Sorry that I have disappeared for a few days. I picked up a respiratory virus that also brought with it quite a bit of vertigo. Besides the usual runny nose and aching muscles, it became very hard to concentrate and reading or writing, especially on a computer became very uncomfortable. Finally, though, all my symptoms are fading and I’m feeling more like myself every day. I’m still a little light headed and tired, but soooo much better than the last few days. It’s nice to be able to get back to my creative endeavors.

Lately, I’ve been enjoying having a ruby throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) hanging around here. She shows up most mornings when I’m outside bird watching. Sometimes she goes to the feeder and eats and sometimes she just perches in the trees nearby. I’ve gotten quite a few pictures of her both in flight and perched, so for this one I decided to do a combination of creative post processing and supplemented it with some drawing. I was wanting something high key with plenty of highlights, which I think I achieved. These little birds are so fascinating the way they zip around from place to place with wings beating so fast you can’t see them. Then suddenly they alight on a branch and for just a brief moment they’re like other birds. Before long they’re off again, literally buzzing with energy.