iolanthe
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iolantherosa.bsky.social
iolanthe
@iolantherosa.bsky.social
920 followers 820 following 3.2K posts
Birder, artist, piano learner, cat lover. Veteran of 7 startups. California native, retired in Marin County. Atheist Jew.
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iolantherosa.bsky.social
#SundaySentence "We mortals, men and women, devour many a disappointment between breakfast and dinner-time; keep back the tears and look a little pale about the lips, and in answer to inquiries say, “Oh, nothing!” --George Eliot
An acrylic painting after Full Moon by the British artist Sir Norman Reid (1915-2007). It depicts 3 bare trees in the foreground, rolling English-style hilly famrland in warm yellows and greens, a line of dark mountains in the background, all under moonlit skies.
December 7, 2025 at 2:40 PM
iolantherosa.bsky.social
My niece died 10 years ago at 22 of a blood cancer. Every Xmas and her bday, I make a card & a donation in her name to a charity she would like & send them off to her parents. She was a huge LOTR fan, so this year, I drew a Mallorn leaf brooch. It's nice to remember her in this way but so sad too.
A Mallorn leaf from Lord of the Rings; it's a 3-lobed leaf, with two short pointy lobes and long one in the center. The veins are silver and there is a stylized silver thread wrapped around it.
December 7, 2025 at 4:59 AM
iolantherosa.bsky.social
#ColorADay is #GreenSat What is could be nicer than all the different shades of green in a Green Heron? #Watercolor #InkAndWash #ArtYear
A pen and ink and watercolor of a green heron standing on a log preening itself. It's head is bent at a 90-degree angle to its body and it is inserting its bill into feathers on its back. The head is toped with a blue-green, its neck is chestnut, and its back is all different shades of green, from yellow-green, to teal, to turquoise, to forest green.
December 6, 2025 at 7:19 PM
iolantherosa.bsky.social
It was very foggy this morning at Lake Lagunitas, #Marin #California. See that little speck on the pipe? That's a Common Merganser.
A large expanse of gray, gradually shading from light at the top to dark at the bottom. The bottom 1/3 of the photo is divided by a long metal pipe, on which a small duck is seated.
December 6, 2025 at 6:55 PM
iolantherosa.bsky.social
I was rendered absolutely speechless by the sheer perfection of this #mushroom, which I am reliably informed is a Western Grisette (Amanita pachycolea), seen today at Lake Lagunitas #Marin #California #Fungus #Fungi
A long-stemmed mushroom emerging out of fresh green grass. The stem is beige and is topped by a flat, smooth, shiny umbrella with a finely serrated edge all the way around. It is in a misty forest setting, surrounded by bay trees and redwoods.
December 6, 2025 at 6:52 PM
iolantherosa.bsky.social
@robcrank68.bsky.social's #BirdOfTheDay today is #Black. But they're never *just* black, are they? Even the seemingly blackest raven has a sheen of iridescence in the right light, as this one does, photographed at Rodeo Lagoon. #Marin #California #GGNRA
A closeup of the head of a raven, looking left to right. Its feathers are quite fluffy its ruff luxurious. You can see notes of blue and purple throughout.
December 5, 2025 at 5:29 PM
iolantherosa.bsky.social
Friday is #Flyday! Here's an American White Pelican on its webbed tippy-toes just about to take flight. This is on "The Pipe" at the Las Gallinas Water Treatment facility #Marin #California 🪶
A white pelican with black-edged wings extended above its head, on its webbed tippy toes as it's just about to launch from a metal pipe in the middle of a body of green water. Its body is reflected in the water ripples in the foreground.
December 5, 2025 at 5:25 PM
iolantherosa.bsky.social
For #FishyFriday I have this lovely display from the Marché Bastille in Paris. Chinchard translates to "Horse Mackerel" or "Scad." I love how each has light pink glow.
A neat pile of small silver fish in a market stall with the merchant's sign labeled "Chinchard 5.99 euros" in the upper left corner. Each small fish has an element of pink iridescence.
December 5, 2025 at 5:16 PM
iolantherosa.bsky.social
I hereby petitition for a group of Black-necked Stilts to be deemed a "Ghibli of Stilts" 🪶
A tightly-packed grouping of Black-necked Stilts on a muddy shoreline next to a creek. Their long legs are bright pink and go all they way up. They have black bodies, white breasts, long thin black bills and thick white eyebrows. They are very cute.
December 4, 2025 at 4:57 PM
iolantherosa.bsky.social
Sunset yesterday was so gorgeous, I made the effort to catch #Sunrise this morning, and I was not disappointed! Larkspur #Marin #California
Fluorescent orange and purple clouds stretching to a vanishing point over Corte Madera Creek at high tide this morning.
December 3, 2025 at 3:47 PM
iolantherosa.bsky.social
Oof #SpotifyWrapped that hurt.
Screegrab from Spotify Wrapped summary indicating that my "listening age" is 89.
