Wes & Rachelle Siegrist

"Tiny Treasures of the Natural World"

Monthly Newsletters

Rachelle joins our friend Carol in walking their newly adopted "Hurricane Katrina" dogs. Rachelle has Annabelle and Max is with Carol.	Rachelle beside her winning miniature at the show in Decatur, Alabama.
News: * Our website and email, based in Boca Raton, FL, were taken down by Hurricane Wilma. The backup generators failed twice so our online presence was spotty for three days. Everything is back to normal now. * Rachelle received several awards this past month. She took a second place in the "Birds" category at the Southern Wildlife Festival in Decatur, AL on her "Ruby in the Rain" which sold at the show. We're especially proud that she received a coveted "Award of Excellence" on her "The Zookeeper's Assistant". Rachelle also received "The Leonard J. Meiselman Realistic Painting Executed in an Academic Manner Award" on the same painting. Both awards were part of the 45th Annual Society of Animal Artists "Art & the Animal" Exhibition currently on display in Carson City, Nevada.
Neighbors and friends roast hot dogs over the fire in our back yard.	Part of the final harvest of sweet bell peppers from our garden. Wes picked @150 peppers the day before the frost and then spent time on the phone trying to give them away to the neighbors!
Interesting Updates: * We've had a time with the latest issue of the snail mail newsletter. A couple of goofs at the printer have delayed some of you getting your copy. Everyone should have one by next week. * On the easels: Rachelle is currently painting turkeys and hopes to have it finished in time for the show in Thomasville. Wes is working on a doe in a Florida flag pond. Both of us will be wrapping up some works to send to the "Almost Miniatures" show. Ours will be true minis.
Trying to contain our hunger in the kitchen with Lee and Carol at their lovely home. Robert, is beside Wes and the amazing aromas from Lee's gourmet cooking have both of them just about ready to climb over the counter!	A male Goldfinch gets a drink from our water feature on the deck. It's so cute watching everyone line up at the fountain. The squirrels, birds and chipmunks all love it. Of course the raccoons think it's their personal hot tub.
Our Adventures: * We've had several parties with friends and neighbors around our fire ring this past month and have been enjoying our bike rides in the cooler air. We welcomed the visit of several collectors and friends this past month too and hope more of you get a chance to stop in and see us next season. * Rachelle's grandmother will be discharged this month from the rehab center since she is not expected to recover. It's so sad to have literally "lost" her so quickly. We learned this week also that Wes's private art teacher(1982) passed away. She was an inspiration and joy to Wes during his sophomore year in high school.
What a surprise to look out the basement window and see this Broad-winged Hawk sitting at our fire pit.
Critter Encounters: * Yard Bird List: 88 species. The squirrels and birds returned with the colder weather. Poor Chippy lost her footing on our deck rails and fell 12 feet to the ground. She's doing fine but she now opts to climb a tree limb vs. the metal poles!
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