Written by For our prompt of “Hippopotamus” today, I sketched a baby hippo watching a little flying bird. One of my favorite parts of this time of year is the return of bird sounds. It reminds me just how quiet it can be in winter and now everything is springing back to life again. Philippe and I were on a walk recently and spotted three red-headed woodpeckers in a nearby tree. It was a lovely site that we almost missed. Usually you can hear the drilling before you can even spot them. But this particular trio was taking a break and we just happened to notice them. They were a beautiful site and it made me so happy and excited for spring. I always wondered how woodpeckers manage to drill into trees without hurting their tiny heads. Apparently they have a special bone that wraps around their skull as a sort of seat belt protecting the brain. Some days when my mind starts to spin out of control, I sort of wish I had something similar. Yet, no matter how many things I learn about nature, I still end up just as curious and interested as ever!
When I was a kid, I would see a little trail or path and I’d immediately want to wander down it to find out where it lead. I’m impossibly curious when it comes to life and it’s often hard to maintain focus. I just want to know what’s behind each corner and what mysteries are waiting for me there. Before I even attempt to follow a new path, I start by dreaming up all the things I might find there. We took our pup Elliott on a long walk this weekend and I noticed that he had the same inclination. Whenever we would pass a trail, or more often the case in the city, a new alleyway, Elliott would pull at his leash wanting to explore. Though we didn’t take every alternate root available as Elliott suggested, I did let him pull us down a few new alleyways. He was elated! And, I have to admit that I rather enjoyed the side trips as well.
Sometimes, it’s rather easy to get trapped in the lull of various routines. While some are comforting, useful or even fun, others are simply a product of laziness. It’s just easier to do something when you know what you can expect. But, the real fun only comes with those unexpected moments. Whether it’s a trio of woodpeckers or a path less traveled, there’s so much beauty to be discovered in something new. As I’m surrounded by the blooms and newness of spring, I’m reminded that each day is a chance to try something that’s just a bit different. Even the smallest change in a daily routine can make my mind fill with new ideas that I wouldn’t have imagined otherwise. And so, I’ll follow Elliott down those interesting new paths and I’ll always watch for those birds I rarely see. No matter how much I learn as I move through life, there’s plenty more to discover and wonderful experiences to be found as long as I’m always fascinated.
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About the DoodlewashSketching Stuff Coloring Set – Da Vinci Watercolors: Charlie O’Blue, Opus (Vivid Pink), Leaf Green, Hansa Yellow Medium, Terra Cotta, And Ultramarine (Green Shade). ZIG Cartoonist Mangaka Pen with Black ink, Princeton Aqua Elite Travel Brushes, in an A5 Hahnemühle 100% Cotton Watercolour Book. |
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Wow I sure wouldn’t walk in alleys in my town. Yikes. I find every excuse to go out for a stomp (race walk)! Have fun out there and be careful.
Hi, Linda! Thank you for your prayers. I cried a lot last week, but I’m having a much better week, thank God. Happy Easter! 🌼🌻
Happy Easter, Marisela. The good part of your week is that it is over and now you can start to take steps to change your situation. Yay!
I still have some things pending to take care of, but I’m on the right path. Have a great week! 😊
Thanks, Linda! 😃💕 Yeah, it has to be the right time of day and neighborhood for alleys! hehe
Cute! 😍 I think it’s so endearing that you and Elliott have the same curious personalities!
Hehe! Thanks so much, Teresa! 😃💕
What an adorable hippo, Charlie!!!! It’s that time of year down here between the house being closed up for heat and then of course the house gets closed up for A/C which means the bedroom windows are open and I wake up to the sweet music of birds. My favorite time of year!!!
Thanks so much, Mary! 😃💕 Yay! Yeah… there’s such a small open window season, enjoy it!
Well, I have to admit we are doing our usual thing. Today’s our 42nd anniversary and we are going out to dinner to have coconut shrimp. No laziness on our part though – we do it because we love it, and this is the one time we have it every year. It’s been a beautiful day though there were periods of rain, and then the sun comes out. Kind of like the the 42 years we’ve been together!
Happy anniversary!!
Much appreciated, Mary! The shrimp was marvelous!
Happy Anniversary and many more years to come! Yum, I love coconut shrimp. 😊😊😊
Thank you, Marisela!
Happy Anniversary, Sandra! 😃💕 A bit belated, but I hope you enjoyed that coconut shrimp! Yum!
We most definitely did enjoy that coconut shrimp!
