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

4 Apr 2023

Spring or Thereabouts

                                                       
Hi Everyone,

 Now in the early morning, the sun lights the prisms and they dance on the wall.  And in these parts that means spring.  But from the ice and snow still about, you can see that, here in Canada, winter tends to hang on, sometimes, a little longer than necessary. But it is so wonderful to feel the warmth of the sun and enjoy longer days.

Yesterday, we went to the Sugar Bush where Maple syrup is made. What a busy spot. Too busy to hang about waiting for breakfast, and the snowy trails were over flowing with people as well.  Although there was no hope of getting served breakfast before closing time, it was nice to see everyone out and about enjoying life. 

Also made a trip to the marsh. We saw a lot of robins. They were looking for a tasty morsel or two. Not easy for them to find food just now. Unfortunately, I didn't have any raisins with me. Did have sunflower seeds for the hungry chickadees, Starlings, and the squirrels were happy to see us too.



                                                             Garden Centre Easter delights.  


                                                    All that colour! It makes my heart sing.

                 Couldn't resist buying, probably, too many plants. (Is that even possible?) 
                Absolutely love the miniature African Violets dressed up in their polka dot pots.

                                 
                        Saw painted candles somewhere, so wanted to give it a go. As you can                                                              see I got a little off course. 
                                                      
                                                              * * *
 Really enjoying the linocut printer makers art I've happened upon lately. They are amazing!
 Besides Angela Harding, John Bloor is also a wonderful printer maker. 
 A link to his Etsy shop here


                                                
                                                          Stone Harbour by John Bloor  
                                                           Couldn't resist this one. 

                                       
                                                     An inspiring book. Oh to be half so good.
                                    One of these days I will dig out my carving tools.

                           

Found this embroidery kit on Etsy. Love to knit, but, for now, this is much easier on the hands.
  Made the needle minder a few years ago from paper clay; it's finally getting used.

                                                 Watercolour on Fluid 100 paper. 
                     
Because of Blogger's fickle ways, I wasn't able to leave replies to your comments here on my last post. Perhaps this time. I do thank you all for your lovely comments. 

                               I hope you all have a very Happy Easter!

                                         Cultivate Your Dreams 

                               Linking to Link Parties via my link party page. 
                                                Thanks to all for hosting.  

19 Apr 2022

You Never Know



Hi everyone,

By the time tulips have reached this stage, it's generally time toss them out. Because of the beautiful colour, I left them until the petals began to drop. 

Snow drifted down last night. I do like a surprise though, and a white world this late in the spring fills that category.  Needless to say, this spring has been a cool one. (You never know there could be snow.)

Yesterday I just had to go to the woods. Since I injured my foot last June, I haven't been going too far. I finished physiotherapy last week, and it still hasn't healed. So, the physiotherapist recommended shockwave therapy even though she said she couldn't endure it. That did make me laugh because, really, what a recommendation! I will ruminate on that one. To me, it doesn't seem wise to shock an injury, although the idea of it is to reduce scar tissue. The other and last option besides a brace I've ordered to wear at night is a cortisone shot.

Below, the tiny green sprouts of the Trout Lilies. When they bloom a wonderful carpet of yellow will fill the undergrowth. Although they are the first flowers that bloom, in the woods, in spring, they can be quite tender. Fingers crossed that the snow is kind to them. 


In May there will be an art exhibition at the mall. Three entries are allowed. I have a few paintings in mind but, besides the one below, I will likely paint two new paintings. I will frame the painting below as soon as my point driver arrives. Not something I've done before, and pastels have to be framed so that the painting doesn't touch the mat or dust may fall on the mat. Spacers are used, but I haven't been able to find any, but I can use acid free foam core. Are you with me lady luck?
                
                                                           
                                                  Pastel on Pastel mat paper 8 x 10 inches.

                    
                                          A few new soft pastels from Great American. 

                                                        
                                             Pastel on pastel mat Approximately 13 3/4 x 9 3/4 inches

If you've been reading here awhile, you may remember this painting. I kept wanting to add a boat to it, and finally figured out how.



             I am happy to report that my computer problems are all sorted thanks to my son, Jesse. 

Have a lovely day... 'Til next time...

Cultivate Your Dreams

Linking to Link Parties via my link party page. 

The parties cover most of the globe; there’s much to see and admire, so do stop in for a few visits. 

                                          Special thanks to the hosts.


                    
                         



27 Apr 2021

Leaning Towards Spring

 

 
Hi there,

I am happy to say it looks like spring out there.

Along with spring, it's my 8th year blog anniversary. A big thank you to everyone who follows and/or visits my blog. Like countless other Bloggers, I can happily say that blogging has enriched my life. I have met many wonderful people and made dear friends in blog land.  A big thank you for reading along. I really do appreciate it. 

