Happy Holidays - let your light break the darkness

 Every year I undertake the drawing of a Christmas holiday card. Something I started in the seventies. Originally they were just mimeograph drawings run off and then colored my hand. I tried a block printed card, way more work than the time allowed.

I then began to draw them by hand, using pen and ink to finish the drawing. These could then be photocopied, hand colored and became a family project to complete. They were then 8x11 inch drawings. The drawings usually contained something that we were doing as a family. Moving our residence, decorating the tree, stringing lights up outside and similar holiday activities all became included. 

As time passed the cards were drawn as 18x22 inch drawings, still a pencil cartoon, then pen and ink conversion and finally using either watercolor paint or colored pencils to add the painted final appearance. The subject matter began to change with the addition of grandchildren. Starting with one, of course,  and progressing to the final six. 

Various locations and activities began to appear in the cards. As the grand children have matured into young adults I still include them but now the cards seem to be stating a more serious view of the season.

I now set a schedule of idea/concept by Halloween. Drawing and color completed by Thanksgiving. Off too the printers and then ... signed sealed and delivered by New Year's 

With the current divisiveness and destruction of our democratic ideals I found myself in a quandary as to how I could remain optimistic in these trying times.

I began to look for light and after some searching I found a wish I could share with everyone. 

No matter your ethnic background, your gender, your political alignment, your religious beliefs, or what ever you guides your principle: I ask that you share your light freely with no malice towards others. 

That you open your arms in this dark time of the year to share your love, joy and peace with all you come in contact with. 

May your light shatter the darkness and bring you and those you come in contact with PEACE.

  

The rough pencil cartoon

Final card 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting ready for Christmas decorating

Every year as I get older I think the decorating gets a bit more of "how can I simplify this?'.

I have hung up our Christmas green  sprays on the garage sidelights and plugged in the lights.

That's it so far. I missed the opportunity before the big snows to put up the other outdoor lights. I may have to skip them this year. Still thinking though of an alternative lighting plan. Perhaps changing it up. I read today that a big freeze is heading our way so that may dampen any real outdoor lighting endeavors.

Here is an image  looking out the front entrance, I will be getting the tree down to place in the entry hall. That needs to get put up soon.

Looking out the front door at the winter storm snow. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Some interesting facts about St. Nick or Santa Claus

     St. Nicholas is the world's most popular non-Biblical saint. He has over 2,000 churches dedicated to him in France and Germany, and 400 in England.

        German-born American illustrator Thomas Nast (1840-1902) helped create the modern version of Santa as jolly, chubby, and dressed mainly in red. Coca-Cola further solidified his image in the mainstream media in 1931 when they used him in their advertising.  

        In the mid 1800s, poet Thomas Nash wrote a poem that famously placed Santa's home in the North Pole, even though the original saint lived in Turkey. Nash most likely chose the North Pole because, at the time, there were several scientific explorations to the North Pole, a region that was seen as a type of fantasy land, mysterious and just out of reach.

        Believing in Santa Claus cultivates a child's imagination and ability to think of possibilities and potentialities.

        In Europe, before the 16th century, gifts were exchanged on December 6th, the feast of St. Nicholas. Later, German protestants began celebrating Christkindl on December 25, a feast day for the Christ child.

       In the Santa Claus narrative, naughty children most likely receive coal as a matter of convenience. Santa is already wriggling down the chimney, so it's easy for him to pick up coal. Another theory links coal to Charles Dickens's Christmas Carol, in which Scrooge refuses to give Bob Cratchit even one piece of coal. 

      In Austria and Britain, beer and sherry are left for Santa Claus.

      Clement Moore's famous 1822 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas," also known as "The Night Before Christmas," helped popularize Santa as jolly, plump, and the owner of eight reindeer. Moore did not claim ownership of the poem until 20 years after its publication, and its true authorship is debatable.

      Santa's list of "naughty" and "nice" children has its roots in Belgium and the Netherlands where their version of Santa Claus, Sinterklaas, kept a similar list. The Norse god Odin kept two ravens that would listen at people's chimneys to find out who was good or bad.

      With over 2.1 billion children in the world and an average of 2.5 children per household, Santa must make 842 million stops on Christmas Eve. 

