Creative Energy, and lack thereof

Torn paper sunflower

What does one do when one has no creative energy left?
The last few weeks we've had assorted issues with family illness, and bits of care taking and following up to make sure things are "alright"... because one just does those things for those one loves.
However it has left me tired and having trouble catching back up with myself.
I have all these ideas - things I want to create, and just can't make it happen. There is no energy left for creating, and I feel it's loss.
Another nights sleep; another day of catching back up and perhaps I'll get there.

In other news... Spring has arrived in my garden, evidenced by the lovely yellow dandelions with attending bees....

...and the lovely bleeding hearts, one of my springtime favorites.

Have a wonderful week!

Bird Watching in the High Country

Made a quick trip to see my parents, who are getting older and beginning to have a few little health challenges. Not quite as mobile as in the past, however their love of nature, and birds in particular, has not faded. 

We made a trip one afternoon with Mom to her favorite birding spot. This is a view across the lake from at our first stop, as we looked at snow geese and ducks. 

Another view as the sun was poking through the clouds... I was delighted it came out as sparkles!

 We were watching ruff legged hawks soaring around... the first one was at a distance and, of course, directly into the sun. I took a shot anyway, and got a wonderful prism. A reminder that all will be well.  

If you look closely, you can see the hawk as a little black spot at the right of the first cloud on the left under the sun. 

Here he is a bit closer...

The best part of birding in gorgeous scenery.... even if you miss the bird, you still get an amazing photo. :) 

Forsythia!

Spring is coming soon! 

Patterns in Nature

"The beauty in the natural world lies in the details." 

Natalie Angier 

Nature provides such lovely patterns for inspiration. 
Rocks along the road near Heather Meadows, Mt Shuksan, Washington. 

What's in my studio... blackbirds and flowers

Working on a few series of Artist Trading Cards. The flower cards are potentials for my friend Martha's Spring Flowers swap.  I'm hosting a recycled envelope swap at ATCsforAll.com, so that's what the corner blackbird is about. I'm in search of some red or pink security liners, came across one at thought I'd saved it but can't locate it. Ah well! 

On another note, I dropped off my Orange Flowers painting for the Allied Arts Members Show that opens Friday March 6th. So it's not here, but it's on my mind. 

I thought I had a photo of it framed, but can't find that either. Gosh, wonder if all this "can't find stuff" is part of getting old. Nah, just busy. That's it! 

Have a marvelous week! 

Sharing with Julia's What's on Your Workdesk.