Happy Anniversary!
oo every time I pop in our website is getting better and better – thanks Charlie 🙂 ! But, I digress – oh I love the little guy. When I was doing my Silver Swans ballet (up until the fall last year) (now I do Shumka dancing which is Ukrainian dancing) I felt like that little guy or the hippo that danced in Fantasia – lol.
I am EXACTLY the same, was as a little girl and still am, wanting to go down every new trail to see where it leads. Probably why I love making my own trails on our land. Some are made from trails started by animals. I have a trail that is in honour of Baby Bear. That is a long story.
Here we still have snow with more coming, or so they say. It hasn’t been above 0C in a while (I believe that is 32f). I can’t wait for spring. We have alot of wild bunnies where I live in the city and our bunnies (I guess Hare is the correct terminology) are now more than half brown. We had one week of warm weather two weeks back and had birds nesting already in our birdhouses. Here everything is a little curflouied right now with no sight of spring yet and certainly no butterflies or baby hippos (tee hee). But isn’t it great that we have brilliant artists bringing that joy to light (I’m speaking of you 😉 )!
Thank you for your delightful art and this wonderful post. Hugs and much love.
Thanks so much, Zoie! 😃💕 I adore that you have the land to make your own trails. That’s so awesome. Reminds me of my grandparent’s farm and all the secret trails we kids made there.
We went from an early spring to colder weather again, but though it was still 0C overnight, it’s going to be 19 today and 22 as a high tomorrow, so I think we’re about to go full spring finally! hehe Much love to you, my friend! ❤️
Delightful painting! And altho routine is important, I also relate to taking a path to see where it leads. When looking at a painting of a river, do you want to sit by it, put your feet in and relax, or do you want to follow the river, either along the bank or in a boat, to see where it leads? 🙂
Thanks so much, Mary! 😃💕 I love that… it’s why I can’t paint plein air… I always want to be moving and exploring when I’m outside. I’m chasing that river! hehe
Me too Charlie and Mary. I have the best intentions and I bend down to take a closer look at a mushroom starting to emerge and out of the corner of my eye I see ‘a thing’ and have to take off down the trail to find out what it is. lol Plein air has not worked for me yet at all. lol
I’m so glad to hear I’m not alone there! lol 😉❤️
Hello Charlie,
Hi from the jungle! That baby hippo is adorable beyond words.😍😍 And you my friend, seem to be really soaking up Spring with every cell of your body. Your joy at hearing the bird sounds and color popping up all over the place is really shining through. Being in the jungle again has given me a chance to steal some tiny moments too. Just this morning I watched a male spotted dove doing a ‘bowing’ dance to attract a female who was nearby. It was very graceful. I will definitely send more in an email. Am probably going into the core area in a couple of days. Fingers crossed for a tiger and leopard.🤞🏻
Love,
Mugdha
I emailed you last week. I hope you’re doing well. I hope you have a fun adventure in the core of the jungle. Maybe you’ll see a Hakuna Matata again! 😂😂😂
Thanks so much, Mugdha! 😃💕 Aww I love that you got to witness a bird courtship. It sounds like a graceful and beautiful moment indeed! And definitely send more in email… I’d love to hear (and see if you have pics!) more! Fingers crossed for that tiger or leopard. Much love to you! ❤️
That’s a cute hippo, Charlie. When I go somewhere new for a cycle ride, it’s always more exciting than riding the local lanes that’s I’ve ridden thousands of times.
Thanks so much, Gary! 😃💕 Yeah, I bit that’s a fabulous experience to cycle somewhere new!
Charlie, what a sweet little hippo! It’s so sweet! I love baby hippos! 😍😍😍 It’s the big ones that are scary and dangerous! 😂😂😂
You always tell the sweetest stories. I sometimes wish I was more adventurous. You know what I would love to do? Drive across the country. Road trip! Not necessarily across the entire country, but just a fun, cool adventure to somewhere else. I need a cool, fun and funny friend to go with me. I don’t mind being alone, but a funny friend would be a hoot! Granted, I’ve been on a different kind of adventure for too long now, but we’re close, Charlie. Despite having a hard and sad week last week, I’m close. I have moments that I’m afraid to hope, but I see the light, Charlie. God willing, soon.
Much love to you. 💜🤗
Hola, mi amiga! 😃💕 And a cross country road trip sounds awesome! I’ve always thought about doing that, but I don’t like being in cars for that long. So, it would mean such frequent stops I’d have to go on a sabbatical to complete it! lol
Never lose that hope… you’re so close now! Much love to you! ❤️
Forgot…. Happy Easter, my sweet friend, Charlie!
Thanks! You as well! I keep forgetting Easter is here already… it came so fast this year!