack.

A wood stork might do the old bait and switch.

Is this an anhinga? I barely recognize him when he isn't drying his wings. You'll see him.

A handsome yellow crowned night heron could possibly, sluggishly troll through the muck.

A little blue heron might pick and peck around.

Another white egret might pose for your camera. 

And a second blue heron will wait beautifully in a tree.

And there's black snakes. For Heaven's sakes alive!

Saturday's Critters

Bird d'Pot

Wild Bird Wednesday

Wednesday Around the World

Plucked from the Garden

I don't usually paint flowers, so this purple powered piece is an exception. Along with a few straggler buds here and there. But that being said, the older I get, the more I notice and appreciate the beauty of flowers and plants, in nature and all around me.

 I have bountiful frilly white puffs of hydrangeas in my garden right now. I also have bright green potato vines creeping over their window boxes, purple loosestrife pointing towards the sky, day lilies absorbing the hot July sun, scalding jalapenos ready to pop and thick thorny raspberry bushes bursting with fruit. What do you have?

Garden is the theme over at www.illustrationfriday.com

Going Green

"No, I'm not a crane.  I just have a long neck.  Idiot."

"Another tourist, another day.  Yawn.  Do my orange legs make me look fat?"

"O.K., I'll give the ugly wingless creature a beauty shot.  They will just keep looking at me until I do.  Weirdos." 

 There are a lot of Green Herons at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.  But I never get tired of seeing them.  But I always wonder if they are tired of looking at us! 

Now here are 5 random (But not for Random 5 Friday anymore) and hopefully funny animal tidbits to share...

1)  My husband looked out the window around 7 am this Spring and stated,"Our bunny is taking the walk of shame back into our yard"  Ha!  Good one.  She lives in our back yard all year and always has a batch or 2 of babies under the deck.

2) Stop the presses! 5 buck clucks are now 6 bucks!  And if you don't know what a 6 buck cluck is, it's a rotisserie chicken at Lunds on Fridays. 

3)  People have been putting a lot of cute animal videos on facebook lately.  Have you seen the one with the chipmunk who adores the soft bed sheets?  He just keeps stretching and yawning. Cute. 

4)  I was putting on hand lotion the other day and a smidgen fell onto the floor.  Akua ran over to lick it up. (my cats think everything on the floor is food)  He tasted it and looked up at me like I was trying to kill him.  Then he ran off and hid in the basement.  Good grief.

5)  On the other hand, my cat Hana loves the taste of soap.  We had to start using soft soap in dispensers to discourage her from licking the bars.  But when I do drag out a bar and lather up, she stops whatever she is doing and runs into the bathroom to lick my face or hands.  Weird!

Saturday's Critters

Bird d'Pot

Wild Bird Wednesday

The Claw

Calico Jill

Calico Jill doesn't have to sharpen her claws, because she has a killer tail! Or at least a utility tail. It might be handy for hooking fish. She also seems to have a pretty sassy catitude. I guess it's just a calico thing.  Did you know that all calicos are feisty? Well, they are.  Even if they aren't pirates. 

Sharp is the theme for www.illustrationfriday.com