After months of bad news including biopsies, surgeries, recovery, setbacks, etc., a birding adventure seemed in order to help force the healing process.
In search of bluebirds, hummingbirds, and jays, Steve and I set out for northern California and the small coastal town of Mendicino. Some of you may remember Mendicino as representing the fictional Cabot Cove in the TV series “Murder She Wrote”. We stayed at the Hill House Inn, a quaint hotel also featured in the TV show. This friendly hotel has the most beautiful, hummingbird-friendly gardens I have ever seen. (Thank you Ms. Toni, the gardener)
No bluebirds in sight, but as for hummingbirds, Stellar’s Jays, and and barn swallows, we saw and photographed hundreds! It was awesome.
I observed, sketched, photographed, and painted both Allen’s and Anna’s hummingbirds. They posed on lovely plants and fed from a broad variety of flowers. For five idyllic days I wandered the gardens feeling the magic flow through me. Mental healing began. As this post is titled: Whatever the problem, birding is the answer! As I write this blog post I’m back in the real world, well on the road to full recovery.
I had already planned a July demo – “Watercolor bluebird painting”. This painting portrays a bluebird originally photographed some years ago by my husband. 
In remembrance of my father Albert, who’s birthday was July 14th, I perched the bird on a small china pitcher. I chose this pitcher because the backstamp represents several emotional connections with my father: “ROYAL ALBERT” ties to his name, “ENGLAND” is a place beloved by both my parents, and “FORGET-ME-NOT” because anyone who knew him, never will forget him.
Thanks for listening!
Artful Passages 