tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53029226307740038432024-03-13T06:27:20.674-04:00Where The Gold Bees DreamLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04191615169155143283noreply@blogger.comBlogger352125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302922630774003843.post-62165041767948050872014-10-14T08:03:00.000-04:002014-10-14T08:03:34.783-04:00Monthly Watercolor Swap-SeptemberWatercolor swap with <a href="http://ingajanzen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Inga</a> continued with our September exchange.<div>
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Inga indulged my love of birds and sent me this gorgeous Kingfisher done in a zentangle style:</div>
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In exchange, I sent Inga a dolly drawing and titled it "Miss Autumn":</div>
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So much fun! Already working on this month's swap. Stay tuned!</div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04191615169155143283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302922630774003843.post-11463150088226144712014-09-29T09:40:00.000-04:002014-09-29T09:40:03.571-04:00Monthly Watercolor Swap<a href="http://ingajanzen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Inga</a> and I met through <a href="http://postcrossing.com/">Postcrossing.com</a> when she sent me this lovely, geometric watercolor postcard all the way from Germany:<br />
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It was so exciting to finally receive a handmade watercolor card that I suggested we do a monthly watercolor swap. I've never properly learned watercolor but it's the one medium I'm most drawn to. We decided a swap would be good practice for both of us so we began our first one in August:<br />
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Inga's postcard to me was so adorable! I love her hat especially since I collect vintage hats:<br />
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<i>In Between</i></div>
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I sent Inga this bottle of Absinthe:</div>
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<i>The Green Muse</i></div>
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Now we wait for September's swap. What have we each created? Stay tuned! ;-)</div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04191615169155143283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302922630774003843.post-87674580373294322822014-09-05T09:32:00.000-04:002014-09-05T09:32:03.346-04:00Round Robin Journal Project, Round 5Hello again creative souls!<br />
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Here is the next round, round 5 of the Round Robin Journal Project.<br />
These pages were done last December! I'm definitely playing catch up on posts!<br />
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Round 5:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xdaa0eW1Bg4/VAm1Xd9OgnI/AAAAAAAAJ_U/pGGS3Vw78aI/s1600/DisneyHolidaybyLauraRE.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xdaa0eW1Bg4/VAm1Xd9OgnI/AAAAAAAAJ_U/pGGS3Vw78aI/s1600/DisneyHolidaybyLauraRE.jpg" height="497" width="640" /></a></div>
For my own journal, I documented my four day holiday to Disney with my friend Luke. Done in ink, watercolor, colored pencil and stickers for the word Epcot.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rq5iiVXkjvk/VAm2DJOhJxI/AAAAAAAAJ_c/of8K5YCoZ40/s1600/TheWaitingDetectiveRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rq5iiVXkjvk/VAm2DJOhJxI/AAAAAAAAJ_c/of8K5YCoZ40/s1600/TheWaitingDetectiveRE.jpg" height="502" width="640" /></a></div>
Nichole did a wonderful page in her journal inspired by the beloved Nancy Drew, who we all grew up reading. The Waiting Detective uses book pages and Nichole's own writing to bring a story to life.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4ttHipzrNAo/VAm2hIcWbDI/AAAAAAAAJ_k/TembveoFPBE/s1600/IWishItWouldSnowbyPhoebeRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4ttHipzrNAo/VAm2hIcWbDI/AAAAAAAAJ_k/TembveoFPBE/s1600/IWishItWouldSnowbyPhoebeRE.jpg" height="512" width="640" /></a></div>
Phoebe did her pages based on how she was feeling at the time. Phoebe loves winter, and loves when it snows. Here, her cutout paper flakes dangle from bakers string. Active visualization! I'm sure it worked!<br />
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<i>And round the journal goes:</i><br />
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In my journal, Nichole did this beautiful winter scene, crafted from paper. With an Alfred Lord Tennyson quote: <i>"Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come...". </i>The little cardinal is a nice touch!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pe54ob5JklY/VAm3o7NMM4I/AAAAAAAAJ_0/EAZyWlruZJ4/s1600/CountryDrivebyPhoebeRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pe54ob5JklY/VAm3o7NMM4I/AAAAAAAAJ_0/EAZyWlruZJ4/s1600/CountryDrivebyPhoebeRE.jpg" height="488" width="640" /></a></div>
For Nichole's journal, Phoebe made a map (she's great at map-making!) of a <i>make believe drive in the country, real life places in a fictional setting. </i>What a lovely drive...dear, geese, and a barnyard full of animals! Done with ink and marker and her wonderful imagination!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VGRjzFZuXdc/VAm4MZTTADI/AAAAAAAAKAA/YOxVExmdZYo/s1600/MerryChristmasbyLauraRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VGRjzFZuXdc/VAm4MZTTADI/AAAAAAAAKAA/YOxVExmdZYo/s1600/MerryChristmasbyLauraRE.jpg" height="498" width="640" /></a></div>
For Phoebe's journal, I created this page of ornaments on Christmas Day! A permanent Christmas card to Phoebe from me. ;-) Done in ink and colored pencil.<br />
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<i>And round the journal goes:</i><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-txuoHQqtLDI/VAm4zzuPRlI/AAAAAAAAKAI/ZQYxPprQJNk/s1600/ChasingADreambyPhoebeRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-txuoHQqtLDI/VAm4zzuPRlI/AAAAAAAAKAI/ZQYxPprQJNk/s1600/ChasingADreambyPhoebeRE.jpg" height="640" width="500" /></a></div>
For my journal, Phoebe did a wonderful <i>"Chasing a dream" </i>doodle using only ink. She is our doodle and Zentangle queen!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TVp9AI_foGk/VAm5Na8EFHI/AAAAAAAAKAQ/roqqQuiPeEM/s1600/TypewriterPromptsbyLauraRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TVp9AI_foGk/VAm5Na8EFHI/AAAAAAAAKAQ/roqqQuiPeEM/s1600/TypewriterPromptsbyLauraRE.jpg" height="502" width="640" /></a></div>
For Nichole's journal pages, I did an old Rocket typewriter with a page of prompts for 2014 that I created by pulling words out of my word box. Done in ink, paper, colored pencil and metallic markers.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KeVIunAOjYc/VAm5z_qO3QI/AAAAAAAAKAY/54ffL7Qu1dg/s1600/FickleWinterTauntsbyNicholeRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KeVIunAOjYc/VAm5z_qO3QI/AAAAAAAAKAY/54ffL7Qu1dg/s1600/FickleWinterTauntsbyNicholeRE.jpg" height="492" width="640" /></a></div>
For Phoebe's journal, Nichole used lined paper and ephemera to create a timeless page titled <i>"Fickle Winter Taunts". </i>Final touches included a short poem, corners and framing done with Washi tape.<br />
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Next up, Round 6! Stay tuned...Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04191615169155143283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302922630774003843.post-51614037564044720832014-07-06T08:58:00.000-04:002014-07-06T08:58:25.606-04:00Round Robin Journal Project, Round 4Happy Summer everyone!<br />
Sorry I have not been posting much here lately. This week three different friends pointed out I haven't blogged in almost six months. I always have such high hopes every year that this year, will be the year I blog my art and photography consistently. One year it's going to work! haha!<br />
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As for this year, well, I've been busy traveling, hosting friends, gardening, and as always, creating art but mostly in my nature journals. One day I will get around to sharing everything but for now, how about round 4 of the Round Robin Journal Project? It is still going strong, rotating between myself, Nichole and Phoebe. We are currently taking the month off for travels which should allow me to catch up and post all the pages on here before we start back up mid-July:<br />
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Round 4:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XrNbb0mVwqg/U61q0wk2fDI/AAAAAAAAIT8/Jt2Q9xP7p6E/s1600/MyBestFoodMemoriesRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XrNbb0mVwqg/U61q0wk2fDI/AAAAAAAAIT8/Jt2Q9xP7p6E/s1600/MyBestFoodMemoriesRE.jpg" height="516" width="640" /></a></div>
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The pages I did in my own journal list my best EVER food memories from around the world. This includes the best ever soup in Keld, England, the best ever chocolate in Hay-on-Wye, Wales, the best ever muffin and the best ever side dish, both in Dublin, Ireland, the best ever hot chocolate at Vosges in Las Vegas, the best ever scones at Leeds Castle in Maidstone, England and the best ever meal in Florence, Italy.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-phXOmTzbge0/U61sfHlEGWI/AAAAAAAAIUI/6X70HukCwrM/s1600/NicholesUponTurning38RE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-phXOmTzbge0/U61sfHlEGWI/AAAAAAAAIUI/6X70HukCwrM/s1600/NicholesUponTurning38RE.jpg" height="512" width="640" /></a></div>
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Nichole's pages in her own journal reflect her hopes upon turning 38 this year. I love all the different hand-written fonts she used and how positive, joyful and colorful the words are. A perfect exercise in positive visualization!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2CaUfFBLzJo/U61txPk5YEI/AAAAAAAAIUU/TjagdyVdmLc/s1600/PhoebesButterfliesRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2CaUfFBLzJo/U61txPk5YEI/AAAAAAAAIUU/TjagdyVdmLc/s1600/PhoebesButterfliesRE.jpg" height="510" width="640" /></a></div>
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Phoebe's pages in her own journal were so beautiful! Filled with colorful butterflies dancing across the pages and a found quote: "<i>Everyone should be so luck to awaken old memories. Always remember you're one of a kind.".</i> And I love the background, dotted up with pretty watercolors!<br />
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<i>And round the journal goes...</i><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gFPeh6_F85c/U7Fpx9LkmeI/AAAAAAAAIWc/UIhu0bPAIDQ/s1600/NicholesLauraRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gFPeh6_F85c/U7Fpx9LkmeI/AAAAAAAAIWc/UIhu0bPAIDQ/s1600/NicholesLauraRE.jpg" height="484" width="640" /></a></div>
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Nichole's pages in my journal was a portrait of me! How sweet is this? And the poem she chose is by Emily Dickinson and was something I had put on my dreamboard for 2014 but Nichole didn't know that when she chose it. It was divine intervention by the creative muses!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7PehjMD3B1w/U7FsHUCZqHI/AAAAAAAAIWo/ZKkyQyElaB0/s1600/PeopleAreStrangebyPhoebeRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7PehjMD3B1w/U7FsHUCZqHI/AAAAAAAAIWo/ZKkyQyElaB0/s1600/PeopleAreStrangebyPhoebeRE.jpg" height="496" width="640" /></a></div>
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Phoebe's pages in Nichole's journal is a great mix of collage and doodle! People are Strange reminds me of her animal masks portraits that she takes which you can see by visiting her <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/phoebewanders/sets/72157622786315960/" target="_blank">Flickr set</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5iEdyaaO9zI/U7FuInfvbMI/AAAAAAAAIW0/0XOfiROTCIA/s1600/ObservationsbyLauraRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5iEdyaaO9zI/U7FuInfvbMI/AAAAAAAAIW0/0XOfiROTCIA/s1600/ObservationsbyLauraRE.jpg" height="510" width="640" /></a></div>
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My pages in Phoebe's journal were really inspired by my cats, Sami and Sookie, both who, like me, are big-time birdy watchers. Of course, they have to watch from the window but in the dreamworld of the art journal, the cat gets to sit outside in the sunshine, on a lovely brick wall. ;-)<br />
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<i>And round it goes again...</i><br />
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<i><br /></i>For the pages in my journal, Phoebe did this fabulous collage of birdsong! Being a birder, you know I just absolutely love it! It makes me think of the dawn chorus in the rain forest. ;-)<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZxyCYyZlcws/U7lEeYTcdeI/AAAAAAAAIY8/GmtUPdCOSCU/s1600/BooksbyLauraRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZxyCYyZlcws/U7lEeYTcdeI/AAAAAAAAIY8/GmtUPdCOSCU/s1600/BooksbyLauraRE.jpg" height="510" width="640" /></a></div>
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For Nichole's journal I did a stack of classic books, with decorative spines. Of course, I added Nichole's name in there since she is a published author! You can find two of her works on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vulnerable-Nichole-R-Beltz/dp/0557125227/ref=as_sl_pc_ss_til?tag=thegr02f-20&linkCode=w01&linkId=JF5T5FYRMINSB4TF&creativeASIN=0557125227" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gkz61_Yw9DU/U7lFpONsRVI/AAAAAAAAIZI/auXpdASIOec/s1600/PhoebebyNicholeRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gkz61_Yw9DU/U7lFpONsRVI/AAAAAAAAIZI/auXpdASIOec/s1600/PhoebebyNicholeRE.jpg" height="494" width="640" /></a></div>
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Finally, in Phoebe's journal, Nichole did a similar page as she did in mine. I thought that was a great idea! Sometime's it's nice to have a similar theme running through the pages you do. And look how lovely paper Phoebe's dress is! I would buy that! ;-)<br />
