I'm a neglectful blogger....

Well, seems like just yesterday it was February *lol*

In March we traveled to Gulf Breeze, FL, and to Fairhope, AL. At Gulf Breeze Celebrates the Arts we were awarded a Purchase Award and saw Suzette Nesbitt-Walker, also a BOMH Juried Artist, of Rowdy Blonde Studio in Reed Spring, MO, receive a First Place award for her outstanding Jewelry. At the Eastern Shore Art Center Festival in Fairhope we spent some quality time with Janet Weilbrenner and Stacy Benesh, BOMH Juried Artists from West Plains, MO, who make Copper Turtles. So we're not the only crazy Missourians who traipse around the country to art festivals!

Cold Mil Fleet in Orange Beach, AL, has THE BEST dolphin cruise! They take out two boats and when dolphins are spotted, they run the boats full tilt side by side which causes the dolphins to jump and frolic and cavort in the big wake between the boats. What a thrill! The best $15 you will ever spend (that doesn't involve hummingbirds). Of course we had "to do" the aviation museums in Pensacola, FL, and Warner-Robbins, GA. We also found the Uncle Remus Museum and ate fried green tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. Towanda!

So with that excitement behind us, we're gearing up for the spring and summer art shows and birding festivals. The Stillwater (OK) Arts Festival is next weekend and that is always a good time (but always windy). The people of Stillwater really support this event. In May we're off to BirdFest Texoma and then the Springfield Old Capitol Art Fair. After Art in the Park in Columbia, MO, June (our favorite show), we'll attend the Wild Birds Unlimited annual conference. Wild Birds Unlimited is the original and largest franchise system of backyard bird feeding and nature specialty stores with more than 275 locations throughout the United States and Canada. Wild Birds Unlimited specializes in bringing people and nature together with bird feeding and nature products, expert advice and educational events and this will be the first conference we have attended since being approved as a vendor to WBU franchise stores.

But the REALLY BIG NEWS here is that we spotted the first Ruby-throated hummer of the season this morning at the feeder!!!!! We've been waiting and waiting and waiting. Yay!

Hummingbird fact for today: You can see the "first sightings" as the Ruby-throateds return to the US on this site http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html.

Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer

The problem is - it's TOO early to have summer days. Activity at the hummer feeders has slowed considerably, something that usually doesn't happen until June. The only conclusion we can draw is that the females are already on the nest, earlier than normal, and might even be caring for young. If that is so, then there might be two broods this season!

The Hummingbird Society is presenting their first Hummingbird Festival. It will be in Sedona, AZ, the first weekend in June. Check out the information at the festival website and make plans to attend!

We had a great time at DubuqueFest! And of course since we were in Iowa, we had to locate Antique Archeology. The building is MUCH smaller than what it appears on television.

Next weekend is Art in the Park in Columbia, MO. Looks like there will be some great new art and artists in attendance. According to the weather forecast, it SHOULD be a bit cooler than it has been. We always have a good time at this show, meeting up with old friends and making new ones. Hope to see you there!

Hummingbird fact for today: In hot weather, nectar should be replaced every 3-4 days. Hummers will abandon nectar that has begun to ferment.

Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air

Watch your local PBS station schedule for Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air. Or go here and purchase the DVD. This is the most amazing presentation on hummingbirds that I have seen! The cinematography is absolutely miraculous. You can see a variety of hummer species feeding, with close-up shots so stunning that you can actually see their tongues flicking in and out as they gather nectar. The narration is excellent. This will be the best hour you have ever spent watching television!

We spent the weekend baking in Columbia at Art in the Park. Well, baking is probably not the right term since the humidity was as high as the temperature! It was more like a very uncomfortable sauna. But once again the Columbia community came out in droves to support the arts and artists. Kudos to Diana Moxon, the Board of the Columbia Art League, the generous sponsors, and to the league of unwavering volunteers. They all work together to make this one of the best shows in the Midwest.

We're off to Olathe this coming weekend for our only show in Kansas this year. We can only hope that the weather will cooperate.

We are still awaiting the completion of the studio. The guys are working on the inside now, so hopefully it won't be too much longer!