December 3, 2025 at 3:42 PM
iolantherosa.bsky.social
Banger of a #sunset happening out there 🌅 #Marin #California
A distant Mt Tamalpais silhouette under pink and purple skies over a tidal creek at sunset.
December 3, 2025 at 1:11 AM
iolantherosa.bsky.social
Just ran out onto my balcony. Mt Tam from Larkspur.
December 3, 2025 at 1:05 AM
iolantherosa.bsky.social
Oof this one is hard. My friend Jane loved her Irish Wolfhound, Arthur, above all things. They call these big dogs "heartbreak dogs" because of their short lifespans. Yet it was a shock when he crossed the rainbow bridge suddenly last week at the age of 6. RIP Arthur 💔 #Gouache #Watercolor #ArtYear
A painting of a grey Irish Wolfhound resting his head on a velvety red pillow and staring wistfully into the middle distance with chocolate brown eyes.
December 3, 2025 at 12:46 AM
iolantherosa.bsky.social
My husband made the most delicious potato-leek soup from @smittenkitchen.bsky.social. It was garnished with her suggested crispy potato peels, which were so clever and unexpectedly tasty. #Cooking
A bowl of creamy soup on a white oak table, seen from above, garnished with chives and long strands of crispy potato peel. Another bowl of soup, glasses of water and two bowls of chives and lemon in the background.
December 2, 2025 at 3:07 PM
iolantherosa.bsky.social
It's always fun to have two similar birds posed next to each other so you can see the differences. Here a Great Egret (yellow bill, black feet) next to a Snowy Egret (black bill, yellow feet) on Corte Madera Creek #Marin #California 🪶
A side view of two white egrets on split rail fencing. A larger Great Egret and a smaller Snowy Egret.
December 2, 2025 at 3:05 PM
iolantherosa.bsky.social
Look at the incredible crimson gills on this fish! (a salmon, I think) caught by a Harbor Seal on Corte Madera Creek #Marin #California yesterday. #MarineMammals
The head of a Harbor Seal emerging from green waters.In its mouth, the head of a very large fish, with crimson gills exposed.
December 2, 2025 at 3:02 PM
iolantherosa.bsky.social
For #AnimalArtTuesday, I have a highly underrated bird, the Turkey Vulture. They have such sweet faces, and just at tad of iridescence to their feathers, if you catch them in the right light. #AnimalArt #Gouache #Watercolor #ArtYear 🪶
A profile view of a Turkey vulture against a lime green backdrop. It has a leathery red face with a cream-colored tip to its bill. It's mantle is black, with a slight iridescence.
December 2, 2025 at 2:53 PM
iolantherosa.bsky.social
Happy 17th birthday to Cindy! She's slowed down a bit, but still always ready with a purr and a cuddle. #CatsOfBluesky
A Burmese cat with a bright pink sparkly party hat, sitting on her heating pad (which is on 24x7) looking a bit miffed.
December 1, 2025 at 8:36 PM
iolantherosa.bsky.social
For #MinimalMonday, here is the title work from my series of drawings celebrating Mt Tamalpais, here in #Marin #California #ArtYear #PenAndInk
A 6"x6" watercolor square featuring a single line depicting the silhouette of Mt Tamalpais in Marin County, California. It is know as the "Sleeping Maiden," because the silhouette looks like the contours of prone woman.
December 1, 2025 at 3:19 PM
iolantherosa.bsky.social
Oh okay, I have to post one more for #BirdOfTheDay #Reflections theme. These are two Double-crested cormorants (does that make one Quadruple-crested Cormorant?) on "The Pipe" at Las Gallinas Water Treatment facility in #Marin #California, each with its own stunning reflection. 🪶
Two ouble-crested cormorants looking at each other from either end of of a whitewashed metal pipe resting in bright blue water. The still water perfectly mirrors the two birds.
December 1, 2025 at 3:16 PM
iolantherosa.bsky.social
The #BirdOfTheDay theme set by @robcrank68.bsky.social is #Reflections I have SO MANY to choose from, but this is the one that first sprang to mind. There's something magical about the backlit swooping curves of this Great Egret in the rippling water 🪶
Great Egret in blue water staring at its reflection. The ripples in the water render the reflection with more exaggerated curves than the already-curved neck of the bird has.
December 1, 2025 at 3:11 PM
iolantherosa.bsky.social
Today's #ColorADay is #PinkMon. This is a close-up of a mass of pink zinnias at the Farmers' Market in Marin this summer. Dazzling!
A mass of bright pink zinnias filling the entire frame of the picture each, with pale yellow centers.
December 1, 2025 at 3:08 PM
iolantherosa.bsky.social
For #MacroMonday, I have a close-up of a Helenium flower, aka "sneezeweed." Its colors remind me of Summer, which seemed like it would never end this year, then I blinked and it was December.
A bright orange daisy-like flower with lighter yellow edging on the petals. The central boss is ovoid and hairy with yellow pollen all around.
December 1, 2025 at 3:06 PM
iolantherosa.bsky.social
They catch salmon in the creek by my condo up here in Marin occasionally!
November 30, 2025 at 11:23 PM