Always Have a Camera Available

Last week one of the children brought the perfect bird's nest.

I was so disappointed I did not have my camera with me.  I thought it would make a perfect subject to paint.  During the regular school year my camera accompanies me almost every day.  You never know when the unexpected is going to happen and you need a camera.  This day my camera was at home.

Yes, the unexpected happens when you least expect it.  Many many years ago after asking the children to put on their coats.  One of my girls decided to put on her jacket (with the help of her best friend) while it was still hanging from the hook.  When I walked out of the door there she hung, arms outstretched toes barely touching the floor, coat still attached by the little loop at the neck.   She thought it was the funniest thing ever, and like the marvelous teacher I am told her not to move until I could find the school camera to take a picture for her book.  Bless her she did exactly as I ask giggling the whole time.   I'm sure I put it in her book with some cutesy caption like, "Just hanging out". 

The next weekend I bought an inexpensive camera to leave in my classroom  cabinet.  It survived maybe to the end of the year.  Now I pretty much take my personal camera every day to capture all those little surprises, except for summer play day.  My mistake.

Lucky me!  The birds nest was accidentally (I can be pretty persuasive) left, and I just happen to remember my camera the next day.  I took closeups

and  photos from different angles.

I even took pictures of the branches.

My daughter is an artist.  My mother was an artist.  It skipped a generation (I promise, I am not being modest)...I am a dabbler.  But, I will have fun pretending!

(I may let you see my best effort)

I'm collecting specimens.