Hummingbird fact for today: When the early Spanish explorers first encountered hummingbirds in the New World, they called them "joyas voladoras" and the term "flying jewels" is still used today.

Happy Customer

The highlight of our wet weekend in Tulsa was meeting a very happy customer. Jim Beeson stopped by our booth and then emailed us this amazing picture. It's always extremely satisfying to hear from people who are delighted with not only the eye-pleasing aspect of my art but also the functionality. Thanks so much for sharing with us, Jim. And kudos to your photographic skills!

The winds during Tulsa Mayfest never stopped. We felt like we were in a tumble dryer each day. But we were lucky. The devastation in Joplin, MO, is beyond comprehension.

We are still anxiously awaiting the completion of the new studio. Finishing the detail work seems to take the most time, probably because now we can see our vision coming to fruition.

Our hummingbird population seems to be flourishing. We have several large feeders out but they still have to be refilled every couple of days. Thanks, Laura, for taking care of our little flying friends as well as our kitties while we were gone.

June will be busy. Art in the Park in Columbia, MO, is first, followed by the Arts Festival in Olathe, KS, and then the Arts Festival in Lebanon, IL. We'll stop by and see the grandkids while we're in the Kansas City area just so they know we are still around. Time and distance constraints don't allow us much time with them.

Hummingbird fact for today: If a human's energy output were equivalent to that of a hummingbird, you would have to eat about 285 pounds of hamburger, 370 pounds of potatoes, or 130 pounds of bread each day just to maintain your body weight.

Festivals, Hummingbirds, and Chaos

We're home now from our swing through Texas for 3 shows. Mixed results on the shows, but a fun trip none the less.

Came home to find walls, and a roof, and new concrete! As well as piles of lumber, mounds of dirt waiting to be backfilled - the usual construction site chaos. Since we're having them build a new garage as well as a studio, we have no place to park the van except in our front yard. The car is already parked in the neighbor's front yard. Chaos drives both of us crazy. But the weather appears to be finally changing to Spring, so hopefully the construction project will move along nicely now.

We were pleased to learn that we've been accepted once again at both Artsfest on Walnut Street in Springfield, MO, and in Art in the Park in Columbia, MO. These have been great shows in the past and we hope they will be again this year. We've also added a new Art Festival in Lebanon, IL, to our schedule.

We were excited to check out the Ruby-throated migration map and see that hummers have already been spotted in mid-Missouri. So we've put out the feeders and hope the little guys won't be frightened by all the chaos, as well as the trees that are no longer there so we could build. The migration map can be found at http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html.

Hummingbird fact for today: Hummingbird numbers in the US seem to vary considerably. This may be attributed to environmental catastrophes on the wintering grounds, such as volcanic eruptions, forest fires, and the use of pesticides.

Where Has All the Singing Gone?

You don't really appreciate something until you don't have it anymore. The two large trees that fell on the house gave a home to a lot of birds. Early morning around here used to be filled with their singing. Now the bird songs are gone. Our two cats were fascinated by the bird activity in those trees. They would sit for hours, Ozzie at the back bedroom window and George on the bed looking out the front bedroom window. Now they look but nothing is there.


I was finally able to bring myself to look at the pictures the contractor took up on the roof. It's really frightening to see them. Yes, there is damage to the house, but it could have been so much worse. When I see pictures of all the homes that are filled with water now from flooding, I realize how fortunate we are.


We were at Art in the Park in Columbia, Missouri, this past weekend. The director of the Columbia Art League is an absolutely lovely person who puts her heart and soul into this show. And the people of Columbia turn out in droves. Unfortunately, our sales were down from last year, as were a lot of other artists, but others had record sales. There didn't seem to be a pattern that anyone could figure out. Economy? Gas prices? Who knows for sure? We were just glad that an Arkansas jeweler we encouraged to apply for the show was very pleased with the outcome. I always worry about telling an artist about a show because I don't want them to be disappointed in my recommendation.


Hummingbird fact for today: A hummingbird will add up to one-half its weight in body fat in preparation for migration, a phase called hyperphagia.