". Arranged Words

21 Jul 2026

Summertime

                       Hi there,                                  

                  My, it has been hot but, thankfully, not as hot as it is out west and other parts of the world. (Hopefully, it will cool down for everyone soon.) On the day this photo was taken, it would have been nice to jump in this fountain.

                      Hot days but recently cool nights. Some nights 13C or  55.4 F.  The cool nights must be a relief for the fire fighters. So many fires this season.  191 wild fires in Ontario alone. About 858 fires burning nation wide.
                      So sad for many communities.

                                                                         

On the home front…Unfortunately, I hurt my foot. Not sure how.  It started to swell one day and two days later boom. It was getting better, but now both feet are sore. Back to square one or two—not been out and about much. 

Waiting for an appointment with a podiatrists. There are several here, but they are all booking for the middle of August. And even though I emphatically wined that I have places to go, people to see and worlds to conquer, no earlier appointment granted.  Humbug!

So it’s RICE: rest, ice, compression and elevation. Not getting along so well with resting.

*

 

This wooden palette was a Christmas gift from my son, Jesse.  

Sometimes, it seems, I can get too precious with new items. Time to get on with it. Use it!

 

 
 
    A toothpick works to get rid of air bubbles in the paint.  Filled the palette so far with mostly Sennelier watercolour paint.  Will the paint dry without cracking?  Probably. (Gouache often cracks and sometimes crumbles when it dries. Just add more paint.)

The good thing about Sennelier paint is that the binder is honey, so even after some time the tubes are generally easy to open.

                                      9 slots left. What to add?  Decisions, decisions.     

                                   Will swatch the colours once the paint dries.

                             The brush slot holds two travel brushes.  Also, the palette does have a tripod attachment. May set it up inside for a test drive.
But do prefer a small inconspicuous setup for outside—lap or a table works well.     

                                            
 
                                                                        Iced matcha. 
                                                   Pleased to be joining T Stands for Tuesday

                                           
                                         Could add these to the palette, although so fun to mix greens even though greens, to me, are finicky to work with.  Would, however, like to try another brand of sap green.  Even with red added to tone it down it appears garish to me.  Maybe it is just a matter of getting use to it.
                                          
                                         Tip: you can use white gouache sparingly to fix watercolour mistakes.
                                          It will be opaque, but depending on where it is and how you paint, it may not be                                                                noticeable.




                              Concertina booklet that I recently made. You may remember it from my last blog post.
                               Small and handy. Makes it easy to sit on the sofa and draw with the wax pastels.

Love pine trees.

Working on the darkest value paper is different.  Although you can mix the wax pastels with water, it doesn't work on this paper.

                                     
                                     There are 11 pages in this booklet with two left to paint. 
                                              
                                 

                                                                Eye of the birch.

                                                       Painted with gouache and wax pastels on 
                                                       400 series Strathmore paper.  
The Neo colour wax pastels are fun to work with. They stay put—no smudging or dust to worry about.              Will try a larger drawing/painting at some point.



                    

The world is still Shakespeare’s oyster. But the debate runs on: is Will, really the Bard, or did the poet Emilia Bassano write the plays and sonnets?
Or were certain other men or women the writer?  Round and round we go.  We do know that Will added  1700 words to the language and that he was brilliant. Small wonder the plays and sonnets are still entertaining us today.  Apparently, “Where there’s a Will there’s a way.” 



                                                              
                                                             Love the clouds in this photo.

 Sunrise 5:27 a.m. Sunset 8:42 p.m. Later than last time.

by approx 12 minutes. (Inquiring minds.)
                                                    Be well and stay strong.

                                        Linking to Link Parties via my link party page.

                                                     Thanks to everyone for hosting.





16 Jun 2026

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.


26 May 2026

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



19 May 2026

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