Farm Fresh Free Range Chicken Eggs :)

I should have added this picture of our basket of eggs. We love having our own chickens and eating and using the wonderful eggs for meals and baking. These eggs are right out of the nest boxes.

Monday's Pics

Coyote - Yikes!!!!!!!!

We have been having a bit of a coyote problem. Now we live in Minnesota, and not really in the boondocks or anything like that! We are not far from town and have three neighbors on our lane. 

Two weeks ago, about 7:00 in the evening, David was out in the yard and the coyote ran through. Yikes, that was pretty creepy. This past week, we heard the chickens making a ruckus about 3:00 in the afternoon and sure enough there was the coyote again. It snatched a chicken - leaving a trail of feathers behind as it escaped!!!!!!! Two days ago, at 1:30 in the afternoon, David was pulling weeds in the garden and there it was - 50 feet from him - after the chickens again! David was yelling at it and it just stood there and stared him down. This coyote is a bit too brave for my blood!!! 

We have now been putting the chickens out in the morning to free-range and shooing them back in by 1:00 in the afternoon. They're not too happy about it, but better that than dead! 

Artwork - Violet Dauk Artist

Artwork

Click the above 'Artwork' link to view my website gallery.
Included is a my new Book Illustration Gallery Page. 

Bookmaking Process - Meeting

I took a plein air class  two weeks ago with a number of local artists. Attending the class was Andre' Nelson, the grandson of an artist friend of mine, Pat Nelson. Andre' has illustrated a couple of self-published books. Since I am in the process of illustrating three children's books, I asked him if we could meet to discuss the process. Another friend's 13 year old son, Noah is in the process of writing his own book and went along with me. The information was encouraging and helpful. He is presently working on illustrating a fourth book.

As a thank you to Andre' and good luck on your new book! I thought I would share his facebook art page so you can follow the progress of his new book. Thanks Andre'!

Andre' Nelson Art

En Plein Air Painting Class

En plein air (French pronunciation: ​[ɑ̃ plɛn ɛːʁ]), or plein air painting, is a phrase borrowed from the French equivalent meaning "open (in full) air".

I took an 'en plein air' painting class with Dan Mondloch this past week. It has always seemed pretty intimidating to me, but it was an excellent class. I was not able to stay to paint, but did some en plein air painting while I was up at a friend's cabin this past week.

Hollyhock Love...

My Hollyhocks...