DebiCady

Description: I was lucky enough to see this beautiful cicada break free of his shell and start climbing up the sycamore tree in our front yard. He still had moisture on his wings, and they looked iridescent like stained glass! Cicadas have long been symbols of rebirth, longevity, reflection, change, resurrection and immortality.

Description: I found this beautiful rose growing behind the chain link fence in my neighbor's yard. You can find beauty anywhere if you take the time to look.

Description: The golden pheasant is a beautiful game bird native to forests in the mountains of western China.

Description: The American Woodcock is a small shorebird found primarily in eastern North America. They spend much of their time in the brush, where they are camouflaged and safe from predators. The population is in decline due to loss of habitat.

Description: Lel plays the flute while Snegurochka watches longingly from a distance. Illustration from "Dachshund Furry Tails: Russia".

Description: Nadyezhda listens with interest as the mice offer to help her complete her chores. Illustration from "Dachshund Furry Tails: Russia".

Description: The Golden Fur sits in the forest, rooted to the ground by her heavy golden tail. Illustration from "Dachshund Furry Tails: Russia".

Description: Vasilisa approaches Baba Yaga's hut with her doll, Baba Yaga flies in background. Illustration from "Dachshund Furry Tails: Russia".

Description: Her mother and neighbor look on as Aioga is transformed into a goose. Illustration from "Dachshund Furry Tails: Russia".

Description: The princes cast their arrows, and Prince Ivan is shocked to find that his bride-to-be is a frog. Illustration from "Dachshund Furry Tails: Russia".

Description: Prince Ivan tries to catch the firebird, but is left with only a tail feather. Illustration from "Dachshund Furry Tails: Russia".

Description: The merchant's youngest daughter warily eyes the scarlet flower. Illustration from "Dachshund Furry Tails: Russia".

Description: Three lovely dachshunds give a traditional Russian greeting with Bread & Salt. Cover illustration from "Dachshund Furry Tails: Russia".

Description: The Snow Dachshund stands in the forest at night, surrounded by animals. Illustration from "Dachshund Furry Tails: Russia".

Description: This sweet mini dachshund looks like an angel, soaring through the clouds, with a vey loving expression.

Description: A cute Mini Dachshund, surrounded by sparkly snowflakes - but look carefully! All the snowflakes are dachshunds too!

Description: Saint Francis of Assisi preaching to the animals. St. Francis is the patron saint of animals, the environment, Italy, merchants, and stowaways. His feast day is October 4th.

Description: " Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” So the evening and the morning were the fifth day. " ~Genesis 1:20-23

Description: Our Lady of Guadalupe, surrounded by roses, with the sky and mountains in the background.

Description: My interpretation of a Byzantine icon depicting the Virgin Mary holding Jesus, with Archangels Michael and Gabriel flying above.

Description: Our Lady of the Snows is one of the oldest Marian devotions. In 325 AD, she appeared to a wealthy, childless Roman couple in a dream and told them that she wanted a church built in her honor, and that the site she wanted it built on would be covered in snow. On the morning of August 5, a very hot day, the people of Rome (where it very rarely snows) awoke to find Esquiline Hill was covered with snow. It was proclaimed a miracle, and a church was built on the site in 358 AD.

Description: An ancient Egyptian angel with jeweled wings on a sunny yellow background.

Description: A beautiful angel with the Russian Orthodox cross on her dress, flying through a starry sky.

Description: A beautiful angel lights up the forest in Siberia.

Description: A delightful scene of a Russian village on a sunny winter day.

Description: Inspired by apple coral and gaspeite corn maiden carvings. These Zuni maidens wear a tabletta headdress used in ceremonial dances depicting the Corn Maiden, who represents the gift of life given by the Great Spirit.

Description: Inspired by turquoise and apple coral Zuni carvings, this illustration shows many little Corn Maidens hiding amongst colorful ears of corn.

Description: A Russian girl wanders through the enchanted Mushroom Forest. Inspired by Russian fairytales.

Description: Princess Taiping, daughter of Tang Dynasty Emperor Gaozong, twice suppressed mutinies inside the imperial court at critical times. Her name means "Princess of Peace".

Description: Chang 'E, the Chinese moon maiden, surrounded by the moon and clouds, with a jade rabbit.

Description: An elegant Japanese geisha doll in a purple kimono.

Description: In Slavic folklore, the Firebird is a magical bird from a faraway land, usually depicted as a small, fire-colored peacock. It can bring blessing or doom to its captor. It glows, and a single feather from the firebird's tail can illuminate an entire room.

Description: Betushka spins flax while her nanny goats graze, unaware that the Wood Maiden is approaching to dance with her. Scene from the Czechoslovakian fairy tale "The Wood Maiden".

Description: Scenes from the classic Russian fairy tale are depicted in this whimsical illustration. On the right, the wicked stepmother orders her husband to take his daughter to the forest and leave her there to die. In the center, the girl receives gifts from Morozko. Magical snowflakes from Morozko's staff dance around the borders.

Description: The merchant's youngest daughter finding the scarlet flower at the edge of the forest. Inspired by the Russian version of "Beauty and the Beast".

Description: The daughter of Poloz, owner of all the gold in the world, sits in the forest combing her long golden hair. Inspired by the Russian fairy tale "The Golden Hair".