Here's how far along I am now. Still need to add more detail, especially to the black parts of the birds, somehow. But I like how they look now that they have some more color.

The magpie in the middle has snow on its beak, a common sight around here in the winter. :)

I messed around with the rocks today, and added some snow, and white paint with water to make it look like the wind is blowing. I think I may be ready to start on the birds now.

I've started working on the background, did the sky and the trees in the background.

I'm working on a painting of magpies playing games in the snow. Today I finished the underpainting. I decided to use blues for the snowy background. I think I'm gonna have fun with this one.

I probably shouldn't have, but couldn't resist. I've wanted a jewel orchid for a year or two now, and that's the first time I've ever seen them here.

Finally came up with a plan for the magpie painting I'm taking forever to start. (Had a birthday, anniversary, a cold, some allergies (snow mold I'm thinking... I mean, really?), and Lawrence had off work so we did stuff together.)

Three magpies playing their pinecone game.

Here's the gooseberry/lavender jam jarred up. Will have to try it on something soon, but when I licked the pan, it tasted really good - and the consistency seemed right (yay for high altitudes). It's a pretty color.

(Please forgive the stuff that needs to be wiped off. XD)

Making some gooseberry and lavender jam. We grew both the gooseberries and the lavender.

I've been mending stuff lately. I used this patch to cover up the logo on one of my shirts from a former job. Hopefully it stays.

We got some curtains that turned out to be kind of stiff and wouldn't stay open, so I made some curtain holders for them. The blue one at the top on the first picture is the one I used as a reference.

My husband made me a flower press for my birthday. I have a small one, but it's not always big enough for my flowers. Gotta find something creative to do with pressed flowers, since I enjoy pressing them. :)

Guess where I went? I went to the Sue exihibit at the Museum of the Rockies! It was pretty cool, I'll have to go again.

From October to December, we didn't get much snow, but now we sure are getting! It's covered the birdbath and teh gardens almost completely now, and is almost halfway up the fence. I feel better about fires this year.

The other photo is of some Hungarian partridges I saw the other day.

I just wanted to post this card I made for my husband, because well, I drew it, with Prismacolor. I love bleeding heart flowers. The other is a card and moth orchid plant my husband got me. It'll go into the art studio room in a few days, with my other orchids, so it can have proper light.

Looks like we get snow after all this winter. Yep, that's a birdbath, it's probably thigh-high in some places. Was worried when we didn't get much snow during October through December. Hopefully we don't get many fires this year.

Quote with flowers from your gallery. :)

One of the sunflowers I grew last year.

Been working on this for a few months now. I'm finally done! Acrylic.

[Image is of two American goldfinches, the yellow male on the left, and the browner female on the right. The male is hanging over a sunflower and has a seed in his beak. Background is green with sunflower and pea foliage.]