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Til next time, which will not be six months from now, I promise...Happy Creating!<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04191615169155143283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302922630774003843.post-16802151504662960142014-01-01T13:54:00.002-05:002014-01-01T13:54:24.345-05:00Round Robin Journal Project, Round 3HAPPY NEW YEAR!<br />
As always, a new year brings on the promise to blog more consistently. I usually do very well at the beginning of the year when my creativity is at it's highest. But this year will be different! I have made more realistic creative goals for this year and I have the Round Robin Journal Project going on which will continue for most of 2014. Speaking of that, let's start the new year with pictures from round 3!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eXEPamTJcok/UsRXH3i1MhI/AAAAAAAAF0w/JJGOJGOldQU/s1600/EmbarkOnAnAdventurebyLauraRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="509" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eXEPamTJcok/UsRXH3i1MhI/AAAAAAAAF0w/JJGOJGOldQU/s640/EmbarkOnAnAdventurebyLauraRE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
For my page in my own journal I did a piece on adventure using oil color crayons, watercolor and printed tissue paper. I made it a tactile affair by adding <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00178QQJ8?tag=thegr02f-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B00178QQJ8&adid=010CBZAQD6D6BKQKFXQF" target="_blank">Modge Podge</a> dipped cotton balls for clouds. It speaks to my desire for adventure and travel!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5CV0Hryo3S8/UsRdp9wZMBI/AAAAAAAAF1A/jR6NMr2DIAU/s1600/TheStorytellerbyNicholeRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="516" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5CV0Hryo3S8/UsRdp9wZMBI/AAAAAAAAF1A/jR6NMr2DIAU/s640/TheStorytellerbyNicholeRE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Nichole's journal pages in her journal for this round showcased her love of writing. I think a lot of us grew up reading Nancy Drew and I love that she used pages from one of the books. The paper tape adds the perfect pop of color too.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EEqD0syZCfk/UsRebiymPRI/AAAAAAAAF1I/vGAzPmoanuc/s1600/DanceInTheGardenAtMidnightbyPhoebeRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="493" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EEqD0syZCfk/UsRebiymPRI/AAAAAAAAF1I/vGAzPmoanuc/s640/DanceInTheGardenAtMidnightbyPhoebeRE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Phoebe's journal page followed the same theme she did previously for our journals in Round 2 by including a music playlist along with some tiny dried flowers, this time from the crepe myrtle. I love her little delicate ink line that travels around the edges. Lovely!<br />
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<i>And round the journal goes...</i><br />
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In my journal, Nichole created a tactile and colorful piece with the words "before you thought of spring, the summer lapsed away". A perfect use of paper, paint and words!<br />
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I think Phoebe is the queen of doodling! I love her doodles! She did these beautiful, delicate plants in purple for Nichole's journal. So time consuming and so very perfect!<br />
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It was near the end of October when we were doing this round and everyone was busy posting beautiful pictures of all the trees full of fall color. Of course, I live in South Florida so I might see a red leaf once in a while but I longed for more. So I made some for Phoebe's journal!<br />
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Still keeping with a fall theme, I did a colored pencil piece for Nichole's journal that included a recipe for pumpkin soup. I love my little cat. So cute!<br />
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Nichole is a pretty good doodler herself! She created this fabulous Dream-Love-Create Joy piece in Phoebe's journal using ink and colored pencil. It's adorable!<br />
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I always love it when we are on the same wavelength while creating! And we don't ever know what each has created until we see it. Phoebe did doodles (like Nichole did) of fall leaves (like I did) for my journal pages. It was so nice to have autumn last a little bit longer. ;-)<br />
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Til next time, (which I promise won't be too long)...Happy New Year!<br />
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<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04191615169155143283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302922630774003843.post-75131624360464543582013-11-24T08:08:00.001-05:002013-11-24T08:08:56.520-05:00Round Robin Journal Project, Round 2I had wanted to post this weeks ago, in fact, we are already on round five! Alas, I kept forgetting to scan the pages so I'm a little behind on posting the rounds! I hope to catch up with several blog posts over the next week. Click <a href="http://wherethegoldbeesdream.blogspot.com/2013/09/round-and-round-art-journal-goes.html" target="_blank">here</a> to read about this project and see the pages for round one. Without further ado, here are our Moleskine pages from round 2 of the Round Robin Art Journal Project:<br />
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My page in my own journal for Round 2 was inspired by the day I spent with Luke roaming the back roads in Kansas. It was a fun day, with lots of interesting moments which I tried to capture in these pages.<br />
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Nichole's spread in her journal showcased both her voice and her story, but done in a way that still kept it private, while letting the viewer know, through her photography, that the mood was a bit more solemn.<br />
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Phoebe's pages included her photography of ethereal dreaminess coupled with a feeling of ephemeral moments with the inclusion of dried flowers. A few quotes and a vintage strip of tape tie it all together.<br />
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<i>And round the journal goes...</i><br />
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Nichole's pages in my journal were so super cute! Sisters in Creativity indeed we are! I just love the little figures of us she did in colored pencil. It really matches us! Nice doodling too!<br />
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Phoebe's pages in Nichole's journal pay homage to the end of summer, with an excellent playlist and some delicate dried flowers. I love the idea of a playlist!<br />
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I did mixed media in Phoebe's journal which I titled "A Whole Century of Ordinary Life" and it included this found poem I created: "<i>With a film of dust upon my memory, poring over forbidden pages, old and stained by process of time. A whole century of ordinary life; all through the years, an exchange of reminiscence and of dearest worth, a kiss of lovers." </i>I included a pocket with a little secret stashed away.<br />
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<i>And round it goes again:</i><br />
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I was very excited to see Phoebe also did a playlist in my journal! That meant I got to listen to more new songs on iTunes and add to my own playlist! She also does such great doodle backgrounds and of course, she added a touch of nature for me...a feather and some helicopter seeds! Soar!<br />
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<br />My pages in Nichole's journal were inspired by her Facebook status about her son's homework which included rectangles, sight words and the letter M. You never know where inspiration will come from!<br />
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Nichole's pages in Phoebe's journal included a great quote by Jack Kerouac, other of On The Road. A deep blue, starry night sky for the background and a great page to remind us all to "<i>just keep on rolling under the stars".</i><br />
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I hope you enjoyed this post of round 2 of the Round Robin! Stay tuned for Round 3 which will NOT take me as long to get posted. ;-)Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04191615169155143283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302922630774003843.post-36263313029356972062013-09-29T10:34:00.000-04:002013-09-29T10:34:07.326-04:00Chillin' OutIt's Sunday! Time to chill out and watch football after two days of birding and spending time out in Nature. It's still pretty warm here in South Florida, but the Fall Migration is in full swing. Warblers are being spotted all around South Florida. This weekend I managed to add four birds to my life list: Swainson's Thrush, Yellow-throated Vireo, Black-throated Blue Warbler and the Red-eyed Vireo. Although I didn't get too many pics of the birds (think high in trees, shaded and fast moving!) I did manage to get some half-way decent shots a Great-horned Owl and of this cute, adorable raccoon chillin' out in a tree. Reminding us all that it is important to have some down time and relax. ;-)<br />
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<i>Chillin' Out</i></div>
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<i>Great-Horned Owl</i></div>
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Looking forward to birding every weekend possible until Summer, but today, right now...think I'll have another cup of coffee and watch Game Day Morning on the NFL Network. ;-)</div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04191615169155143283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302922630774003843.post-53317017388138660372013-09-24T16:10:00.001-04:002013-09-24T16:18:24.489-04:00Round and Round the Art Journal Goes...Howdy everyone!<br />
It's been a busy last few weeks of art journal fun! I started an Art Journal Round Robin with Nichole and Phoebe. I chose the Moleskine for us due to it's sturdy, pretty, cream-colored pages that can take pretty much any medium. We each began by doing a two-page spread. Then, our books were sent out...mine to Nichole, Nichole's to Phoebe and Phoebe's to me. We then did a two-page spread in that book before mailing it out again for the next round. Every third week, we'll have our own journals back to work on them! And to see what treasures lay inside! We aren't sharing any pages with social media until each round is complete so that we are all surprised by our pages. That is definitely part of the fun!<br />
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It's fascinating to see what each of us create in our own style. And to say it's inspired me is an understatement! While waiting for the journals to arrive, I've been busy working in my other Moleskines (several lay around half-full), trying out different techniques and ideas to possibly use in Nichole and Phoebe's books, practicing my sketching and even writing a nightly summary of my day. Heck, I even sketched in it while waiting for my doctors appointment! I've fallen back in love with the art journal and the process of creating in it and I suspect Phoebe and Nichole feel the same way. ;-)<br />
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The Round Robin Journal Project, Week 1<br />
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<i>Round Robin by Laura</i></div>
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An introduction to the project and of course, it gave me a good excuse to practice drawing a bird. The quote on the stem reads:</div>
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Each drawing one makes, each study one paints, is a step forward. ~Vincent Van Gogh</div>
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<i>Defining my Creative Self by Nichole</i></div>
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Nichole's first pages show her love for art, photography and writing. I love how she turned her selfie into a cartoon like retro girl! Very cute and clever!</div>
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<i>Introduced by Phoebe</i></div>
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Phoebe's pages were so fun to read! It's all about introductions and how she would be introduced as a character in a movie. Who knew she didn't like potato salad? I promise not to make it next time she visits. ;-)</div>
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<b><i>Now our journals rotated...we sent them off with a bit of trepidation but that was soon replaced by the excitement of inspiration!</i></b></div>
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<i>An Hour with her Sketchpad by Nichole</i></div>
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I thought Nichole's entry in my journal was so clever! The turned-down page revealing the prior sketch, the quote and the little figure sketches...She wanted to show her progression from hesitation to confidence with the pencil and she achieved that quite nicely! And, if I do say so myself, that quote is exactly how I feel!<br />
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<i>She Remembered All Those Happy Times by Phoebe</i></div>
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Phoebe wanted her pages in Nichole's journal to resemble an old, vintage scrapbook and she totally achieved her objective! Vintage photographs, yellowing tape, quotes all about time gone by and remembering the younger days. There was so much to look at and to read, which I did many times over!</div>
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<i>Paris is Always a Good Idea by Laura</i></div>
