Animals

Bat Visit

/ still a dreamer

Last night, I had a most unexpected visitor. While watching TV upstairs, curled up with Claude and Mewsette, the two cats suddenly sat up and stared wide-eyed at the nearest window. Within seconds I knew why. Something had entered the room. While it first seemed like a medium sized bird, I knew better, and realized I now had a Big Brown Bat flying around the room.

Doing my best not to panic and trying to figure out how to help him with none of us getting hurt, I efficiently herded the cats out of the room and closed the door, turned off the ceiling fan, and opened another window and screen, thus allowing a pretty good exit space. I left the room. Called my wildlife rehabilitator friend for any more tips, accordingly blocked the bottom of the door with a blanket. I wasn’t prepared to risk the possible bite of this little guy who might soon be panicking himself and run into me by mistake. 

I called the State Police hoping for emergency animal control assistance, but instead 2 Troopers came, one experienced in handling bats with no injury to the bat – just what I wanted. Happily, my bat-escape-plan seemed to work and he had exited. So did the two nice Troopers. I was just jangled. Figured out how the bat had gotten in and adjusted that. Had a fitful night’s sleep.

I woke up in the morning, still jangled, then realized – I knew why the bat had flown into my life! I got my book by Ted Andrews, Animal Speak, and looked up Bat as a totem animal. Again. This is the third home where I have had unusual experiences with bats. And for good reason – they are strong indicators of transition and initiation in one’s life, and that sums up mine, as I struggle to give up old, useless, fearful patterns in moving forward to my dreams.

The bat reflects “the breaking down of the former self through intense tests. It is a facing of your greatest fears – that it is time to die to some aspect of your life that is no longer suitable for you ….If a bat has flown into your life, then it is the time to face your fears and prepare for change. You are being challenged to let go of the old and create the new.

“Changes and transformations are blessings. They are not triggered from without but from within; and the world is our mirror …this means opening to the power within which will override all our fears.”

This unexpected visitor was alone; there are no other bats living outside near or around that window, I checked, and on a logical level, there is no reason why a bat would’ve come inside the house at 9 p.m. But I have found that different animal species may appear to us, seemingly out of context, as indicators of circumstances in our lives.

As one who has always had a strong connection with animals, I believe if we are open to them and what they have to share, we can learn amazing lessons. What had been an unsettling experience, not only ended well for all, but put a big smile on my face.

A bat quite literally flew into my life and reminded me that I could give up the old junk that holds me back, and open further to my own power and my dreams. Change is good.

Afraid of Bugs and a Hanging Thief

/ still a dreamer

How I became afraid of bugs started when I was a child. Where else? I can only attribute this fear to a mother who was terrified of the tiniest spider on the ceiling which my Dad had to remove immediately. A little girl, being identified with her mother and all – well, clear enough where that came from. Bugs were made out to be evil itself.

But wait. My father was exactly the opposite. He carefully scooped up any intruders in his handkerchief and ushered them out the back door, free to fly or crawl away. I recall once in the summer in the backyard, I was becoming upset over a gnat in my lemonade. I know – a gnat, right? Clear as day, I remember my father saying, “Look! He’s hardly drinking anything at all!” That brought a faint smile through my tears. He sure wasn’t afraid of bugs.

Alas, my Mom’s fearful cries were louder than my father’s calm voice of reason, but in the end … Dad’s reason prevailed. Today, I know bugs are cool.

Robber Fly - Hanging Thief

Robber Fly - Hanging Thief

While I do prefer that I spot them first rather than them land on me unexpectedly lest I have a throwback experience, I realize that insects are quite fascinating. This morning I sat out on the back porch to journal. There I have a bunch of potted impatiens, polka dot plants and black coleus. Sitting with my coffee and about to write, I noticed an unusual character sitting in the impatiens. Got the digital, took some close-ups and decided to find out what it was at the end of my work day.

Fast forward to 6 p.m. and I’m on a really cool site that I just love, now that I’m not so afraid of bugs – What’s That Bug? I figured with those huge eyes, he had to be some kind of fly though he didn’t look like one. Sure enough – there he was – a Robber Fly, and of the type called the Hanging Thief. So now I know about Robber Flies, how they’re beneficial, and why I shouldn’t push my luck and aggravate one, not that I would anyway. (They have a painful bite when pushed to their limit.) Pretty cool!

OK – it’s not my plan for this to be a bug site. Really. They just seem to keep showing up when I’m sitting still. And as bugs are creepy to so many people, I guess it’s not so bad to give them a little good press. Who knows? Maybe I can help you be a little less afraid of bugs.

