Opal Fairy and Umoona Opal Mine

Opal Fairy

While in Coober Pedy South Australia we met the Opal Fairy.  She was a beautiful Fairy visiting from the Philippines or Malaysia I think.  Her job is to guard the opals in vairous places in Coober Pedy.  This includes the Umoona Opal Mine.  Only those who own the mine or home are allowed to take opals unless they buy or are given an opla from an authorized owner.  

In Coober Pedy people have built houses, churches, etc. underground or more accurately in the rock.  When they expand their house and chip out a bedroom they often \find thousands of dollars of opals. 

The pattern on the wall behind her is the rock pattern seen in the Umoona Opal Mine.   This is an amazing place.  The rocks alone are so beautiful that we were spellbound.  We stayed at the Majestic Oasis Apartments.  We got to sleep underground or more correctly IN the rock.   

Tomorrow I will add some more about Coober Pedy and some amazing fossilized Marine Reptiles AKA Sea Monsters from  Coober Pedy.  And it is not even near the ocean now.

Belemnite Cores that are Opalized

NOTE:  Printable version of this picture found by clicking on top buttons labled either....
....... All Printables. . . . . or . . . . Fantasy, Myths and Circus.   

Vespersaurus the Raptor with two killer claws.

Vespersaurus

Vespersaurus was a small raptor type of dinosaur with a unique feature.  Other raptors with a killer toe claw walked on two toes and kept one toe in the air to keep the killer claw sharp.  Vespersaurus walked on ONE toe and kept TWO toes with killer claws off the ground.   They even found footprints in the same rock formation that showed this.  They found the footprints BEFORE they found the fossilized bones.   This was the Rio Parana' formation in Brazil.   

This killer dinosaur could slash prey with FOUR claws.   It was about 5 feet (1.5 meters) long.  It was about 2.6 feet (0.8 meters) tall.  It lived in a desert area in what is now Brazil.  It may have been covered in scales or perhaps feathers.  So I drew it both ways.   With the find of feathered dinosaurs in China several years ago, the current theories support the idea that most if not all Raptor dinosaurs had feathers.  Some paleontologists even think the larger Theropods like T. rex also had feathers.  We just have yet to find feather impressions around T. rex bones.  

Vespersaurus with Feathers

Polynesian Mermnaid

Polynesian Mermaid

The mermaid is part of several of the Polynesian cultures.  Some are part human part fish.  Some are part human part dolphin.  There are even stories of some who are part octopus.  The model for this drawing is a young woman who goes to our church.   Of course the model is all human.  The outfit this mermaid is wearing is made of kelp leaves.  

Note:  This blog is free.  Printing drawings is free.  There are also no ads.   I started this free coloring pages blog when I was forced to retire due to health issues.  I WAS a Jr. High Science Teacher.  I ran a Fantasy and Sci Fi Club for 16 years at my Jr. High School.  I have always been interested in Fantasy and Science Fiction.   Today's mermaid drawing is found in printable form by clicking on the buttons up top labeled either . . . . . . .  . .All Printables . . . . . . or . . . . .  Fantasy, Myths, and Circus.  

MIke and Tracy get Married!

Mike and Tracy

My friends Mike and Tracy got marreid to day in the Provo City Center Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  It was a beautiful wedding ceromony and the reception was also great.  They did pie instead of wedding cake.   And the pie was awesome!   There were several types of pie!    

We believe that a man and woman can be sealed for Time and All Eternity in one of God's Temples.  This is NOT a wedding "til death do we part."  I have found rhat many people believe in Eternal Marriage.  Their church may not teach it, but they believe that they will be with their spouse in the next life.  In fact, even Emma Darwin, the very religious wife of Charles Darwin, said the following in a letter to her husband:  

     "You are my prime treasure and always will be."  

And she also said that she would hardly be able to handle it if they were not together in heaven.   

That second one is not an exact quote but it was something like that and it was in a letter to her husband Charles.  

     

Mike and Tracy, keep being each other's prime treasure!   

Note:  The printable version of this page is found under the buttons up top labeled "All Printables" and "Religious."  Scroll down to the bottom of the list for this new drawing.   The original photo of them is from the Temple steps, but I chose to put a nature background in my drawing.  Tracy's wedding dress had lovely lace on the top that I approximated in my drawing. 