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While waiting for Phoebe's journal to arrive in the mail, I had done a travel-themed spread in another Moleskine, testing out whether my idea would work and how it would look as a travel-related spread in Phoebe's journal. When her journal arrived and her first pages were about the French film Amelie, well then, I just had to make it all about Paris! A city we have both been to and love!</div>
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<b><i>Round the journals go again...this time with less trepidation and more anticipation of what we all had done!</i></b></div>
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<i>Explore by Phoebe</i></div>
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A lot of times Phoebe and I are on the same wave-length and in this round we both did travel-themed pages in each other's journals! Using her own photography, quotes and travel tips, and even an actual ticket, she created a mini travel scrapbook for me!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cnJ_v8_WaIQ/UkHmp4msEvI/AAAAAAAAFmU/HR1BTCxxDkk/s1600/HowFragileWeArebyLauraRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="498" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cnJ_v8_WaIQ/UkHmp4msEvI/AAAAAAAAFmU/HR1BTCxxDkk/s640/HowFragileWeArebyLauraRE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>How Fragile We Are by Laura</i></div>
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For Nichole's pages I was inspired by silhouetted trees. Trees always inspire me. I love them! And I had so much fun creating this that I decided to do a whole Moleskine just on trees and flowers. The more you do art, the more you find inspiration! The title came from listening to Jason Castro's version of "Fragile" while creating this. It seemed fitting. Life is fragile and doesn't last long. Like a leaf on a tree.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--SzSdMkkHUk/UkHy9CGjfyI/AAAAAAAAFnw/uaI5UXdRcZA/s1600/TravelerNicholeRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--SzSdMkkHUk/UkHy9CGjfyI/AAAAAAAAFnw/uaI5UXdRcZA/s640/TravelerNicholeRE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Traveler by Nichole</i></div>
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Nichole also created a travel-themed page for Phoebe's journal, making Phoebe's Moleskine the most consistent in terms of overall theme. No theme intended, but it just worked out that way!I love her little traveling jester with pup!</div>
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<b><i>Round 1 was a success and has made waiting for the mail a whole lot of fun! Stay tuned for Round 2! In the meantime, enjoy these additional works of journal art I created over the last couple of weeks:</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9oF2cmwCstc/UkHoDNFwF0I/AAAAAAAAFmo/BEq3G8Vm-mc/s1600/PoppiesRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="504" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9oF2cmwCstc/UkHoDNFwF0I/AAAAAAAAFmo/BEq3G8Vm-mc/s640/PoppiesRE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Poppies</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wKZN1P2-wN0/UkHo56zpxhI/AAAAAAAAFmw/KMcNcS8BSFI/s1600/HowFragileWeAreRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="526" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wKZN1P2-wN0/UkHo56zpxhI/AAAAAAAAFmw/KMcNcS8BSFI/s640/HowFragileWeAreRE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Trees I</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_TVEU_XYNTw/UkHqiJxmtkI/AAAAAAAAFm8/i_BY5jgaiXU/s1600/Image0010RE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="508" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_TVEU_XYNTw/UkHqiJxmtkI/AAAAAAAAFm8/i_BY5jgaiXU/s640/Image0010RE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Trees II</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wkwXKfT-48Y/UkHsvxIIqaI/AAAAAAAAFnI/naz_aAuc6N4/s1600/FieldsOfJoyRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="490" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wkwXKfT-48Y/UkHsvxIIqaI/AAAAAAAAFnI/naz_aAuc6N4/s640/FieldsOfJoyRE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Fields of Joy</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jLcCsS4odDk/UkHu5MzRI-I/AAAAAAAAFnU/tXmh1wDo3mw/s1600/TheJourneyAwakensTheSoulRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jLcCsS4odDk/UkHu5MzRI-I/AAAAAAAAFnU/tXmh1wDo3mw/s640/TheJourneyAwakensTheSoulRE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>The Journey Awakens the Soul</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aZilWBcnBmg/UkHvgIEOnPI/AAAAAAAAFnc/KmS7kOccBgU/s1600/VasesRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aZilWBcnBmg/UkHvgIEOnPI/AAAAAAAAFnc/KmS7kOccBgU/s640/VasesRE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Vases</i></div>
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<i><b>And finally, one not done in a Moleskine but on the iPad with Paper 53:</b></i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rt6b9jCGoZc/UkHv05AFfBI/AAAAAAAAFnk/qdi_diTERag/s1600/Paper531b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rt6b9jCGoZc/UkHv05AFfBI/AAAAAAAAFnk/qdi_diTERag/s640/Paper531b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Nature, I love you.</i></div>
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Until the next round, stay creative and in the light! </div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04191615169155143283noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302922630774003843.post-69349357759580462462013-08-15T16:34:00.000-04:002013-08-15T16:34:21.333-04:0022nd & 8th, a Digital Watercolor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNzBVitEEj8/Ug055-Eyv9I/AAAAAAAAFjk/w2bYzURQCGg/s1600/22ndAnd8thForPaintingFinalRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNzBVitEEj8/Ug055-Eyv9I/AAAAAAAAFjk/w2bYzURQCGg/s640/22ndAnd8thForPaintingFinalRE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>22nd & 8th</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This week I worked on a digital watercolor for Leanne. It was suppose to be her grad present when she graduated from NYU last May but I had so much going on that I couldn't get it done until this week. It's the view from her window. I wanted her to have an artistic reminder of her life in NYC...where she lived when she went to NYU, graduated, fell in love, made her stage debut and started her career as a working actress. She even rode out Hurricane Sandy here. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I did it all in Photoshop. It took 6 hours over three days and had 16 layers. I didn't save each layer so I can't show the progress like I did with the lion painting from the last post but if anyone has questions about doing a digital watercolor, feel free to email me. </span></div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04191615169155143283noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302922630774003843.post-86426635077873235872013-08-09T09:38:00.002-04:002013-08-09T09:38:11.898-04:00King of the Jungle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EAMeWxGDCwo/UgTeRU4l2MI/AAAAAAAAFfI/45WCuKeTpbE/s1600/KingOfTheJungleFinalColorRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EAMeWxGDCwo/UgTeRU4l2MI/AAAAAAAAFfI/45WCuKeTpbE/s1600/KingOfTheJungleFinalColorRE.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>King of the Jungle</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After nearly a year of traveling, hosting company and having my brother diagnosed with cancer, I finally had two weeks to do nothing but take care of myself and indulge in some art! I started the month with a detox, (my hubby participated as well which made it much easier to stick to) eliminating coffee, tea, sugar, wheat and dairy. Treated myself to a couple of massages to help speed along the removal of toxins. Purchased a juicer, a Vitamix, dehydrator and a bread machine to make my own gluten-free flax-seed bread. All of this was spurred on by my trip this summer to the Pura Vida Spa in Costa Rica (I'll share photos of my trip in the next post). In the five days I spent there with my mom and my friend Phoebe, I ate a high alkaline diet, had body treatments and left feeling rejuvenated and a lightness of being. When I got back, the stress hit when my brother Ryan was diagnosed with a rare form of melanoma (his treatment is over, now it's just "wait and see"). Stress can take a toll, causing one (uh, yea, me) to indulge in sugary mojitos and sweets. Thus, the detox. Detoxing is suppose to clear your mind as well, improving focus and clarity. I took advantage of that and the free time to delve into some digital art, creating my third painting done entirely in Photoshop. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lita and I got together for a digital art Saturday a couple of weeks ago and each of us picked something to work on from a Photoshop Creative magazine. I decided on a tutorial by Emerald de Leeuw on painting animal portraits. Here's a tip: when following a tutorial where the skill level is "expert", it's probably a good idea to be an expert at Photoshop. Unfortunately, I am not, nor did I notice the skill level until after I started and got stuck trying to understand what the hell they were trying to tell me to do. I *almost* chucked the whole thing but later that night, at home, I decided to just do it on my own, feeling my way through an array of colors and brushes and applying learned oil painting techniques. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It took me 10 days, 30 hours and 40 layers. Titled King of the Jungle, here's how I did it.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The first step was to roughly sketch out the lion. This need not be perfect, I just needed to get the placement of the eyes and mouth correct:</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1PTB18BhSa0/UgThPgxFyAI/AAAAAAAAFfY/2iYy4o21bG8/s1600/MySketchRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1PTB18BhSa0/UgThPgxFyAI/AAAAAAAAFfY/2iYy4o21bG8/s640/MySketchRE.jpg" width="505" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>My starting sketch</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Next, I blocked in colors. I chose a variety of yellows, oranges, deep reds and browns. I also started the eyes right away, figuring if I gave him a soul, he would stare at me and demand I finish him. :-)</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Zz7lia113o/UgTiO0BYXbI/AAAAAAAAFfk/xvncS0c8UfQ/s1600/Lion1RE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Zz7lia113o/UgTiO0BYXbI/AAAAAAAAFfk/xvncS0c8UfQ/s640/Lion1RE.jpg" width="505" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now, I used a smudge tool to blend some of the colors together and then brushed in hair using a smaller brush, also adding more definition to the eyes and mouth: </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j0INbMAUhLA/UgTmz5p69_I/AAAAAAAAFf8/bGXhIMlZiC8/s1600/Lion3RE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j0INbMAUhLA/UgTmz5p69_I/AAAAAAAAFf8/bGXhIMlZiC8/s640/Lion3RE.jpg" width="505" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Now I blended all those strokes together using a smudge tool and different soft brushes:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NPFrpakpPK0/UgTnMRe4n0I/AAAAAAAAFgo/xoobcGJiy14/s1600/Lion6RE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NPFrpakpPK0/UgTnMRe4n0I/AAAAAAAAFgo/xoobcGJiy14/s640/Lion6RE.jpg" width="505" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Repeating the two previous steps:</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kL0EnH0nWjU/UgTnKG-EWGI/AAAAAAAAFgY/wM-ZA3SodR0/s1600/Lion4RE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kL0EnH0nWjU/UgTnKG-EWGI/AAAAAAAAFgY/wM-ZA3SodR0/s640/Lion4RE.jpg" width="505" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ph2K3MSNdfU/UgTqVzxR4ZI/AAAAAAAAFhw/38pOz4H0_Nc/s1600/Lion5RE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ph2K3MSNdfU/UgTqVzxR4ZI/AAAAAAAAFhw/38pOz4H0_Nc/s640/Lion5RE.jpg" width="505" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Next it was time to start blending and adding in details:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7gaK3Mz1cI/UgTqtP5Jt7I/AAAAAAAAFh8/oIcsG4KL5-E/s1600/Lion7RE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7gaK3Mz1cI/UgTqtP5Jt7I/AAAAAAAAFh8/oIcsG4KL5-E/s640/Lion7RE.jpg" width="505" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Next I worked on mouth detail:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EmVyyZlZwdE/UgTqtW6wpuI/AAAAAAAAFiE/aeKjeYejf2s/s1600/Lion8RE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EmVyyZlZwdE/UgTqtW6wpuI/AAAAAAAAFiE/aeKjeYejf2s/s640/Lion8RE.jpg" width="505" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now it was time to get rid of the "teddy-bear" ears by reshaping and continuing the detail work:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-44F3lQrIcrg/UgTtgMmFfhI/AAAAAAAAFiU/TsOOdchJevI/s1600/Lion9RE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-44F3lQrIcrg/UgTtgMmFfhI/AAAAAAAAFiU/TsOOdchJevI/s640/Lion9RE.jpg" width="504" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1R6noWGfCUQ/UgTtg2JNmbI/AAAAAAAAFig/9V2HuwNUybc/s1600/Lion10RE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1R6noWGfCUQ/UgTtg2JNmbI/AAAAAAAAFig/9V2HuwNUybc/s640/Lion10RE.jpg" width="504" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finally added the whiskers and finished off detail work:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wXnX2fEC1rY/UgTtgyxEevI/AAAAAAAAFic/D0sdazOxoV4/s1600/Lion11RE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wXnX2fEC1rY/UgTtgyxEevI/AAAAAAAAFic/D0sdazOxoV4/s640/Lion11RE.jpg" width="504" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lastly, I adjusted color balance and contrast to my liking:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ca-YwqjPU5A/UgTuRkny61I/AAAAAAAAFi4/nWmnMCpAXBo/s1600/KingOfTheJungleFinalColorRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ca-YwqjPU5A/UgTuRkny61I/AAAAAAAAFi4/nWmnMCpAXBo/s640/KingOfTheJungleFinalColorRE.jpg" width="504" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I even did a version in black and white with selective color:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vJ2PvTmcJLg/UgTuy0VrhMI/AAAAAAAAFjE/nQHdVHpGW4M/s1600/KingOfTheJungleFinalBWRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vJ2PvTmcJLg/UgTuy0VrhMI/AAAAAAAAFjE/nQHdVHpGW4M/s640/KingOfTheJungleFinalBWRE.jpg" width="504" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I could still continue to work on it, smoothing out hair, adding details but I'm pretty happy to call it done! It's come a long way from that sketch!