Written by For our prompt of “Hummingbird” today, I sketched a little one feasting on a flower. Philippe and I had a visit from a hummingbird recently. We were sitting outside and it came up to pause in midair and look at us for a brief moment. Though it was only a few seconds, it seemed like the encounter lasted for several minutes. Of course, upon realizing we had no hanging flower pots or feeders on our back porch, it zoomed off to visit our other neighbors. Though I’m sure I was imagining it, the little hummingbird’s face contorted into an expression that seemed more than a bit miffed and irritated with us. I can’t really blame the tiny bird as I’m sure it was quite a disappointment. We did once have a hummingbird feeder, but failed to keep it filled, which was all just a bit of a tease and somehow worse. Despite their diminutive form, those birds can really chow down and before we knew it the feeder was empty again. We eventually gave up. Yet, it’s always lovely to receive a visit from a hummingbird. There’s just something so magical about them.
When Philippe and I got married, we stayed in a hotel in Los Angeles that was swarming with hummingbirds. So, they have always had a special place in my heart. Some days, I wish I could move as quickly as they do so I could get everything I wanted accomplished. Though if my own heart suddenly started beating the requisite 10-20 times faster to match the speed of a hummingbird’s, that would certainly be cause for alarm. My own lifestyle is just a bit less high-energy. Though I manage to do quite a lot in a day, I always carve out plenty of time to relax. This morning, as I was taking our pup Elliott out to do his business, the sun was rising. Stopping for a few extra minutes, I just watched the show. It’s so calming to simply enjoy nature by viewing it and letting the scene imprint itself on my mind. Then, I can make up a sketch like this one later, entirely from those memories.
Soon, it will be October and all of the hummingbirds will have flown off in search of warmer weather. And I will be enjoying the fresh chill in the air as autumn brings its cavalcade of color once more. October is one of my favorite months of the year. It’s neither too cold nor too warm, giving it that “just right” feeling that would thrill Goldilocks. Also, it’s Halloween month! Our neighbors have added even more attractions to their already exceptionally spooky display this year. There’s now a gigantic spider at the bottom of a web that looks very real and just a touch terrifying. My Inner Child thinks it’s super cool. Elliott, however, isn’t phased by the creature on our walks, though we did have to yank his leash a couple of times so he couldn’t pee on it. As I look forward to the days ahead, I still want them to pass by slowly. I want to savor each and every day, relishing in the change of seasons and being fully present for each of those magical moments of beauty.
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About the DoodlewashSketching Stuff Coloring Set – Da Vinci Watercolors: Charlie O’Blue, Hansa Yellow Medium, Opus (VIvid Pink), Indigo, 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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I can see why the hummingbird was disappointed when she didn’t find any food. They need between 3 and 10 calories a day depending on species. That might not seem like much, but comparatively with our size, if we were as active we’d need over 100,000 calories a day. Boy, wouldn’t that be nice? Not only would we have the energy to really get everything done, we could eat all we wanted of just about anything! So now, I have to wait for scientists to figure out how to add hummingbird DNA to ours!
haha! So true! Wow… that would be amazing… but also really, really tough to eat that much food and avoid shriveling up into nothing! lol 😉
Beautiful hummingbird, Charlie!!! We had a couple of hummingbird feeders on our deck when we lived in NYS and loved watching these beauties; they never failed to make us smile. I do hope October brings cooler weather this year!!!
Thanks so much, Mary! 😃💕 Yeah, they are such smile-bringing birds! Hope you have a fabulous week!
Yep Charlie I love October too! Although here I end up getting my winter jacket out right around my birthday. It is cooler now, not cold, just end of summer.
Great study of the hummingbird.
Have you ever seen a clearwing hummingbird moth? Beautiful gosssamer wings and ugly green and yellow striped body. Unlike the hummingbird it doesn’t hover over the flower but climbs inside even though I stood right next to it. I tried to take its picture and moved too fast so the camera ended up taking a shot of my nose. Sigh.
Thanks so much, Linda! 😃💕 I have seen those… they’re wild looking! And fast… so I imagine a photo op would be tough!
Beautiful
Thanks so much! 😃💕
Charlie, mi amigo! What a beautiful painting! Yeah, having their energy and zip would be amazing. A bit tiring, I think, but imagine how productive we would be. Not to mention, slim and fit as hell! 😂😂😂
We’re still living on the Sun. We were 98*F yesterday and 101*F the day before. 😭😭😭 I’m not sure Fall will ever arrive and then Winter. I don’t like Winter. The cold, it’s too dark, I get sad, and then another year gone. 😔😔😔 I’ve been doing really well. I’ve lost a few more pounds (23 pounds now), my labs were “excellent,” still in PT. Considering that my fingers started hurting again and my face muscles cramp sometimes, this is the best that I have felt in a very long time. I anxiously hope to start closing this chapter in my life, but I have to trust the Lord’s perfect time. He knows that I’m jumping at the bit. I’m just ready to live my new life already. 😔😔😔
Wishing you a beautiful day, my sweet friend. Love you much! Te quiero mucho, Charlie! Eres muy especial para mi. 💜💜💜
Hi Marisela,
Have a happy fall. What a wonderful time, fall and winter, to fill your home with your own colourful paintings!
Blessings,
Linda
Hola, Linda! Same for you and your loved ones. 💜 Texas is still sweltering with temperatures near 100*F. 😝😝😝 Maybe one Fall will arrive. 😂😂😂
Hola, mi amiga! 😃💕 I’m so thrilled to hear you’re feeling the best you’ve felt in a long time! That’s awesome!! I hope you have a fabulous week and do something fun this weekend! Much love to you! ❤️
Love your painting! And love hummingbirds. We usually have a feeder out and it’s wonderful to watch them come and go. October is my fav month, too – the glorious colors and “just-right” temps.
Thanks so much, Mary! 😃💕 Yay to a fellow October lover! hehe… it’s a wonderful month!
Fabulous doodle Charlie. I can’t believe you can sit in the garden and see hummingbirds! I’d love that. The nearest we have is the hummingbird hawk moth.
Thanks so much, Gary! 😃💕 We’d be able to see them more if we made more of an effort. But they are sooooo hungry and hard to keep food for! hehe
So Beautiful
Just quick remark. Is is just me or did the lay-out of doodlewash change lately? I was absent for quite a while.
By the way, it is looking good. Just need to adjust in getting around a bit.
Thanks so much! 😃💕 Yes, the site had a bit of a re-design earlier this year… larger fonts and better community features!