Red Kangaroo

NOTE:  This blog is a free coloring page blog.  There are no ads on this blog and there are no fees to print a coloring page. Use the buttons up top to access the free coloring pages by category.  Scroll down to the bottom for new drawings, like this one below.  I am the artist and a retired Science Teacher.  My wife and I just returned from a 26 day trip to Australia, hence there are a lot of recent drawings of animals and people from Australia.  

Red Kangaroo in South Australia

The Red Kangaroo is the biggest of all living species of kangaroos.  The males grow to a total length of up to almost 9 feet long, if you count the tail.  They weigh up to 200 lbs or 90 kg of mass.  The females are about half the weight of the males.  The females are greyish colored and the males are the reddish brown.  Hence the name Red Kangaroo.  They can jump 30 feet or 9 meters in one jump.  The Red Kangaroo is the largest terrestrial or land mammal in Australia.  

This drawing is done from a photo I took at the Sevenhills Cellars Vineyard in South Australia.  I decided to put the kangaroo in a more wild looking environment.  ByT the way, this species is very widespread throughout most but not all of the continent.   This photo, seen below, was taken with a telescopic lens from a small camera because the Red Kangaroo was about 100 yards or 91 meters away.  .   .  so the photo is just a little blurry.   Notice that this kangaroo is reddish brown. . . so he is a male Red Kangaroo.  

Red Kangaroo in Vineyard

Final Note:  The printable vesions of this drawing are found by clicking on the top buttons.  Click on any of these three buttons at the top of the page and scroll down to the bottom to see this new drawing. . . .    So click on. . . . .All Printables . . . . Animals of Australia. . . . or. . . . Animals.

More Wedge-tailed Eagles

Wedgea-tailed Eagle flying Low

I drew the Wedge-tailed Eagle BEFORE we went to Australia.  Now that I have seen the largest bird of prey in Australia. . . I thought I could do better.  These two drawings of the Wedge-tailed Eagle are based on photos I took while on our AAT Kings bus tour from Adelaide to Darwin.  We saw a lot of these big beautiful birds.  

Wedge-tailed Eagle Feeding on a Wallaby

This Wedge-tailed Eagle was feeding on carrion by the side of the road.  I managed to get a quick photo of it.  The photo was not perfect because the bus was moving.  The animal that is being eaten is either a small kangaroo or more likely a wallaby.  The marsupial was probably killed by a car or road train.  A road train is a semi-truck with several trailers.  They are rather impressive.  

Road Train photos from the Internet follow.   

Wedge-tailed Eagle soaring

This last drawing was posted before.  I drew it before we went to Australia.  I think it helped to see the actual animal in the flesh.  In my opinion this drawing is not quite as good as the other later drawings.  

Hadas de Espana

Spanish Fairies

(Hadas españolas)

Este es un par de hadas españolas que conocimos mientras viajábamos. Ellos son de España. Las hadas españolas son algunas de las hadas más bellas de la Tierra. Ellos, como la mayoría de las hadas, llevan cinturones voladores. Las hadas pueden volar distancias cortas con sus alas, pero tienen una tecnología antigravedad avanzada para viajar largas distancias.  La tecnología de hadas también les permite cambiar a tamaño completo (como la pareja en este dibujo) y volver a su tamaño diminuto.

Estas ferias españolas o ibéricas tienen un rasgo interesante. Los machos tienen alas de pájaro y las hembras tienen alas de encaje. . . o alas como una mosca de encaje. Siguen siendo el mismo tipo de hada, solo tienen ese dimorfismo sexual único de diferentes tipos de alas.

El árbol de la izquierda es un roble español, también conocido como Quercus ilex. Tiene hojas únicas que se parecen un poco a las hojas de uvas de Oregon o acebo. Este tipo de roble se cultiva por su fruto. . . sus bellotas.   Los cerdos ibéricos negros comen las bellotas y producen un tipo de jamón muy buscado.

