Thursday, February 01, 2007

While Sailing Along and Waiting ...

While waiting and letting time pass - I have been writing and sketching in a lovely journal that I got while I was ill... Thought I would share some pages with you
The sun doesn't even enter into battle today - even the soft light is slow in coming and so weak that it sill seems like the earth is waiting for the dawn at eight this morning.

The first bird of the day is the inquisitive white-breasted nuthatch --- for a few moments he clings to the side of the windows --- he gives a "yonk" then flies to the feeder. Dropping the first few sunflower seeds to the ground, he continues to sort through the seeds on the tray. Finally, finding a seed that passes his inspection, he flies to a white pine branch where he proceeds to shell and eat his seed.

The gray squirrels are very aggressive again today --- one small chubby squirrel (yes chubby) jumped from the railing of the deck to the front door in an attempt to reach the birdfeeder he saw reflected in the window. He is very persistent--- trying over and over again. I finally had to go outside and look back at the door to see why he continued in what seemed to me a futile exercise --- The heavy cloud cover creates a perfect environment for clear reflections --- no wonder he is persistent - the reflection is so sharp I can see each sunflower seed.

It is so silent! The trees are still - no rain. I can hear the beating of the bird's wings as they pass over my head, and the sounds of their feet as they clutch a branch when coming in to land.

Silently waiting, listening, I hear a chickadee crack and munch a sunflower seed.

As day ends and darkness arrives - the night appears deeper and more impenetrable than usual. Again the influence of the heavy cover of clouds. No glimmer of light from moon or stars. It is only the light crossing the clearing from the headlights of an occasional passing car that breaks the complete darkness.

31 Comments:

Blogger Kara said...

It's good to have you back! Your drawings are really wonderful!

10:55 PM  
Blogger silverlight said...

Your drawings are absolutly wonderful. Both of them. I hope you have more later.
Percistent squirrel. He'll knock himself silly.

4:11 AM  
Blogger Julie said...

You been blessed with such talent. We have had a nuthatch of late, but it is a rarity for us. Squirrels we have--in abundance!

Hope you are feeling better now, Endment.

9:56 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Beautiful sketches Endment! You're very talented.
I'm sorry to hear you were ill - I hope you are better now.

10:18 AM  
Blogger MB said...

I'm sorry you were ill — it's no fun being sick — and I hope you are feeling much better now. These pages are wonderful!

3:08 PM  
Blogger Pam said...

It's so good to see you back, like everone else, I've been waiting.
Sorry to hear that you were ill and hope you are completely recovered.

Your drawings are just beautiful; so talented on paper and with camera.

3:43 PM  
Blogger Rowan said...

I'm so glad to see you back once more, I'm sorry you've been ill and hope all is well again now. The drawings are beautiful especially the nuthatch - such a pretty little bird.

3:46 PM  
Blogger Cate said...

Oh, thank you for sharing your sketches and writing. The last observation really moved me--I have known nights like that and you described it so perfectly.

A lovely post . . .

P.S. Hope you are feeling better.

5:03 PM  
Blogger Joyce Ellen Davis said...

Really a nice post. I used to tell my writing students to 'take notes'--as you have done so beautifully. Not many people would notice the sound of the birds landing on a branch. I loved the story of the squirrel and the reflection!

I miss you when you're gone!

6:57 PM  
Blogger Deb said...

Lovely sketches altogether. I love the nuthatch in particular. They visit me, or rather the suet and black-oil sunflower seeds.

I am most taken with the silence. It is not something I get at home until the too rare snow that keeps us all off the streets.

But the first line is splendid, really sets the tone.

I've come out of lurking to wish you well and say, "Beautiful. Thank you."

8:29 PM  
Blogger Kay Cooke said...

What breathtaking beauty in both drawings and words. Glad you are feeling better - have been thinking of you.

10:44 PM  
Blogger Susan Gets Native said...

What beautiful drawings! I guess that's one good thing about being ill...lots of time to create.

Good to have you back, darnit.

12:02 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I left a comment the other day and now I see that it did not appear. Those pesky word verifications throw me sometimes and I don't realize I've missed a letter.

I loved reading this post, the way you heard the sound of the bird landing on a branch and the chickadee cracking a seed. Lovely words that pull the reader into the scene--I read them aloud to my husband who also enjoyed them and complimented your descriptive writing style.

Not to be long-winded, but can't close without mentioning your beautiful sketches. We just saw the movie Miss Potter (loved it!), the story of Beatrix Potter and your sketches reminded us of her--the way she saw the creatures around her and the way she captured them on paper.

Thanks for a wonderful post!

8:56 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I left a comment the other day and now I see that it did not appear. Those pesky word verifications throw me sometimes and I don't realize I've missed a letter.

I loved reading this post, the way you heard the sound of the bird landing on a branch and the chickadee cracking a seed. Lovely words that pull the reader into the scene--I read them aloud to my husband who also enjoyed them and complimented your descriptive writing style.

Not to be long-winded, but can't close without mentioning your beautiful sketches. We just saw the movie Miss Potter (loved it!), the story of Beatrix Potter and your sketches reminded us of her--the way she saw the creatures around her and the way she captured them on paper.

