Kookaburra- Digital Art by Tracey Grumbach

About this image: The kookaburra bird is one of my favorites. While visiting the St. Louis Zoo back in November, I came across this one. I took a reference photo and this morning I worked on creating this digital painting from that photo. I used both my desktop computer and my iPhone 6S Plus to create him.

I am sucker for laughter. My husband makes fun of me because no matter how bad my mood is, if a commercial comes on with giggling or laughing people, I start to crack up. I guess you could say I am an empathetic laugher (and also an empathetic crier). So, the kookaburra is one of my favorite because of its call which sounds like an obnoxious laugh. I can't help but smile every time I hear it. Unfortunately for me, this one did not sing for me despite me hanging out a bit hoping to hear it live. But, that is ok...he was adorable anyway and I enjoyed my visit with him.

I am pleased to announce that my image, The Shape of My Reality, was chosen to be a Featured Image in this week's TheAppWhisperer.com's Showcase. For the second week in a row one of my images was chosen for this prestigious honor. To have my work alongside some of my heroes such as Bob Weil, is just a dream come true. Thank you! This keeps me motivated to continue working hard at my art.

For those interested, below is my reference photo SOC (Straight Out of Camera).

I hope you have a wonderful Monday.  I know I plan on it!

xo

Soar

Osprey in flight taken at Barefoot Beach in Florida
Canon 5D MarkIII with L series 100-400mm lens zoomed to 400mm handheld

You know what makes my heart soar more than anything else in the world? When I hear compliments about my kids from others, especially strangers. This happened so much this past weekend that I was on cloud 9 as a mama.

During our local recreational council's Opening Day for baseball,  I had several instances when people came up to me and asked me who my kids were.  Telling them the name of my twins, three separate people told me what a sweet, special girl my daughter was.  One mom told me she had just moved to the area mid-year and her son was placed in my daughter's class. She said my daughter was so welcoming to him as a new student and took him under her wing until he became comfortable with his new school.  It made my heart thump with pride.  Another mom told me that my daughter was "the sweetest thing on earth" and that she loved everyone!  Yes, this is true, my daughter does love everyone!  The last person that day was a grandma who told me she just couldn't get over how happy my youngest daughter was and how much she smiles!  It is sweet to hear such great compliments about your kids, but even sweeter still for people to take the time to give the compliments.

My oldest daughter had a very busy weekend...on Friday night to Saturday afternoon she had overnight 4H training to be a camp counselor for younger children this summer.  This is a volunteer position and she has put a ton of training hours in and has committed to two full weeks of overnight camp to counsel the younger children this summer.  When I went to pick her up on Saturday afternoon, the person in charge of the camp complimented my oldest daughter and said what a pleasure she was to have in the program. Direct from camp, I had to take my darling daughter to her high school because she had a large role in a play the drama department was putting on.  When I bought the tickets to go in, her drama teacher said what a wonderful actress my daughter was and said how she loves having her in class and looks forward to having her next year in Drama 3. In addition to that, on Mother's Day, my oldest daughter's soccer coach invited her to play as a guest player on his elite team because she is such a hard worker and is very "coachable."  So, on Mother's Day, I sat and watched my firecracker go out of her comfort zone and play a game with a group of girls she had never met before.  I was so proud of her.

So, this Mother's Day was a great one, considering all the wonderful compliments I received regarding my children.  Parenting is hard work and it is a nice payoff when you hear how well your kids are received in the community!

Have a wonderful day, y'all!  xo

A Bit of Florida Wildlife

At the beginning of April, I had the chance to visit my aunt and uncle at their home in North Port, Florida. During my trip, we went on a tour of a working cattle ranch, Babock Ranch, in Punta Gorda. I thought I would share a few of the pictures I was able to grab from my seat on the off-road bus! This place was beautiful and we had a great time visiting.  My kids were able to touch an alligator (a baby one without the mouth taped shut as this ranch does not believe in taping mouths shut!) and see about 5 different ecosystems all within this ranch's property.  

White Tailed Deer

Florida Cracker Cattle

Nursing calf

Immature Snowy Egret

A trio of gators

Florida Panther

If you are interested, here is a beautiful 2 minute video of a helicopter tour of the property.  If you are ever in the area, be sure to visit.  I want to go back and take the photography tour next time!  If I was able to get these images on a regular tour, I can't imagine the cools shots on a photography tour!



Have a wonderful day, y'all!

xo

Fly Away From Here

Yesterday, after a real estate shoot, I stopped by a nearby park to highlight the fact it was so close to the home that is going up for sale.  While I was there, I walked a short way down a walking path and was awed at that amount and variety of birds swarming the area.  Disappointment ensued when I realized I didn't have any other lens besides my 24-70mm with me...how would I ever get close enough to snag a good picture of these feathered friends?  I had left my heavy 100-400mm home since I didn't anticipate needing it on a real estate job!  Darn it!

