Jabobs sheep and my flock

I love drawing and painting speckled, streaked and spotted birds and animals...they are so awesome and special.

They often remind me of Jacob's sheep. The speckled, dotted, striped and black ones, 
that he had to work hard for.  In their culture those were the misfits the unworthy ones.

(If you read the story in Gen.30. Laban was abusing and cheating on his wages so many times.
The imperfect lambs were probably not worthy, for the yearly sacrificial lambs had to be without spot and wrinkle.Those sheep had the wrong DNA, not perfect.
These could not be sold because of that on the temple market.)

I love my spotted, speckled birds and striped birds and animals..I always see them as my flock.
 

Squiirel

A few days ago, to my great surprise, I noticed a new squirrel in my garden. 
As the wall nut tree of the neighbors is dead, squirrels have no reason anymore to show up in my garden...

No nuts, no squirrels. 

To me he looked like a young squirrel. beautiful dark chestnut color and no ear-tufts, as the ones I had last year. I read that they have no ear-tufts during hot summers. and will grow when its cold for warmer protection of the ears. That sounds logical.
He did not find any nuts..though he was seeking on the same places, as the nuts I had set out former times.
So I put out some nuts again, to invite him back.
He did!
Had my camera in the wrong settings, because of that, all blurry photo's, until I noticed my mistake.
So here is one view of him, cashing one of the nuts.

White cabbage

 

Many White cabbages sitting on the Verbena's.

Hare's tail 2

 I was wondering and playing around in my mind, thinking, how it would look like, 

a hare with a hare's tail of the hare's tail plant. 

Just for fun...playing. 

Hare's tail

 

I think I got this plant from a mix of butterfly seeds, I sowed at the beginning of this year.

It's a lovely flower, looking like a hare's tail. that's how the plant got its name.
It really surprised me, having this plant in one of my pots. 
and they have lots of tails the whole summer!
I love it!

Young robin

Recently I had several young robins in my garden. 
In the beginning the birds are brown,with speckled lighter dots all over.

So cute!
When they grow, slightly the red feathers are coming through. 
This one here, you can see the beginnings of the red breast feathers...so adorable!

 

Swimming dove

 

 

 

 

 

It's so interesting to see that one of the doves in my garden really can swim.
He drops himself into the deep water on purpose.
He flaps his wings in the water and moves himself forward as a skilled swimmer.
So nice to see!
It always gives me joy when I see him doing that.

Passie flora

 

At the beginning of the year I bought a new Passion flower. Last years plant did not survive.

I like the flower and I planted it between the ivy so that I could keep an eye on it. 
The plant flourished really well and to my amazement it made a seed/fruit. 

In the beginning it was green but over time and lots of sunshine it changed into brilliant orange.
I'm very surprised by this fruit ball hanging there. 
 

I'm sorry I did not made many posts, lately, due to severe back aching too much and surviving on painkillers to help me through the day.
I hope it will get better again.

Drops

 After a rain shower,
I noticed these beautiful drops sitting under the garden hose.

Bull finches

 Have been struggling a lot with health issues lately, not quite able to do my regular posts.

However the gold finches (in Dutch) or bull finches (in English) have kept company by visiting everyday in the birdbath for a splash.

First comes the male and mostly a minute or so later, she pops up as well. 

A wonderful amazing colorful couple. I love their stunning colors!
 

 

It's extremely hot here, it's more inside weather then being outside.

I wanted to make a card for a friend of mine, but before I send it, I can put it on my blog as well.

Not being very active lately. due to spending a lot of time to prepare for the exhibition. and as well having a lot of pain in my back, which is not so much fun.

Forcing me to slow down even more than I did and having swallowing a lot of painkillers to make it endurable. That's a few reasons of my absence on my blog. 

Anyway I wish I could change my body to be less painful and be able to do the things I want. 

 

Exhibition delayed till July 10

 The exhibition in Lunteren is delayed to one week later. July 10 2026

so t will be from July 10 till Oct 17 2026

Sorry I heard this too late, to be able to announce earlier. 

Exposition

 I'm busy preparing my paintings for an exhibition.
 My new oil paintings to be seen on the first floor and 
on the second floor the original paintings of my cards.

The exhibition will be in "De Koepel' in Lunteren.
Boslaan 90 
6741 KG Lunteren
In a lovely kind of watchtower in the middle of the woods.

 The exhibition will be from Juli 04 until October 17 

Here is a link about the location.
Here a link about how to get there.
by car or train info 

 

see image below of the watchtower

Funny drawings

 My eye caught these funny drawings, on a leaf.

Its it a tiny caterpillar making these lines? 

I think I can see a very small creature on the lines. 

Woodpecker young

 Woodpecker has a young.
I noticed this a week ago, when he went to and fro with a beak full of food, flying away.
i kept on providing food, hoping that the young woodpecker would come himself.

After waiting and sitting ready with my camera, The young woodpecker came.
Such an adorable bird. 
The brilliant red on top of his head is amazing.
It's a different place than the parent, who has the red spot more at the back of his head.
When the parent is there, the young acts, as if he is not able to pick the food for himself. However, when the parent has gone, the young is well able to pick the food...