</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04191615169155143283noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302922630774003843.post-59153298813631228102013-05-09T12:15:00.000-04:002013-05-09T12:21:30.096-04:00Spring has Arrived!After a very busy month of March, where I hosted two sets of company and April, where I was off trekking the Pennine Way in the most horrible conditions, I finally arrived back home this week to no obligations...at least for a month. I was so worn out from the Pennine Way that the last few days here at home I've done nothing but piddle around the house, sipping iced tea on the patio and watching/listening to all the birds in their mating season glory. I've not really been motivated to do much else than relax and enjoy the warm weather, which was missing in action in Northern England and Scotland. I did however, make it out to my garden to snap pics of all the Springtime loveliness that is happening. I even saw two new species in my garden: a Blackpoll Warbler (#255 on my life list!) and a pair of Brown Thrashers. That makes 42 species of birds in my yard this year. That's a pretty good local patch if I do say so myself! So, enjoy these images from yesterday and I hope you are watching your own local patch for all the Springy goodness that is around you!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uyNdZxKeBFQ/UYvGB5OMK9I/AAAAAAAAFUY/ve_FrJNkqNo/s1600/BrownThrasher1RE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uyNdZxKeBFQ/UYvGB5OMK9I/AAAAAAAAFUY/ve_FrJNkqNo/s640/BrownThrasher1RE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I shot this through the window. It's a Brown Thrasher. A pair of them were calling back and forth to each other for an hour the night before. Found this one when I went to close the blinds of the bedroom window, perched in a rose bush. She could see me and after I took her pic, she promptly flew away. I did hear her calling once again this morning so I am hopeful she is making my garden her permanent home. ;-)</div>
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Some birdy deposited a whole bunch of downy feathers and left them in a pile in the yard. I've moved them to one of the birds favorite potted plants so they can take what they need for nesting material.</div>
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This male squirrel was none to happy with me. The cascading water fountain he drinks from was empty and one of the bowls knocked over. I still haven't gone out to clean and fill it up...on my way to do that shortly! Hang in there buddy!<br />
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Four Mottled Ducks have been hanging out on the lake the last few days. The one below spent over two hours standing on the fake wooden goose that marks our sprinkler system and calling for her chicks (she did have three very tiny babies) who have either been taken by predators or who she misplaced. (this happens a lot with ducks, who aren't the best at parenting skills). She eventually joined in with the other three and they all went on their way to the other side of the lake.<br />
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Apparently it must have rained quite a bit during the month I was gone because the Coreopsis wildflowers have run amok and have taken over the stony pathway. There are three colors this year, yellow, orange and pink and there are a few sunflowers sprouting up as well in the mix!<br />
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This dragonfly paid me no mind. He just sat on this stem for a really long time, staring out over the lake. I wonder what he was thinking about? They look like tiny little fighter pilots. Perhaps he was contemplating his last or future flight mission?<br />
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I love in the spider's world that the female is always the bigger, more bad-ass of the sexes. Here are a pair of Shiny Orbweavers. The male is waiting to mate and then I'm pretty sure she'll eat him.<br />
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When I left, the only critters in the garden were birds, lizards and toads. Now there are tons of caterpillars, butterflies, dragon and damselflies! And of course the birds, lizards and toads are all still around. No more Painting Buntings though. They seem to have moved on and I'll have to wait until next winter to see them again.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3472.Margaret_Atwood" style="background-color: white; color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">Margaret Atwood</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/487639" style="color: #666600; text-decoration: none;">Bluebeard's Egg</a></i></div>
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Off to do just that!</div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04191615169155143283noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302922630774003843.post-10243113428303495472013-02-11T19:16:00.000-05:002013-02-11T19:16:22.215-05:00It's Mixed Media Month!Hello again my friends!<br />
The month of February is Mixed Media month for my online course with Carla Sonheim, The Year of the Giraffe. The goal is to use at least two different mediums together and hopefully incorporate some of those supplies that we all have sitting around. And maybe even throw some different things at it all together!<br />
I've done two pieces so far:<br />
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<i>Wading Giraffe with Kitty Paw Print</i></div>
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<i>Mixed Media on Canvas</i></div>
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Supplies used: acrylic paint, airbrush ink, watercolor, gesso and paper. Sookie helped me add to it by walking all over the freshly painted canvas and then tracking blue prints all over the art room. </div>
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<i>Giraffe Portrait</i></div>
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<i>Mixed Media on Watercolor Paper</i></div>
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This one is more simple, just using watercolor, ink and colored pencil. I was very proud of myself on this one because for once my colors weren't a muddled mess! More mixed media to come this month! Stay tuned!<br />
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For the sixth week in a row, I took sunrise shots, although I missed both weekend days as I was out with Lita birding. It was totally worth it though as I added 7 new birds to my life list and Lita added 8. The La Sagra's Flycatcher that everyone has been spotting up at the Green Cay Wetlands, well, that one is still eluding us. I'm going to try again this weekend to spot and snap the little shyling.<br />
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<i>Black-hooded Parakeet</i></div>
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<i>Sunrises 2013, Week 6</i></div>
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May the sun continue to rise for you all!</div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04191615169155143283noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302922630774003843.post-54965575624741613882013-02-03T20:05:00.000-05:002013-02-03T20:05:45.317-05:00Kickin' Around South FloridaI had a great time jaunting around South Florida this week with Phoebe. We packed a ton of stuff into a week that left us both exhausted and ready for some non-travel time. I love when friends come to visit as I get to take them to all my favorite places and experience new ones along the way. This time, Phoebe and I went to Key West, my first time there since moving to Florida nearly 15 years ago. It was bigger than I expected and really crowded. Still, there was tons to see and do and of course, a few Key Lime Pies to try!<br />
I wish I had time to process all my pictures and share them but there are just too many and the Superbowl is today! So, here are just a few of my favorite images from my week with Phoebe, all taken with the iPhone (my DSLR images will have to wait until I have time to process them) and starting with our weekend jaunt to Sanibel:<br />
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<i>Golden Path</i></div>
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<i>Little Shell Collector</i></div>
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<i>Pippi Longstocking goes Fishing</i></div>
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<i>Beach Tree</i></div>
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I logged 5 new birds on our visit to Sanibel and I wasn't even birding! We were staying at Seaside Inn and there on the beach were a flock of seabirds. In this one flock I got a Sanderling, Sandwich Tern, Forester Tern and Black Skimmer. The next morning, I went out to capture the sunrise and got a Great Black-backed Gull. I took Phoebe to all my favorite places, The Island Cow, the Bubble Room, Captiva, Ding Darling, my favorite antique store and even the lighthouse. We even did some shelling and found some awesome treasures which included pieces of coral, unique shells and even a sand dollar! My favorite moments were watching the flock of seabirds take off and a little interaction I had with a crab. Sanibel is always magical and I can't wait to be back there in March with both Lita (for more birding) and Luke who will be down for a visit.<br />
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<i>Birds of Sanibel</i></div>
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<i>Crabby Encounter</i></div>
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After a weekend in Sanibel, we had a nature-filled day at Butterfly World and Green Cay Wetlands:</div>
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<i>Black with a Hint of Yellow</i></div>
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<i>Rope Bridge</i></div>
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<i>Stop and Smell the Roses</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TtSVUU5x3dE/UQ7Z0NdFaTI/AAAAAAAAFNs/fb5PKr4-wg8/s1600/TheWetlandsRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TtSVUU5x3dE/UQ7Z0NdFaTI/AAAAAAAAFNs/fb5PKr4-wg8/s1600/TheWetlandsRE.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>The Wetlands</i></div>
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Now, it was time to take a road trip to Key West, stopping on various Keys along the way. We ate lunch in Key Largo, walked the small strip of beach on Marathon and spotted a Key Deer on No Name Key. We spent the first afternoon in Key West on Mallory Square and I watched the Cat Man perform with his amazing kitties while waiting for the sunset which was accompanied by ships, birds, biplanes and an F-16 flyby. The next day we enjoyed breakfast at the famous Blue Heaven before walking all over old town until our legs and feet were screaming at us to end the day. The best part for me were all the cats we met at Hemingway's house and all the chickens running around town. Before heading out our last morning, we visited the Audubon House and did a little shopping. It was a wonderful getaway to a colorful and fun area of Florida. On the way back we stopped and walked the old seven mile bridge on Pigeon Key and had lunch on Islamorada.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EWN4h3UNbhI/UQ7kWXNEBRI/AAAAAAAAFN0/-5x_hzikqlk/s1600/KeyWestSunseREt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EWN4h3UNbhI/UQ7kWXNEBRI/AAAAAAAAFN0/-5x_hzikqlk/s640/KeyWestSunseREt.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Sunset on Key West</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jHHH2ZMPrds/UQ7mGPlYoFI/AAAAAAAAFN8/7U8R136naPQ/s1600/ChickenAndCatRe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jHHH2ZMPrds/UQ7mGPlYoFI/AAAAAAAAFN8/7U8R136naPQ/s1600/ChickenAndCatRe.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Rooster & Cat</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MT-j6hyOWZg/UQ7mGlS9zcI/AAAAAAAAFOE/f9e-GMmZh3M/s1600/DiscardsRe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MT-j6hyOWZg/UQ7mGlS9zcI/AAAAAAAAFOE/f9e-GMmZh3M/s1600/DiscardsRe.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Discards</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JRo072PCh7U/UQ7mGg5orSI/AAAAAAAAFOI/B8MKxG8lHeE/s1600/StrongJawRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JRo072PCh7U/UQ7mGg5orSI/AAAAAAAAFOI/B8MKxG8lHeE/s640/StrongJawRE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Strong Jaw</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7yH-Mut6H8Q/UQ7qZDteWhI/AAAAAAAAFOU/vfnn-tRi8eg/s1600/StarfishCottageRe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7yH-Mut6H8Q/UQ7qZDteWhI/AAAAAAAAFOU/vfnn-tRi8eg/s1600/StarfishCottageRe.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Starfish Cottage</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lmIgo82g7x8/UQ7qZl0IOBI/AAAAAAAAFOc/AfLQ3kERrRE/s1600/ColorsOfKeyWestRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lmIgo82g7x8/UQ7qZl0IOBI/AAAAAAAAFOc/AfLQ3kERrRE/s1600/ColorsOfKeyWestRE.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Colors of Key West</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rMCrsKDd5kU/UQ7qZ7qE1NI/AAAAAAAAFOg/De6bScqfaHk/s1600/ALittleCountryRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rMCrsKDd5kU/UQ7qZ7qE1NI/AAAAAAAAFOg/De6bScqfaHk/s1600/ALittleCountryRE.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>A Little Country</i></div>
