". Arranged Words: Sunsets

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.

24 comments:

NCSue said...

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!
Thanks so much for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2021/02/cedar-creek-galleries-not-your-average.html

Lorraine said...

It's so nice to see something other than a gray sky. We do have a bit of blue today but it won't be for long. I watched Wolf Hall and enjoyed it. The books sound very interesting.

Kim said...

The flowers always whisper in my ear that spring is on the way. =) I haven't seen this TV series nor read the books, but they do sound fabulous. History is fascinating, warts and all. I smiled at your thoughts about people in power; down through the ages until this present day, nothing really ever changes with these ego-tripping, power-hungry people. Oh.....those skies are beautiful. I too, always seem to have my head in dem dar clouds.

Lillian "sognafaret" said...

No I don't like pancakes. Amazing photos.

Veronica Lee said...

Oooo! Pancakes with maple syrup! Just the thought of them is making me drool!

Fabulous photos, Dixie!

Peabea Scribbles said...

Yes, loved seeing the pretty flowers, and reminders of Spring. The last few years, our winters have been so mild. However, this winter is being evil. Yes, had waffles on Sunday. Love pancakes and eggs as a meal.

Tanza Erlambang said...

tulips look so beautiful, sign of spring season.
colorful skies on your painting so amazing.

Have a great day

Joanne said...

What a beautiful sunset!

betty-NZ said...

Gorgeous flowers and pastel works! I had pancakes yesterday (Wednesday), does that count?!

It's great to see your link at 'My Corner of the World' this week!

Clare Lloyd said...

Lovely pastel drawing. Lemon and sugar pancakes for me.

Clare Lloyd said...

Super pastel drawings

by EAGHL said...

Love your pastels.

Valerie-Jael said...

Wonderful photos and love the pastels! Enjoy your books! Valerie

carol l mckenna said...

Awesome pastel work and divine photos ~ Happy Weekend to you,

Living moment by moment,

A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Gillena Cox said...

I used to make pancakes for my daughter and son when they were little. They enjoyed them. I havent made pancakes in a long long long while☺

Happy PPF

Much💗love

Elkes Lebensglück said...

What great photos and your pastel drawings are wonderful, thank you for this insight into your country, it was so interesting!
Have a happy weekend, Elke

WendyK said...

Great pastel work, love landscapes.

Christine said...

Lovely photos and beautiful paintings today!

DVArtist said...

Dixie this is such a lovely post. I don't mind talking weather. Your photos are amazing as is your art. Have a nice day today.

Rain said...

I love Earl Gray. :) Your pastels are very pretty and soft. I wonder if pastels and acrylics would mix...why not as long as it was a thin layer of acrylic maybe. The tulips make me long for spring! Lovely photos!

Angie said...

Dixie - I don't put much faith in the groundhogs for predicting the weather, but it makes a fun topic! In Montana, weather is always on our minds. Most people decide what they are going to do tomorrow or later in the week based on it! Your pictures are lovely, especially the tulips! The linky party has lots of pastel-colored flowers this week, and it is putting me in the quite the spring frame of mind! (And no, I didn't have pancakes!) Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday!

Gillena Cox said...

Your photos and pastel drawings are gorgeous. HAPPY Monday. I am at 11 on the linky today

much love...

Tom said...

...no pancakes here. I love your pastel!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Your sky photographs are almost like paintings themselves and both they and your actual paintings are wonderful. I think weather is interesting even though I don’t live in a place with extremes and I like talking to strangers (maybe I am a Canadian in my soul)! Actually, I miss talking to strangers these days, it’s not so easy when we’re all masked up and socially distanced! (And if people are not, I wouldn’t want to talk to them!) Someday, we will again.