NOTA: También estoy publicando esto en inglés, pero para beneficio de los modelos españoles para este dibujo, también lo publiqué en español. La versión imprimible del dibujo se encuentra debajo del botón arriba etiquetado. . . . . "Todos los imprimibles"   (All Printables)  . . . . o . . . . . . . . . .

   . . . . .  "Fantasía, mitos y circo"   (Fantasy, Myths, and Circus).

Spanish Fairies

Spanish Fairies

This is a couple of Spanish fairies that we met while traveling.  They are from spain.  Spanish Fairies are some of the most beautiful fairies on Earth.  They, like most fairies, are wearing flying belts.  Fairies can fly short distances with their wings, but they have advanced antigravity technology for traveling long distances.  Fairy technology also allows them to change to full size (like the couple in this drawing), and return to their diminutive size. 

These Spanish or Iberian Faires have an interesting trait.  The males have bird-like wings and the females have lacewings.  .   .  or wings like a lacewing fly.   They are still the same type of Fairy, they just have that unique sexual dimorphism of different types of wings.

The tree on the left is a Spanish Oak, also known as Quercus ilex.  It has unique leaves that look a bit like Oregon Grape or Holly leaves.  This type of Oak is cultivated for its fruit. . . its acorns.  Black Iberian Pigs eat the acorns and produce a much sought after type of ham.

NOTE:  I also am posting this in Spanish for the benefit of the Spanish models for this drawing.  The printable version of the drawing is found under the button up top labeled. . . . .
. . . . . . . . .  "All Printables" . . . . or . . . . .  "Fantasy, Myths, and Circus."

Isaiah writes Prophecy of the Birth of Jesus

Isaiah writes Prophecy of the birth of Jesus

Isaiah was a great prophet.  He wrote about the birth of Jesus around 700 years before the birth of Jesus.  In this drawing we see Isaiah wrtiing on a stone table.  He is writing on a scroll.  We see what he is wrting about in the background. . . the birth of Jesuis.  The walls are made of stone or bricks cut out of stone.  

Notice that Jesus is not dressed as usually portrayed.  This is because back then many poeple wrapped their newborns in swaddling clothes.  Swaddling clothes were strips of cloth that were wrapped around the baby to keep their arms and legs straight.  So, the Holy Bible says that Mary and or Joseph wrapped their baby in swaddling clothes, so I did my best to portray things correctly,  

I will admit that I need help with draiwing babies' heads more correctly.  I may work on redrawing the baby's head and repost this drawing on another date.  Also, I should mention that this drawing is very loosely based on the artwork of Harry Anderson.

This drawing, in printable form, can be found by clicking on the top buttons labeled either:   All Printables . . . . . or. . . . . Religous.   Scroll down to the bottom of the list to find new drawings like this one.  In the Religous list there are four parts.  .   .   .  General Religous. . . .  Old Testament. . . . New Testament . . . and Restoration.   The above Isaiah drawing is posted under Old Testament AND New Testament.  

Unicorn Stallion with Male Fairy Friend

Unicorn with Male Fairy Friend

I draw a lot of female faires.  And most of my Unicorn drawings are done of female Unicorns.  There must be male Fairies if there are female Fairies. . .   And of course there would also be both female and male Unicorns.  

This drawing will be posted in printable form for you or your kid to color under the top buttons labled:     All Printables        OR        Fantasy, Myths, and Circus.   

Scroll down to the bottom of the list.  New drawings are always at the bottom of the correct lists.  

By the way, I drew this on the Airplane on the way back from Australia.  Maybe the Brumbies (wild horses in Australia) are still around because they have Unicorns among them.  I figure that Unicorn magic hides their true appearanace from most, but not all mortals.  

Brush Tail Possum

Brush Tail Possum

This is another of my drawings done while in Australia of Australian animals.  The Brush Tail Possum is the second largest possum in the world.  It is a native of Australia and it is nocturnal.  So it is active mostly at night.  They have unique bone structure that gives them some triats similar to primates.  In fact, they are semi-aboreal.  They spend a lot of time in trees.  They usually make their home in hollow limbs of trees.  In some urban areas in Australia they have made homes in shed and the roof of houses and other buildings.  The adults are about 19 inches long and weigh just over 5 lbs.  That would be  48 cm and  2.3 kg.  

