And kinda sharp ! But his little arms are very silly looking, I mean, they're just for show apparently. They don't even reach his mouth ! Evolution is just wacky sometimes. But to make species specific Dinosaurs or "paleoart"  I need to include even ridiculous parts that make no sense. Like these itsy-bitsy arms. I guess he made up for them with his ginormous mouth. 

......and somehow end up on my work table. Too many shooters , I guess.   So , I'm taking a break from my usual biologically proven mundane subjects and going straight into the mythological. I feel that they are a delight to my soul , I actually laughed out loud as I was driving home at the prospect of being able to WORK when I got home. That was probably a clue that I really needed a fantasy interlude. Griffins and faeries are on the way. Oh, my.

          So I finally retrieved my bike from my sister's barn where it's been languishing since the big move. It's a little worse the wear but I'm going to get it spruced up this week and start biking again. The only problem is that I'm used to the greenways of Roanoke and the quiet gravel roads of Bedford county. There was generally no danger of getting run over by a speeding car.  Mainly it looked like this path below though usually not as steep.

     So , my question is where are the hidden , quiet country lanes that a NOT-AT-ALL  adventurous bicyclist could ride near Staunton, Va? And not get run over. Feel free to email me directly if you don't want everyone knowing the answer.

     It's amazing to me how if I haven't worked for a couple of months I seriously think " Oh, dear , I don't think I remember how to make a frog'.  Bear in mind I've made more that a thousand of them over the years. Of course , three seconds into it , it comes right back. Just like riding a bicycle ! Which leads me to my next post.

                 I think it's funny how the first clay frog sculpture looks thoughful and kind , the second one looks resolute and determined and the third one looks downright mean. Or am I imagining the whole thing?

                 This is the final product of this Tiger Salamander, It took three tries to get the color right , right to me that is. I really , really like it. It's currently residing at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens.