OniOniOniArt

I've been a little uneven since losing my sweet boy. He was always there for me,  and I hope I did all I could for him.  This manifests in the ability to be at times excited about some things that are happening in my life, but other times, especially when all is quiet, I cannot help but remember Maceo. It becomes inertia and a lack of energy. Needless to say I've fallen off the wagon completing the year-long art project I challenged myself to. I will pick it back up, at the very least to finish the Creative Sprint portion, in due time.  The photo above is from the Orlando Wetlands in Christmas, Florida, where I spent a few hours of my Saturday. It was a very good day for viewing animals and I saw my first dusky pygmy rattlesnake (a venomous critter) in the wild: Actually, there were two of them at different intervals along the same path. These are very small snakes, usually maxing out at two feet. You can see this one's tiny rattle, which is about hal...

"Take a 5 minute walk with no set destination. Make something with whatever materials you can find where you've ended up. Leave it for someone else to find but don't forget to document it first!" I timed myself as I walked through my LL's backyard (which is many acres). At five minutes I came upon an area strewn with dead saw palmetto and fern leaves, probably casualties of the blustery Saturday we had. The fern leaves looked like moth antennae, and the palmetto leaves like wings, so I went from there. Those are my feet at the bottom of the photo. [April 5, 2016]

My neighbor, the alligator On Monday I start a new job which leaves me wondering how well I'll be able to keep up with the Bug-A-Day Challenge during this transition (and ultimately long-term consumption of my time). It's been difficult so far and I've only worked part time! There may be a ton of baby mantids posted here! The photo above was taken yesterday, a momentous occasion because before this I had never seen this gator above the waterline. I've seen its (presumable) children out and about, but always, this adult appeared as a disembodied head floating amongst the duckweed. Well, holy hell, it's HUGE! At least 8 feet. I approached a wee bit closer from behind some trees to try and better gauge its size, but it saw me and with lightning reflexes dove into the water. If you can believe it, I think I frightened it. No longer able to see it, I took the cautious route and decided my backyard walk was over.

Day 26 Create a frame using any materials. Take it with you wherever you go and use it to capture anything you view as beautiful. Zinnia in the Dirt Patch My frame is made from cardboard, cardstock, gold ink, and glue. The insects are ebony jewelwing damselflies. Sweetwater Park, Oviedo Oviedo Chickens at the Library Creek where it meets Lake Mills A couple of my neighbors Econlockhatchee River - in the backyard Small fern - in the backyard Maceo not cooperating ("WTH is this??") That'll do, cat, that'll do.

Day 23 Go outside and make a shrine to nature - leave it for someone to find. Bugaku Bodhisattva Shrine Umm, yes, this is the bodhisattva dedicated to imperial court dance of the insect world; the shrine being located on a spanish moss-laden oak tree (bugaku are traditional imperial court dances in Japan, I couldn't resist the bug pun). It kind of looks like a scarab beetle, so let's go with that. Hurrah Nature! One tarsus holds a "sacred branch" (dead fern leaflet), one holds a "sacred fan" (piece of lichen), the middle pair of tarsi are clasped in an inscrutable mudra. The legs are crossed in front. What better animal representative for a bodhisattva than an insect? (Ok, perhaps a spider...octopus...centipede...nevermind). This was created in the Econ River Wilderness Area since I had plans to visit it today anyhow. It did not get left behind for anyone, however, because of the recent upsets caused by the overuse of cairns (as trail...

This was my last full day in AZ. We did not stay long at the Mogollon Rim (pronounced "Muggy-own" according to the city of Payson's website and "Moogy-on" by my Dad), which is part of the Colorado Plateau and divides AZ into its cooler northern and scorching southern portions. We saw the small dam and spillway, took in the view at a couple of overlooks, and headed to Tonto Natural Bridge. The Tonto Natural Bridge is a cave-like structure 183 feet high and creating a 400 foot long tunnel that is 150 feet wide at its widest point according to this pamphlet I'm reading. Pine Creek runs under the bridge. We had to climb many precariously smooth boulders, steep areas, and use narrow footholds to pass through and then traverse the creek's edge past the bridge to a waterfall. Entering the tunnel Looking back at some mossy rocks and boulders from the tunnel's edge Inside the tunnel  Looking through the tunnel from the other si...

Today we hiked to the base of Tom's Thumb, a huge monolith atop a mountain (in the middle of the photo above). Being a Floridian and used to flat land, this was a tough hike for me (it kicked my arse if you want to know the truth). It also got really hot on the climb down which didn't help things. I anticipate non-functional legs tomorrow. A yellow velvet ant! We walked right up to this rabbit, I suspect people feed it. Not sure what kind of lizard this is...will have to look it up and update when I'm not so tired. A little more than halfway up. My Dad photographing me taking his photograph. Almost there! The view from the base of the Thumb. Rock climbing gear is required to get to the top. It's still pretty high up at the base!

Day 14 Walk for five minutes without any specific destination in mind, make something with or inspired by whatever is available where you end up. I didn't follow the prompt exactly. My Dad and I hiked to the base of Tom's Thumb today, so the destination wasn't totally unknown (though I've never been there before) and it definitely didn't take five minutes to get up there! This beetle is made from plant material I found at the top when we arrived at the base of Tom's Thumb. There's a seed pod husk, dried up grasses, tiny flowers, and a succulent leaf.  This was a rush job. The monolith in the middle is Tom's Thumb, we hiked all the way around it. This was taken about halfway up the mountain.

The view from the highest point. My Dad, the nimble mountain goat, on the trail in front of me. Here are some insects we met on our way to the top: Unknown Nymphalidae A seed bug Great Purple Hairstreak

Wedge-shaped Beetles, Ripipharidae, Macrosiagon sp . These bizarre-looking beetles parasitize solitary bees and wasps as larvae. The male (top) has feathery antennae while the female (below) lacks this plumage (though she makes up for it with the sportier colors and spots). They were mating until I disturbed them with my presence. My apologies, beetles. Rough stink bug, Brochymena sp . Rough stink bugs are usually found in trees and are colored and textured to blend in with the bark. This one actually flew from a tree and landed on my leg. I placed it in the leaf litter for aesthetic purposes. They are quite flat! Click beetle, Elateridae This small species of click beetle was all over the park. I'm unsure of its identity, perhaps Limonius ? Firefly, Photuris sp . Queen Butterly, Danaus gilippus I find butterflies exceedingly difficult to photograph! This is the best shot I could get.  Many others escaped the camera completely. T...