Cloudy with a chance of Pelicans

It is pretty cloudy today, but is 68º already. I was planning to take my sketch book out to the pool area to draw one of the very interesting trees out there, but each time I get ready to go out the sun comes out from behind a cloud. I really don't want to sit out in the sun to draw. Perhaps later or I may just have to draw it from memory. That might actually be a good practice.

Meanwhile I have drawn a Cooper's Hawk whose picture I found in Google images. He could use more definition, but I am trying to limit myself to just a few minutes to sketch a likeness and I think he will do for that.

And, at the risk of totally boring you with my sunset pix, here are a few more. These are all from last evening but I couldn't choose just one.

Do you see all those birds? There is a phenomenon here where trillions of tiny fish come to the shallows and the birds gather for a feast.  I love watching the pelicans dive bombing. It is an amazing sight.

Oh, I did get a pretty nice sunrise yesterday too.

Today we are planning to go to Joe Patti's to get some salmon, shrimp and basa. We are also going to go to Joey Patti's seafood restaurant to try the gumbo. It is said to be the best in the area and the choice of the locals. I'll let you know.

I've done my hour and a half at the gym and the hubster is there now. I think it is time to thaw some blueberries and have some cereal. I bought some more kiwis at Publix yesterday and think that would be a good addition.

I hope to "see" you tomorrow. Take care,

xoxo

Blind Contour Friday and A Sunrise

I have finally gotten up to a less than all gray sky and it is spectacular - not just how it looks but the promise it brings. It is supposed to be in the 50s today and sunny, which means I am going to have to get out on that beach before 9 am and after 5 pm. Even with sunscreen on the hours in between turn me into a lethargic lobster. It is not only that I burn in 15 minutes or less, but the sun drains me. It is a bit of a dilemma for me - on the one hand my whole day is exponentially better if I can see the sun, on the other I am reduced to a red mess with absolutely no energy if I am in it.


I got out on the balcony and took a picture of a bit of sunrise. It was still cloudy but there are peeks of the sun.

I also took a little time this morning to do a blind contour of my special bear and then to try to sketch her while looking. The problem is that I cannot see what I am doing in my journal without my glasses and I can't see her sitting on the table with them on. So even my "sighted" drawing is somewhat blind.

I tried filling the bear in with squiggles like I saw Phil Davis do.

I have no idea what we have planned today. The hubster is still abed (he stayed up late last evening while I was in bed around 9:30) I am waiting to make coffee so it will be fresh when he arises. I hope to walk the beach and then maybe do a day trip. We want to do some exploring and revisit Fort Pickens.

But, first things first, the gym is calling.

xoxo

Hello from the Cold South

We are in Pensacola Beach for a week and it is freezing. Yesterday we were able to walk the beach and collect shells in the morning, but this morning when I went out to try to get a picture of the sunrise, I froze. I found out when I got back inside that it was 32º with a wind chill of 25º.

Here are a couple of pix of our trip:

 

This is a picture of the morning sky about 1/2 mile from out house at we set out on Sunday morning. Isn't it beautiful?

 

This is a picture of the blizzard we drove through on Tuesday in northern Alabama. It was the worst driving we have done all winter - 45 mph with flashers on for about an hour.

 

These pelicans were resting outside of Joe Patti's fresh seafood place. Aren't they spectacular?!

My internet access has been spotty at best, but I will try to post as often as I can. I notice that Michigan is being slammed with a snowstorm, and are expecting about a foot. I am hoping that things will be clearer when we return and that we don't have to drive through any awful weather.

Take care!