Thanks for a wonderful post!

8:57 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good grief. I either miss the word verification or I get it and don't even know it. Sorry for the duplicate comment post!

8:58 AM  
Blogger Endment said...

kara
thank you - all encouragement is treasured

silverlight
have been trying to do a sketch a day but it is more like two or three a week - for some reason - there are a lot of interuptions in my life --- squirrels - cameras ...:)

star
we have quite a few nuthatches - the white-breasted nuthatchs are regulars - I am delighted when the red-breasted nuthatch visits

naturewoman
thank you
by the way -I am enjoying your blog

MB
Glad to see your comment - does this mean you are feeling better?
you are so right - "it is no fun being sick"

pam
thank you - I had a delightful time catching up on your blog today!

rowan
yes I do love the nuthatches - they are so busy today... The sun came out and the trees and ground is filled with birds. Ah - bliss

cate
the moonlight on the snow last night was even better... I ended up writing five pages in my journal trying to find the right words - of course I never did :)

pepektheassassin
oh thank you! I will take all the encouragement I can get.
One of the benefits of living in the woods is I have a chance to listen as well as see the things around me - It is wonderful to hear bird sounds instead of car horns!

deb
I am glad you have "come out of lurking!" thank you for your comment! I am finding the moments of silence rare treasures!

chiefbiscuit
thanks for all the good thoughts - they are coming through :)

susan gets native
yep - "ill" does change ones way of life! Almost as much as computer and internet technical problems --- well perhaps the computer has been ill also...?
Thanks for your e-mails :)

nan
Thanks for "all" your comments - each and every one is/are appreciated!
I have begun to think I am word verification disabled or something... By the time I cope with Internet problems, my own insecurity, dyslexia and word verification - I am about ready to go back in my corner and curl up with my journal - or a good book
Comment as often as you like :)

9:26 AM  
Blogger thewayseeker said...

Wow. You're an artist, a writer, and a photographer...I'm in awe. And a wee bit jealous. ;)

10:07 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wonderful sketches,love that nuthatch. I thought you might be traveling,sorry to hear that you have been ill.

12:16 PM  
Blogger Otter said...

Thanks for visiting and telling me about Finding Water. It will be exciting to see what flows from it.

Today was my last post on my 365 blog. Two fellow 365'ers are bird lovers...Indigo Bunting and Cedar Waxwing. Indigo has started a new blog called Alphabird. Wish I knew how to do link (like you did on my blog) so I could point you there.

Glad to see you back in blogland and that you used your time away to be creative. Beautiful art! You are so talented. Happy to know you are feeling better too!

Lisa

9:42 PM  
Blogger Otter said...

Thanks for visiting and telling me about Finding Water. It will be exciting to see what flows from it.

Today was my last post on my 365 blog. Two fellow 365'ers are bird lovers...Indigo Bunting and Cedar Waxwing. Indigo has started a new blog called Alphabird. Wish I knew how to do link (like you did on my blog) so I could point you there.

Glad to see you back in blogland and that you used your time away to be creative. Beautiful art! You are so talented. Happy to know you are feeling better too!

Lisa

9:46 PM  
Blogger LauraHinNJ said...

So nice to see you back!

Why do you bother with photos when you can draw so nicely?

;-)

Just beautiful - I've missed the inspiration and wonder of your posts.

Please continue to be well!

11:54 PM  
Blogger Sky said...

fabulous endment! such talent. i hope you will share more...i hated to get to the end of the post. :(

glad you are feeling better. hope this year is a good one!

8:17 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yay, you're back! And your sketches are fantastic.

Hope you're feeling better now....

12:24 PM  
Blogger dinzie said...

You have a wonderful talent.... I wish i could do such things....

3:10 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Hi Endment, '
I'm back after a blogging break. I was really hoping that you would be back to posting by the time I returned. And there you are.

Waiting was one of the things that Siddhartha could do. I can't remember the other two.

Wow, I didn't know that your were and artiste! The nuthatch shows your great skills of observation. Matched with the narrative, he comes alive.

The chubby squirrel is just as alive. I've tried so many times to draw one, but the element of observation is missing.

8:54 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry to know you were ill-- hope you are on the other side of it and feeling good. Your drawings are so lovely!

~bluepoppy

8:02 AM  
Blogger Pica said...

Beautiful drawings! love the nuthatch!

12:31 PM  
Blogger robin andrea said...

I tried to leave a comment the other day, but Blogger had other ideas for me... Your sketches are spectacular. Quite a story about that squirrel, too. They are persistent, aren't they? Glad to hear you are feeling better, and so nice to have you back in the blogosphere.

12:34 PM  
Blogger Tammy Brierly said...

I'm glad you are feeling better! You're very talented...lovely drawings and words.

2:51 PM  
Blogger kerrdelune said...

Endment, it is wonderful to drop in this afternoon and find this lovely blog entry from you. The drawings of the nuthatch and squirrel are exquisite and so life-like that they almost dance off the screen. Welcome back, you have been missed!

5:16 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow! Fantastic artwork! I should have known your gentle hand would be able to capture beauty like this!!

10:38 AM  

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