In July, Feed burner will no longer send my email followers notification of my new posts. Does anyone know of a free program that will take over this task?  If you are on my email list, you can choose to follow along using a reader such as Bloglovin. Personally I like Feedly. In the meantime, I hope to find a new program to transfer my email followers to. I will keep you posted. 

              Not much greenery yet on the farms. I'd love to tour that old house with the cupola way back                                                                               there in the field.


Dare I mention Covid?  (Skip if you wish.) I know everyone has reached their upper limit when it comes to this topic. But, compared to other countries, we are lucky to have supplies, and here, in Canada, the vaccines are trickling in. We are not out of the woods, or in any way in an ideal situation, but military and Red Cross workers are on their way to help alleviate some of the strain in the hospitals here in Ontario. The wonderful nurses and doctors must be somewhat relieved that some help is on the way.
   Further, we are in lockdown again, and there are a few cases of Covid in the building I live in. However, I am scheduled to receive my first vaccine on Friday. That thought gives me a feeling of lightness and trepidation at the same time. Trepidation because I don't get along well with the flu shot. (I'm keeping up positive vibes for this vaccine though.) It may be late fall or later before everyone gets a second vaccine. My second jab will fall on birthday in the middle of August. ( The best gift, I reckon. The gift of life.)
In some parts of the U.S., fully vaccinated people are having dinner with friends and family.  So keep the faith. It will get better. Soon...very soon.


The Trout Lilies with their yellow bonnets are blooming. Earlier, the wildflowers didn't look like they would amount to much because we had some very warm temperatures and no rain early on. Then came two days of snow which the Trout Lilies and other wildflowers seem to love. 
What a heart warming sight!

* * * 
From the Art Corner


Watercolour book marks.



                                                              
                                                             Pastel on Pastelmat paper.

                      I felt the urge to be bold with this painting. I've been following an Instagram account that post sunrises and sunsets pictures from Australia and New Zealand. Such amazing beauty!  So I am sure the colourful inspiration for this painting comes from admiring those stunning pics.



                              I hope everyone is well and enjoying spring or fall, or the tropics!

                                                                         'Til Next Time...

                                                                   Cultivate Your Dreams

Linking to Link Parties via my link party page. Thank you, ladies, for hosting.

16 Mar 2021

"In the Air

    
 Hi Everyone,

     Spring appears to be in the air one day and gone the next. Fierce March winds have been blowing everything about. But I don't mind the wind. I love to hear it blow and it helps the snow disappear.

In March, long ago, skipping along as children we always said over and over, "March winds, April showers, bring forth May flowers."  In this ever changing world, I am glad to report that that still holds true.  

"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade."

Charles Dickens


I haven't seen a robin yet. Too early I suspect. I do open a window in the morning and listen for their songs. So far I've heard: Geese (love to hear  and see the geese flying over) and Crows and Starlings. Crows and Starlings are not the best singers, but a bird has to start somewhere.


           

                                                                  * * *

From the Easel and other Tall Tales.

                                                
          Pastel on dark maroon Pastelmat paper. I thought I had ordered all one colour. Surprises are good though. 


I've heard of the Sketchbook Project, and I was surprised to receive this in the mail. It's from Brooklyn Art Library in New York. Why am I surprised? Well, because I didn't order it. (Just to be sure, I checked my Visa.) I assume some lovely person had it sent to me. So whoever you are (I have my suspicions) I would like to thank you personally, so please let me know who you are. For now, I thank you so much!  And I appreciate your kindness.

Rules: Art must remain within the 5 x 7 inch parameters, no gesso, and you can opt to have it digitized.

The library also has a bookmobile and they drive across the country, now and then, with the collection. Mine's from Volume 18 and it must be sent in by August 31, 2021. I may fill it with flowers. Decisions, decisions.




Printing Cards       
          

I haven't printed cards for awhile, so it took some time. My notes are geared towards someone who knows exactly what they are doing, or wants to begin in the middle of things.  And sometimes you just need to go back to square one.
                                          
I hope you all have a very Happy Easter! 

                         'Til next time                                         

                                                Cultivate Your Dreams

 Linking to Link Parties via my link party page. Thank you, ladies, for hosting.

 

16 Feb 2021

Sunsets

 Hi Everyone,

It's Pancake Day. I usually miss it, but this morning I had pancakes with maple syrup. Did you?

In other news, winter has been mild this year; we've only had two really cold days. Just now, we are enjoying longer days and we are, of course, looking forward to spring. 

The question on everyone's mind: Will spring come early? Apparently it will if the weather predicting groundhogs do not see their shadows. In the US and Canada, ( 2 groundhogs in Canada) each year a groundhog is yanked from his warm burrow on February 2nd. This year they couldn't locate Wairton Willie, in Wairton, Ontario; obviously he packed up and moved on. Can you blame him? So in Wairton they threw a fur hat in the air and, oh joy, not one witness saw a shadow, so we will have an early spring! No so in the colder regions of the U.S. (Know that I feel your pain.)

