Chicken love and other life lessons.

Ambient sounds she said.  Add ambient sounds to your animations.

So I sat outside my gate this evening and watched the sun set, enjoying  the exquisite ambient sounds all around, especially the happy blackbird in the old walnut tree right above me. I had my first lesson in animation this evening.

Will you email me your little demo I asked my extremely talented teacher?  She paused. I know you she said,  you'll want to put it on Facebook.  Humm!  I'll need to edit it she decided. We laughed.

 Actually I was thinking of sharing it here, but I haven't succeeded.

Pinterest pic.

I've been given homework. Approximately 62 drawings and some recordings of  ambient sounds for next week. That's fine. That's the nature of animation, masses of drawings with small changes. The little film will last 20 seconds ! I've wanted to make animated films all my life.

In the next blog you'll see the outcome.  In the meantime, here's the reason I've been quiet for the last however many weeks - drum roll - introducing my brand new website.

 http://www.megrobinsonart.com

Back to the present moment.  Adventures in Andalucia.. Living with chickens (and foxes).

Yesterday at 11am, tiny 87 year old neighbor Louisa was on the other side of the fence, mostly hidden by the jasmin bush. She witness the whole happening. She doesn't miss a thing. Her memory is better than mine. She loves my chickens. She's chicken savvy. She pokes little bits of cut up lettuce though the fence for them every morning.

Louisa's stoical about the dog bite that happened on Saturday.  Her 60 year old daughter cried when she told me  the story. The bandage on her left leg is pristine white. She's wonderfully cared for.

Yesterday's chicken story, for sure, will now be the latest news around the village.   

Village news, Louisa’s version:  

Madre mia ! Margarita’s hen flew over the fence and perched on her shoulder. Dios mio she didn’t want to get down!  No puedo creerlo ! They gazed into each others eyes. Margarita started talking to her.  It looked like the hen  was listening and  telling her something too ! Madre mia de mi vida, nunca, jamas he visto algo asi ! 

 My version : The characterful speckled hen flew 4 feet onto the wire fence.  She wobbled there (as if on a tightrope), then cautiously walked onto my outstretched arm. She’s done this once before. From there she hopped onto my shoulder and gazed into my eyes. Some strange but friendly noises continued for some time. We communicated mutual awe!  

She didn’t want to fly down. I had to shake her off. 

This is the same hen who nearly got eaten by the fox and the two dogs a few weeks ago, but survived. Her name is Dotti Malaika.

I have never, ever seen anything like this in my whole life said elderly Louisa.  We both laughed a lot.  I had never ever heard her laugh before. 

More about this incredible little hen soon !