Well, these birds were pretty used to people because they let me fairly close to them.  This little one let me right to the border of the path before decided enough was enough and he took off further back into the reeds.  Let me tell you...I have plans to head back to that spot very soon armed and ready with my 100-400mm!

Please say a quick prayer for me today as I am struggling to get well from a head cold that started over a week ago.  Now my left ear is completely filled with fluid and the cold has migrated to my chest.  With my immune system so depleted from fighting Lyme and the co-infections, this could be a dangerous situation for me.  I am heading to the doctor this afternoon, but I could use some prayers for getting well.  All I want to do is fly away from here...fly away from the cold, this body, the stress, everything.  I want to take flight like my friend here and just go...

Duck Walk

If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck.

I was sitting here thinking about how different my life would be if I didn't have my little ones.

My older two are into full-swing teen life

and are starting to leave the nest a lot more.

It seems like friends, girlfriends, jobs, etc are taking them away 

from home a bit more each day.

I know this is normal and healthy and I am happy for them

because they are amazing, well adjusted, smart kids...

But I do miss them.

Had we not adopted the twins a few years ago,

much of my life would have been quiet and child-free now.

Quiet and child-free is not necessarily a bad thing in little doses,

but as my son enters his senior year and my daughter enters her sophomore year,

I know the time draws near when they will be out and on their own for good.

I would be getting ready to enter a totally new phase of my life

as an empty-nester within the next 3 years.

That is not so; however, thankfully.

The twins are just entering first grade and have a long time yet

to be home and grow into their own person.

They fill the house with chaos and noise and laughter

that otherwise I would be missing right now.

Their fresh, innocent perspective on worldly matters 

brings humor and light into my life during a time

when my older ones are pulling away becoming more independent.

I am not quite ready to be an empty-nester just yet,

but I have a feeling by the time we raise these two little ones

and have them leaving home, we will be ready for it.

But until then, I am thankful for the noise and chaos they bring to my life.

xo

Alvin

Taken at Irvine Nature Center

Today I am grateful for all the artifacts and ephemera 

from my parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.

It is so interesting going through old family documents,

cards, letters, V-mail, scrapbooks, etc. 

It makes me feel connected my past,

gives me a sense of history

and gives me a glimpse of my ancestors that have passed on.

I've always loved documenting my thoughts, ideas, and experiences

in journals, diaries, and scrapbooks

so it was great to realize that I get it honestly...

many of my kin did the same and it is a treasure

to discover the things they thought were important enough to keep.

Hopefully one day my children and grandchildren will enjoy

looking through my scrapbooks and journals some day.

xo

A Little Bit of Humor...

goes a long way.

Happy Friday everyone.

Sitting on my porch this morning, 

I had quite a few of squirrel visitors 

who, apparently, were quite hungry.

They each defended their treasure trove of seeds

I had put out for them just a few minutes before

with vigor and antics displaying their bravery and dominance...

until, that is, 

another squirrel would approach from behind and dethrone 

his competition.

This overly dramatic fella would use the 

flying leap method as his defense,

and I just so happened to have my camera ready for him.

The only thing that would have made this better is if his mouth

were open in a vicious sneer.

:)

Very thankful today for humor and those who make me laugh.

Some days it sure would be tough to make it through without a giggle.

xo

Spring Chirper

I took this earlier in the spring when the leaves were just popping out.

Anyone know what kind of bird this is?

Every day I am thankful for the amount and variety of birds I have here

on These Nine Acres.

Their song, their presence, their activity makes me very happy.

It is the simple things in life that make me smile.

I wanted to say THANK YOU to all of our military members

who have paid the ultimate price for my personal freedoms.

Please remember them today.

xo

Proud as a Peacock

Last night I ate at the restaurant where my oldest son works.

He has been working there for many months now,

so we decided to surprise him by stopping in for dinner.

Imagine how proud I was when his coworkers and

the owner of the establishment came over, 

introduced themselves, and told me what a wonderful

person and hard worker he was.

They all said, "We all love him around here!"

Yes, I was as proud as this peacock when I heard that!

As a mother, you only hope that your children will 

grow up to be hard working, smart, kind souls

and when you see that coming to fruition in your kids,

it makes a mother proud.

xo

The Blackbird

I do not know which to prefer,

The beauty of inflections

Or the beauty of innuendos,

The blackbird whistling 

or just after.

~Wallace Stevens

Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird

This blackbird landed upon a branch 

while walking with my daughter yesterday.

She sent my attention to it, suggesting that it would make a lovely image

what with the lighting and the bare branches and its clear outline

set apart from the limb.

I happened to agree with her.

xo