America's Roadways

We were at the Tulsa Mayfest last week. In all the traveling we have done across the midwest, I do believe that Oklahoma ranks as the #1 Worst Roads. I understand that it takes a lot of money and manpower to keep roadways in good repair. I understand that winter is hard on roadways. We were also in Tulsa about a year ago, and road conditions were just as bad then. From the Interstate, to State highways, to Tulsa streets, this is some rough driving!

The assortment of artwork at Mayfest was, without a doubt, the best assortment I have seen. There are some really talented people out there! The people were very appreciative of all the artists. The Mayfest committee is to be commended for their hard work and dedication. And thank you to all the volunteers who took care of the artists.

School is over for my wife. She managed to get a B in her dreaded algebra class and graduated "in absentia" last week.

Hummingbird fact for today: Hummers produce one brood per season and the males are not involved in raising the brood. A penny would cover 3 hummingbird eggs but there are usually only two in a brood. Eggs hatch in about 2 ½ weeks. It takes about 3 weeks for the chicks to leave the nest.

An Orange for an Oriole

Because a lot of visitors to our booth have inquired about oriole feeders, I researched and developed a style of feeder that makes providing an orange-half for orioles (and other fruit-eating birds) easy and fun. I had never actually tried one myself, though. After observing both a Baltimore oriole and an orchard oriole at the hummers' nectar feeders this week, I made a simple orange holder and put it on the front porch. In no time at all the orange-half I put out was discovered! This morning I observed the Baltimore oriole for a while as he enjoyed his special treat. What a gorgeous bird!

We had a fabulous weekend at Artsfest in Springfield. The weather was perfect and thousands of people came out to enjoy the wonderful variety of art that was available. It's rained nearly every day since then though, with more predicted this week. We're working like crazy to replenish our inventory for Tulsa's Mayfest next week. And, after her final on Tuesday, my wife will have completed all requirements for her AA degree! At least we think so. She still doesn't have her final grade in the dreaded Algebra class.

Hummingbird fact for today: Hummers have poor night vision and don’t like to fly in the dark.

It Truly Is a Small World

Last week at Art in the Garden at Wenwood Farm Winery, I ran into the people who were the previous owners of the house I owned in Troy, Missouri. The wife was also one of my daughter's teachers. Turns out that she is the sister of one of the other artists at the show.

This past weekend in Denton, TX, we visited with a couple from Lebanon, Missouri. Lebanon is about 30 miles south of us. They were in Denton to visit their grandson, a student at the University of North Texas. They bought a feeder and we all had a chuckle about the distance involved for that sale. We also visited with a pleasant young man who is a 1994 graduate of School of the Osage here at the Lake. I worked for School of the Osage for a time and this young man went to school with the teacher there, LJ Weeks, that I worked with. We also visited with a Denton police officer that my wife knows through her previous work. He plays tenor sax in one of the jazz bands that performed. It truly is a small world.

The weather threatened to turn ugly in Denton, but it never did thank goodness. And tons of people enjoyed this tremendous festival. Now for a little bragging. I was honored to be awarded an Honorable Mention ribbon for my art and my booth.

Come by and visit us this weekend at Artfest on Walnut Street in Springfield, Missouri.

Hummingbird fact for today: Hummers’ wing bones are fused into a stiff paddle, enabling them to hover.

First Hummer of the Season!

Actually, my wife heard him first - and then saw him later. On Friday, the 18th. Bet he was one cold little thing that night! But at last warmer weather looks like it might be here to stay.

Had a great time at the Wenwood Farm Winery Art in the Garden on Saturday. Only about 15 artists braved the damp, cloudy, windy, very cool day. But everyone who came out enjoyed good food, fine wine, wonderful music, and great art.

Heading off to Denton, TX, this week for the Art and Jazz Festival. The weather looks like rainstorms will be moving out in time for the festival. Let's keep our fingers crossed!

Hummingbird fact for today: The fluid intake of a hummingbird is the equivalent of a 200-pound human male drinking between 400 and 800 pounds of water a day.

It's Supposed to be Spring!

As if the weather in Missouri hasn't been weird enough this year what with ice storms and monsoon rains and flooding, now we have a freeze! Again. We had a freeze in April last year and it wiped out all the budding flowers and fruit crops. Here we go again......... Last year's late freeze sort of confused the bird population. People were seeing birds in their yard that they had never seen before. All because their normal food was destroyed and they were out searching for new sources. So maybe we'll have the same thing again and we'll get to see some new types of birds.

My wife decided to go back to college and complete the degree she didn't complete 30 plus years ago. She's mostly taken classes online. She'll finish up next month provided she gets at least a C in Algebra. Yes, after years of not using Algebra she decided she could do that online. I'll give her an A for effort - she's really worked at understanding it. She didn't do as well as she thought she had done on the midterm, and now she's preparing for the final. She's always got her nose stuck in the book or working out the sample test problems. She's gotten A's in all her other classes. I have to admit that she's doing things in Algebra that even I don't understand. If the instructor knew how much effort she's putting into it, she'd get an A for effort!

Hummingbird fact for today: The tip of a hummer’s tongue is fringed. The length of the tongue is rolled into two tubes and will extend past their bill to a distance about equal to the length of the bill.

Cool Art Hot Jazz

I was honored to be one of 125 juried artists accepted to participate in the St. Louis Art Association's Cool Art Hot Jazz spring art festival this past weekend. Unfortunately, attendance seemd to suffer from good weather! After weeks of gray, gloomy, wet weather, the sun was shining brightly and the temperature was perfect for outdoor activities. Those who stopped by the show at Queeny Park, though, were treated to some of the finest quality work I've ever seen gathered under one roof. I was extremely honored and humbled to win the Purchase Award, sponsored by Normandy Animal Clinic.

We heard from several people throughout the weekend that male ruby-throateds are being spotted in Midwest gardens now. We haven't seen any ourselves, but we came home and put our feeders out in anticipation!

Hummingbird fact for today: Hummingbird bills can be categorized as either straight or curved downward (decurved). The curve of a particular species is related to the type of flower which is its most common food.

Only Two Weeks to Go!

Ruby-throated hummingbirds will begin returning to their northern breeding areas in about two weeks. The males will arrive first. Remember that your flowers aren't blooming yet, so you want to call attention to your feeder. Red is the color hummers see from the greatest distance. Having a red feeder or red nectar is NOT necessary. Simply hang a few red ribbons, fluttering in the breeze like flowers, or a big red bow near your feeder. That will get their attention and they will come to investigate. Once the food source is located, you are on their route for food! Make sure your feeders are clean. Rinse with a mild bleach solution before filling with nectar to kill any leftover mold. Remember to keep the nectar clean and fresh!

If you're in the St. Louis area this weekend, come see us at the Cool Art, Hot Jazz show April 5-6. You'll find some great art! It's at the Greensfelder Recreation Center in Queeny Park. Spend the day wandering the art booths and enjoying the great jazz music!

Hummingbird fact for the day: Thousands of New World plants rely on the hummer for pollination which occurs when pollen is transferred on their bills and head feathers from one plant to another.