OK, we are SO done with this white stuff… or ARE we?   Ten inches of snow fell on Saturday and Saturday night.

Despite it being the middle of March, yesterday morning we awoke to a winter landscape.   I decided to make the best of it, so I made Aurora the Snow Wolf.

I just couldn’t resist a couple of corny poses beside him…

Aurora looks especially good in his bright scarf!

Here he is all finished…

Everyone should have a Snow Wolf to look after their house!

Pawsome doesn’t know what to think of this new comer…

The next morning, like any loyal canine, Aurora was there waiting for me anticipating the fun of a brand new day…

Oh no…the sun is coming out!   Aurora doesn’t like the sun.  It makes him perspire profusely!

What is one to do???

Maybe a cover up would help!

This worked for Michael Jackson…

In the middle of March, one should not become too attached to a snow friend…

Just yesterday I  typed away on a new blog entry (below), crooning about the wonderful joys of early spring.  The warm air filled with the soft smell of frozen earth thawing into mud and the promise of new plant life just starting to appear was downright intoxicating.    I had spent the past two mornings photographing  large nest-building birds, and enjoying the promise that springtime brings.

But nature had other ideas.  When I entered the grocery store yesterday afternoon, the air was almost balmy.  Although the once sunny sky was giving way to thick gray clouds again, it seemed to be of little worry or concern to me.  By the time I was wheeling those groceries to the car only minutes later, the wind was whipping all around and the temperatures had dropped by at least 15 degrees.  By bedtime, rain had become snow, passing through a sleet stage along the way.

One of the things that I most love about the weather, is that it is one thing that man has not yet learned to control.   The truth is, we are simply along for the ride.  So we may just as well enjoy it!  This snow (about 5 inches and still growing) is likely Old Man Winter’s last hurrah for the year.  At least I would like to think so…

Today my husband and I had a leisurely lunch in the hearth room enjoying the pretty white stuff as it found it’s way to the ground.   Spring will be here one day….. really it will…

Two of our does prance around in the snow.  I can’t imagine that they are not even more tired of the cold and wet than we are.

Here our buck “TK” strides by.  The deer are still in full winter coats, thank goodness!

Our deck railing makes a good resting place…

Our front yard looks especially pretty when covered by a blanket of white.

Yep indeed, it’s been a hard winter for most of us here in the U.S.  I can’t complain too loudly, as those on the east coast have certainly taken the brunt of Old Man Winter this year.   But we’ve had our share of the white stuff, and the semi-white stuff and the just plain wet stuff.  A sunny day or two mixed in would have been most welcome.  But nope, Old Man Winter had other ideas…(gotta love him!)

Finally, the grip of winter loosened just long enough to throw in some spring teasers.   I of course, just can’t stay indoors for these.   So I set out with camera in hand and dogs by my side to see what in the holy heck was going on in the wilds around me.

It didn’t take long to stumble upon my first good find, a Cooper’s Hawk pair starting the early spring nest building process.  Actually, they have made some real progress, as the nest is substantial enough for one of them to actually climb into it.  Both the male and female just posed and posed for me.  I LOVE it when that happens!  I’d swear that some animals actually want to be in paintings…If you pose for me, I’ll photograph you.  If I photograph you and like what I get, I will likely paint you!

(below) A close up look at that pretty raptor face.  Note the bright blue sky.  We have not seen one of these in awhile.   That alone  was worth the picture!

Cooper’s Hawks are commonly referred to has “Chicken Hawks”.   They are unusually strong for their size and have been known to kill and carry off something as large as a barnyard chicken!  So it goes without saying that most other birds are not happy to see one of these!   This pair was enduring the wild bombardment of Blue Jays when I found them.  Undaunted, the hawks just ignored those pesty jays, almost regarding them as if they were annoying flies that continuously buzz around your picnic lunch sandwich.   “Beat-it, you bratty blues, or I will make lunch out of YOU!”

My next good find came this morning.     In a giant sycamore tree there are a cluster of between 15 and 20 huge nests that were built by Great Blue Herons last year.  This tree is nearly six stories tall and stands mixed into the woodland right by the river’s edge.  The herons must have been quite satisfied with the location, as this year they have returned and are currently undergoing the process of high-rise remodeling.  The tree is full of these huge birds again, all busy with a decor update.  The birds work as a group and help to build the entire nest community together.  I don’t know how the process of choosing who gets what high rise condo in the end occurs.

(Below) A nest is built one twig at a time…

Hmmmmm, this nest is looking pretty good, but could use a bit more substance on the back side…

This heron appears to be taking a break.  In every group there is a slacker…

Meanwhile, my patient companions waited in the woods as I slid down muddy river banks and moved all around to get a better vantage point of the heron tree.   You are good dogs…  When I’m done taking pictures, we will finish our walk!  … I promise…

And that we did…

There is no place where  you will meet friendlier people than in Tulsa, Oklahoma.    The annual NatureWorks show in Tulsa was a resounding success for Alan and me this year in every way; wonderful visits with our friends in the NatureWorks organization,  sharing lots of laughs with artist friends, a booth neighbor whose dog shared the weekend with us, and very good sales.  Indeed, Tulsa is a wonderful place!

The people of NatureWorks work incredibly hard to put on this stellar, world-class  show.  And they do it with continuous smiles on their faces.  It is obvious that they enjoy doing this for the community of Tulsa, for conservation and for the artists who come from all over the country and even several countries across the globe to show their work at this special show.  I feel most blessed to know these hard working, generous  people and to be included in their show.

This year there was an extra bonus for me.  My booth neighbor Lyn St. Clair brought her sweet border collie mix Newt with her to hang out all weekend.  It made leaving my own dogs at home a wee bit easier.   Thanks Newt, for warming the hearts of all!   Below are Neut and Lyn.

I want to thank the many people who stopped by to say hello and who decided to take some of my art home with them.  I am passionate about what I do and it is so very rewarding to know that others appreciate and share in this passion.