A Monk Parakeet in My Backyard

For weeks now I have been hearing this strange, very loud, sounding bird around my house - one I hadn't heard before at all. I'd look and walk around the area where the noise was coming from in hopes of at least seeing something fly away but never caught a glimpse of it until the other day.

I saw a flash of bright lime green and blue at the feeder. I still wasn't sure what I was seeing so got my camera out and took a couple of pictures - it was a rather large looking parakeet. I thought it might have been someones pet that had escaped but when I was telling my mom about it she told me there was a flock of parakeets in and around the Austin area.

I quickly Googled "Parakeets in Austin" and sure enough there was the same bird - a Monk Parakeet. They are sometimes called "Quaker Parrots" and found out that they were first found here as early as the 1970s. They have been breeding and creating offspring ever since. That is pretty cool considering they are originally Argentina and Brazil.

I understand they are a long-lived bird so maybe this one likes the neighborhood and will stick around. I wouldn't mind that at all.

I wasn't able to get a great picture of it since I stood inside the house and took the pictures through my French door but it looks like he enjoys the company of some of my doves that visit everyday.

Genesis 1:30
And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food"; and it was so.

In Memory of Michael Neal Reed - (10/25/71 – 6/19/09)

My dear friend and co-worker, Mike Reed, passed away on Friday after a long battle with cancer. I miss him greatly!

I have never met a more likeable person in my whole life – we hit it off as soon as we met and formed not only a great working relationship but a wonderful friendship as well. Mike was always positive and encouraging - even as he suffered through all the bad effects of radiation and chemo he kept a positive outlook. He worked hard and loved life. He was always thoughtful of others. Mike has a huge circle of friends and he touched so many people in so many ways - I don’t think it can be measured. Mike’s work ethic was impeccable and he was respected by those he worked with. Most of all Mike loved his family – his wife and six year old son. They were the light of his life.

Last year I dedicated my Christmas card to him. Even though this is a very sad time for all of us – I have to celebrate knowing him and who he was. He has made me a better person in just having a friend like him. I take comfort knowing his pain is over now and even more so in the fact that I will see him in Heaven one day. Mike put his faith in the Lord throughout his life and especially at the end – he told me the last time I talked to him that it "was all in the Lord’s hands now. "

After hearing the news the other day, I was crying, then out of nowhere I heard Mike’s voice as clear as if he was standing next to me – he said “Karen, it’s wonderful!” then there was a complete peace that came over me and I had to smile.

I have to thank God for sending Mike to me as a friend. I thank God too that there is Everlasting Life through our Lord Jesus Christ! I wouldn’t want to think about the alternative!

Mike - I will miss you but you will be in my heart always. God Bless You.

John 6:47
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.

Psalm 23

1The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

2He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.

3He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.

4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.

6Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Pastel Exhibition at the Scarbrough Building in Austin

The Austin Pastel Society has a miniature pastel exhibition at the Scarbrough Building in Austin from June 21 through July 19. Pieces had to be 8"x 10" or smaller. These are my two pieces that will be on display there. The building really is wonderful - art deco style.

I walked around the small exhibition area, there are a lot of beautiful pastels by some very talented artists. If you are in the area you should stop in. You might find something you just have to take home with you.

BTW - Happy Father's Day to all you fathers out there - enjoy your day! I'm on my way to my folk's house now to celebrate Father's Day with my dad and the rest of the family.

Daniel 9:3
So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.

Citrus Orange on Black - Original Pastel

Citrus Orange on Black
7" x 5" (17.8cm x 12.7cm)
Pastel on Velour
$75 plus $10 shipping and handling in the US
E-mail me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

I thought I'd try another citrus painting. This was going good until the background became rather muddy - so I made it black. I can see I need to fix some edges but for all practical purposes it's complete.

I think I'll go peel me an orange to eat - how about you?

Philippians 4:9
The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Citrus Yellow - Original Pastel

Citrus Yellow
5" x 7" (12.7cm x 17.8cm)
Pastel on Velour
$75 plus $10 shipping and handling in the US
E-mail me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

This week has been so hectic! I thought I'd be painting most every evening - but with car problems, doctor visits, vet visits and numerous other things called "life" going on I just haven't been painting. I did finally sit down last night though and painted this little lemony pastel. I've seen so many beautiful paintings of lemons by other artists that I admire I wanted to try one. Lemons are harder than they look to paint. I knew glass can be difficult but didn't expect lemons to be as much of a challenge as they were. At any rate here there are!

John 15:4
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

Vegetable Plate - Original Pastel

Vegetable Plate
5" x 7" (12.7cm x 17.8cm)
Pastels on Velour
$75 plus $10 shipping and handling in the US
E-mail me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

Finally I'm back painting again!

This is from a reference from Karin Jurick's Different Strokes From Different Folks. I figured it would be a good one to get back into the swing of things.

I don't know about you, but I'm ready for lunch!

Genesis 1:29
29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.

Commission Finally Finished!

The commission I have been working on all month is finally finished! It is 16x20 pencil on a smooth Strathmore paper. I worked from a very tiny, dark photo. My wonderful client commissioned me to do the drawing for her boyfriend for his upcoming 30th birthday. It is of him when he was a young boy with his dad on their ranch. Sadly his dad passed away at a rather young age so this image is pretty special to him. Please forgive the scan and stitching - there are shadows on the border of the paper but I thought I'd post it anyway so that you can see that I really have been working hard. Besides working on this it has been extremely busy at work with the legislative session going on and our annual meeting for the physicians. I still have another special meeting next week to finish preparing for at work but it should slow down some especially with the session to end soon.