Pretty Feathers

This is the second time I have done this post. I was almost finished and my entire post was gone!
So it is a week later maybe this one will reach you!

I visited Naramata a couple of weeks ago: good food, great wine and interesting critters.

Peacocks:

Naramata is home to two Peacocks. One is the father and one the son, the one below is a little bigger so probably the father. They each have their own favorite roosting spots depending on the time of day. This one starts its day perched on the railing outside the best soup, sandwich and coffee bar in town.

A Peacock is the male and Peahen the female and a group is called Peafowl. These are Indian Peacocks judging by their bright blue and green iridescent plumage.

Their tail is actually referred to as a train and contains many "eyelike" details.

Did you know that the Peahen also fans her tail, usually when something threatens her young.

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Quail: 

A lot smaller and better camouflaged is the quail. A group of quails is known as a flock or a covey.

There are lots of them too: on the side of the roads, in the vineyards and in gardens.

California quails have a little plume of feathers (6) on their forehead that tilts forward, black in the males and 

brown in the females (below).

What a precious expression:

Mr and Mrs:

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And a few things from the studio:

All watercolours.

"Market Day"

"Quail in the vines" 

"Seahorses 1" 

That's all I dare do, I keep thinking how the last post went poof just before I was set to publish it.

Happy Wednesday,

with whimsy,

Gillian.

Golden Dozen

For photographers the best times to take photographs are shortly after sunrise and again just before the sun sets when the daylight is redder and softer than during the middle of the day. This softer light is what I call "golden light".

So here is a "golden dozen", actually thirteen (I guess a golden bakers dozen), pictures from my garden at the end of a sunny day.

Camellia

Chive flower

Clematis and Honeysuckle

Honeysuckle

Hydrangea

Iris

Lilac

Peony

Wisteria

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A garden surprise? I have an artichoke growing!

Just one mind you, here is a second look at it:

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Here is a continuation of group names theme from the last post.

Did you know that a group of porcupines is called a prickle.

try these made up ones:

a scamper of squirrels

a plunge of waterfalls

a brouhaha of louts

a crunch or maybe a dent of parkers

a wave of kayakers

a goggle of swimmers 

a dictation of secretaries

a clipping of gardeners

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A YouTube video with unexpected ending:

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And from the studio:

"Skedans 2", a varnished watercolour: 

Art news: 

One painting was accepted into the "Oil and Water" show at the South Delta Artists Guild Gallery 1710:

That's all for this week,

happy Wednesday, with whimsy,

Gillian

Spring Groups

There are some interesting names for groups in nature; a parliament of owls comes to mind.

A group of flowers growing close together (like these crocuses) can be called a bunch, a cluster or a clump. A bouquet is a bunch of flowers arranged for its beauty.

A group of geese can be called a gaggle or a flock or when in flight a skein.

There are goslings in the gaggle at Jericho Park.

Does that make this a gaggle of goslings:

Goose, gander and goslings:

Splish, splash

we're having a bath

so cute!

AAAAWWWW!

Watchful parents with six little goslings. 

When they were approaching the side of the pond where I was standing

the adults started bobbing their heads up and down

and stretching their necks out.

I interpreted this as wanting me to buzz off  

so after a few more pictures I backed away and

let them have the end of the pond to themselves.

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But what about groups of people?

Did you know that a group of doctors is known as a dose or doctrine.

But what if we make up a few group names:

a malady of doctors

a confusion of psychiatrists

a drill of dentists

an argument of lawyers

a portion of dietitians

a clutch of racing drivers

a quotation or perhaps a scribble of writers

a structure of engineers

a catalogue of librarians

a grind of baristas

a pallet of artists

a baffle of geeks

That is all my husband and I came up with, now its your turn.

If you want to share any group name ideas let me know and I can pass them along in a future post.

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What is happening in the studio?

Here are 5 new watercolours,

"Puglia Boats":

"Italian Window":

"Arte del Gelato": 

"Shh":

and finally "Afternoon Nap": 

I have entered the last 3 in the juried "Oil and Water" show at the South Delta Artists Guild Gallery 1710. The most they accept into the show is 2 per artist, hopefully one or two of mine will be accepted. I find out in about a week.

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That is all I have for this week,

happy Wednesday,

with whimsy,

Gillian.