      Santa Claus must travel 218 million miles on Christmas Eve, which means he must travel 1,280 miles per second to reach everyone.

      Researchers calculate that if Santa is to reach every child on Christmas Eve, he has only a millisecond to go down each chimney, eat cookies, and distribute presents.

      Santa's sleigh would weigh over 400,000 tons if it carried enough toys for all the children in the world. To carry that much weight, Santa would need over 360,000 reindeer. 

      Assuming each household in the whole world leaves out two chocolate chip cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve, he would eat 374 billion calories, 33,000 tons of sugar, and 151,000 tons of fat in one night. If Santa could run an eight-minute mile, he would have to run for 109 centuries (109,000 years) to burn off all those treats.

      f Santa needs presents for nearly 2 billion children globally, and if, on average, each child's presents take 31.5 inches (80 cm) of wrapping paper, Santa needs about 1.6 million miles of wrapping paper. That is enough to wrap around the world 60 times.

So as you can see from some of these facts, the work of Santa and his history are truly remarkable!

        

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where Has The Time Gone?

     Again it seems I have been do busy that I forgot to do my blog. Well, it is that time of year when being indoors allows me the pleasure of writing this blog. I will try to keep up and update things since the last post over the upcoming winter season. 

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I am thankful that am able to be here and enjoy the weather and quietude of winter. We are experiencing some high winds, freezing snow and the swaying of the trees. Keeping the birds and other wildlife fed and protected.

The feeders are filled. The peanuts are out.  The pond has it's air bubblers on, the fish are content.

I have completed my Christmas Card. Soon it will go to the printers and then arrive in the mail to those on my list.

We traveled to Great Britain again last summer to spend time with our friend Malcolm and his family members. We met the Germans there and we traveled to the Yorkshire countryside and coast. I will place a few photos from our trip below.

We spent time in Whitby, Scarborough and York . The views of the countryside were fantastic. Like traveling to find our own"Escape to the Country". Stepping back into medieval England in York with a walk along the Shambles to the Cathedral. A most pleasurable time. A great thank you to our good friend Malcolm for his organizing and getting us to such wonderful places by auto and train.

 

                     A village along the way from Pickering our base to Whitby
 

Another view of the countryside village.

The Abbey at Whitby

Another view of the Whitby Abbey

 

 

Clifford's Tower York

 

The Cathedral at York 

Flower stand near the Shambles entrance York

 

 

The Shambles, a medieval street of market shops. Ancient outside, modern within.

 

 

  

A cozy pub wher we,wife, son and myself enjoy a pint and a glass while escaping the rain.

 

 

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 Garden and Friends

Well here is another post from Moondog's Place. It's been a while since the last post. We are enjoying the warm weather and the shade here, as well as the wildlife.

We were spending a lot of our time scaring off a Raccoon and here kids. We believe they are now gone, . No signs of their damage to feeders and gardens foe last few weeks.

We were entertained by the assortment of squirrels, chipmunks and rabbits . The occasional deer also adds to our menagerie. Feeding them peanuts seems to keep in a less destructive mode. 

We were experiencing an early cold spell which kept the garden on a slow growing schedule but as of late the temperature has ratcheted up along with the humidity. Perfect growing weather but blooms don't linger as long. We have also had some very strong lake winds that have toppled out foxgloves.

So here are a few photos from the past months.

 Mother turkey and poults at the pond

 

Foxglove, chives and dianthus

   

 

 

 

 

 

Iris

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clematis

Weather has broken = spring may be on the way

 We have had a considerable amount frigid temperatures and some nice heavy snow drops this pat winter.

Touring the yard today i found the snowdrops in bloom and the daffodils beginning to peak out from their winter slumber. 

I am excited again to begin a yard clean up but know from experiance that i need to be patient, Still a bit to early to uncover resting perennials.

Hopefully the tree trimmers will be arriving soon so that i can get some serious work done in those areas. 

The birds are returning, wrens, finches, titmice, cardinals, nuthatches and a great variety of woodpeckers.

Our favorite woodpeckers - Pileated (aka WOODY)- are busy completing nesting holes.

We are also seeing the deer in the early morning and late evening. 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This little guy sings loud and clear all day long.