The Brush Tail Possum has an interesting scientific name.  Scientific names are usually Genus and species.  The Genus name is capitalized while the species name is not.  The Genus name for this animal is: Trichosurus.  That means "furry tailed" in Greek.  The species name is:  "vulpecula" and that means little fox in Latin.

The printable picture can be found by clicking on a button up top and scrolling down to the bottom of the list.  All new drawings are at the bottom of the lists.  Look under one of these buttons:
All Printables        or           Animals of Australia         or         Animals
Remember to scroll to the bottom of the correct list to see new posts like this drawing. 

By the way, you scroll down ti the bottom of this page and you will see an "Older Posts" button.  That will take you to my post from days gone by.   So you can read about each drawing I did.  

Shan the Mermaid

Shan the Mermaid

My wife and I met Shan on the plane from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia to Los Angeles, California, USA.   She was traveling with her brother and was returniing home from a vacation trip to Bali.  She is a beautiful African American who is also an Emergency Room Nurse.   It was nice to meet a young woman who followed her dreams and acheived her education and career goals.  She clearly is an example to young people because she is smart, educated, beautiful, and is truly a nice person.  Shan, wherever you are now, Laurel and I wish you well.   

..

This drawing shows Shan as a mermaid.  Notice that she is near a kelp forest.  Kelp is a very nutritious food for humans, so it would make sense for mermaids to eat it as well.  Sharks would have a natural fear of mermaids so notice that the shark is giving Shan a wide berth.  Kelp is also what Shan is wearing.  I think that merpeople would probably NOT be vegetarians.  So they might hunt or fish, but they would be very conscience of maintianing the natural balance of the ocean.  In fact, if there are merpeople they are probably rather annoyed at us humans for our pollution that we have put into the ocean.  

A final note, drawing with a fine point marker I can not capture the striking beauty of any young woman as beautiful as Shan.  And she was not aware of how beautiful she is.  But I also can not capture her impressive inner beauty.  She is an example of a young person that gives me hope for the future of my country and even the world.  The printable version of this drawing can be found by clicking on either of two buttons up top . . . click on either:  

                         All Printables        or           Fantasy, Myths and Circus.

Baptismal Font at Latter Day Saint Temple

Baptismal Font at the Temple

You may think that doing baptisms for the dead is a crazy idea.  But it is not.  It is an example of the fairness of our just God.  We believe that Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ are infinitely fair.  Let me explain:  We believe that Jesus is the Son of God.  So what happens to someone who never has heard of Jesus and dies without ever believing in Him?  Do they go to hell?  That would be very very unfair and unjust.  

We believe that in the next life, in the Spirit World, those who have not had the chance to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ will have that chance.  Then those on Earth can be baptized by proxy for and in behalf of the person who is dead and yet living in the Spirit World.   

So doing baptisms for the dead does NOT mean that we dig up dead  bodies and baptize them.  Doing baptisms for the dead means we are giving others the opportunity to accept the Gospel in the next life and have the saving ordinance of baptism done for them by those who are still in mortality.  

When Joseph Smith, the prophet we believe restored the true and complete church of Christ was visited by a newspaper man in Nauvoo Illinois Joseph talked about baptisms for the dead.  The newspaper man said, when he left, that Joseph Smith was the most fair minded man he had ever met.  

So we members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints research our ancestors and we go to the Temple to be baptized for them.  We hope that they have accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Spirit World.  We also do sealing for husband and wife and parents to child so that they can live together as families in the next life.  

We believe that one day we will all be resurrected. . . or get our bodies back in a glorified and perfected state.  We also beleive that our relationships as husband and wife will continue for eternity if we are sealed in the Temple, believe in the Atomenent of Jesus Christ,  and we strive to keep God's Commandments.   We believe that all men and women sin and we ALL need the saving power of the Atonement of Jesus in our lives.  

If you follow my blog you know that I usually post something from my drawing I do during church meetings on Sunday.  I drew this last Sunday, I just did not post it until tonight.  All drawings available by clicking on top button labled     Religous    or      All Printables.   

Griffin

Griffin

A Griffin is a mythological creature or Hybrid animal made up of two types of real animals.  The Griffin has the head, front legs, and wings of an eagle and the back half of the body is that of a lion.  it has a lion's tail and sometimes the front legs are of a lion instead of the eagle legs. 

