FrancesWood

Tonight I'm participating in a panel discussion at Book-It Repertory Theater before the performance of Jim Lynch's "Border Songs."

Here's the info. Come on down to the Seattle Center.

Nature Artist Panel Discussion
How Nature Inspires My Art
Wed., Sept. 21
6:30-7:10pm
Center House Theater
Featuring
Moderator Lyanda Lynn Haupt
and Artists
Denise Takahashi
Carleen Zimmerman
Frances Wood
Kate Endle

Panel discussion is before a performance of Jim Lynch's 2010 Washington State Book Award Winning Border Songs at Book-It Repertory Theater. Special Seattle Audubon coupon code for 10% off adult tickets for this production. Use audubonloon when purchasing online (www.book-it.org), by phone (206-216-0833) or in person.

I've just soft launched a web-based project called 41 Whidbey Places. It's a collection of stories linked to special locations on Whidbey Island, Washington. The stories are personal; the places are public. Together they form a mosaic of Island life.

Visit www.41Whidbeyplaces.com to read the stories, find their settings and view photos. So far, I've published 12 stories. Let me know if you have a story to add to the collection. 

Hello blog. Long time no write.

I watched an osprey soar and circle lazily above our bluff. Wings unmoving, it floated in and out of the noonday sun with white wing patches appearing translucent against the deep blue backdrop of sky.

I think it was looking south, preparing for its next long haul down to South America.

Yesterday I attended a book launch for the Whidbey writer and artist team of Craig and Joy Johnson. Their new children's book "Rufous" follows the life of our Whidbey Island rufous hummingbirds. It's well written, full of Craig's watercolor paintings and certain to please young and old.

www.pugetsoundbackyardbirds.com

"Good luck or bad, birds have feathered the nests of many myths"
By FRANCES WOOD
South Whidbey Record
Oct 19 2010
"The days are getting shorter and the evenings colder and rainier. We’re slipping into the dark time of year and Halloween can’t be far away. Yet October always brings its own avian pleasure, listening to owls hooting to each other in the evening and early morning. . ." continues at www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/swr/lifestyle/105306293.html

Last Saturday I graduated with an MFA in creative writing from the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts, Whidbey Writers Workshop.

Woo Hoo. Can't believe I finally made it. But here is proof. Photo shows my sister Nancy, me, husband Bill and step-son Cory (r to l)

This morning I found a white eagle feather on my back lawn. Two eagles regularly sit and call back and forth in our fir trees and I've found blackish brown eagle feathers before, but this one is ragged, well-used and all white.

Is that good luck? Will something special happen today? Will I get arrested for having an eagle feather?

"Toot, toot, toot." The sound of my own horn. Warning: this post includes blatant bragging.

Frances Wood has earned honors in the Society of Professional Journalism’s 2009 NW Excellence in Journalism Contest. Wood was awarded first place for her column “Whidbey Birding.”
Her columns featuring birds and bird watching appear monthly in the South Whidbey Record. Her articles strive to help readers connect more closely to nature through the joys of bird watching. Wood has been writing for the South Whidbey Record for over a decade. The winning entries were selected from columns published in 2009.
This year the 2009 NW Excellence in Journalism Contest brought in 2,500 entries from Region 10, including entries from Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. The entries were submitted online for the first time this year, and judged online as well by journalists around the country. It was a big effort, but well worth it to be able to honor the very best in journalist in our corner of the world.”
Wood’s winning entries may be found at the South Whidbey Record’s web sight. www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/swr/

See and touch artistic nests

May is the prime month of birds nesting. The May show at the Brackenwood Gallery (located in Langley on Whidbey Island)  is called "Oh, Spring!" It features nest sculptures by Sharon Spencer and flower and landscape paintings by Nola Allen. Check it out.

May Birding Column

Hope you'll read my May birding column in the South Whidbey Record. Here is the link:

http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/swr/lifestyle/93682544.html