Horse Feathers

DRAWING CHALLENGE: hosted this week by: Patrice. Each week a new theme is posted, hosted by someone new, and everyone is welcome to join in! This is my first entry with the theme: E-A-R-T-H-L-Y.

Yesterday I discovered a random tree growing in the boulevard in a forgotten and neglected section of the roadway near where I live. It would have been mowed right down with those huge lawnmower machines the City landscaping crew use so I tugged at it and it released easily into my hand. Attached to the lowest part of the stem (will become a trunk) was the split chestnut that had developed into the tree. I took it home and plunked it in a small jar of water for now. Then today I decided to draw a quick sketch of the tree on used tea bag paper so I propped the tree against the nearest object in front of the window where there is good light. I did a quick sketch and then added some colour with pencil crayons and watercolor. Here is the drawing.

When I went on line to find out the name of the tree, I discovered that it was called a 'Horse Chestnut' tree and that was kind of neat because I'd propped it up against the horse figure not knowing the name of the tree. Then when I drew a leaf up close, the sections reminded me of the way feathers fall so the idea of horse feathers came to me. The leaf looks like a group of feathers that may be used as a decorative element for a horse.

So I am calling this post horse feathers even though the meaning is not so nice. See you soon I hope, *smiles* Norma