Because the lion is king of the beasts... and the eagle is king of the birds. . . the Griffin is considered very noble and powerful.  

The Chick Fairy of Northern Territory, Australia

Chick Fairy in a Tree caring for Chicks

Chick Fairy with a Cockatoo

Chick Fairy with a Little Corella

The Chick Fairy is a Fairy that lives in Australia.  Her ancestors came to Australia many years ago.  The Chick Fairy cares about all forms of animal life.  She especially cares for baby birds and butterflies.  

In the first drawing the Chick Fairy is sitting on a branch to care for or keep watch over a nest of chicks, of an undisclosed species of Australian birds, while the mother bird is out seeking food for her babies. 

The second drawing shows the Chick Fairy in Mortal sized form.  She is kneeling  by a small stream and taling with a Cockatoo.  YOU decide what kind of Cockatoo.  There is the Sulphur Crested Cockatoo.  It is white with a bit of yellow on its crest.  There are three other white cockatoos.  There are also black cockatoos with some red, and all black cockatoos or cockatoos with some black etc. etc.  The Major Mitchell Cockatoo is quite colorful.  The way you color this bird will determine its species.   

The third drawing is a Little Corella.  They are a smaller cockatoo.  In fact they are also called the   Bare Eyed Cockatoo or Little Cockatoo or blood stained  cockatoo.  Its scientific name refers to the bright pink on the face or below the beak.  They have a smaller crest, and blue eyes with a grey ring around the eyes.  

There are lots of Fairies in Australia.  Some are related to the Aboriginal People.  Others, like the Chick Fairy, are decendants of European   Fairies.  They emigrated to Australia when humans, or Europeans went there.  By the way, the Fairies call humans "Mortals."  And in case you wondered, yes, Fairies can use their magic or superior technology to change their size.  

People of Earth Sanctuary

Earth Sanctuary Host Joey

(or Joe)

Earth Sanctuary Guide  #1 Dan

Earth Sanctuary  Guide #2 Tommy

Earth Sanctuary Modern Outback Fairy and Hostess

On our recent trip to Australia we went to the Earth Sanctuary World Nature Center near Alice Springs.  I think this is a station (ranch) in the Outback where they have created an amazing experience for visitors.  Let me tell you what WE did.  They greeted us and talked about Outback animals and plants.  They told us about some Aborignal tradtions.  We watched a full moon rise in the East.  They also talked some about Astronomy as well.  Next we had an excellent Outback BBQ.  Finally we we went back out into the dark and they talked about stars and Southern Hemisphere Astronomy.  They pointed out planets, constellations, and how to find true South by the Southern Cross.  

But the poeple or I should say hosts and guides and hostess were awesome.  They presented with enthusiasm and a love of Nature.  So I chose to draw these poeple.  They are all family.  This is a family run business.  Joey is the patriarch.  Guide # 2 his son and so is Guide #1 Dan.  The Outback Fairy . . . is the daugher of Dan.  I met her with her dad, breifly after the show.  I don't remember her name but I would not post her name if I knew it, but she was there at our dinner show.  .   .  leaning on the table and looking like a little Outback Fairy.  So I drew her as one.  

Now, if you wonder why I drew her wearing modern clothing. . . well, perhaps at least SOME Fairies nowdays chose to wear their version of modern fashion.  I have pointed out before that I think it is possible that the Fairy Realm keeps hidden from our world by having and using superior technology.  This little Outback Fairy has just magicked a table tree out of the ground...  She is leaning on the magic table.  The table is not made from a tree, it is a living tree.  

The Earth Sanctuary World Nature Center is an Ecotourism destination.  They are carbon neutral.  They have a large telescope and are amateur astronomers as well.  I guess they have day and evening experiences.  They do weddings and education tours as well.  They are a family operated business.  I would highly recommend them.  We loved our time there.  

My apologies to Ben, the brother I did not draw.  We did not meet him.  He was not at our dinner show.  Printable Versions of these drawings are available by clicking on the top buttons labled:  All Printables. . . and Animals of Australia.  Sorry guys, the Animals of Australia is my only Australian catagory.  Besides, you talked about animals and animal tracks to us. . . and People are technically members of the Animal Kingdom or as we retired science teachers say:  Kingdom:  Animalia.  

