Honey

Honey's job is to provide nectar for the hummingbirds and other creatures that survive on the sweetness as their main food source. They have even been known to save some for passing children as a summer treat. I know this because one hot summer when I was a little girl, I busily cleared the garden from evil weeds that threatened to take over our lovely honeysuckle vine. I pretended that the weeds were actually drowning kittens, and it was my job to save them all from the depths of their doom.

Deep in my imagination I was, when I heard a sound that actually did sound like a drowning kitten. I was always keeping my ears open for kittens in need of a home, preferably abandoned kittens so it would be more difficult for my mom to turn them away.

I stood still, my ears aching for another sign of helplessness that would lead me to the kitten hideaway. Nothing.. it seemed like an eternity waiting there in the hot sun with sweaty gloved hands cramped from gripping the kitten saving device, or weed puller my mom called in her boring adult way. Actually we didn't have a weed puller, even.. it was a butter knife that mom apparently didn't care much for anymore.

So I waited... before long I forgot what I was waiting for, so I began again to carve kittens out of the ground. I started to get thirsty. When did I get a break? Mom said I had to stay outside until I was finished, but I really was thirsty and there was no way I could wait -- you know how it is when you are 10, fifteen minutes felt more like a full day! I had to do something about my thirst, after all, a kitten saviour such as myself really did need plenty of water, or else the threat of dehydration and possibly death would end my career!

I looked around.. blood? I could drink my blood, though the last time I tried that it tasted curiously warm, a little like a penny, and not refreshing at all. I could drink my own spit, but would I run out, and the bubbles are all but satisfying. I looked around myself and I saw the honeysuckle vine was in full bloom, bright orange flowers glowing in the summer sun. I plucked one fresh flower bud and sucked on the end, sweet! wow, there is actually juice in these things, more like sugar water.. I could sit here all day and drink these sweet treats!

I grabbed for another, then another. Before I knew it I was sitting in a flower massacre. There had to be fifty thousand million plucked flowers all around me. I looked up. Okay, there were still plenty on the vine, Mom and Dad wouldn't even notice if I took one more. I reached up. Having cleared out the bottom half of the vine I had to stand on my tippy, tippy toes to reach the really really official last one. Just barely there! Ah! i got it! Wait! This one is sticking! Okay I need something taller to really reach it. There -- it -- is -- I got it!

Again! That kitten-like sound! Wait, that wasn't a kitten sound at all! It was something, something small whispering my name! Instead of grabbing the flower, the flower seemed to flutter right into my hand. Yes, I said it. It fluttered... I must have had too much nectar because the flower seemed to float right above my fingertips, not really touching my hand at all. Was it actually dancing on my fingers? Yes! It was!

Wow, I really need to lay off the nectar! This is so cool! That sound, almost like a song of my name softly chanted. "Kitten saver you are, my lady" What? Were you talking to me? Can you read my mind? "Yes, you are the kitten saver of the Western Region my lady." The flower looked at me right in the eyes and giggled, "It's okay, I'm used to being stared at. I am Honey, keeper of the nectar." It was then that I ashamedly noticed the flowers all around me. Flowers that were meant to feed hummingbirds, bees and butterflies.

"Oh, silly girl, the nectar is meant for you too, for if it weren't for your kitten saving, my fragile vines would be choked until all nectar bearing life is lost. You help yourself to the nectar any time you need it. For it is simple, all of these unopened buds will be open tomorrow. The bees and hummingbirds and butterflies are sleeping now and will not be back until the early morning hours." I was truly grateful and relieved for did get so very carried away with the flowers!
With that, Honey lifted a tiny cup filled with nectar and told me to drink. As I sipped, the cup seemed to keep filling. I drank and drank until I my thirst was quenched. Honey then told me that any time I was out saving kittens if I became thirsty all I needed to do was whisper her name and she would be there with her tiny cup of nectar.

Honey and I have met on several occasions since that tenth summer in my parent's garden. She arrives in her cheerful, floaty way with her cup of nectar when I am in the most need of refreshment from a long day of work. I usually don't have to even whisper her name. I think she follows me in my imagination to this day.

