Today is Cliff's birthday.  Mark called this afternoon to see how I was doing and we had a lovely talk.  He sounds good.  Sometimes I get concerned about him but he's really doing okay. We both found things to laugh about.  He's had rainy days for the past two weeks from the tropical systems.  It's terribly humid and there is standing water everywhere.  

The temperature here this morning at six o'clock was forty-six degrees with thick mountain fog.  I went to the Murphy farmers market around nine and bought Swiss chard and the last of their green beans.  Only a few more weeks of these markets. The fog finally burned off around 10:30 when the temperature shot up to high sixties.  The rest of the day was wonderful.  This has been the nicest October in the eighteen years I've lived here.  

Last Sunday my last hummingbird perched on the front feeder and when she didn't show up Monday or Tuesday, I figured she had left for Central America with the others.  Wednesday afternoon a female was spotted sipping from the red salvia plants and stayed around the rest of the day flitting from flower to feeders.  I filled the feeders with fresh nectar again for any travelers.  Thursday and Friday I didn't see her at all.  So once again I figured she migrated but left the feeders up because there could be travelers still.  The latest a hummingbird has been seen here is October 11 in previous years.  Today I made another batch of nectar just in case I would need it.  

My potted plants have remained out on the porch day and night.  This is great not to bring them in yet.  Basil and other herbs are still thriving in the gardens.  This afternoon I sat on the porch soaking up some sunshine when suddenly a yellow caterpillar dropped on my shoulder.  I flicked the poor little thing off so quickly. 

What kind of winter does this one predict?

Last week my afternoons were spent with my online art classes that I signed up for a couple of weeks ago.  The classes began with graphite pencils learning about values.  Then I got to use colored pencils using what I learned with graphite.  Colored pencils were a lot more challenging. 

My teddy bear using three graphite pencil.....HB, 6B, and 14B.  Surprisingly, I learned to start the darkest value first then working in the lighter shading. Colored pencils did challenge me.

 The next afternoon I worked on an eye.  There is tape on this one because I accidentally cut it thinking it was a piece of scrap.  The paper was tuned to the blank side on the table so I cut it to use for test paper.

 

My last couple of days were spent on this bird.  I got frustrated and quit.  The underbelly is too dark.  The lessons are available for replays until the 14th.  I think I'll finish this one then maybe start a new one knowing now what I didn't like about the first try.  Anyway, this is good for my brain.