Who Weaves Half A Spider Web?

/ still a dreamer

 

The Amazing Half-Woven Web

Amazing Half-Woven Spider Web

It must be a pretty talented spider, indeed, who can weave only half a web, or even weave a full one in such a manner, that overnight, precisely one half of it vanishes. Click on the photo to enlarge it – it really is only half a spider web!

 

Or is it? I had to run and get the camera to catch this lovely trompe-l’oeil. As I went out early to sit on the back porch and journal while it was still cool, I looked up and noticed this “half-web.” I couldn’t see its creator, but based on the size of her web, I’d say she’s a pretty big girl as well as an orb-weaving spider. I was fascinated by how the morning sunlight captured the spider web, and how part of the porch roof shadowed the other half, giving the half-web effect.

I am reminded of how many small wonders are always there for us to find, but may only be noticed when we’re not rushing about at 100 mph. Okay – guilty. Some of the time, anyway. So I thank the spider for reminding me to slow down, to look up, look around and see the many small gifts that surround me.  Ahhhhh – that feels better!

Portfolio Critique, French Bulldog Sketches

/ still a dreamer / 12 Comments

At the end of my workday, I decided to tool around some web sites and be inspired by other artists’ and illustrators’ work. This coming Monday I’ll be attending my first Illustrators’ Conference ever. I am truly excited.

I’m looking forward to having my current portfolio reviewed, and receiving advice as to how to properly make it a children’s book illustration portfolio. Also, to hear what art directors and agents have to say about the current market, what they’re looking for, how to get there, etc.

So then, after looking at these fabulous web sites, I’m wondering why I don’t have more of my own latest work on my own web site and/or blog. OK – one reason? The shoemaker’s kids are always the last to get shoes. I do everyone else’s work most days and am really over by the end of the long days. Other days, I focus more on my writing. Additions to my blog are more often on the writing side of my talent. Time to present myself more as the artist I am! So ….

Below are 3 recent French Bulldog sketches, featuring the subject matter of much of my artwork … Frenchies. You can also buy a great assortment of French Bulldog cards and prints on my web site, with new items added periodically. Just click the link and look!

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I particularly was looking to do images of the faces resting on the floor so you could see how those little jowls spread out and how sweet they looked.

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Some of my French Bulldog sketches are in preparation for illustrating one or more of my current children’s book stories which feature Frenchies as characters.

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Other times they are in preparation of my artwork which is featured quarterly in Just Frenchies magazine. Hope you enjoy these little munchkins.

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Find French Bulldog cards and art here.

Please note: All illustrations, drawings and photographs on this site are © Jeanne Balsam and may not be reproduced in any format without written permission. Thank you!

Requiem for A Featherweight

/ still a dreamer / 4 Comments

StripesShe was a tiny little thing, and I’d really grown so very fond of her. Sadly, Stripes is no more and I sure do miss her.

People always find me when they have a problem with an animal, and so it was a few nights ago that my neighbor across the street had knocked on my door. She said she’d just come home and saw a cat in the road hit by a car … it looked like my next door neighbor’s. I grabbed my coat and ran out to find Stripes lying there, bleeding, still warm, the life knocked out of her limp body.

Stripes did indeed belong to the folks next door, and had two young girls that loved her.  Stripes and Pumpkin, half siblings, are/were primarily outdoor cats with shelter in their garage at night, all up to date with shots, neutered, etc. Her life with me was somewhat tangential, I guess you could say, but I loved her nonetheless. I saw her daily, fed her a “snack/meal” almost every day, and sat outside with her whenever I could.

With big green eyes and so very sweet and affectionate, Stripes was a little heartbreaker, and I say little – she couldn’t have been more than 5 pounds. I’d sit out on my porch to journal with my feet up on another chair so she could fall asleep on my legs. After eating, Pumpkin was off to whatever he had next on his schedule, but Stripes would have cuddled as long as the cuddles were coming. She patiently allowed me to remove the burrs from her fur acquired from her gallivanting all over the neighborhood, where she was a disturbingly good huntress. It’s no coincidence, I think, that there was a dead mouse about 2 feet from where her body lay in the road.

I miss those hopeful green eyes looking up at me through my back door screen … for a bite to eat or perhaps some snuggling … she loved any and all attention. Mine are my indoor cats; Stripes and Pumpkin had become my part-time, outdoor cats. It doesn’t matter that she wasn’t “mine.” She found a comfortable spot in my heart, and that’s where Stripes sleeps tonight.

Sweet dreams, little one.