HONEY 3/365

Dante Faerie

DANTE is a faerie that I met on a summer walk along the Sacramento River Trail. Alongside the trail, scattered throughout a dry summer field were giant dandelions. I swear they had to be the size of a slow-pitch softball. I just had to see the dandelions up close as before that moment the largest dandelion I had ever seen was no larger than a quarter the size of these. It was dandelions on steroids, completely foreign to me.

I battled my way into the field, trying desperately with no luck to avoid the tiny burrs that clung to my socks and shoelaces. The burrs, foxtails and raspberry bushes had to be protecting the giant dandelions from curious creatures like myself. Knowledge of this intentional barricade burned my curiosity even further, intensifying my need to get closer.

Finally, burdened with stickers of all sorts, legs crosshatched by blood left from thorn whippings I reached my destination. I reached down, and tried with all my might to pluck the dandelion from the earth.

Unfortunately I had no gloves on, and after several earnest attempts, my hands stinging from invisible splinters hiding on the stem of the flower I gave up. I decided this dandelion was absolutely not ever going to go home with me. There has to be a reason for the defense system.

Then it occured to me. This MUST be a faerie home. You see, faeries do not want to be seen.

The last time faeries were easily seen by anyone who looked they became subjects of torturous investigations and studies, diminishing their population by millions.

Faeries now strategically place their homes in remote locations that are surrounded by objects of pain for anyone who may be a threat.

I decided against bringing the dandelion home and bent down and studied the phenomenon quietly and just with my eyes. After about 15 long minutes of silent study I spotted a quiver.

Oh! I almost shouted out, but truly I didn't have another 15 minutes to hang out in the sticker field so I bit my tongue and held my breath.

After another eternity of at least 120 seconds, the tiniest purple shoe popped out, above the fluff of the dandelion. "ACHEEEEOOOOOO!", the entire top of the dandelion fell off and landed right upon my burr-covered laces.

I did not know what to do! Here on my foot, was what appeared to be yet another faerie! What SHOULD I do? I reached down and ever so carefully cradled her in the palm of my hand. She was definately startled, and taken back by the mere size of me. I would not be so brave either had it been me sitting in a humongous hand! I assured her that I would not hurt her or take her to my lab or conduct numerous experiments on her tiny body.

Instead I would let her go. She was needless to say, thrilled to be free. She thanked me by telling me her name. It was Dante.

I rushed home and drew everything I could remember about my tiny friend, Dante. I hope to see her next summer too.

Dante is #2/365 faeries I will paint this year.

OAKLEE

OAKLEE's job is to evade squirrels while learning thier tricks. You see, squirrels are extremely crafty and mischeivous, not to mention, they like to eat tasty little morsels like faeries. Oaklee's job is very dangerous and she finds herself in many a peril, though she herself has learned to outsmart the squirrels. After months of squirrel evasion, Oaklee takes her newly learned tricks and teaches them to other faeries to better everyone's survival. She is quite a brave little faerie, little Oaklee.

Oaklee is #6/365 faeries.

GLADISE

GLADISE

Gladise is the faerie I met while watching my kids swim last summer. Our gladiolas were in full bloom. I looked closely and there I found a tiny faerie, hiding inside the flower bud. She had bright red hair and green eyes, the color of the flower she hid within.

She looked at me curiously and seemed unafraid that children were nearby, completely amused by their own squeals of delight. I set her on my sketchbook and proceeded to draw her form as I saw her. Here you can see Gladise as I saw her for the first time. Over the summer, she and I became great friends. Tomorrow I will tell you of our next encounter.

Well, here we are in February 2010. Thank God 2009 is over. Rough year for many people. 2010 is looking bright so we will focus on that. I am getting ready to work on my 365 faeries in 365 days. Now, I refuse to purchase more canvases until I use up all my ugly paintings and "scrap" canvases. This is a year of recycling, renewing, resourcefulness. No longer will I just charge what I need. I will find a new way if I need to. So, today I am painting a faerie that is inspired by a flower, I always seem to come back to the flowers, don't I? Anyways, it's the Gladiola faerie.
I'll post her in my next post.
I've got "Lost" season one playing, my daughters are busy playing games and watching movies while they recover from this Gosh-aweful flu. And I will paint while I have the energy.
Ciao for now!