Theme day: My favorite toy

The theme for April is My Favorite Toy.

I waited nearly a year to get it.  When I'd almost given up, it came!

It's more like a giant electronic device than a car, but it's my favorite toy.

 

Asawa

This sculpture by Ruth Asawa hangs from the ceiling in the North Carolina Museum of Art.  It has a most descriptive name;

Untitled (Hanging, Tier-Wired, Double Sided, Center-Tied, Multi-Branched Form with Curly Ends.) 

About the artist here.

 

Vertigo

At first glance I thought this guy was flying.  But looking at his face, I think he's falling.  The artist is Bob Trotman, and the sculpture is called Vertigo.  It's a self portrait of the artist.  Yow!

(see here)

 

Mirrors

The Mirror Labyrinth at the NC Museum of Art was busy with people playing with their reflections. 

 

Isla

On a rainy day, we walked through the North Carolina Museum of Art.  

This work by Cuban artist Yoan Capote is called Isla, or Tierra Prometida.  It looks like a painting until you get close.

 

It's made with oil paint, nails and fish hooks!

(see here)

Visitor

A downy woodpecker has been visiting the feeder often.

We heard a tap tap tap in one of the trees

and found his home.

 

House shopping

Mr. Flicker has been checking out an old dead tree.

Mrs. Flicker came along to investigate.

 

King of the feeder

The flicker sat above the birdfeeder for a long time.  While he was there, no one else dared visit.

 

Pointillism in the pond

A chilly breeze made wavy reflections on the pond.

 

Little Sweet Betsy

It was a surprise to find this little bloom by the side of the trail in the neighborhood park.  Little Sweet Betsy is one name, the other not so nice: Bloody Butcher.  One interesting fact, the seeds are dispursed by ants.  Who knew ants are good for more than annoying picnicers?  (See here)

 

Momma Eagle watches the nest

The eagles are nesting at Shelly Lake.  Momma watched from a nearby snag, took off and circled away.

Breathtaking

 

Me and my shadow

It was a lone Killdeer.  The only one at the lake.

Does his reflection keep him company?

 

Sing when the spirit says sing

Carolina Wrens have big voices coming from small bodies.  We could hear him long before we could see him.

 

Another face

I looked down on the greenway, and there he was.  

 

Tutu

Doesn't every little dog need a pink tutu?

 

War of the kinglets

The little golden crowned kinglet was peacefully snacking in a bush.

The ruby crowned kinglet was not happy with this, and flashed his ruby crown and chased after him.

 

Shadow

This children's bike made for a very creepy shadow. 

 

Cormorants

These cormorants were lined up in formation.  

What were they waiting for?  

 

Cardinal

This Cardinal was calling out to someone.  A mate?  An intruder into his territory?

 

Morning Drummer

Who's drumming on my roof?  

Flickers love to find a pipe or chimney on the roof to drum on, and shake the whole house.  Doesn't that hurt their head?  It hurts my ears.

 

Azalea!

It's Azalea season!  

 

Yellow Jessaminne

Yellow Jessamine is the state flower of South Carlina. (see here )  This time in the spring it's beautiful.  The rest of the year it's an invasive vine...

 

Little Free Library

There are little free libraries everywhere,  but this one seemed expecially inviting. (see for more on Little Free Libraries  here)

 

Eastern Phoebe

The phoebes were chasing bugs over the lake.  This one stopped to pose for me.

 

Good day for heron watching

As we walked around the lake we kept finding herons.  

They were happy to pose for us.

 

Interlopers

The robin was quite put out when a flock of Cedar Waxwings took over his bird bath.

 

More spring

More signs of spring

 

Deer

We stopped on the path to notice the deer, but most of the power walkers, dog walkers and bikers missed the small herd.

 

Cloudy day at Lake Lynn

The water was high with more rain predicted.

 

Grumpy turtle

I don't know if he was sleepy or grumpy, but he plopped into the water pretty fast.

 

Signs of spring

The red maples are starting to flower.