King of the roost

We have several Blue herons that hang around Fairhope and the surrounding areas. 

They are protective of their stretch of the beach or pier. 

Almost comical, and always intimidating, swooping in out of nowhere. Drop a hook, a cast net, or carry a pole down the dock, if they're hungry, you can't miss them. We were once down in the Florida keys kayaking and as we came out of the mangroves, the three fishermen arrived as well. No sooner than they laid their boxes down, the Blue appeared. We jokingly said watch your bait! The fishermen replied, No, watch your catch, he took one just as we were reeling it into the shore! The fishermen were worried about the hook, but needless to say they didn't want to fight the blue!

I enjoy painting them too, they are a never fail me beautiful painting. I am also wrapping up my 5th week of teaching over the course of 6 weeks so far. I have one more week to go, at the art center here in downtown Fairhope. The classes here are not necessarily easier, but really a lot shorter. I leave the house at 6:45 am and arrive home about 6pm. The traffic going and coming across the bay can be fierce. With people rushing to get somewhere fast, there are accidents, fender benders, and with our hot and hazy weather, heavy downpours. I missed today's thunder boomer apparently, the streets were wet when I got home to a husband ready to get dinner out. 

Ah, such is life here, quiet, peaceful, and sometimes wacky!

King of the Roost, 24x 24, Acrylic on shadowbox canvas

Day 11 of the  100 days~100 paintings 2018