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<i>Sailin' Away</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OALBPs5CQD4/UQ7sS7yEQyI/AAAAAAAAFO0/ORmzuZvE-NU/s1600/TheWritersDeskRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OALBPs5CQD4/UQ7sS7yEQyI/AAAAAAAAFO0/ORmzuZvE-NU/s1600/TheWritersDeskRE.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Where the Stories Happen</i></div>
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Our last day together was spent enjoying a yummy lunch on Marco Island before exploring a bit of the Everglades near Fakahatchee Stand where we saw the smallest post office in the USA, a huge gator sunbathing on a rock, a nesting bald eagle and a snake skeleton which greeted us before we started on a trail that made us a bit uneasy, what with gators, Burmese pythons and skunk apes on the loose. ;-)</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_XI7NEgp_8Y/UQ8BkpZsTFI/AAAAAAAAFP0/WV-e3HZwu-A/s1600/OchopeePostOfficeRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_XI7NEgp_8Y/UQ8BkpZsTFI/AAAAAAAAFP0/WV-e3HZwu-A/s1600/OchopeePostOfficeRE.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Ochopee Post Office, the smallest in the USA</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bF_XHNWyzig/UQ8Bl1sjHzI/AAAAAAAAFP8/JNEVW-IZaGQ/s1600/FakahatcheeStrandRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bF_XHNWyzig/UQ8Bl1sjHzI/AAAAAAAAFP8/JNEVW-IZaGQ/s1600/FakahatcheeStrandRE.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Boardwalk at Fakahatchee</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y48Ef9N6pjo/UQ8BmVI3CKI/AAAAAAAAFQE/Kwbh_Gx-wd8/s1600/SnakeSkeletonRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y48Ef9N6pjo/UQ8BmVI3CKI/AAAAAAAAFQE/Kwbh_Gx-wd8/s1600/SnakeSkeletonRE.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Snake Skeleton</i></div>
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I managed to keep on shooting sunrises for a fifth week, adding in two from Key West, as well as two sunsets. The sunrises are getting earlier so as long as I naturally wake up before the sun is up, I'll continue to capture them. ;-)</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-myn0Zjlo9zs/UQ8DMMID6UI/AAAAAAAAFQM/CipTqmapUxk/s1600/Week5CollageRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-myn0Zjlo9zs/UQ8DMMID6UI/AAAAAAAAFQM/CipTqmapUxk/s1600/Week5CollageRE.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Sunrises & Sunsets, Week 5</i></div>
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This week will be devoted to getting my "pay-it-forward" packages out as well as working on my next assignment for Carla Sonheim's Year of the Giraffe class. This month is all about mixed media. I'm so excited with this assignment. I will share my pieces here on my blog when they are finished!</div>
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Hope everyone has a wonderful week! See you soon!</div>
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<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04191615169155143283noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302922630774003843.post-63011137979726092892013-01-23T22:09:00.000-05:002013-01-23T22:09:48.777-05:00Birding Weekend in SanibelHello my friends!<br />
Finally had my first birding outing of 2013 with Lita. We spent the weekend on Sanibel, a place we both love not only because we met there but because it's so full of nature and wildlife. It's a dream locale for photographers, nature lovers and of course, birders. And we are all three! ;-) We had a great weekend which included a couple of really magical moments gifted to us by the universe as well as lots of great birdy sightings. We ended up seeing about 33 different species of birds and Lita added 7 or so to her life list and I added 4. We also ended up with dozens of bites that welted up on our face, hands, chest and legs thanks to a constant attack by no-see-ums, little biting bugs that, you guessed it, you can't see. However, they were so thick we could see them plain as day! They even attacked our scalps. I have itchy hair now. ;-(<br />
And, I have tons of pictures to process. I promised myself I would keep up with the processing this year. Um, yea, right...I can already see how that is going to be a challenge!<br />
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Alrighty then! On with the highlights from the weekend in Sanibel:<br />
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On Saturday, we arrived in time for a quick drive through Ding Darling before having lunch at The Greenhouse Grill. I was able to add two birds to my life list while at Ding Darling, a Dunlin and a Red Knot. Later in the afternoon we hit Bowman Beach for a bit of shelling and then headed to Captiva to capture the sunset. There was no sunrise that morning at my lake due to rain so I was very happy to at least have a decent sunset.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kR72rD2O7pI/UP4Lq4oREhI/AAAAAAAAFBM/dZDL-fH8qsQ/s1600/DunlinRe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kR72rD2O7pI/UP4Lq4oREhI/AAAAAAAAFBM/dZDL-fH8qsQ/s640/DunlinRe.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>A sweet Dunlin. They are so cute!</i></div>
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<i>Beachy Blues</i><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tCK0P05luVc/UP6MauCr4hI/AAAAAAAAFCk/_YFiJlZVKRc/s1600/Jan19SunseREt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tCK0P05luVc/UP6MauCr4hI/AAAAAAAAFCk/_YFiJlZVKRc/s1600/Jan19SunseREt.jpg" /></a></div>
<i>Sunset 1.19.2013</i><br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">One of our magical moments was watching a Bald Eagle snatch a fish from the ocean and fly right over us! It was the highlight of day one but unfortunately both Lita and I had no time to adjust our manual settings and we just pointed and shot and none of our pictures turned out (I think we were shooting seashells or waves or some such thing). I managed to salvage one enough that I could add in some clouds I shot earlier along with some texture so that I could at least have a shot to remember the moment by. Not that I would forget...it was a one in a million chance sighting there!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-06A2waF0vo4/UP2Mm0-JOUI/AAAAAAAAFAQ/KNFQcGGZAEI/s1600/BaldEagleAlteredRe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-06A2waF0vo4/UP2Mm0-JOUI/AAAAAAAAFAQ/KNFQcGGZAEI/s1600/BaldEagleAlteredRe.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Bald Eagle with Catch</i><br />
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On Sunday we got up before sunrise and headed to Ding Darling, unaware that what lay ahead would be misery in the form of no-see-ums. It was completely overcast so once again, no sunrise. That makes three days this month that I didn't see a sunrise. Hopefully the rest of the month will shine on! At Ding Darling we met other birders who were kind enough to let us use a roll-on eucalyptus bug deterrent which didn't work at all. We also met a nice photographer named Tom Brennan who gave us some no-see-um spray which didn't help either. Lita immediately welted up...it took my body about 12 hours before the allergic reaction set in. Even as I'm typing this I'm in a state of itchy misery. But, the real question is, was it worth it? And the answer is a resounding YES! The highlight of our day included interacting with a Yellow-throated Warbler and this amazing private performance we received from a Stand of Tree Swallows:</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxykZCqXDL-vztCUBsozAKDvy5bSBcHY2PUM9WSS7R4WWVxvC0Zp5t6D1WtEmZDJcKwkqAVnuDCj923JluE9g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<i>Wrong Way</i></div>
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We actually had to sneak into Ding Darling because it was 30 minutes late in opening. There was a line of cars waiting to get in but we were walking so we squeezed around the gate. We later went back and paid our $1.00 to the attendant who said the back of her alarm clock fell open and the battery came out. She felt terribly bad about it and we in turn, felt bad for her! </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UjgILFbrtSg/UP6YX5sR0jI/AAAAAAAAFFQ/kshod8GMC-A/s1600/MeAndTomRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UjgILFbrtSg/UP6YX5sR0jI/AAAAAAAAFFQ/kshod8GMC-A/s640/MeAndTomRE.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
<i>Me and Tom with his serious birding lens!</i><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DAHy9aMHf88/UP8NARQ-lKI/AAAAAAAAFGM/BVhDKeFihvA/s1600/YellowThroatedWarbler1Re.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DAHy9aMHf88/UP8NARQ-lKI/AAAAAAAAFGM/BVhDKeFihvA/s1600/YellowThroatedWarbler1Re.jpg" /></a></div>
<i>Yellow-throated Warbler</i><br />
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After the morning at Ding Darling, we head to our favorite breakfast cafe, Over Easy for a delicious and filling meal. Of course I had eggs benedict with a side of not only bacon but also sausage! Piggy plate alert!</div>
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And, the Over Easy cafe has the best coffee. It was just what we needed to push through the rest of the day which included a hike along Baily Tract which is where we saw the Stand of Tree Swallows (I just love using collective nouns!) and a teenage gator. After a couple of hours there we headed back to Island Cow for a delicious dessert before heading off the island and back to the west coast.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cBhtynsJXUI/UP_zS8MGGdI/AAAAAAAAFII/-jLr2M99IXA/s1600/OverEasyCafeRe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cBhtynsJXUI/UP_zS8MGGdI/AAAAAAAAFII/-jLr2M99IXA/s1600/OverEasyCafeRe.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Best.Coffee.Ever</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AM8VDQdfW-E/UP_zSm1In8I/AAAAAAAAFIE/ViNek11A06E/s1600/BreakfastRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AM8VDQdfW-E/UP_zSm1In8I/AAAAAAAAFIE/ViNek11A06E/s1600/BreakfastRE.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Eggs Benedict, my favorite breakfast </i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OLPe-Nky7VI/UP_v09VuCYI/AAAAAAAAFHI/bwMXp2q3vMM/s1600/StandOfTreeSwallows2Re.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OLPe-Nky7VI/UP_v09VuCYI/AAAAAAAAFHI/bwMXp2q3vMM/s1600/StandOfTreeSwallows2Re.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>A Stand of Tree Swallows</i></div>
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<i>Shadowed Selfies</i><br />
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<i>Decadent Dessert</i><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1JF7Rt-VoT8/UQCGRDoAGHI/AAAAAAAAFJY/-Ug3nwnlT_E/s1600/GreetingsFromFloridaRe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1JF7Rt-VoT8/UQCGRDoAGHI/AAAAAAAAFJY/-Ug3nwnlT_E/s1600/GreetingsFromFloridaRe.jpg" /></a></div>
<i>Greetings from Florida!</i><br />
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And, also from last week my sunrise collage:</div>
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I continued drawing my giraffes for The Year of the Giraffe class with Carla Sonheim. I also did one in pastel. This is our last week for the drawing portion. I hope to add a few more pages to my giraffe sketchbook before the end of the month. </div>
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Next up...a week with Phoebe! I can hardly wait for our adventure! See you all soon!</div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04191615169155143283noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302922630774003843.post-71686431017434346672013-01-13T10:01:00.000-05:002013-01-13T10:01:22.515-05:00Week 2 in CreativityThis week I began my Year of the Giraffe online class with Carla Sonheim. This month it's all about drawing the giraffe. Giraffes are so cute! I dug through my pile of unused journals and found a nice handmade one with a cover that seems suited for all the giraffes that will live inside of it. Eventually, I can go back and add watercolor to all of the drawings but for now, I'm just doing various drawing exercises and my goal this month is to draw as many different giraffes as I can. Here are some practice pages I've done this week, in a collage form because I'm currently obsessed with making collages:<br />
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<i>Drawing the Giraffe</i></div>
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<i>This week I worked on blind contour drawings, drawing with the wrong hand and gesture drawings. Next week will be all about realistic drawing of the giraffe!</i></div>
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I'm still recovering from the flu with a lingering cough and some plugged sinuses but I was able to have a Creative Saturday with my friend Cynde who had the flu over Christmas. We figured she was safe to hang out with me in my art room. We worked on making our own Spirit Cards...these are cards that have words to encourage the spirit such as Healing, Dreams, Hope, Faith, Learning, Love etc...My cards are going to be themed with birds and the words are based on the myths and legends that each bird is associated with. I worked on The Blackbird first, which is a bird of Prophecy, so my word for the card is <i><b>DREAMS</b></i>. Just like a regular deck of cards, the backs are all the same. That is going to be time consuming because I chose to design this as my back:</div>
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<i>Birdy Love</i></div>
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Here is the front of the Blackbird card:</div>
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<i><b>i giorni della merla</b> means The Blackbird Days which are the last two</i></div>
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Here is an artistic shot taken with the Hipstamatic using my newest lens/film obsession:, the Tinto 1884 lens and the C-type Plate film:</div>
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<i>Dreams</i></div>
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Cynde worked on a teacup design Spirit Card with the word "healing". After working for a few hours in the morning, we had some healing comfort food trying a new restaurant in town that has grilled cheese as it's main theme...yum, grilled cheese!</div>
