fun

Leave a comment Posted on Birds, Design and Patterns, Lincoln Park, Painting and Sketches, Prairie Gallery

Summer acrylic attempts…

Still learning. I chose an old wall along Lake Michigan’s pathway to challenge myself this summer. I began plein air and spent quite awhile finishing indoors using photographs for support my memory. Why choose the wall? Because I think it has character; and I love characters. Hmm…..

The Red-wing Blackbird is an old favorite pal on my prairie adventures. Was able to take a good photograph of him, so painted him from the photograph.

And finally, two paintings were after I listened to a two part “20 brush strokes” class online. These were two projects, choosing five brush strokes learned (any 5 of 20). One is the wall (straight horizontal view) and the other is a field with trees in background. Just fun.

Enjoying retirement! Comments/critiques are always welcome and encouraged!

copyright 2018, Pamela Breitberg

copyright 2018, Pamela Breitberg

copyright 2018, Pamela Breitberg

Leave a comment Posted on Chicago, Design and Patterns, Garden, Photography Gallery

July snowballs…

Those that have read my blog for a while know that Snowball flowers are one of my favorite since childhood. In my garden I had a Snowball Shrub (Viburnum plicatum). The Snowballs I observe in abundance now are Snowball Hydrangea (Handrangea arborescens), a shrub with a lower profile and native to the United States of unlike the Viburnum species. Thier intricate, delicate, complicated design is truly the work of higher being.

The delicate color changes with subtle lighting changes. Flowers are a greenish white in the sunlight and a golden off-white in the shade. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg

Simple design of each flower plus dozens, perhaps hundereds or blooms per cluster equal an established miracle. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg

Leave a comment Posted on Garden, Lincoln Park, Midwest U.S including Chicago, Photography Gallery

Fun possibilities…

‘Tis the season of the ever loved/hated Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). Loved by children. Hated by most adults; myself excluded now that I no longer have my own garden. A child’s eye level view of the Dandelion is the best! Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg

Close up view of the fun loving seedhead; enticing children of all ages to help spread the seads with a mighty puff of air. Though considered a weed, the Dandelion is edible in it’s entirety. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg

Considered a weed because the Dandelion is a prolific producer, flourishing almost anywhere. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg

2 Comments Posted on Nature, People, Photography, Travel highlights

Vigor in change of direction…

I am adding a new category to my blog this year to acknowledge a change in lifestyle, called retirement. Nature will always be my primary focus in this blog, it is a large part of what keeps me excited about life and living. Travel has entered my life, so I will occasionally share images and insights from my experiences outside of nature.

Recently music was the travel theme going from Memphis to New Orleans. Did not make it to the Gibson Factory; so need to return to Memphis again. Ahh….

My intent is to show the color, mood, and culture of areas I encounter. I want to celebrate the diversity and excitement in various environments. Both New Orleans and Memphis were FULL of vibrancy and love.

As always, I’d love to hear your insights and critique. That’s what makes blogging fun! So, in no particular order….

The “stuff” needed to reveal your fortune in New Orleans? Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg

A simple bouquet forgotten? Or a memorial bouquet; it was unclean. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg

Sparrow enjoying a fountain shower! I couldn’t resist!! Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg

So much talent to applaud! Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg

Hand made instrument, based on a South African musical instrument. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg

Yes! It works. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg

New Orleans art for sale. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg.

Directional help. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg

Just chillin’. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg

Taste of street art in Memphis. Copyright 2018, Pamela Breitberg

Ceiling full of guitars….famous guitar usuage? Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg.

Never thought of graffiti on the light fixture! Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg

Variety store that’s hard to resist. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg

Shriner’s “car” for parade in Memphis. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg

Leave a comment Posted on Ocean beaches and Florida nature, Photography

Change of pace

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Playtime on Lauderdale by the Sea’s beach in Florida. Copyrght 2017 Pamela Breitberg

Who knew?

January

Here is SUN and SAND and SALTWATER.

Who knew?

January

doesn’t have to mean SNOW and COLD.

Here a beach tractor raking the sand

Replaces the snow plows in the streets of Chicago.

Here families and couples wear light clothing as they play at the ocean’s edge

Forgetting the boots, coats, mittens and hats required for snowmen building and sledding.

Who knew?

January

Here is SUN and SAND and SALTWATER.

Beach is raked each morning, as an ecologically friendly way to "pretty" up last night's high tide's treasures. My goal is to walk the beach to treasure hunt for shells and coral before they are hidden under the sand.

The beach is raked each morning, as an ecologically friendly way to “pretty” up last night’s high tide’s treasures. My goal is to walk the beach to treasure hunt for shells and coral before they are hidden under the sand. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg

 

Early morning family play while a couple take a selfie to remember their date on the beach. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg

Leave a comment Posted on Deer, Garden, Midwest U.S including Chicago, Nature, Photography, Prairie

The buck stops here…

I try to avoid clichés and puns in my posts. Nevertheless, guess I am just in a silly mood today. We have two bucks visiting our yard to dine on the Yews and Hostas and Lilies. This one is the larger and older of the two. Always a joy to watch.

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Buck visiting our garden from neighboring Forest Preserve. Copyright 2015 Pamela Breitberg

2 Comments Posted on Garden, Nature, Photography, Prairie

Captivating foreigner…

A Dandelion (Traxacum officinal) Eurasian flower is actually a composite of many small flowers. Every part of it edible. Children have entertained themselves by blowing the feathery seeds off the stem, watching them float carefree through the warm summer air. Dandelions are weeds in North America, and weeds are aggressive non-sharers of space and resources. However, if you welcome Dandelion into your garden as food or entertainment then you would not consider them an invasive weed.

I marvel at the intricate design of this flower and it’s ability to change from a sea of hot summer yellow to plump pillows of white. Admittedly, it is unwanted in my yard; I am part of the majority who consider it a weed. So any I find in my garden are removed plant by plant during the year.

I admire this beauty in nearby meadows and parklands. And yes, I still enjoy the challenge of blowing the seeds off the stem in one breath.

Closeup of Dandelion bloom cluster. copyright 2015 Pamela Breitberg

Closeup of Dandelion bloom cluster. copyright 2015 Pamela Breitberg

Dandelions in the grass. Copyright 2015 Pamela Breitberg

Dandelions in the grass. Copyright 2015 Pamela Breitberg

Leave a comment Posted on Garden, Nature, Photography, Prairie

In the eye of the beholder…

Eyeing these in a lawn can make girls giggle as they recognize the lovely ingredients for a summer chain necklace. An annoying weed is how many adults refer to Whte Clover (Trifolium repens). Upon purchase of our first home and lawn, my mother passed on her learned wisdom from her grandfather: “Clover in the lawn is good, it’s a sign of nitrogen in the soil”.

 

 

 

Macro image of White Clover, copyright 2014 Pamela Breitberg

Macro image of White Clover, copyright 2014 Pamela Breitberg

White clover bloom, copyright 2014 Pamela Breitberg

White clover bloom, copyright 2014 Pamela Breitberg