My biggest worry was the thick covering of ice on my backyard pond. Even though I had a aerator running all winter the ice was so thick that I couldn't see the fish. Great news today the ice is open and all seven are well and doing fine!

 

Christmas Eve 2024

 

 

Well we have reached another Christmas Eve and are looking forward to the new day tomorrow.. Every year seems a bit new and a bit old at the same time.We see the coming and going of traditions. We wait in anticipation for the serenity that will be this evening.

We struggled this year with a huge live cut Christmas tree. This, it was decided, would be our last Christmas with a live  tree.  However, I remember we had said that before. So we will have to wait until next year to see what transpires. (We purchased a large boxed tree already.) Seems the cards may be stacked.

It took us nearly a week to decorate it and thanks to our neighbor for the use of his tall step ladder we managed to get it done. Looks fine I think and sitting at night with the fireplace and music it becomes mystical.

We did eventually get it decked out in our many favorite memories of  Christmas past. Here is a shot of it in it's bedazzled glory.

The tree measured 10.5 feet this year.

We always put up a smaller hall tree also. We decorate this with special ornaments that we have acquired over the years. One set of old antique glass ornaments from my grandmother and great aunt. Bells that jingle. My other grand mother gave us a box of glass bubbles on our first Christmas together. There ornaments from friends and family that have been given to us over the years. The grands came and added the icicles to finish if off. St. Nick and his elves  reside at the base with the lovely tree skirt made by youngest sister. It's one of the two we have used for many years. It also contains many of Coca-Cola collectible elves and Santa Claus' gathered over the years.

There is.a pickle on the tree. the first to spot gets the prize!

 Another of the many Santa's in my collection is perched high above watching out for Naughty and nice. I have more Santa's than space mow so Every year I change them out a bit differently.

This Father Christmas Santa was another gift from y little sister.

I always like to decorate a table or two and this year I did a new arrangement of Santa with his timber wolf Fridolf and comic elves amongst a collection of gifts. The little blue book at Santa's feet is the book where the Elves recorded the good and bad deeds of our children when they were younger.

Santa Announces Christmas with sound of his trumpet and Fridolf – peaceful wolf howls.

The mantle is also lit with candles, lights and small surprises throughout. Santa and his elfin helpers drift by the window of our back garden woods.

 

 

 

I thank you for allowing me to share this Holiday Season from our hime to yours. May you have happiness, joy and Peace now amd into the New Year. 

                        May father Christmas and Mother Earth bless you and keep you safe.

Until next time....................

Card is printed and will be sent soon

 Well. I have gotten the card from the printer and we are busy sending our holiday wishes  to all on our list.

This year's card captures our wildlife. We spend many of our hours when we can just observing our woodland friends. It is always a pleasant day when some unexpected critter arrives and entertains us.

The elves of course represent our grand children, now all young adults. I started the elves when there was only Isadore and have added the others as they arrived. Amelia, Owen, Eleanore, Ruby and Yasmin all creating the incredible fantastic six. The Santa appeared as a gift from my children and soon became the model for all the Santa's in each card.

I remember the first holiday card was a block print of our home at  Basler Farm in black and white. Then I discovered the ability to use color ditto masters and created the card of Santa holding a tray of dirt with a can of peas. The message was Peas on Earth. Than with introduction of photocopiers I began to draw 8.5 by 11 inch drawings in black line ink. Copying them in black and white and then hand coloring them. This was often a family activity. The themes changed with the events of our family during the year of their creation. Welcoming an exchange student, packing to move, and decorating the new home are just a few of past themes.

Then, as I do now, I switched to doing drawings 18 x 24 inchdrawings in pen and ink with colored pencil painting. Once they were completed a photo is shot and passed to the printer for the publication process. Now i try to create story themes, Baking, sending packages, making candy are some of those story drawings.

This year's card was extremely difficult to create. The life altering direction of country created some anxiety in my psyche.  There is a political reference if you can find it. Devastated by the grim outcome and distasteful election of of a lying bully crook I added my thoughts of staying positive and vocal as we move forward. Never give up the fight for the rights of all!

So whatever your race, creed, gender, or religion look forward to a brighter future through your own perseverance in speech and actions.

Happy Holiday for 2024

Missed Krampus and St. Nicklas Day

 I meant to add post for December 5th and 6th. I didn't time just passed me by. However, I did get the lights t and the topper found. Getting them on the tree is my goal for today or tomorrow. 