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<i><b>Adam Good Bar & Grill'd</b> restaurant. The menus were attached to old album covers! How cool is that as a way to reuse and recycle? Pretty darn cool! And the food was damn good too! :-)</i></div>
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<i>Some damn good grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch!</i></div>
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Finally, Cynde and I headed to Barnes and Noble for some dessert and some inspiration. I ended up getting a cute new journal to record my birdy sightings, as well as Carla's new book "How to Draw Imaginary Creatures". I already have her Drawing Lab book so this will be a perfect companion piece! I also found that one of the blogs I follow Creative Thursday has a book out! So of course, I had to get that too. Throw in my favorite painting magazine from Britain, Leisure Painter as well as a bird magazine and I'm good to go!</div>
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<i>Creative Inspirations</i></div>
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I continued to process images from my archives. I feel like I'm making a dent, deleting more than I am processing which is a good thing since I'm almost out of room on my laptop!<br />
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<i>I can't wait to be at the beach again...just one more week and then a birding getaway with Lita!</i></div>
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And finally, I continued getting up early enough to take pictures of the sunrise. This week had some pretty dramatic skies so missing out on extra sleep was totally worth it!</div>
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<i>Sunrises, Week 2</i></div>
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This week there won't be anytime to be creative as home improvement projects are taking the front seat. I will however finally be on my first birding outing of the new year so I am definitely looking forward to that. I just hope I keep the flu from coming back! </div>
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Have a wonderfully creative week dear friends!</div>
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<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04191615169155143283noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302922630774003843.post-34834709339968751862013-01-09T18:23:00.000-05:002013-01-09T18:24:00.826-05:00Forest Magic, Movies, Sunrises and GiraffesHello my friends!<br />
I am still recovering from the flu but feeling better everyday. I can't wait until I am 100% and can get out and about again in the world of the living, although if anyone gets me sick again I will be very ticked off. ;-)<br />
This week I found out my sprinkler system has not been coming on for two months! Thus, not only is everything dead in my yard but the stuff that is living has a white-fly infestation. Let me tell you, those buggers are voracious and not easy to get rid of. I was very depressed about the whole thing for a day or so until I realized this is a perfect opportunity to replace the dead stuff with native plants that will attract even more birds and butterflies to my yard. So, I'm trying to look at the bright side of the buggy situation. Maybe by next summer, I will have a lush garden again and new flowers to take pictures of!<br />
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So, what have I been doing since being stuck inside with the flu? I've worked on art of course! I finally finished my first illustration done completely in Photoshop. It was a learning experience for sure. I used all my own textures except for one from Distressed Textures for an overlay on the background. Picking out the textures was quite the fun part as I didn't know after making it into a pattern stamp what it would look like on the page until I started painting it on.<br />
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<i>Forest Magic</i></div>
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I first drew a rough draft by hand and scanned it into Photoshop. I realized two things at this point: that I drew her two elbows (haha, talk about double-jointed!) and that drawing this directly into Photoshop would have been much easier as I had to go over all the lines anyways to create the "piece" look I was going for.<br />
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<i>Rough Draft</i></div>
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I then began to paint in the textures. I ended up with a total of 40 layers! I used textures I made by running ink off of old Nat Geo pages. I then scanned them into Photoshop and created textures from them. Using the Pattern Stamp, I then created a paintbrush effect and added them to my selected areas, one at a time. Yes, that took forever!<br />
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<i>As I began to redraw it in Photoshop, some things got erased and some things got added to improve the overall composition. Finally, background textures where added and some of the line drawing layers deleted. I used an old map texture to create the ground. I loved how it looked!</i></div>
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When I finished, I printed it out on my printer on high quality paper and let me tell you, it's gorgeously rich and delightful! I'm going to giveaway the print so if you comment on this post, telling me your favorite part of the piece, I will put your name into a hat and will draw a winner on Sunday. I will send the print matted, signed and ready for framing! What a fun project! I can't wait to attempt another!<br />
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I continued the Sunrise shots this week...somehow that has turned into an iPhoneography series and I just hope I can keep up with it. I really only meant to shoot the first sunrise of the year but I've been up everyday in time for the rest of them. Probably not a good thing since I go to bed late and really need rest right now but honestly, who could resist seeing this:<br />
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<i>Sunrise 1.9.2013</i></div>
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And wanna know what else has cheered me up this week? One of my goals each year that I put on my dream/visualization board is "continued learning". Last year I did this with gusto and took way too many online classes that I ended up not being able to finish because of all the traveling I did. I have the same kind of adventurous year ahead of me again but I didn't want to give up on the idea of an online class because I really enjoy learning and being pushed out of my comfort zone. So, I chose one that my friend Constance told me about. It's Carla Sonheim's Year of the Giraffe! It's a year-long art project all about Giraffes! OMG. I love Giraffes. How fun is this going to be? I love Carla's drawing. I would love to be more silly and free. I'm too technical with my drawing. I hope to loosen up quite a bit by the time the year and the project is over. And I can't wait to see what kind of giraffes end up being my companions. ;-)<br />
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<a href="http://www.carlasonheim.com/year-of-the-giraffe/"><img border="0" height="556" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cb9_Xm3FoIw/UO36WJH94SI/AAAAAAAAE4U/wkXynngT6wQ/s640/giraffe5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>If you would like to read about the Year of the Giraffe or sign up for the course, click <a href="http://www.carlasonheim.com/year-of-the-giraffe/">here</a></i></div>
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And finally...I wanted to share a Kickstarter Project with you and hope you will help this talented group of students complete their film, The Furnished Room. The leading lady is my friend Constance's daughter. You can see the video and learn how you can help get this movie made by clicking <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1266377928/the-furnished-room?ref=city">here</a>. I donated to the project and it feels good to not only give, but to support the arts. Every little bit will help them so don't be shy! You know you always wanted to see your name in the credits of a film. ;-)<br />
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I hope everyone has a great upcoming weekend and don't forget to leave your comment regarding the "Forest Magic" piece to be entered in to win the print!<br />
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<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04191615169155143283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302922630774003843.post-58185453373164782642013-01-06T15:29:00.000-05:002013-01-06T15:29:20.956-05:00Week One, 2013As the first week of January comes to a close I am still battling the flu, although I am beginning to feel better. I managed to just barely make the sunrise this morning, one minute to spare, after waking suddenly from a dream where I was serving Sudafed at a dinner party:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausanne/8355231640/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="480" id="blogsy-1357502991059.527" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8324/8355231640_2bae7f68c7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<em>Sunrise 1.6.2013</em></div>
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I made this little collage of the first week of sunrises on my iPad with an app called Insta-collage:</div>
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It makes me happy to look at it. These were the bright spots (no pun intended!) during my week of gloomy sickness. And it reminds me how amazing my little iPhone can be and how much fun and easy it is to process on the iPad. Since I've been down and out with the flu I have indulged in an amazing iPad game called The Room. It was rated the top game of 2012 and I highly recommend it if you have an iPad. It is gloriously beautiful with a touch of mystery and magic:</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausanne/8355233246/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="479" id="blogsy-1357502991053.104" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8510/8355233246_140c8fe99c_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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There is nothing creative on the agenda today. Just a lazy Sunday with football and naps.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausanne/8354171995/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="640" id="blogsy-1357502991085.2297" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8233/8354171995_bc63d2397a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hopefully this upcoming week Charlie and I will both be on the mend and the creative energy will once again freely flow! And I hope to share another beautiful week of sunrises!<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04191615169155143283noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302922630774003843.post-51499153397577078802013-01-04T16:35:00.001-05:002013-01-04T16:35:37.691-05:00Being Sick in 2013 Was Not On My List of GoalsHow is it, living in a nice humid, sub-tropical climate that I ended up with this cold? I am not good at being sick. And, my hubby is home sick too. That dastardly guy brought it home with him from Colorado, that's how I got it. I missed blogging yesterday due to the complete blockage of my sinuses and of aches all though out my body that sent me running to the Aleve and put me into bed by 8pm. Still, I managed to capture the sunrise yesterday and today, making it four days in the row I watched it rise and all four days it was so unique:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausanne/8347554530/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="500" id="blogsy-1357334663863.8523" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8089/8347554530_d4984f3bd1.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<em>Sunrise 1.3.2013</em></div>
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I love that time of the morning. Coffee in my hand and all the birds are active, but the rest of the world is not. Today a flock of Ibis, a Seagull and a Hawk all flew overhead while the grackles sang their dawn song with extreme gusto. And lo and behold, today two neighborhood cats were sitting under a bush watching it rise with me. I could only get a quick snap from far away as the closer I tried to move, they got in their ready-to-bolt stance so I let them be as I enjoyed having company to view the sunrise:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausanne/8347555006/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="500" id="blogsy-1357334663807.8506" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8089/8347555006_9a81c8c3a7.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<em>Sunrise 1.4.2013</em></div>
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I have managed to keep up with my daily journal each day so far despite being sick. My goal is to keep it up for as long as I can this year. Here is a snippet containing my new hat again only this time in colored pencil:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausanne/8346502099/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="500" id="blogsy-1357334663815.3486" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8226/8346502099_c09e062d52.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<em>Daily Journal</em></div>
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And, I was notified that I won second place ($90!) in a holiday contest I entered! It was this cute image of my elf making gingerbread that won:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausanne/8346502625/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="416" id="blogsy-1357334663849.9666" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8096/8346502625_79814dc0dc.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<em>Santa's Little Helper</em></div>
