Princess Pepper Cloud...Illustration Friday

safari

2011-05-13T10:56:00.000-07:00

lesson

2011-04-30T11:11:00.000-07:00

How ants learn their lessons.

bicycle

2011-04-24T07:28:00.000-07:00

You invested your bicycle savings in Jellybeans? Don't you know, Glenn Bug works for the Easter Bunny?

Journey

2011-04-15T08:48:00.000-07:00

Journey of the Ants.

Felt Stories

2010-10-30T04:31:00.001-07:00

Felt Stories (click link to see the new body of work)

Life and death go hand in hand; something must exist in order to cease. I suspect that I am not alone in feeling that these past connections persist for a life time; shaping us while in the flesh, lacing their legacy with ours. Memories are the most valuable inheritance. I celebrate the life of my grandparents and treasured pets, the moments that appear unremarkable often have the greatest impact.

linked

2010-04-09T09:24:00.000-07:00

focused

2010-01-30T20:04:00.000-08:00

Even in her thinking place, she still couldn't get focused.

clumsy

2010-01-24T07:20:00.001-08:00

"She wouldn't be so clumsy if she wasn't so graceful."

renewal

2010-01-03T08:26:00.000-08:00

"Still studying for that history exam?"

strong

2009-09-06T08:35:00.000-07:00

Another sign that the ants are taking over.

magnify

2009-08-28T08:21:00.001-07:00

"Yup. You have nematodes. I recommend you lay low for awhile."

When the ant Cephalotes atratus is infected with a parasitic nematode, its normally black abdomen turns red, resembling the many red berries in the tropical forest canopy. According to researchers, this is a strategy concocted by nematodes to entice birds to eat the normally unpalatable ant and spread the parasite in their droppings.

caution

2009-08-23T10:33:00.000-07:00

modify

2009-08-02T09:39:00.000-07:00

GMO.

idle

2009-07-24T07:14:00.001-07:00

tango

2009-07-20T16:03:00.001-07:00

hollow

2009-07-13T07:57:00.000-07:00

Ever since she started dating Thomas, she has been feeling hollow inside.

worn

2009-06-27T07:31:00.000-07:00

Although the worn path was in plain sight, she chose to take the path less travelled.

drifting

2009-06-20T08:45:00.001-07:00

"You're an Ant for goodness sakes! You can't keep drifting around all your life!"

unfold

2009-06-12T06:46:00.000-07:00

Although bittersweet, the Queen realized when it came time for her daughter's wings to unfold, it would be time to say good-bye.

craving

2009-06-05T07:38:00.000-07:00

Once she found out the truth behind Red dye #3 , she lost her craving for most confections.

In additional news here is proof that Ants have taken over the world: Today is National Donut Day.

cracked

2009-05-22T08:46:00.000-07:00

"She was dropped on her head as a larva."

contagious

2009-05-15T07:34:00.001-07:00

"Your enthusiasm is contagious." "Yes, and so is your sarcasm."

parade

2009-05-08T13:04:00.000-07:00

After much contemplation, she was happy to be a worker without all of the pressures of being a Queen.

hierarchy

2009-05-01T08:35:00.000-07:00

Annie suddenly realized she reached the pinnacle of Mantslows Hierarchy of needs.

theatre

2009-04-25T18:48:00.000-07:00

For now-unknown reasons, the Mantagues and the Capulants, two prosperous colonies, have carried on a bitter feud for years.

The greatest love story the world has ever known.
Hope & Despair. Tragedy & Love. Romeo & Juliant.
From Age to Age One Classic Story is as Timeless as Love Itself.

impossibility

2009-04-18T15:16:00.000-07:00

Using the yellow pages she found the perfect babysitters for her ant grubs, Armadillo Day Care, We take care of the entire brood.

The impossibility of the situation completely eluded her.

In Texas many hope that armadillos will help slow the invasive fire-ant infestation.

fleeting

2009-04-10T20:20:00.000-07:00

For a fleeting moment she thought she saw....

oh never mind.

Happy Easter.

Poise

2009-03-27T19:51:00.000-07:00

He was poised for action.

subtract

2009-03-20T19:14:00.001-07:00

Hey! What a great opportunity for a new contest! Who ever figures out this subtraction problem first will win a really cool prize!

There are four separate ant colonies in my backyard. The average population of all four colonies is 210,000 ants. If the population in the North Corner is 155,000, the East Corner is 180,000 and the West Corner is 365,000, what is the population in the South Corner?

Good Luck!!!!!

intricate

2009-03-06T21:46:00.000-08:00

Ted's hive engineering plans were intricate and well designed, however they were often behind schedule and over budget.

breezy

2009-02-27T06:28:00.001-08:00

There is nothing he would rather do but dance on a breezy day like this.

