Random Things Part 2

                                                                       Clematis 

Hi folks, 

Two of my favourite flowers. I just adore the poppies.  And as you can see these ones are huge.

   Cell phone photos today. When I was out for a walk recently, the clip that holds the battery in place on my big camera snapped.  At the car park, I noticed the battery was missing. Did a back track and, luckily, found it. A miracle that no one stepped on it.

Not sure where to get it fixed. Searching... Just now the battery is secure with fashionable electrical tape. 

Such a beautiful face

                                                    Pleased to join in Nicole's Friday Face Off

Bearded Iris

Ink from Ferris Wheel Press and three handmade concertina sketchbooks.

The ink has sparkles in it--okay by me, but it does clog pens.
A recent clean has them back in working order.

A concertina sketchbook has been on my wish list for sometime. If the paper is a cotton rag, 
they can be expensive, so decided to try and make a my own.

Black one made from Strathmore 60lb drawing paper. 
Other two: Fabriano 140lb hot press paper.

Watched a couple of YouTube videos and was off and running.

I liked the books that were made from a large sheets of paper and cut out so there is an overlap instead of using tape. My large paper is too heavy to fold.

                Used Caran D’Ache Neocolor II water soluble wax pastels to paint this tree.  They are like crayons. Fun to use. Makes you feel like a kid again. However, the light weight paper doesn't mesh with water.

The smaller concertina sketchbooks were easier to make. I used writing paper to cover the cardboard covers of the larger ones; the paper on the larger one buckled, mostly because I ran out of glue and, of course, the paper could have been tighter. Sometimes I find new sketchbooks difficult to use.  Oh me, Oh my. Mistakes. Yikes!

But these sketchbooks seem to say relax and will be tossed in my go bag.

Today’s drink:  Water 

                                                               Happy to join with T Stands for Tuesday                                      

Happened upon this wonderful Fungi again.

A bit of water used on the right branch—like the texture on the left branch better.
Apparently, you can also use baby wipes to blend the Neo colours.

Above the tree an antique salt dish. 

That's all for now. I hope you are all enjoying yourselves.

 Sunrise 5:14 a.m. Sunset 8:53p.m. Lovely!

                                                    Be well and stay strong.

                                               Linking to Link Parties via my link party page.

                                                      Thanks to everyone for hosting.

Some Random Things

Creative Clouds
 

 

                                                                        Boats that float

and those that don't.

To Bee

                                                                   A large lilac bush.  

                                                                Wild Geraniums 

Stormy skies

     

             

I see you

                                                                          Beautiful Colours

An amazing pine tree

                                                  

A cool car

            Good advice

A Time Traveler 

 

    Mixed media ~ high key painting.

            For those who do not paint high key means colours are mostly from the light

 end of the value scale.  Value meaning light and dark.

 

                                 Had this painting in mind for a while. Worked on it and put it away.

                            Will re-do at some point because I believe I used acrylic over oil. A definite no, but you can use acrylic first and then paint with oil paint.  I thought I would remember what paint I used. No, take                                                                                        notes.

                                The figure in the painting could be a little larger as well, I think. 

                                                                        

                                              Nuthatch painted in acrylic on a wall above a light switch.

                                                                               

Watched Jane Austen: Rise of a Genius on Britbox this past weekend.

 At a time when men mostly spoke for women, Jane stepped up to manage her own business and was able to keep her copyright. She was remarkable in so many ways.

The Other Bennet Sister on Britbox is good series too. 

What’s your favourite Jane Austen book?

Mine is: Persuasion with Pride and Prejudice coming in second.

 

 Be well and stay strong.

 

Praying for Peace

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

                                                                 

                                             A small section of the waterfront from my home town.

Cultivate Your Dreams

Spring Greens and Blooms

 Happened upon this scene in my travels. It struck my fancy. Love the old shed.  The tree came down in a storm. Good to see the tree stump putting out new growth.

                                         In the woods, the Bloodroot and the ferns are coming along. 

                              Another month and the ferns will be waist high or higher. Love them!

                        

                         A few Trout Lilies. Not a huge crop of spring blooms this year because they cut                  down quite a few trees and mangled undergrowth. 

                         But if I lose the plot and pick a Trillium, I could be fined $500.

                                          A trillium takes five years to mature.

                       

                           

                         Meanwhile in the Mall parking lot, more silly geese are a laying. As you can see the                                      gander stays near. Looks like the city has quit putting barricades around the                                                     female, likely because it stresses the gander.  