Did accomplish the baking of cakes for the big birthday bash on Sunday. It's a new recipe for an amaretto cake. Anxious to see how it turns out.

Still waiting for the card to come bake from the printer. Hopefully next week!

Here is the card in gray tones to check the overall value distribution

From Wikipedia = please donate to wikipedia when you can.

The Krampus (German: [ˈkʁampʊs]) is a horned anthropomorphic figure who, in the Central and Eastern Alpine folkloric tradition, is said to accompany Saint Nicholas on visits to children during the night of 5 December (Krampusnacht; "Krampus Night"), immediately before the Feast of St. Nicholas on 6 December. In this tradition, Saint Nicholas rewards well-behaved children with small gifts, while Krampus punishes badly behaved ones with birch rods.^[1][2]

Naughty children get punished.

The origin of the figure is unclear; some folklorists and anthropologists have postulated that it may have pre-Christian origins.^[3] In traditional parades and in such events as the Krampuslauf ("Krampus run"), young men dressed as Krampus attempt to scare the audience with their antics. Krampus is featured on holiday greeting cards called Krampuskarten. 

     

 
St Nicholas Day December 6 again thank you Wikipedia and please donate to keep them alive!

Good children get gifts.

In Northern Germany, Sankt Nikolaus is usually celebrated on a small scale. Many children put a boot called Nikolaus-Stiefel (Nikolaus boot) outside the front door on the night of 5 December. St. Nicholas fills the boot with gifts and sweets overnight, and at the same time checks up on the children to see if they were good, polite and helpful the last year.^[35] If they were not, they will have a stick (eine Rute) in their boots instead. Nicholas is often portrayed in Northern German folklore as being accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht who inquires of the children if they have been saying their prayers, and if not, he shakes his bag of ashes at them, or beats them with a stick. Sometimes a Nikolaus impersonator also visits the children at school or in their homes and asks them if they have been good (sometimes ostensibly checking his golden book for their record), handing out presents on the basis of their behavior. This has become more lenient in recent decades, and this task is often taken over by the Weihnachtsmann (Father Christmas). In more Catholic regions, St. Nikolaus is dressed very much like a bishop, rides on a horse, and is welcomed at public places by large crowds. He has a long beard, and loves children, except when they have been naughty. This tradition has been kept alive annually.

In Poland Mikołaj is often also accompanied by an angel (anděl / anjel / anioł / anhel) who acts as a counterweight to the ominous devil or Knecht Ruprecht (czart). Poland and in Slovakia children find the candy and small gifts under the pillow, in their shoes or behind the window the evening of 5 December or the morning of 6 December.

In Austria, Bavaria and South-Tyrol (Austro-Bavarian regions), St. Nicholas is accompanied by Krampus, represented as a beast-like creature, generally demonic in appearance. Krampus is thought to punish children during the Yule season who had misbehaved, and to capture particularly naughty children in his sack and carry them away to his lair. The tradition of Krampus was adapted by Czechs and Slovaks during the Austrian-Hungarian era. In addition, in Czechia and Slovakia St. Nicholas is accompanied by an angel. In Czechia and Slovakia children receive some candies for their good deeds from st. Nicholas (Mikuláš) and potatoes or coal from Chort (čert) for their sins. The creature has roots in Slavic folklore; however, its influence has spread far beyond German borders, in Austria, southern Bavaria, South Tyrol, northern Friuli, Hungary, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic and Croatia. 5 December is Krampus Night or Krampusnacht, in which the hairy devil appears on the streets. Traditionally young men dress up as the Krampus during the first week of December, particularly on the evening of 5 December (the eve of Saint Nicholas day on many church calendars), and roam the streets frightening children with rusty chains and bells. Sometimes accompanying St. Nicholas and sometimes on his own, Krampus visits homes and businesses. The Saint usually appears in the Eastern Rite vestments of a bishop, and he carries a ceremonial staff. Nicholas dispenses gifts, while Krampus supplies coal and the ruten bundles.^[36] Krampus is featured on holiday greeting cards called Krampuskarten. There are many names for Krampus, as well as many regional variations in portrayal and celebration. ^[37]

In Swiss folklore, St. Nicholas is known as Samichlaus (like Dutch Sinterklaas a corruption of the name of St. Nicholas). He is accompanied by the Schmutzli a frightening helper wearing a brown monk's habit. The Christmas gift-bringer is not Samichlaus, but the Christchindli.

