another snow day!

Well, there are still about three hours left in the day, but thus far the world hasn't ended.  I find that to be a relief, though if it does end I'd like it to just go "poof" and be done, because I'm really not into that survival stuff.  Anyway, it did snow a lot here today.  Snow is not abnormal here, but it's also not something that can be counted on every year.  It doesn't usually snow much, or for very long, and it melts off pretty quick.  So this was a little unusual, and I'm hoping it turns to rain so I can get down that long steep hill tomorrow without turning all my knuckles white.  Because who's never driven in snow... me!

December 18 work in progress

Ohhh yeah!  :-)  This side is done!

December 17 work in progress

Not done, but getting closer!

Snow day!

It snowed today!!!!  I suppose, like any other type of weather, snow could get very annoying very fast.  But since I've never before lived in a place where it snowed, this was a first for me, and it was SO EXCITING.  But gosh darn that's cold!  I went out wandering for a while, taking photos and being generally awestruck, and came to the conclusion that if I do that again I really need to wear proper snow attire (which I have, I just sort of didn't think about wearing...)

I wonder what it will look like tomorrow morning...

December 13 work in progress

This is another big knife I'm working on.  Actually, there are two very similar big knives for the same client, this is the first one I'm doing, it's a Dozier.  This is the back, with my client's monogram.

I didn't know anything about monograms until I got into this engraving stuff.  I used to think "why so much emphasis on the middle initial?"  Ah, but in a monogram, the last name's initial is moved to the middle, and is often bigger than the other two!  Nifty, eh?

Anyway, stay tuned, much much much more to come...

Midwinter Mist

Oops, just realized I forgot to post this when I finished it!

"Midwinter Mist"

Buff Laced Polish hen

colored pencil and graphite on gray Stonehenge paper

8 by 11 inches

copyright © 2012 Katherine Plumer

People say not to work for friends.  Fooey on that, I say.  My clients often end up being my friends, if they weren't beforehand.  Every year for the last four years, my friend Dale has commissioned a custom chicken drawing, which he then uses on his Christmas card.  I think this is the coolest thing, and he sure has the most unique cards!  And I have a very cool friend.  :-)

2012 Christmas Cards!!!

Thank you everyone who ordered!  I've already sent them out for printing, so orders are now closed.  See ya next year!

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Rosecomb Christmas Cards
Set of 10 for $19.95 plus tax and shipping ($6.50)

Inside greeting says "Merry Christmas"

white envelopes included

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Four Chickens Christmas Cards
Set of 10 for $19.95 plus tax and shipping ($6.50)

Inside greeting says "Merry Christmas"

white envelopes included

* * * * * * * * * * * *

bird-nerd-a-rama

During the last big wind and rain storm, I happened to stand up from my engraving bench to get a good stretch, and I saw a kestrel clinging to the dead tree outside my windows!  I grabbed the camera and took a bunch, this one's my favorite.  I'd just accidentally knocked the lens lightly in the window, and he turned and looked right at me for a moment.

And then I went down to Wilton for Thanksgiving, of course.  I've really been missing the sight and sound of birds migrating, specifically waterfowl.  There are some flocks of geese that pass over the ranch up here in Oak Run, but they're generally so high they can barely be seen.  I heard cranes once, but couldn't see them.  This time of year down in Wilton, there are so many cranes.

So I loaded up the cameras one morning when I was down there and headed out right around sunrise for the Cosumnes Wildlife Preserve.  Turned out to be a lot foggier than I anticipated, oh well.  I still got some interesting shots, and the fog did clear out mid morning.  Later that day I took my mom out to the delta to see the "fly in," when the Sandhill Cranes fly in for the evening.

House Finch

Canada Goose

Savannah Sparrow

Sandhill Cranes

Greater White-Fronted Geese

Tundra Swans

Tundra Swans and Aleutian Canada Geese

Greater White-Fronted Geese and one Ross' Goose

Tundra Swan

Great Horned Owl

Birds are awesome.  :-)