Some people despise talking about the weather, so do forgive if you fall into that category. But Canada, it seems, has an agenda because we live in a country of extremes. Here, almost everyone you meet has something to say about the weather. When you don't know the person you are speaking with, the weather can provide common ground. (Yes, we converse with strangers here.) Most Canadians, I think, look forward to what we call "good" weather. I suppose it all depends entirely on your outlook. We do have many lovely winter days too.

So there you have it. The secret of an early spring in the northern hemisphere. I will post a picture of a good weather day for those folks who are longing for spring, but first a sky picture or two. 

                                                                         Amazing

                                                         My head remains in the clouds.
 
                                                      
                                                          Sunset. A little blurry, but so beautiful.

                                                                A good weather day:                                                      

 Fresh, green, warm and sunny with a slight breeze. Perfect!
Hang on. This will happen in a few months.

 
These days the tulips stand at attention on their sturdy stocks. 


* * *
From the Easel...




Pastel 
                       
  This painting has been re-worked a bit. I like it much better now. 
Paper ~ Canson Mi-Teintes Touch--pastel and mixed media. In other words multi-technique. Apparently, that includes charcoal, crayons and acrylic too.
I used a watercolour underpainting in certain areas. 
Would acrylic and pastel really work?


Paper ~ Pastelmat

              
                                  I'm currently reading the last book of  The Wolf Hall trilogy.                                                                                               
                 In case you haven't seen it, the TV series features the first two books of the trilogy. And Mark Rylance plays Cromwell. Cromwell has many sides to his character, including calm, cunning and ruthless. Brilliant. Shrewd. A master of revenge, yet loyal to Henry, in most things. (What choice did he have?) What an intriguing round character, especially viewed from a safe distance on the far side of history. But, still I think most readers will be somewhat sympathetic towards Cromwell. It takes a brilliant writer, I think, to make that happen. 

 Some critics found the depiction of Thomas More unfair. He definitely isn’t pictured in the novels in a favorable light like he was in A Man for All Seasons. I read that play many years ago, and in it he held the moral high ground. But I understand what Mantel's novels tell us about More rings true, although, as we know, historical fiction takes a lot of liberties. (The writer must not only fill in the blanks but make the story work.)

I’m no historian, but actions form history. History is complicated, messy and, in this case, the 'facts' were recorded nearly 500 years ago by who knows who. So what has been overlooked? What’s true? How many sources does it take to make it a fact, and are they reliable? What biases creep in--then and in the present day? (The plot thickens.)

Enter Thomas More the saintly inquisitor who stood against Henry and was charged and executed for high treason. (Apparently he was canonized in 1935 for as near as I can determine  his martyrdom. There's much this grasshopper doesn't understand.) 
Anyway, word has it that More instituted his inquisitor tactics, without mercy, on the strength of his convictions. And we all know what can happen when a person with power believes they are absolutely and unequivocally right. 

I may read Thomas Cromwell:  A Revolutionary Life by the historian, Diarmaid MacCulloch, one day because of the research that went into it. It may be as close to the facts as one might get. For now, I will  finish reading The Mirror and the Light, take a break and then look for books to read with a little less heft.

                                                         Any recommendations?     
 
                               Tea: Numi's aged Earl Grey. Very tasty! And I love the colour. 

                                                           'Til next time...

                                                    Cultivate Your Dreams

  Linking to Link Parties via my link party page. Thank you, ladies, for hosting.

26 May 2020

In the Green


Hi lovely people,


After nearly three months of lock down, it felt lovely to drive to another town, catch the breeze and feel the wind in my hair--sans a convertible.
And O the view. A sight to behold as the earth, once again, clothes herself in the vivid new green of spring.
 

A tanker with places to go.


 Next stop the Iroquois lock.


A lovely old church I happen upon. I adore stone buildings. Such character! I bet the stained glass windows are magnificent. Unfortunately, I couldn't step inside because the churches are still locked down.
Perhaps I will be lucky enough to find it open sometime.


Doors waiting to be opened. 
To me old doors are so inviting and never fail to make me want to turn the handle or lift the latch. What's inside? I have a feeling this church would surprise me.
 
Notice the Solomon's Seal against the stone facade. The only time I've seen it growing outside of the woodlands.




Heady blossoms and sunshine. Perfectly perfect! 

* * *

When I was sifting through my drawings, I came across a wildflower Bloodroot drawing that I drew about two years ago, so I thought I'd paint it.
They are mostly white but a few are a lovely pink.
The season was short this year for the Bloodroot.  They succumbed rather quickly to a frosty spring. 
For those who may not know, if you cut into the root, a red sap greets you. Hence the name.


Be well and stay safe!

'Til next time...

Cultivate Your Dreams!

Linking to Link Parties via my link party page. Do drop in for a visit. Thank you ladies for hosting.