Oh the Christmas Tree

 Well. the Christmas season has begun. Yesterday we took our drive to the Montague Tree Farm to get our living oom tree.

Now I want you to understand that we have two Balsam Hill trees, one just fore the living room and one for the entrance. However when we moved here one of granddaughters, who should remain nameless, said " Poppy you need a really big tree to fit the room!" So we purchased a real tall tree for our living room that Christnas and each following Christmas since. So now a big tree seems to be traditional. Thanks to ......... nameless?

It is now in the garage waiting to be moved inside. We are older now so rearranging furniture to make room for the tree takes us a bit of planning and time. Also, even though we have been married for over 55 years setting it up is still quite the chore, We seem to have different words and images for the same directions when given by one of us to the other. Not that we can't get things done , we do get them done, they just take a bit longer and sometimes there are stronger words than needed.

So I am adding a few selected comics involving trees. I hope you enjoy them and have a laugh or two!

But first ..  a little Christmas memory   from Nat King Cole

 

 

 

 

some trees have it all some just lose their needles

the star is traditional in many homes

 

watching holiday movies is fum for some

and then holidays tend to be overrated for others

 

Preparation for the Winter Holiday Season

       Well, it is nearing the Thanksgiving Day here in the not so united  United States. As we have had unusually mild weather here we still have plants blooming and growing. The last few days have seen a start in the dropping of temperature. The leaves are now gone, for the most part, from the oaks and maples. Some of the smaller under story trees still are holding on.

      The rains of November seem to grace us nearly everyday, either in part or all day long. The sun tries to break through the clouds every now and then. It'd success is not as strong as it was just a week or two ago. We even had a bit of snow the other day.

      All the fall garden work is complete. Newly planted daffodils (200+). Garden sculptures stored for the winter. Potted plants emptied and also stored. The only items left to remove the warm season from view is to cover the Bocce court and deck furniture. Keeping them safe for next spring. Hopefully this week.

     Coming back to the approaching holiday season, work on the annual card has begun. Here is the inked card waiting for the addition of color. Hoping to have that done before Thanksgiving and off to the printer's.

 

 

 

The theme this year is to stay hopeful for the upcoming year.

Strange things around here

 It's been a while but some unusual happenings and developments have occurred in the past few weeks.

We have had an abundance of rain a few weeks back as this photo from Jeremey Church shows. this is a photo of the storm that passed through. We nissed this storm but were caight in it traveling near Portland Michigan. we came home to a pond filled to the top with fresh rainwater and seven very happy fish.

The Causeway to North Muskegon

We also have this fungus growing larger everyday in our side yard. Very beautiful in it's own way. it is apparently one of two possibilities. Hen of the Woods Maitaki or a Black Staining Polymor Meripilus sumstinei. Sipposedly both are edible but I am not daring enough to try. I have read some grimm tales and Agatha Christie stories enough to know there could be a deadly mistake.

The fungus amongst us

Here another strange but more pleasant note is the sunset that foretold of a marvelous sunny day ahead. The next day was abundant sun pleasant heat and a soft easy breeze. Not everything strange is worrisome.

Another great Jeremy Church photograph

Jeremy Church has a little hut up town in Muskegon and often sells at the Farmer's Market.  He has some great photography and has it many artistic forms.

 June 21m 2024

Well, i have fallen down again niot keeping my postings up to date so here a few things that have transpired in the last month or two.

the garden burst with cokor as last years foxgloves camr into flower. 

Time Lapse- Return to blogging

 I have been away for quite a long period of time. Nothing serious kept me from adding to this blog post just was lackadaisical about posting but lost in other projects. 

Traveling to GB and Wales, keeping up the gardens, drawing, reading, baking and knitting seemed to take precedence for the past year.

So now I am going to return to blogging. Don't expect to much as I am easily distracted with other opportunities in my life. So I will start with some random recaps of the last year or so.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Early May 2023 and the Turkeys were out in full display. It is always a real treat to watch the fellows strut their stuff as the ladies are just content to ignore and eat the bird seed left under the feeder.