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Also, despite being sick yesterday, I grabbed words from my word box (yes, I am a collector of words!) and put them in my mixed media journal: <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausanne/8346503509/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="500" id="blogsy-1357334663897.9722" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8236/8346503509_f49a9ba7b5.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<em>The Word Box</em></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausanne/8347558664/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="500" id="blogsy-1357334663814.142" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8469/8347558664_e6b06af10c.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<em>By the Light of the Moon</em></div>
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Another goal I have stuck to so far this year is cleaning out my archives by processing one photo a day. I have been working on pictures from 2009 and 2010:</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausanne/8347559920/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="500" id="blogsy-1357334663873.0645" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8468/8347559920_4bd03af98c.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<em>Confetti Web</em></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausanne/8347560522/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="500" id="blogsy-1357334663900.8582" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8470/8347560522_d40b118bdc.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<em>Beachy Selfie</em></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausanne/8347561320/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="500" id="blogsy-1357334663856.926" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8378/8347561320_89be723aaf.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<em>Eat Your Peas!</em></div>
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See, yesterday was not a complete bust! And today, well, I'm blogging and that IS being creative, right? Looking back on the last 24 hours I'm amazed at what I accomplished despite feeling so horribly bad. Of course, there were a couple of goals that went out the window...clean eating and gardening! Sometimes, you just have to have a chocolate frosty from Wendy's. ;-)<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04191615169155143283noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302922630774003843.post-44580896442275734432013-01-02T21:00:00.002-05:002013-01-02T21:00:17.137-05:00Scenes from a Mall...the antique mall that is!The second day of the New Year started much like the first, with hubby sick in bed and me with iPhone in hand capturing another gorgeous sunrise:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausanne/8340604470/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="586" id="blogsy-1357177778802.764" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8361/8340604470_4a1dc7a5b6_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<em>Sunrise 1.2.20</em></div>
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The rest of the morning was spent hitting thrift stores and my favorite antique store with my friend Gwen and of course I had to snap a few iPhone pics</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausanne/8339547169/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="640" id="blogsy-1357177778779.7751" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8213/8339547169_3733f75db9_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<em>For a Princess</em></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausanne/8339548287/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="640" id="blogsy-1357177778803.684" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8073/8339548287_51590e164e_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<em>A parrot named Charlie</em></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausanne/8340607634/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="640" id="blogsy-1357177778777.9365" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8073/8340607634_842d6df699_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<em>Make a Wish...</em></div>
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Of course I found something I just couldn't live without...a new vintage hat! Once I got it home, the research began as I tried to figure out what kind of vintage hat I had and when and where it was made. Then, it was time for the first selfie of 2013:</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausanne/8339549937/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="538" id="blogsy-1357177778784.9058" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8224/8339549937_5b0cbfc422_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<em>1940's Bavarian hand-felted sheeps wool hat. </em></div>
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<em>The beautiful bird feathers are held into place with a silver Gamsbart pin adorned with a boars head.</em></div>
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There wasn't much time for art but my new hat did inspire me to practice watercolor:</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausanne/8339550627/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="480" id="blogsy-1357177778823.222" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8353/8339550627_df4966e5ef_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I love hats! I think I'll wear this one with my Maine Hunting Boots (on the dream board...I WILL have a pair this year) the next time I'm in Kansas during cool weather. Until then, I'll just wear it around my house and pretend I'm out on a lovely walk through a Bavarian forest!<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04191615169155143283noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302922630774003843.post-8534519756181586402013-01-01T21:07:00.000-05:002013-01-01T21:07:48.835-05:00January 1st, 2013It started out with a beautiful sunrise...the morning light brought forth the dawn song from a plague of Grackles, who were flying back and forth across the lake, egging me on to capture them in a perfect composition on my little iPhone:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausanne/8336357314/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="667" id="blogsy-1357092159526.7686" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8498/8336357314_214a9b9686_c.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">The first sunrise of 2013</i></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"> My poor hubby spent the morning in bed suffering from a cold. Not a great start for 2013 but he still managed to find something good to write down and throw into our "best of" jar (see previous post).</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);">While he coughed, sniffled and sneezed, I retreated from the germs and took refuge in my art room. I wrote and sketched in my 2013 art journal and worked on a graphic art piece that I started a couple of weeks ago. The piece is still a work in progress and I'm learning as I go but what fun it is!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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-webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausanne/8335304093/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="667" id="blogsy-1357092159588.6392" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8077/8335304093_dc96888b81_c.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"> <span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);">Still in progress, I have yet to name the piece. I need to work on the background, the forest plants and add some details, like a butterfly or two. :-). </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></div>
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<i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="font-style: normal;">While I did art, Sami lounged in her new bed, soaking up the warm sunlight beaming through the window</span>:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></div>
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<i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); 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-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausanne/8335307037/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="375" id="blogsy-1357092159589.7896" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8076/8335307037_ec52bd663a.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"> </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></div>
<i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"> </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>It's a lazy day at Casa George</i></div>
<i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"> </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><br />
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"> One of the goals I've given myself for 2013 is to process one image from my archives everyday. I'm so far behind on processing pictures...four years worth sit in files on my laptop! Being a photographer means that I'll never catch up. I've accepted that but I can at least keep up with the images I take in 2013 and revisit one image from the archives each day. By the end of the year I'll have 365 images done! That seems doable. So here is the first one, taken in 2010:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausanne/8336361962/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="500" id="blogsy-1357092159534.4465" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8363/8336361962_06a08596a3.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><em><em>Just One</em></em></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></div>
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<i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><em><em><br /></em></em></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);">This year, Lita and I are recording all our bird sightings each day on eBird. My count today:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;">50 Grackles</i></span></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;">3 Painted Buntings (2 male, one female) </i></span></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></div>
<i style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i><i><i><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i><i><i><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i><i><i><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i><i><i><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i><i><i><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i><i><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i>1 Palm Warbler</i></span></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><em>3 White-winged Doves</em></span></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><em>2 Mourning Doves</em></span></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></div>
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<i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><em>7 Muscovy Ducks</em></span></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></div>
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<i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><em>1 Northern Mockingbird</em></span></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></div>
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<i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><em><br /></em></span></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);">That's it! Day one of 2013 is done. A sore throat has come upon me as I write this (glares at sick hubby). Hopefully my creative train won't be sidetracked by an illness. Fingers crossed, knocking on fake wood.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);">Oh...and, pat on the back...I blogged two days in a row!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04191615169155143283noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302922630774003843.post-37450391801444121152013-01-01T07:00:00.000-05:002013-01-01T07:53:38.674-05:00Here We Go Again!Ah! It's here! Another year, another chance to keep a creative train on track.<br />
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Are we ready out there? Have you made your dream/visualization board? Or perhaps your a list maker, using pretty gel pens to write out all the goals that have been whispering into your ear this past year. Is your camera ready to capture all the magic that unfolds each and everyday right before your eyes? Are your journals ready? A blank, white page begging to be messed up with pencil, ink, watercolor, paper and glue? Or maybe your creative goals are with music, dance, programming or any other endeavor that gets you into the flow of creation. Whatever they may be, it's a new beginning, a chance to dream big, a reminder that life is worth living because we have so much we want to do! <br />
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I spent today getting ready, preparing my art room, my camera, my journals, my lists:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausanne/8331465001/" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="667" id="blogsy-1357013634106.7983" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8218/8331465001_3a1c6fba9c_c.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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I love a new journal!</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausanne/8332522230/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="500" id="blogsy-1357013634152.3857" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8219/8332522230_80221a840f.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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My hubby and I will be dropping a little snippet about the best part of our day into this jar throughout 2013. At the end of the year, we will read them and be reminded of what a wonderful year it was!</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausanne/8331466289/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="500" id="blogsy-1357013634083.9822" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8500/8331466289_5090e089ec.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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My dream/visualization board for 2013, with room for additions!</div>