(I just found a "First Friday Art Night" venue to show this new series of dry pigment and gouche paintings I did. 'insert happy dance here.')

instinct

2009-02-20T08:47:00.000-08:00

She attributed her keen sense of style to her antlike instincts.

celebrate

2009-02-13T09:10:00.001-08:00

I wrote this for my Great-Niece, Ravenna, who will be 3 years old in a couple of weeks. She is flying in from Alaska to celebrate her birthday. I am also making a Lion doll with a pocket for a chicken doll. I will be sending this story to the printer today.

Chicken and LionChicken likes to sing.

Do you like to sing?

Lion likes to dance.

Do you like to dance?

Sometimes Chicken sings for Lion.

Sometimes Lion dances for Chicken.

Can you sing for Chicken and Lion?
Can you dance for Lion and Chicken?

Sometimes Chicken and Lion will put on a show for their friends.

Can you name their friends?

Are you and Chicken and Lion's friend?

The End.

Sketch and story evolution.

flawed?

2009-01-31T16:49:00.001-08:00

Annie felt like she was part of something bigger than herself, but she still couldn't stop thinking of herself as an individual.

(Ant Spirituality, Ant Philosophy, Superorganism)

climbing

2009-01-23T10:17:00.001-08:00

pale

2009-01-17T13:42:00.000-08:00

"You look pale. You went in there, didn't you?"

contained

2009-01-10T08:11:00.000-08:00

MariAntchi knew his time on earth was short.

Many of his songs contained themes of machismo, love and loss.

resolve

2009-01-02T14:28:00.000-08:00

Ant resolutions:

Keep a clean habitat, eat more sweets, and refuse to be pushed around.

voices

2008-12-22T17:35:00.000-08:00

Raise your Voices for all to hear,

Even if your singing

leaves ringing

in your neighbors ear.

Shout it loud and shout it clear,

Sing with all of your heart

right into the New Year!

Happy Holidays Y'all!!!

Rambunctious

2008-12-13T08:14:00.000-08:00

"Are you going to that FrANTernity party? I'll bet it will be rambunctious, especially with all of the underage Skittles consumption."

Balloon

2008-11-28T18:05:00.000-08:00

Although satisfied, she did feel a bit like an over-inflated balloon.

Perhaps next year she would try out for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

opinion

2008-11-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

"I'll admit my opinion about her changed drastically after her metamorphosis."

pretend

2008-11-14T12:48:00.001-08:00

"Can you at least Pretend you like me?"

wise

2008-11-08T08:46:00.000-08:00

" He's not the wisest ant on the farm."

vacant

2008-11-03T14:36:00.000-08:00

What happend to all of the bees?

repair

2008-10-24T16:53:00.000-07:00

"Sorry Son. This time it's beyond repair."

late

2008-10-18T08:05:00.001-07:00

Thankfully the colony left a trail for Annie to follow.

strings

2008-10-10T09:11:00.000-07:00

There are always strings attached.

sugary

2008-10-03T08:39:00.000-07:00

"Eating all of this sugary nectar goes right to my abdomen."

Honeypot Ants (Myrmecocystus) are soil-nesting ants endemic to the arid regions of western North America. Some members of each colony become living storage containers and hang from the ceilings of nest chambers deep underground, their abdomens greatly swollen with food.

packed

2008-09-28T13:31:00.001-07:00

clique

2008-09-19T08:42:00.000-07:00

The "Ant" Breakfast Club.

island

2008-09-12T11:09:00.000-07:00

You mean to tell me there is only one bathroom on this entire island?

clutter

2008-09-05T10:13:00.001-07:00

memories

2008-08-29T14:22:00.000-07:00

routine

2008-08-22T10:21:00.000-07:00

I have given so many shots recently, you'd think by now it would be routine.

detach

2008-08-15T11:47:00.000-07:00

Try as she might, Annie couldn't completely detach herself from her colony.

sail

2008-08-08T09:04:00.000-07:00

ANThony couldn't wait to share his new mode of transportation with the rest of the colony.

Lycosa Hogna (Wolf Spider) was only one of the many spiders that we stalked on our last naturalist outing. Many spiderlings disperse by ballooning.

poof!

2008-08-04T21:01:00.000-07:00

The last 7+ years have reinforced why ants prefer Queens.

canned

2008-07-25T08:09:00.000-07:00

To the Colony's horror, a new health food craze was about to hit the Super-Market shelves.

enough

2008-07-18T15:35:00.000-07:00

"He wants us to conquer the world? We don't have enough ants here to take over the backyard!"

foggy

2008-07-15T09:26:00.000-07:00

Ant Horror Stories.

Dedicated to Arlene in Fairbanks.

