Sometimes I am called to paint a piece for events that occur in other folks’ lives. Sometimes I want to send cards or bake bread and other times, for whatever reason, I am inspired to paint for someone. This piece is one of those paintings from 2023. I was thinking about it today as I listened to my neighbor Chickadees braving the cold temps of the cold snap to search for food and sing their songs✨
Around here Chickadees are dependable. They stick around in their small families, intermingling with other tough birds that hang around for the winter. In my yard they hang with the Nuthatches. They come through my Red Pine stand about twice a day to scratch at bark and dig their beaks into crevices in the search for food before continuing on to other tree stands with their strong little songs. Chickadees are smart and extremely savvy communicators. Their songs are meant to communicate in depth information to their flock. They “chicka-dee” about practical info such as the local happenings and coming threats. They add on more “dee” notes if they feel the threat to be bigger – how neat is that?
I see the bird in this painting as a protector. It is sitting alert as the workings of the cosmos unfurl before it. It has a warm season vibe that I am drawn to today. I am feeling grateful for the woodstove and hot chicken soup that will be warming my bones tonight. I can remember times when I did not have the privilege of warmth and when cold snaps did feel ultra scary. I invite you to join me in acknowledging that there are folks that are living in that scary cold reality and if you’re staying warm tonight send out those warm Chickadee thoughts to those people. With privilege comes the great responsibility to hold hope and love in our minds while also putting in the effort to protect those that may need it in the gentle ways that we are able. I hope this painting and the Chickadee wisdom brings you the protection or strength you may need during the deep winter cold. Chicka-dee-dee-dee my friends🐤🎶🎨
