The Swallows' Nest Mandala

The five Tree Swallow nestlings fledged on June 14. A House Sparrow was harassing the remaining Tree Swallow father and mother in an increasingly disturbing manner. I took the nesting box down, thinking that the House Sparrow wanted the nesting box and was going to continue to intimidate the Tree Swallows. House Sparrows are known to kill nestlings, and so I was concerned about the fledglings. The House Sparrow hung around for awhile and then was gone. This morning I removed the nest from the nesting box so that I could clean the box and noticed the beautiful spiral pattern on the bottom of nest.

The Tree Swallow father and mother have been returning to sit on the hummingbird feeder ever since I took the nesting box down.

INKLE LOOM / OBOE ASSISTING

Instead of drawing this morning and yesterday morning, I spent the set-aside time in re-orienting myself to my inkle loom and "dressing" the loom in preparation for weaving a 2" wide belt that will be black and red. I'm not sure how long the belt will be but am guessing that it will be about 50" long, including fringe.

Below Oboe is looking up at the inkle belts I wove last summer.






















"The subject means little. The arrangement, the design,
colour, shape, depth, light, space, mood, movement, balance,
not one or all of these fills the bill. There is something
additional, a breath that draws your breath into its breathing,
a heartbeat that pounds on yours, a recognition of the oneness
of all things." Emily Carr (1871-1945)

UPDATE: My old friend from California no longer needs a tracheostomy to breathe after having had a stroke in September. Thanks to all who have kept him in your prayers and kind hearts. He says he still has a way to go before he can return to his home but has his heart set in a homeward direction once he can swallow and walk by himself.