 

 

A trip to Bryson City  and enjoyment of trails, waterfalls, and ta scenic train ride was our spring getaway.

 

Our garden was quite nice in June. I have been planting Foxglove whenever I can to spread through our shaded gardens and woods. The deer are not fond of them due to their fuzzy leaves. This allows us to actually see the flowers and enjoy the color/

 

 

My goldfish and pond are a favorite plade to relax drink  coffee and just be surrounded by peace.

 

July took us to Grange-Over-Sands to spend a lovely vacation with people we love.

 

Our plane to Manchester

Portmadog Wales

Black Rocks Beach on the Irish Sea,Wales

Our morning view in Portmadog Wales

Festiniog Railway Welsh Highland Railway a wonderful experience through the welsh highlands.

These sheep were an entertaining addition to our train ride.

Well I'm Back

 I would like to say I have been too busy to blog. This is not true nor is it false. I have been busy but simply have forgotten to blog. With the Christmas holiday I got wrapped up in the decorating and the card printing process and fell out of the blogging habit. 

As I have found for myself that once I break a habit it is really hard for me to return to it. I have generally replaced it with a new activity. This seems to be the case for me and blogging.

We had decided that for Christmas 2022 we would put up our Balsam Hill tree. Making it an easier tree to decorate and less time consuming. 

Then we went to the Muskegon Farmer's Market and saw this beauty. We both decided we needed to get this lovely tree. A reasonable price made it even more tempting to change our plans. 

The young men selling the tree thought it was 10 footer but when we got inside the house it was easily a 12-13 foot tree. Thankfully the neighbor, who was heading to Florida for the winter, lent me his 12 foot ladder. As I placed the ladder next to the tree to begin decorating I realized it was a 14 foot tree. 

It took us a week to get it decorated completely. It was lovely and we enjoyed it until January 6, 2023.

Here is a video of the decorated tree up close and personal. Please note that Santa is up above watching.

 

 

 

Here is a photo of this past year's (2022) Christmas card., This should get us through December of 2022.

                                Thank you I will updating with the 2023 new year soon.

                                    I hope to be blogging the winter months next time.

What I've been up to since the last time

 Well I have been working on many different projects since my last blog post. Thought I would share some of the projects that have consumed my time and energy.

Between the yard work, baking our bread, and just general life chores I have been working on a new series of drawings. These are drawing my creatvity from local species which I have a definite connection. 

The first is completed. The Red Shouldered Hawk that made our woods a hunting territory. It did result in a few less of our feeder birds. The poor mourning dove just don't move fast enough. In researching the hawk I found some interesting facts. Their eyesight is so acute that can discern the urine tracks of critters from extreme heights.

Red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus)

Red-shouldered Hawks are medium-sized slender buteos, larger than Broad-wings but smaller than Red-tails. They have body lengths of 18 to 24 inches and wingspans of 3 1/2 to 4 feet. Their backs are brown, flecked with white, and their shoulders are rufous. Immature birds have brown teardrop-shaped streaks on their white breasts; adults have pale robin-red underparts.

Red-shouldered Hawks inhabit low, wet, open woodlands usually near a river, stream or swamp. We have an open area near us and within a a half mile of our home is the Muskegon Lake Snug Harbor area. They prey upon the wide variety of animal life found there: small mammals, frogs, snakes, lizards, insects and birds. Hawks have excellent eyesight. They can see up to 8 times more clearly than the sharpest human eye. Eyesight is primarily used for hunting. Hawks can see colors, like most humans can, as well as those in the ultraviolet range. This means that the hawks can perceive colors that humans cannot see.

Some Red-shoulders remain resident in Michigan year round, but most migrate southward as winter approaches. They were once common here, but loss of their preferred habitat and other factors not yet clearly identified have reduced their numbers. At present they are considered endangered in the state.

The work measures 14w x 16h inches and is completed in Prismacolor inks of various pen sizes. The next drawing is the Pileated Woodpecker a current work in progress. It has been placed on hold as I work on this Christmas card. 

 

 

 

 

The Christmas card has the pencil work completed and the inking will soon begin. Here is just a small peak at a portion of the card.

 

This is a very small portion of the card in rough pencil.