Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Out to the blackbirds



Blackbird on a coffee cup
acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches

One of the sweetest sounds in our area is the song
of the Redwing Blackbirds returning. Oh joy.
A short walk away you can stand on a bridge over
the park and look out over the woods
and marsh alive with sound. Blackbirds singing
their hearts out woo their mates, and make the
joggers running along the path through the woods
want to stop and hear.

Tonight with Steven's help I descended the hill into
the ravine near our house. The healing broken ankle
is still iffy on the descent -- probably a sense memory
of how the accident happened. There we were treated
to a spectacular pink sunset and a chorus of many
Redwing Blackbirds. How wonderful!

I painted a little Redwing Blackbird today, it must
be sunset, and he's poised on a coffee cup. Maybe
a painter is trying to stay awake to mark papers.
That song would certainly help.

I usually see the blackbirds around sunset.
Love them.

Have a the-world-is-a-great-place day.
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8 comments:

  1. r garriottApril 8, 2009 at 8:39 PM

    Barbara, These just get better and better! Love the Black and yellow.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Laurel DanielApril 8, 2009 at 9:18 PM

    I really love your bird paintings! I would love to have heard that chorus in the ravine!

    ReplyDelete
  3. MelindaApril 9, 2009 at 5:07 PM

    What a wonderful story and wonderful painting! This is kinda, well, mind blowing.

    In the last week or so, I've been seeing Redwinged Blackbirds in our yard and neighborhood. I've never, ever seen them around here. In fact, I thought they only inhabited California because my kindergarten bird journal has one in it.

    They have a fabulous song, I'll agree and I think they are telling us, don't be afraid, we can let go of muscle memory pain as we carefully, but confidently go forward!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Barbara MuirApril 9, 2009 at 6:09 PM

    Hi R,

    Thanks so much. I'm very glad you
    like it. Sometimes the end of day light when I go to see the blackbirds is exactly that colour.

    Take care,

    Barbara

    ReplyDelete
  5. Barbara MuirApril 9, 2009 at 6:11 PM

    Hi Laurel,

    I wish you could have been with us.
    We stood with a friend and our dogs marveling at the birdsong and the
    smashing colour. So incredibly great.
    I'm glad you like the paintings.

    XOXOBarbara

    ReplyDelete
  6. Barbara MuirApril 9, 2009 at 6:57 PM

    Hi Melinda,

    I like the idea that the birds are
    saying,"don't be afraid! Heal, heal!"

    But I think they're actually talking to their ladies -- saying "hey girl,
    look at my pretty wings!"

    You are so sweet and funny at the same time. So we're having the same experiences in Toronto and Tuscon,only I'm sure it didn't snow there this week.

    xoxoxoxBarbara

    ReplyDelete
  7. belindadelpesco.comApril 14, 2009 at 8:22 AM

    Oh, the love of birds! :o) Spring is coming, the birds are singing it, and your ankle is healing... and painting time will be more plentiful in the summer. Weeeee!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Barbara MuirApril 15, 2009 at 6:13 PM

    Hi Belinda,

    I walked alone with the dog tonight at the end of the day. We didn't go far, but we got into the ravine, and were surrounded by a choir of birds, and treated to the most magical, golden, pink light dancing in the top of the tallest trees, while we
    walked in deep shadow down below.

    xoxoxoBarbara

    ReplyDelete

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