Salt Water Crocodile

Salt Water Crocodile by a River

Salt Water Crocodiles can live for up to around a hundred years.  They have trapped and killed or trapped and bred in Australia some that are 17 feet or over 5 meters long.  We saw several of these on our trip to Australia.  At the Crocosaurus Cove aquarium and at Crocodylus Park zoo and crocodile farm we saw some of these beautiful monsters.  

There is one at the Northern Territory Museum and Art Gallery that is stuffed or taxidermied.  It was, when alive, attacking outboard motors on boats.  It never killed anyone.  They were trying to trap and reloate him but he drowned in the process, so they stuffed him for us to see.  The name they gave him is Sweetheart.  

The very largest Saltwater Croc in captivity (from the Philippines) died a few years ago.  It was 20 feet 3 inches or 6.17 meters long.  They named him Lolong.  He was a real fighter and almost escaped capture.  He was suspected of killing a fisherman and a 12 year old girl before his capture....but  no human remains were found in his stomach. 

This is the first of my drawings from our Australian Adventure!   Many more are to come.  They include lots of animals and some Aussies we met.  Below is a photo of Sweetheart who had a taste for outboard motors. 

Sweetheart the Saltwater Crocodile

Enoch and his City taken up into Heaven

Enoch and his City

Enoch is mentioned in the Holy Biblre.  To be spescifi he is menetioned in Chapter 5 of the Book of Genesis.  It says that Enoch walked with God and that God took him.  In my religion, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we beleive that Enoch had a Holy City of Zion.  Enoch was so full of faith and the Power of God that their enemies feared him.  The righteous people of the Earth fled to the City of Enoch for peace.  Eventually Enoch and his city were taken up into heaven.  When Jesus Christ returns to Earth Enoch, his people, and his city will return.  

We members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints believe that on that day Jesus will return and the very wicked will be destroyed  by fire.  By that time many of the wicked will have already killed each other.  Many good people of all faiths will not be destroyed.  We also beleive that the Gospel of Jesus Christ must be taught to the whole Earth before Jesus' second coming.  That is why we send missionaries out to teach people in many parts of the world.  My wife and I both served missions for the Lord when we were younger.  

Now, you may have wondered where I have been.  Well, we went to Australia!  The poeple of Australia were wonderful!  We did an outback bus tour, from Adelaide to Darwin with AAT Kings.  It was a great experience.  However, we were SUPPOSED to be home over a week ago.  Because of my breathing problems I have to have supplemental oxygen to fly in an airplane.  As our tour ended my oxygen concentrator malfunctioned and we had to wait until a replacement could come from Delta Airlines in the USA.  That turned out to be an 8 day delay in coming home.  

Our time in Darwin, Northern Territory was wonderful though.  We went to amazing places and met many wonderful people we would not have met if my oxygen concentrator had not broken.   I drew 29 drawings while in Australia so I will be posting them over the next couple of weeks.  Most were done in pencil and I have to add ink to make them scannable.   So, sorry about not posting for the last few weeks.  But I have many drawings to finish and post and I have lots of ideas for new drawings! 

One last thing. . . we contacted the local leadership of our church. . . The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  The branch president came to our hotel room to give us blessings along with member of the branch.  This branch member gave us a ride to church meetings the next day.  The  members of the branch were all so kind.  One family invited us to their home for Sunday dinner.  The Branch President and his wife and family invited us to their home later in the week, before we left. 

Another interesting thing is that my wife, Laurel, went to Australia 34 years ago.  When she had a free evening in Darwin she had called up the local branch president's number.  His wife invited Laurel to their house for Family Home Evening.  It really surprised members of her tour group that she could do that.  One woman from her tour group said that she could never call up the local Catholic priest and be invited to his house.  This year, when we went to church in Darwin, Laurel met that now former branch president again.  He had retired and moved away but he was back in Darwin that week for business.  It was so cool that she could meet him agian.  Unfortunately his wife was feeling ill and could not come to church that day.