"We were all sitting around, minding our own business, when Uncle Ernie suddenly noticed the foggy air. The mist enveloped him while the rest of us ran for our lives. We never saw or heard from Uncle Ernie again."

sour

2008-07-04T19:29:00.000-07:00

Allison didn't care that the rest of the colony couldn't accept her love for lemons.

fierce

2008-06-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

Ants have been retelling BeatrAnts Potter's story for many generations. It is better to be nice than to be fierce.

Here is a link to Beatrix Potter's original: The story of a Fierce Bad Rabbit
One of my favorites.

hoard

2008-06-20T14:48:00.001-07:00

"Look Mate! It's Capt'n Jack-Jumper's Exoskeleton and his hidden hoard of gold!"

The jack jumper is the smallest of the bulldog ants, ranging from only about 10 to 12 millimeters long, but they are the most aggressive and vicious. These ants are black, with yellow or orange legs, antennae, and mandibles. Their characteristic jumping motion gave them their name. Their nests may be inconspicuously hidden under a rock, or may be formed from a 20 to 60 centimeter in diameter mound of finely granular gravel

The jack jumper ant, hopper ant or jumper ant (Myrmecia pilosula) is a species of bulldog ant that is native to Australia. The ants are recorded throughout the country, but are most often found in Tasmania, rural Victoria, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and the southeast area of South Australia.

punchline

2008-06-13T08:41:00.001-07:00

Forgotten?

2008-06-06T14:07:00.000-07:00

baby

2008-05-30T15:29:00.000-07:00

Cutest baby pageant.

Dragonfly Nymph, Butterfly Catapillar, and Ant Grub.

Who do you think will win?

worry

2008-05-23T09:00:00.001-07:00

Global Warming? What's to worry about?

W i d e

2008-05-16T08:43:00.001-07:00

Electricity

2008-05-09T13:24:00.000-07:00

I wonder what's in this hole.

Seed

2008-05-02T15:50:00.000-07:00

Meanwhile... back on Anteries 5, Earl's wife was busy planting more bunny-flower seeds.

(Antventures of Tzarthor and Earl)

Wrinkles

2008-04-29T08:12:00.000-07:00

We would like to present you with the flag of our colony, sorry about all of the wrinkles.

(Antventures of Tzarthor and Earl)

Primitive

2008-04-19T14:12:00.000-07:00

It has been 168 Million Years since our last colony landed on earth. Don't be disappointed if they seem a bit primitive.

(Antventures of Tzarthor and Earl)

Fail

2008-04-12T09:59:00.000-07:00

Ant Motivation Speaker on the Failure to Cooperate.

Save

2008-04-04T08:53:00.000-07:00

Ants and water do not mix.

Homage

2008-03-28T10:04:00.001-07:00

Painting completed in the 16th century by the court painter HyacinthANT Rigaud. This royal portrait of LouAnt the 14th shows Homage to the fine silks and textiles of the various hives of FrAnTs during his rule.

Here is the true painting of Louis ivx of France (not FrAnts) by Hyacinth Rigaud.

Heavy

2008-03-14T08:41:00.000-07:00

Happy pi day.

Garden

2008-03-07T08:28:00.000-08:00

Next year we're getting a fence.

Leap

2008-02-29T19:10:00.001-08:00

Poor Guy. He has Leaprocy. Everytime he leaps he loses a limb.

Multiple

2008-02-22T08:35:00.000-08:00

Multiple births run in my family.

Theory

2008-02-15T09:04:00.000-08:00

It is the "theory" of creation vs. the "theory" of evolution (big bang). Courtesy of the great artist MichelANTgelo.

Choose

2008-02-08T08:24:00.000-08:00

Blanket

2008-02-01T07:58:00.000-08:00

We are predicting a Blanket of snow for most of the Pacific Northwest. Check road conditions before doing any traveling, and most of all drive safely.

Tales and Legends

2008-01-25T08:35:00.000-08:00

The Ants & The Grasshopper

One bright day in late autumn a family of Ants were bustling about in the warm sunshine, drying out the grain they had stored up during the summer, when a starving Grasshopper, his fiddle under his arm, came up and humbly begged for a bite to eat. "What!" cried the Ants in surprise, "haven't you stored anything away for the winter? What in the world were you doing all last summer?" "I didn't have time to store up any food," whined the Grasshopper; "I was so busy making music that before I knew it the summer was gone." The Ants shrugged their shoulders in disgust. "Making music, were you?" they cried. "Very well; now dance!" And they turned their backs on the Grasshopper and went on with their work.

There is a time for work and a time for play.

Plain

2008-01-18T07:37:00.000-08:00

"No Thanks. I prefer my ice-cream plain."

Drum Roll Please....

2008-01-15T20:11:00.000-08:00

It's Award Time!

The Thumbs-Up Award goes to Bird Anon: Awarded for Fantastic achievement in bird photography and local bird gossip!

The Cake Award goes to Studio Lolo: It is a multi-layered cake, sweet and rich, just like Lolo!

