Ashka: our new neighbor

Posted by Manta Publications on September 25, 2021

After a decade of living within the boundaries of Brazen’s territory, our resident coyote, stopped his weekly – regular routine visits. Brazen was entwined into my life on this property. We shared our small parcel of land with mutual curiosity and acceptance. As the years passed I never stopped appreciating the gift of friendship he gave so willingly. After the Woolsey Fire and when we returned, Brazen and his mate Skittish, often dashed past our Airstream and down into the ESHA. They had somehow survived that horrific fire, and in the Spring of 2019 had one pup. It was wonderful watching for the family that summer but we could see that Brazen’s shiny coat had faded, by the summer season and his age. Knowing that coyotes, much like dogs average 12 years of healthy life, we understood that time was running out. Recalling our last “hello” and watching, hoping to see Brazen again, hoping to hear his social howls, thinking about him, has been extremely painful. How could I love a wild animal so much? Maybe, because he loved us too.

We have a few new resident coyotes, as you can see on the coyote cam. We named a new regular visitor, a young female, Ashka. She has dark shiny fur and a black tipped tail. We like to believe that she was born out of the Woolsey Fire’s ash to Brazen and Skittish. It is difficult to guess, but Ashka uses Brazen’s old trails – across the property and into the ESHA with elusive routine visits.

GROWNG UP GALAPAGOS work-in-progress adventure

Posted by Manta Publications on November 18, 2013

Our adventure to Galapagos begins with the iconic panorama of Bartolome. From the viewpoint of another soaring Galapagos Hawk, Buteo galapagoensis the image focused on a few privileged zodiac traveler approaching a desolate sandy cove. A flaming female Lava Lizard, Microlophus albemarlensis basks in the morning glow while snacking on its favorite, the tiny white flowers of the ancient and rare Gray Matplant, Tiquilia nesiotica a perennial herb of the Santiago, Islets.

This wonderful and unique book project is an unforgettable journey. Galapagos, with abundance of endemic flora and fauna, so extraordinary that finding creative illustration compositions for this 32 page children’s picture book is like picking from a exclusive selection of gems. So many zany animal characters, complex vistas, azure waters with wild lagoons, shadowy rocky volcano zones and ever-changing specular skies. This is truly a natural history illustrator’s ultimate assignment!

Commission by Celebrity Cruises to celebrate 10 years of charting the archipelagos, and working with author and Celebrity’s superb naturalist, Dr. Ellen Prager this book will be printed in Ecuador by Imprente Marsical in 2014. Published by MANTA Publications.

Please join us on this unforgettable blog journey as we illustrate and produce this
book page to page.