We have liftoff!!

18 May, 2020; Vail, AZ


My hummingbird chicks have fledged!


I have so enjoyed watching the Costas Hummingbird build her nest, sit on the nest, hatch and feed her two chicks, and finally, to see them take their shaky first flight from the nest.  The nest was right outside my kitchen nook window and I spent a lot of time in the last 6 weeks watching hummingbirds.  The video shows them testing out their wings, and almost falling out of the nest!




In other 'lift-off' news . . .


The sourdough starter that I was making from scratch as an experiment, finally, after 22 days, decided to wake up and start to rise!










I couldn't believe how gorgeous the resulting bread was!  And, very tasty!!






For a quarantine, there is so much going on

6 May, 2020; Vail, AZ


The Van Conversion takes a major step forward



Yesterday, I loaded up the solar panels, the bars for the rack, all the wiring, the extension cord marine fitting, and the passenger side swivel seat. Today, I trekked over to Carl's RV for the install (I just wasn't keen on drilling holes in the van or the bars, and I'm not strong enough to take out the passenger seat and install a 45 pound swivel!).  

I sat in the waiting area (with my mask on) and sketched.  A few hours later and Voila! I have solar and comfortable seating in my van.













All I need is a foot rest!

It's starting to feel like a camper!  Now, if only Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona would open up travel restrictions a bit, I could zoom up to Colorado Springs and get the interior conversion done.  I've mapped out a route - I could do the trip in a couple of long days, stopping only for gas and disinfecting as I go.  The conversion itself will take only part of one day (the advantage of getting a kit - they have it all ready to go and are very experienced in doing the build-outs). Hopefully, by the end of May or into June.  I'm anxious to get it done, even though I don't expect I'll do a lot of traveling this year - Maybe a trip in August.


In hummingbird news . . . 


The babies are getting big!  I see them stretching their wings occasionally - the nest bulges when they move around.  I'm hoping that I get to see them when they fledge.  Mom is spending less and less time at the nest - she's spending a lot of time hunting and only comes back to feed the hungry babies.






The latest sketches


Colored Pencil


Pen and Ink - Practice unusual perspectives and angles - very fun to do !


Graphite pencil - done in the waiting area of the RV shop


Supposed to be an exercise in using white on toned paper, but I didn't have the right pen so it's a bit disappointing