The Certificate presented here is written in binary code is awarded to Bot-A-Day : My favorite blog in the whole wide world. MjM has faithfully inspired his robots to look beyond the "Three Laws". From robot sketches to evil genius this award is for you!

The Trophy Award goes to MerlinPrincesse : She has a soft heart for kittens and blue plush rabbits and always brings a smile to my face. Besides, Prancer, Peter and Dahlia wouldn't have it any other way!

Stitch

2008-01-11T06:59:00.000-08:00

Snow

2008-01-07T06:14:00.000-08:00

I guess I should have trusted the weather man when he predicted a big snow.

California girl in her first "real" Southern Oregon snow.

100%

2008-01-04T12:42:00.000-08:00

ANTony and ANTonio proved to their colony once and for all that the Monolith was 100% deadly.

Soar

2007-12-28T09:55:00.000-08:00

In the Amazon there are ants that Soar and Glide, when knocked out of their nesting canopy tree they point their abdomens towards the tree trunk and in a J-like curve they are able to glide back to the tree from which they fell. Some appear to enjoy the process more than others. For more information please click on this link: http://www.livescience.com/animals/050209_gliding_ants.html

Moon Bunnies

2007-12-24T07:33:00.000-08:00

On a windy day a yellow rabbit reads a book.

The book is about the magical Moon Bunnies.

Moon Bunnies love to frolic and dance and soon work up an appetite.

They love to eat flowers and their favorites are thistles, fennel and basil flowers.

Horizon

2007-12-21T07:16:00.000-08:00

The holidays are here

and have moved into high gear

with presents and sweets

enough to make your heart beat,

but not to fast

alas, it's not to last

because on the horizon

is the New Year.

Hope your holiday's are full of love and good cheer!

Backwards

2007-12-10T20:48:00.000-08:00

This is the most edited post ever! I just returned from traveling and the word for the week is backwards, and I am going to take Studio Lolo's suggestion and use this new painting for the word, it does fit perfect!... thank you IF for making it easy for me this week! Also, I have been awarded a true-blue blogger award by my friend Studio Lolo, wow! Thanks!

Also, I have been tagged by Shakey Mouse to reveal 5 random things about me:

1. Dreams:

I Dream in color and I use magnetic resistance in order to fly.

2. Reading:

Science Fiction is my favorite genre, and I have never read Lord of the Rings.

3. Music:

CSNY is my favorite band...followed by Young, then CN, then SY. Once in my mid-20's PBS showed one of their acoustic concerts and while watching it, I cried.

4. Entertainment:

I am terrible at video games, but, I am really good at Mario Bros. on Atari. I used to play this while in Jr. High listening to Pet Shop Boys "Actually".

5. Family:

My husband and I were married in Vegas. While at dinner at my parents house my brother and his fiance were talking about all of the wedding rituals that they were so excited about, like the first dance, the garter thing, the throwing of the bouquet. During this exhausting conversation I mouthed the words, "VEGAS" to Ted. So three months before my brother's beautiful wedding, Ted and I and my parents all flew to Vegas. Also, we did get married at the little white chapel for $60, my dress cost $100 from Macy's, but no, Elvis did not marry us. The next week we had a nice catered reception in our back yard for our friends and familty to enjoy. Then Ted and took our honeymoon along the Columbia River and the Oregon Coast for a week. We are so smart.

"Little Things"

2007-12-07T15:22:00.001-08:00

Don't neglect the "little things"....

or you might get grounded.

Excess

2007-12-01T16:58:00.001-08:00

"You know, you would probably be happier if you got rid of that excess baggage."

The Zoo

2007-11-23T18:05:00.001-08:00

Superstition

2007-11-16T08:35:00.000-08:00

Yes, even the ants have a role to play in Ancient superstitions. Roman soldiers often observed ants, if they were fighting it meant the enemy was near.

...and, congratulations to Tracy at http://www.yellowkittynotebook.blogspot.com/ , she won the "bunny-flower" contest!

Scale

2007-11-09T09:42:00.001-08:00

CONTEST:

The Ants are getting ready for winter and they need a safe place to store their food. The carpenter ant decided to base his design on a building that was 20 feet by 40 feet.

This is too big, so if the scale is 1 inch to 10 feet, what will the dimensions be for the ant sized storage unit?

One Winner will be randomly selected from all of the correct answers.

THE PRIZE:

Your very own "Bunny Flower" Ornament made by yours truely.

Good Luck!!!!

Hats

2007-11-02T09:28:00.000-07:00

Dahlia and Peter playing their favorite game "feather". Don't they look cute in their hats?

Trick or Treat

2007-10-26T08:21:00.000-07:00

The trick-or-treat ants have been very busy since last year. They have marched onto greeting cards, ceramics and most recently street painting! They decided they needed a break and have handed over their traditional halloween greetings to the bats...