Category Archives: Photos

Changing Vistas

 

Gull at Sea. Watercolor sketch. 2016 Sheila Delgado

Gull at Sea. Watercolor sketch. 2016 Sheila Delgado

Didn’t plan on disappearing for two weeks. Had a post half ready. Important projects half done. Then, time to pack and leave for a week on the water.

My good friends celebrating their daughter. A wedding cruise to Catalina and Ensenada. There were about 34 guests that joined the trip.

Carnival is known as the “Fun Ships”. My fun was more relax than Rock and Roll. I ordered room service, read two books and chilled on the balcony. The ship had a cozy little Library. Sprinkle in meals with friends. Perfect. The first book was poetry. She Walks in Beauty by Caroline Kennedy.  A longtime favorite poem of mine.

 

She Walks In Beauty, by Lord Byron

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that’s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes;
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o’er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express,
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place,

And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent! 

 

The Longevity Book by Cameron Diaz was very interesting. Kept me up late one night. Well, honestly, I am usually up late at night. But this time it was with a good book as my companion. Made me think that I should make reading at night a new habit!

The photos are self-explanatory. Sunsets and destinations. Looking down in the atrium. The neon green line is where our cabins were. At the front of the ship. Our home port was Long Beach, The Queen Mary our neighbor.

 

Wedding Cruise, May 2016. sheiladelgado.com

 

 

 

Mother Hummer

 

 

Little hummer moving to and fro,
little mother,
a fine nest to show.

Watching, waiting,
resting as she might.
On full alert, day and night.

God Bless you little mother,
God Bless your growing kin,
Keep safe this tiny nest, and those within.
SMD

Hummingbird nest. sheiladelgado.com

 

A  huge lizard got too close and she attacked him. I managed to slowly open the front door and get a few photos without  scaring her. We can see the nest from the front window.

 

Happy Spring!

 

 

 

Ocotillo Sketch

 

Ocotillo Sketch. 2.5 x 3.5 ATC, watercolor on paper. © 2016 Sheila Delgado. sheiladelgado.com

Ocotillo Sketch. 2.5 x 3.5 watercolor on paper. © 2016 Sheila Delgado

 

This quick sketch was done before bed. I hadn’t painted that day, and felt I had to do something. We saw many Ocotillo on the drive to Prescott. Most along the road were obviously, very spindly. Still, they flaunted bright red flowers.  I wasn’t driving, so I was able to take photos. Stopping at times for a closer look.

Ocotillo with a view. April 2016. sheiladelgado.com

Ocotillo with a view.

Roadside Ocotillo. April 2016. sheiladelgado.com

Roadside Ocotillo.

These photos were taken on the 60, between the 10 and Aguila Arizona. In one of the small towns we stopped for these close-ups. What a difference a little water can make.

Ocotillo Bush. April 2016. sheiladelgado.com

Ocotillo bush.

Ocotillo Blooms. April 2016. sheiladelgado.com

Ocotillo Blooms.

According to Wikipedia, fresh flowers can be eaten and have a tangy flavor. The flowers are also collected and used for tea. Ocotillo is not a true cactus. These flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds and native carpenter bees. Here’s a look back at the Carpenter Bee I painted in 2014. And another. And the Bee Exhibit in Germany.

Ocotillo Flame. April 2016. sheiladelgado.com

Ocotillo Flame.

Hope you enjoyed these flowers as much as I did. I already have ideas for repeat patterns using this plant.  Happy creating everyone!