". Arranged Words: May
Showing posts with label May. Show all posts
Showing posts with label May. Show all posts

28 May 2019

May Days

Hi there,

What's new? Around here we have finally thrown of the bow lines of winter and are eager for all things green bright and beautiful. I've been dreaming of flowers, seeking them out and planting my containers. Although with a fresh crop of newly fledged blackbirds in the area, it's been fun and games. Well, mostly games. They have a ton of energy and fly in whenever the mood strikes them to tear my plants to pieces. So I've also planted a few more Canadian flags to scare them away. The birds will likely leave their nest soon to soar over the wilds, so I'm sure my plants will spring back and life will sail on. If not, well, there will be plants for me and some for the birds.


Did I mention I love trees? Well, probably, but to reiterate I am a tree hugger.  Did you know that trees protect each other. In other words, they have each others backs/trunks. For example, if I was the tree to the far left and my neighbour to the far right was in need of water, I would ship some water over to her/him. Amazing! They parley via their root systems. So that means they definitely communicate,  show empathy, and have compassion, etc. Rather like humans.  Yes, Virginia it's a living, wondrous world!




This majestic old pine has been around awhile.
I think these are Elm trees. 

I stood with my back against this one for awhile, communing with nature/ trading tall tales.  :)

The highs.
The colour of spring. What a sight for sore eyes!


Wild Violets

I am pleased that people are not waging immediate war on their dandelions this year. They provide the first sup of nectar for foraging bees.




Below pictures from gardens that crossed my path.



And lastly, this wonder. One of many glorious old homes in the town I was visiting.
 I was tempted to rap on the door and beg entry.

 Look on high at the Widow's Walk/Watch. In the 19th century the lady of the house would often go up there to search the sea (in this case from the Great Lakes and then up the river) to see if her husband's ship was steaming home. In those days, unfortunately, many sailing ships were lost, hence the all to apt name.

Linking to My Corner of the World 
and Wandering Camera 
Thank you ladies.

'Til Next time...

Cultivate Your Dreams

2 May 2017

Flowering Tea

Hi everyone, 

 Happy May!  We've been having a few lovely warm, sunny days. It's so liberating to be out and
about without winter clothing.  I've been traveling without my camera, so I don't have any pictures other than cell phone pics of the wild flowers. They are everywhere this year and in places where I haven't seen wildflowers before. A bumper crop. Lovely!

 Since I love tea and flowers, it will come as no surprise that I like blooming tea.  Normally, I brew two pots from one flower ball, but apparently you can brew three. I love the colour and if you like green tea it's tasty, too.

 Transcending Beauty ~ Green tea, jasmine and lily flowers.  It takes 45 minutes to tie a flowering tea ball.  Once you add hot water, a quarter sized ball quickly unfurls in the pot before your eyes.

                                                                  
For the drawing board, two fresh sprigs of reasonable priced Tiger Lilies from the florist.
                                                    

           

Art for art's sake...

                              Hawthorn berries The frost-bitten berries turn bright orange in the fall.

   Trying out Bockingford hot press 300g/140lb. watercolour paper.  I decided on a practice run before I start a Crab Apple painting. I've transferred the drawing to the Bockingford paper, but since I have one good Fabriano block left, I think I'll stick with the tried and true. In the meantime, I'll keep practicing on Bockingford. I'm trying to familiarize myself with it because the Fabriano company is still working out some issues. 
Bockingford is nice and sturdy. You can lift colour well too, but just at the right time. I found it's tricky to add more colour to a wet into wet wash that, because of a fraction of a smidgen of too much water, doesn't like to be disturbed.
 I've also tried Moulin du Roy hot press by Canson.  It's very smooth much like illustration board so it's easy for a wet into wet wash to dry out too quickly.  Windsor and Newton's Blending Medium slows the drying time. I haven't tried mine yet.  Recently, I heard that some people are having great success using the wrong side of the Moulin du Roy.  My O my, the intrigues of paper!

I am enjoying Season 4 of  When Calls the Heart. If you haven't seen it, it's a wonderful Hallmark production.

Thanks for reading. Enjoy the week...