                  Always amazes me that these geese are a long way from water and food is not exactly handy                        either. How do they get the chicks to water? The city workers must gather them up for a                                                                          ride to the river.                                                                                 

                               Walking along the waterfront, I didn't see the Cormorants in the shadows                                                                      until they took off.  Scared them and me.

                                     

                                                                                 Oolong Tea

                                                                  Joining T Stands for Tuesday

                                       

                                      The eyes are dark...couldn't lighten them up. Must have used a marker.

                                                Pleased to be linking to Nicole's Friday Face Off

                                                   And Gillena's Art for Fun Friday    

                                               Be well and stay strong.

                                               Linking to Link Parties via my link party page.

                                                      Thanks to everyone for hosting.

                                  

                                                                    Praying for Peace

                                            

Looking Up

Beautiful Blue 

                              

Hi Everyone,

  How are you good folks?  

Birds nest are fun to see this time of year.  Once the foliage comes out, we don’t see what is happening in the trees.
I saw one tree in my neighborhood with three nests in it. Seems rather unusual, but
perhaps the nests are fashioned by the same bird species. It’s difficult to tell because the trees are so tall.

 

                                                     Earl Grey hot.

                                                 Pleased to Join T Stands for Tuesday this week.

                                                            The Marsh. 

                                                   Pastel on Pastelmat paper.

Back in business as usual over hear with the desktop computer up and running. Many thanks to Jesse. It needed a new power supply that had to be ordered from the factory--took forever. He did open the sealed tower and get the job done so all is well. Up periscope from my corner of the map.

Most appliances and computers do not last that long these days it seems. I remember having a Maytag washing machine that lasted for so many year.  Guess they can recycle the metal, but all other parts might just in up in the land fill?

She looks a little shocked. It's the March weather look.

Used  Caran D'Ache Neocolor II to add a bit of colour.

Pleased to be linking to Nicole's Friday Face Off

Speaking of March, it has been a month of surprises. It came in like a lamb and has thrown all sorts of weather at us.

+ 20C, -15C, and all temps in between, sun, freezing rain, a lot of snow storms etc. But I did see a brave robin on the 18th. I hope he made it.

I this part of the world we say that if  March comes in like a lamb it usually goes out like a lion, or vice versa. 

                                                                    Praying for peace.

Be well and stay strong.

                                         Linking to Link Parties via my link party page.

                                                   Thanks to everyone for hosting.

Days of Sunshine

                

Hi everyone,

 Not many walks in the woods this winter. The Japanese call a walk in the woods forest bathing. Clever people.

The winter has been extremely cold and stormy season so far, but so happy to be out recently to gain new perspectives and inspiration. Wonderful to see blue skies.

Of late, enjoying the sunshine and longer, brighter days. Sunset 5:20 p.m. and daylight increasing by two or three minutes per day. The way I see it that means approximately fifteen minutes per week.  Hurray!

Computers have kept me away. Main computer still out of commission. Inside the computer tower the hardware has been cradled in spots that are, at this point, inaccessible. Done, no doubt, so that you have to buy a new computer, or send it in for repair.  An expensive endeavour for sure.

 My son usually builds the towers, but not this tower. We took it to the “geek squad”—(yes that is what they call themselves) and they said no cant be done. 

Not one to say uncle before all avenues have been exhausted, I think Jesse still has a plan.

Meanwhile, my iPad took a bath and required more than TLC.  I’ll spare you the details of that fiasco.

New rules.  No water, tea or any liquid within 10 yards of computers at the moment. So easy to think a spill won’t happen. 

 Nearly Over it ...

             

Definitely time to locate the book Don't Sweat the Small Stuff. 

Green Tea

Pleased to Join T Stands for Tuesday this week.

           In the middle palette dried gouache. Many people use dry gouache, but from the tube              might be a better option for me.  I still have much to learn about gouache.                             The small gouache painting looks more like watercolour. It's difficult to mix a thick mix from dry gouache. Maybe it depends on the brand. Any thoughts?                                                          

                         There are divots in the paint because I forget to spray the palettes with water.

Speaking of spray, notice the buckled

 canvas to the right. ( Buckled canvases are usually in the cheap bin at the store.) A quick fix: spray the back of the canvas with water, and once dry it will tighten like a drum--treated canvas on the left.    (Info I read somewhere.)

Although canvases have a layer of gesso, it’s good to add another layer or two of gesso so that the paint doesn't sink into the canvas. Some people gesso the back as well.

Pleased to be linking to Nicole's Friday Face Off

A very Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!

Be well and stay strong. Good will prevail.

                                   Linking to Link Parties via my link party page.

                                      Thanks to everyone for hosting.