Category Archives: Gardening & Animals & Inspirations

M. Nicole van Dam’s joyous Impressionist artworks, children’s books and writings are inspired by her family, pets and garden, all shared here.

Rosie and Emma Plant a Seed™ Now Available on Amazon!

Rosie and Emma Plant a Seed™ is M. Nicole van Dam’s joyous and beautifully illustrated children’s book about a young girl Emma and her Leonberger dog Rosie, who find a mysterious seed and plant it. As the mysterious seed grows, … Continue reading

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Super Tough, Inspirational Squirrel Shows Spirit!

Our little Molly Squirrel seems to have been in some mishap – perhaps she slipped in the rain – so now one of her hind legs seems to just hang there.  Somehow, she seems to be managing on three legs … Continue reading

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New Bird Feeder Gets Approval from Black-Headed Grosbeak!

Here is a photo of the new bird feeder set-up and of the black-headed grosbeak checking out the new feeder today! Since our bird feeder was so extraordinarily busy, we decided to hang a second one, and it just received … Continue reading

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On Bourke Parrots (Parakeets) and Organic Vegetable Gardens

Well, it’s very common for the Bourkes, after they’ve been out for awhile, to fly back to their cages, and frequently they play games – each one flies into the other’s cage, for example. Well, today our happy little Bourkes … Continue reading

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Another Photo of our Black-Headed Grosbeak and More Videos of Squirrels and Nature from the Garden

Our injured Black-Headed Grosbeak spends a lot of time looking West – I wonder if that is the last direction he saw his fellow Grosbeak’s migrate towards before he fell behind? Here is a photo of the little guy, looking … Continue reading

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Rare Bird Sighting – A Black-Headed Grosbeak is Wintering in Our Garden!

We have been seeing what for us was a most unusual looking bird – and it turns out there is a reason for that. This little fellow is a black-headed grosbeak, and he is supposed to spend the winters in … Continue reading

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Today’s Harvest!

It was glorious in the garden today – a slight cool breeze, warm sun on the shoulders, just wonderful.  I harvested a cheery pile of colorful rainbow Swiss chard, sweet grape tomatoes, and aromatic fresh basil.  Tonight I’ll saute it … Continue reading

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A Growing Leonberger Tale!

This is a little presentation demo I created for one of the classes I teach. To see the video below, you need to keep clicking the arrow button, just like you would a PowerPoint presentation. Please email me your thoughts … Continue reading

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Our Princess Bourke lays FOUR eggs, and another GLORIOUS day in the Garden!

First, the big and yet not big news.  Our little Bourke parrot has laid four eggs, and she is quite proud to show them off. Of course these eggs are all unfertilized, so her quest to hatch them is sadly … Continue reading

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Blissfully Peacefully Perfect Moments in the Garden this Morning

It was just lovely in the garden this morning.  Birds all a-twitter, my 120 pound Leonberger and 10 pound Chihuahua/Pomeranian/Papillion happily and comically by my side – you can’t look at these two dogs together and NOT smile: The garden … Continue reading

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Bath for two?

Here are our sweet Bourke parakeets (aka Bourke’s Parrots) – our princess is in her bath and her prince decides to do whatever she does, but there’s no room for two.  She makes room for him and what happens?  Watch … Continue reading

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Magical Rainbow!

My husband came in yesterday and took me by the hand, and raced me outside – and here is what we saw: A perfect rainbow! Isn’t it interesting that seeing a rainbow makes us, for that moment, 5 years old … Continue reading

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Leonberger and Chihuahua-Pomeranian Meet Statue!

If you watch the whole set of 4 videos below you will see just how sweet these 100 pound-plus Leonberger dogs are, as my Leonberger ever so gently gets to know the “statue” that suddenly appeared by our fireplace. The … Continue reading

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I’m Planted! All Veggie Boxes Full and Veggie-eutiful!

I’m thrilled! The gardener came today, armed with wire, soil, new sprinkler heads, and yippeee-I-oh! The last two vegetable boxes are repaired and planted. Here are some pictures. Note the corn for the raccoons and gophers – two varieties for … Continue reading

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Ok – I admit it – I’m Cheating!

Virtually everything in my veggie garden last year, I planted from seeds using the Park Seed “Biodome” – and we had a nice harvest, no complaints – in fact the gophers and raccoons found the corn especially yummie! As I … Continue reading

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Crop Report April 4!

It’s so wonderful to go to the garden – this is the most exciting time – new little sprouts seemingly by the moment.  First I checked the veggie box I planted a few days ago.  I noticed that it was … Continue reading

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Miracle Basil Seeds & Today’s Citrus Harvest – No April Fool’s Prank!

Unbelievably, after posting yesterday that I would need to buy some basil seeds, I went through my mail and there, in a Sunset magazine letter asking me to subscribe, was a packet of Basil seeds!  If they grow well, Sunset … Continue reading

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The Veggie Garden is BEGUN!

It can be delayed no longer – in fact already I am late. Time to face the overgrown wilderness that once was my veggie garden. The first step is to arm myself with the requisite tools – seeds, markers, pens, … Continue reading

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Coffee Coffee Coffeeeeeeeeeeeee!

COFFEEEEEEEEE! It just so happens I LOVE COFFEE! Rarely do I create a painting or garden without a handy cup of coffee standing by, and of course my iPod playing tunes! I created a Coffee Carousel website with all my … Continue reading

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Slide Show of M. Nicole van Dam Exhibits, Press Clippings, Fun Projects, Community Service

Here is a slide show of some of the many exhibits, press clippings, community service, and fun one-of-a-kind projects for Impressionist artist’s M. Nicole van Dam’s artwork from recent years. Look at the lifesife baby elephant floats for Santa Barbara’s … Continue reading

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