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What does one do when there are many interests, hobbies and creative pursuits? Well, roll a die of course!</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lausanne/8331466743/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="738" id="blogsy-1357013634148.064" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8355/8331466743_21c9da817f_c.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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This is just one way to keep creativity kickin'! </div>
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Of course, there are always non-creative goals as well (eat healthy and exercise, the old standards) and blogging more consistently is one of those goals. Sharing more of my photos, art and of myself. I'm ready! Bring on 2013!</div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04191615169155143283noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302922630774003843.post-84873907564036562782012-12-06T12:43:00.000-05:002012-12-06T12:43:14.521-05:00Woodpecker HumorJust to make you smile today:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_WDNm68A9ts/UMDYawH2yhI/AAAAAAAAE0E/xRW3uBaS-no/s1600/8113GilaGossopRe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_WDNm68A9ts/UMDYawH2yhI/AAAAAAAAE0E/xRW3uBaS-no/s1600/8113GilaGossopRe.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>"I heard he is such a player". "No! Really?"</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F4HAF3IeXcQ/UMDYb-SMx8I/AAAAAAAAE0M/teNbWSou8Q4/s1600/8114GilaTrioRe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F4HAF3IeXcQ/UMDYb-SMx8I/AAAAAAAAE0M/teNbWSou8Q4/s1600/8114GilaTrioRe.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>"Are you girls talking about me?"</i></div>
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Gila Woodpeckers, taken in Glendale, Arizona. </div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04191615169155143283noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302922630774003843.post-25549490273408446762012-11-28T14:36:00.000-05:002012-11-28T14:36:40.331-05:00Catching up on LifeLife has been moving at a rapid pace for me lately. The short version, as to not bore you all, is after the trip to Arkansas, I went to London & Paris with my husband, entertained my family for a week and then flew to NYC for a long weekend, which then turned into a week thanks to being stuck in Chelsea during Hurricane Sandy. I arrived home just in time to make a portrait photo shoot I had to do for my neighbor and her family before turning around again and flying to Arizona for a week of visiting with my friends, family and of course, doing a little birding in Sedona. I've been home for a little over a week and I can't believe how far behind I am on everything. Plus, I had two outings with Lita (one to Key Biscayne, another to Loxahatchee) that yielded even more birds and nature pics! The year is ending and a new one is beginning. This means old goals to try to catch up on, new ones to set for the year.<br />
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Birding has been taking up free time. I do so enjoy it. I have plans to begin art projects inspired by all my new feathered friends. I am looking to make 2013 another year of living the best life I can and fitting creativity into my everyday life. I've got some amazing trips scheduled for 2013...both Phoebe and Luke will be coming down to enjoy Florida and Phoebe and I will be hitting Costa Rica together in the early part of summer on a yoga retreat. And finally, my big trek of the Pennine Way is happening in April. I still have in the works, a trip to both NYC and Sedona again next fall for the Fall Migration. We shall see if it pans out, but it's all going on the Dream Board. Also going on there: Peru, Ecuador, New Zealand, Africa and Japan. If you are going to dream, why not dream BIG? Have you all started your Dream/Vision boards for 2013 yet? Get crackin'! Time is running out! I'll share mine when it's done. ;-)<br />
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Until then, It's time to start processing and posting hundreds of photos from all these adventures! Here are just a few from each trip:<br />
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<i>Old World</i></div>
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<i>Visions of Moulin Rouge</i></div>
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<i>Flood Fascination on the Hudson</i></div>
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<i>The day of Sandy's arrival</i></div>
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<i>Naked Cowboy</i></div>
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<i>Great-tailed Grackle, Thunderbird Mountain, Glendale, Arizona</i></div>
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<i>Lifer #141</i></div>
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<i>Arizona Sunset</i></div>
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<i>Anna's Hummingbird</i></div>
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<i>Lifer #150</i></div>
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Hopefully, I'll be able to keep up with my blog a bit better in 2013. If you don't hear from me for a while, don't worry, I'm just off exploring somewhere. ;-)</div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04191615169155143283noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302922630774003843.post-27674405306573719382012-10-01T08:46:00.000-04:002012-10-01T08:47:12.642-04:00A Day in Hot SpringsFor our last day in Arkansas, we rode horses in the morning and then headed into Hot Springs for lunch and a little shopping. We had fun using our Hipstamatic around the historic district. It was super hot outside and it made us appreciate living somewhere with an ocean breeze!<br />
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<i>The restaurant we ate at for lunch was so interesting and had a colorful past!</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Ce-z4h0_70/UGmGjRpJ1YI/AAAAAAAAEtM/YT2YUuStQZM/s1600/Bordello2blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Ce-z4h0_70/UGmGjRpJ1YI/AAAAAAAAEtM/YT2YUuStQZM/s1600/Bordello2blog.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Lita convinced me to give a "come hither" brothel look which then proceeded to crack her up,lol.</i></div>
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<i>Lunch Crowd</i></div>
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<i>Lita, checking in on Facebook!</i></div>
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After lunch, we walked around and snapped pics of store windows and other interesting things we saw:</div>
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<i>Aristocrat</i></div>
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<i>Bathhouse Soapery</i></div>
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<i>Friends Forever</i></div>
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<i>This skinny bottomed girl had a red velvet cupcake. And it wasn't that good. ;-(</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tXIm_aGtV78/UGmMSlFNXsI/AAAAAAAAEvA/n9383JTJ-Ek/s1600/Lanternsblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tXIm_aGtV78/UGmMSlFNXsI/AAAAAAAAEvA/n9383JTJ-Ek/s1600/Lanternsblog.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Chinese Lanterns</i></div>
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<i>Back in the Day</i></div>
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<i>Little Red & Wolf</i></div>
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<i>A bit of London in Hot Springs!</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OwicjaIVLGc/UGmMXSHTFqI/AAAAAAAAEvg/CnOk326E0hY/s1600/Zoltarblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OwicjaIVLGc/UGmMXSHTFqI/AAAAAAAAEvg/CnOk326E0hY/s1600/Zoltarblog.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Zoltar! My hubby does a hilarious impression of Zoltar. :-)</i></div>
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After a few hours in Hot Springs, we headed back to the ranch and did our country photo shoot which I shared in an earlier post. Here are some bonus images to wrap up this Arkansas Adventure:</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-imsNOUNopTw/UGmPcwc2_5I/AAAAAAAAEwc/BSVwQgaatmE/s1600/LitaPorchBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-imsNOUNopTw/UGmPcwc2_5I/AAAAAAAAEwc/BSVwQgaatmE/s1600/LitaPorchBlog.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Cowgirl Lita</i></div>
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<i>The Simple Life</i></div>
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Our last day ended with a beautiful sunset:</div>
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And when we arrived back home to Florida and headed to our car in the parking lot, we were welcomed home by a full rainbow:</div>
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And so our adventure ends. Two friends with memories to last a lifetime. xo</div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04191615169155143283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302922630774003843.post-59606318285394401372012-09-29T08:54:00.000-04:002012-09-29T08:54:19.324-04:00Lake Catherine State ParkLake Catherine State Park was our favorite out of the three locations we hiked. It was beautiful, with lots of waterfalls. There were three trails to choose from and we ended up doing the Falls trail twice and the Dam Mountain trail once for a total of 8 miles. We had plenty of tree canopy to keep us from overheating and plenty of water this time around. I was pretty lazy with the big camera so mostly used the iPhone 4s:<br />
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We chose the Falls Branch Trail first because we wanted to make sure we got to see the waterfall. The following images are from our first round on this trail:</div>
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<i>The Trailhead</i></div>
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<i>Footbridge Photo Op</i></div>
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The first wildlife we spotted was a male Summer Tanager:</div>
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The Trail continued along the river, over footbridges and to the falls:</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-giyRC3UhISg/UGWY1c_0wNI/AAAAAAAAEmU/fUjnL_Jf7FI/s1600/ReflectingColorsHipstaBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-giyRC3UhISg/UGWY1c_0wNI/AAAAAAAAEmU/fUjnL_Jf7FI/s1600/ReflectingColorsHipstaBlog.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Forest Reflecting</i></div>
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<i>Lighted Water</i></div>
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<i>Our final day together</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vLH9d-rpiFI/UGWeahPmkPI/AAAAAAAAEnk/Ursmy6ntLOU/s1600/TheRiverBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vLH9d-rpiFI/UGWeahPmkPI/AAAAAAAAEnk/Ursmy6ntLOU/s1600/TheRiverBlog.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Take Me to the River</i></div>
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<i>Riverside</i></div>
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<i>Trapped</i><br />
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<i>Falls Photo Op</i><br />
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After enjoying the falls for a bit, we headed up on the Dam Mountain Trail which as we were climbing the switchbacks, we spotted a few birds twittering about including lots of Pine and Prairie Warblers:</div>
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<i>Sweet Pine Warbler</i><br />
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<i>Posing Pine Warbler</i><br />
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<i>Prairie Warbler. It's difficult to tell the two apart. The Prairie Warbler has yellow extending all the way down his underside and a black eye line through the eye and below. Both are quick little flyers!</i></div>
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We saw a few other interesting things on our way up and the view at the top was quite lovely:</div>
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<i>Stone Giant. Or perhaps one of Bilbo's trolls?</i><br />
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<i>Orange Lichen</i><br />
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<i>Cactus!</i><br />
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<i>View from the Top</i><br />
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After coming down off the Dam Mountain Trail, we still had a couple of hours left of our afternoon so we returned to the Falls trail once more and took a few more photos as well as soaked our feet. We had the whole falls to ourselves and it was a lovely way to end the day. </div>
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<i>Falling Water</i><br />
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<i>Flares over Falls</i></div>
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And finally, on our way back to the car we logged some Canadian Geese and Mallards:</div>
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<i>Basking Bankside</i></div>
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Next up, our final day in Arkansas...</div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04191615169155143283noreply@blogger.com2