Had to do it! Somehow these two Gentoo Penguins found some mistletoe and knew what to do when standing underneath it. The Gentoo have pretty long tails for penguins and it helps them torpedo through the water. Now they have found another use: extra standing support when your getting your smooch on during the holidays!

...Mama's Good To You!

Love the fattie mother hen:) My last hen with chicks sold at Genesis Gallery, so I felt another painting was in order. Mama Hens will nurture any baby that comes their way, as long as her real babies aren't in danger. I even saw a picture of a hen hovering over a sleeping puppy. Mama Hens are super protective and extremely loving. You just gotta be good to her, and she'll make sure you got it made!

Today is a day of thanks around the country and I'm so thankful for my family, friends and the freedom to do what I love when I want to (for the most part)!

My Cerulean Warbler is thinking of the one who cannot be by his side and he's sending good wishes and lovely thoughts to everyone out there. It's a beautiful day!

So thankful for all the ones we love, the ones who love us back and those who have passed on but left their love behind to protect us and remind us everyday that love is eternal.

I have been meaning to do this one for a long time. Finally! Yes, they had to be bluebirds and I figured I would paint them on an apple tree like the scary ones that threw apples at Dorothy in the forest... But this apple tree is a nice one.

I foresee more rainbows in my future. They are too happy for me to ignore. And I never shy away from sunshine, lollipops and rainbows!

So apparently I'm not the only one who loves owls and bright colors! All my owls have found forever homes, so I had to paint another;)

I can see this Pueo bopping to the Beatles "Love, Love Me Do! You Know I Love You!" And with those big peepers, I dutifully agree!

The Nene is Hawaii's state bird. They are also known as the Hawaiian Goose, but Nene is so much more fun to say!

We have wild Nene on Hawaii, Maui and Kauai, but there are some at the Honolulu zoo on Oahu as well (at least there were some there when I lived on Oahu).

My Ke Aloha series is perfect for the Nene. Their long curved necks make excellent hearts! It is the season for being thankful for the one you love and showing it with lots of kisses!!

"It's a beautiful morning! Awww... I think I'll go outside for a while, and just smile!"

This is a larger painting that I have been working on for awhile. It measures 20"x24". I perched the Black-Capped Chickadees in a Rainbow Shower Tree. We have shower trees all over Hawaii. They look as though they are raining layers of flowers and there are many different colors. On one street along my morning walk, three different colored shower trees line the sidewalk. It's a celebration every time I pass under those hanging droplets of sunshine.

My chickadees are happy to be up and about on this beautiful morning. Giving and getting kisses before the day begins, a great way to start things off!

The Northern Cardinal is my friend. We have a pair that nests in our backyard every year. It's amazing to watch them follow each other from branch to branch, a flash of red with a pink/grey chaser.

Every year, the male cardinal courts his lady anew and she falls for him over and over! The male feeds her and shelters her. Then when the babies come, he takes over nesting duties so she can have some time to herself. What a guy!

Puppy Lucky is ready to send to Johanna! My first pet portrait for Johanna was Lucky as he is now, so it was fun to paint him as a puppy this time. One thing that threw me: dogs eyes change sometimes as they grow older. So I knew that Lucky's eyes are brown as an adult dog, but as a puppy his eyes were grey-blue. Such a cute puppy, such a great dog! You can always tell when a pet is loved to the fullest. What a Lucky Puppy!!

"Welcome to the islands!" That's what this friendly little 'I'iwi is saying to us. He came all the way down the mountain to share in the aloha spirit.

"Aloha" means hello, but it also translates into a whole lot more. It is love, affection, peace, empathy and devotion. Prior to affiliation with Europeans and the western world, aloha was not used as the primary greeting. Now we see "Aloha" written everywhere from airport greetings to business names to public signs and definitely on our postcards. "Aloha" has become the most recognized word in the Hawaiian language with good reason. You hear the word as a welcome when you arrive and as a farewell when you leave. And most importantly, you feel the aloha every moment you are here in Hawaii. Pretty wonderful if you ask me!