Fire in the Sky

                                                               

 Hi everyone,

     

Sometimes getting up early really pays. So happy to see this lovely sunrise recently. Definitely "Fire in the Sky."

 Google tells me Smoke on the Water--a song with the words fire in the sky in it was written by Deep Purple.

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Looks like Blogger is having issues. A few people have told me that they can't leave a message here, or that they had a very difficult time in doing so.

I have also tried to visit a few blogs and received a message that said something like this blog is open to invited readers only. The blogs were listed in a blog hop, so I'm sure visitors are welcome. 

I return visits so I hope they get it fixed soon! Also, if you can't leave a message and  wish to leave a comment, there is a contact form on the sidebar here.  (Hope it works.)

Started a Commonplace Book.  Not a journal per se, but a place for quotes, notes and whatever you like to write in it that you find interesting and that strikes your fancy.  So far, I have started a list of the books I would like to read this year, and also started a section for quotes. 

I do write things down in my journal, but that doesn't always make for easy access, especially if it is quite full.  ( i.e. Oh where, oh where did I write that?) 

This book is ruled and the spaces are rather large between the ruled lines. Could be smaller. But, then again, any note book will do.

 

               Assortment of dried flowers and leaves that I picked last summer. And a Primrose drawing--looking down on the potted plant.

I save the bits and dust from my pastels and then grind them down and add a bit of water to make a stick.

With no mortar and pestle, it's difficult to get a powder form, but I don't mind a few raised bits for texture and a bit of rogue colour.

  Not everyone does this, but, hey,

depending on the brands sold, one pastel stick can cost $7 to $9. 

Good pastels are made by hand.  Just pure pigment with a little binder mixed in and then hand rolled.

 

 Roche pastels from France are very expensive.  $20 euros for one in open stock. 

Cheapest listed $16.00 euros.

 Roche pastels were used by Degas. 

They are so rich and beautiful. I know this from pictures only.

They must have many secret recipes.

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Meet Strawberry. She belongs to a friend of mine who owns a strawberry farm. Hence the name. I call her Miss Berry. What a darling kitty. It was love at first sight.

Birdie bookmark. 

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                                          Second time reading this book. It's excellent.

                                      You can have a look at several pages here. 

Cultivate Your Dreams

                                   Linking to Link Parties via my link party page. 

                                                Thanks to all for hosting.  

Keeping Tabs

Hi everyone,

 One of my favourite things to do: keep tabs on the sky.

There always seems to be something engaging, streaming across the sky. 

Streaming? Maybe, technological jargon has gotten the better of me. 

Other than sky watching, I've been planning a little Christmas cheer. 

I enjoy slowly decking the halls, especially with the smell of cookies baking. 

So many homes here are already beautifully decorated. Baubles and lights of every colour peeking out from everywhere do gladden the heart when the sun sets early. Last night the lights looked especially beautiful because fluffy flakes of snow continued to drift down throughout the evening.

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My four year old orchid showing off. I leave it outside until it turns quite cold. Apparently it likes that. It produces even though it has never been repotted; I keep forgetting to order the proper potting mix.  

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From the drawing board...      

                                                                      Garden Doodles

                                      Copic multiliner in cool grey. Various pencils on watercolour paper.

Since I don't have a particularly steady hand, I noticed the  grey marker tricks my mind into thinking I am using a pencil and that helps steady my hand. Give me a black pen and I am all over the place. 

 I do have several full sketchbooks, but a lot of my drawings are on tracing paper. By-passing a sketch book saves a lot of time when transferring to watercolour paper, but the sketches are fading. So I've decided, over time, to transfer the sketches to watercolour paper. I may use a large sketchbook that I have on hand. I might section it off, but I am not sure yet. 

I've also been printing stickers for my Christmas card envelopes, using

 a birdie from one of my early watercolour paintings. 

Printed on Avery Stickers #22807.

And, up next,  Holly and Ivy Stickers.

Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends.

Wishing you well.

'Til Next Time...

Cultivate Your Dreams

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

Winter's Light

Hi there,

I hope you are all well and happy. And for my friends in the U.S., I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

'Tis nearly the season. Can you believe it?  I've been shopping and doing a little decorating. One must get the wreath on the door and a few lights twinkling early to knock the dark afternoons out of the ball park so to speak. The candles are lit every night this time of year, too. Light. So good for the spirit.

On the creative side of life, I've been painting and sketching. I also have two paintings in an art exhibition that is currently on for nine days. And I will be hosting at the exhibition this week along with other people, so I am mostly keeping out of trouble.

On the home front, the snow arrive early this year. Eleven days ago to be exact.

       The light seems remote this time of year...wispy, delicate and fleeting. A barely there type of light.  Amazingly beautiful.

 Once the leaves are off the trees, many nest that I never knew existed appear.

Thin ice covering the brook.

Merry and Bright.

Far off, a skein of geese heading south. Lucky ducks geese.

I love to hear them calling to each other. Enthusiasm and encouragement. A winning combination. 

Almost bedtime...must have a snack first.

So pleased to see that she/he is nice and plump and prepared for winter.

I only had a few seeds in my pockets, but I think these Chickadees forgave me. The dear hearts.

A Nuthatch knows how to make an entrance. They walk down the tree head first, fly to another tree face down and then land at the feeder. They move and fly so fast.

What a profile. It speaks of wisdom.

More snow coming down as I go to press.  So much like fairyland out there today... very mild and lovely, so I took a walk in the snow.

A few cards I've been drawing/painting on my desktop. The wee desk better known as "Abigail."

I'll be linking with Wednesday Around the World, and on Thursday with Soma who hosts the blog Whims and Fancies. Many thanks for hosting, ladies! 💗

I've left a reply to everyone who left a comment on my last post.
To my lovely readers a big thank you. You all make the world a better place!

Cultivate your dreams!

Autumn Trails

Our Canadian Thanksgiving has come and gone and the days are growing shorter. These shiny jewel days of light and shadow make me want to store them away like the treasure they are.
Maybe the crispiness in the air gives me a heightened sense of awareness too. Or maybe old man winter steps too close to the beauty that reigns just now. But whatever the reason, I just want to savor every moment on offer.

Crab Apples

Along the St. Lawrence River.

In the fall the sky fluctuates between stormy and fair. Rare painterly wonders. Tree tops. On and on...

I had hoped to have the drawing on the painting board by now. Although beautiful I am not sure about painting yellow flowers. Already I want to paint them purple. Call it artistic license. Gatherings. Always a night to remember. Pumpkin Inferno.  A little time on "a dark and stormy night" without a plan and some acrylic paint. Something, I reckon, to add to the mystery of Hallowe'en. 'Til next time.  Have a safe and Happy Hallowe'en! I am linking to Around the World Wednesday. And Wandering Camera. Many thanks ladies!

The View From Here

Outside . . .

Hello beauties! 

Doe a deer a female deer. 👀

All bluster along the river.

The yellow weeping willows.

Inside . . .

Lately, I've had the urge to knit something. Awhile ago, I bought two skeins of Brooklyn Tweed yarn, so I may knit one of their hats. In the meantime, besides a bit of seed planting, and stamp making, I've been drawing and painting flowers.

At the moment, I have snowdrops on my mind. Must be that spring thing creeping up on me again.  I'd love to see a snowdrop. Besides white, I did notice that, these days, there are amazing yellow and pink ones, too. 

Last fall, I looked for snowdrop bulbs, but didn't find any. If all goes well, and I can find them I will order some by mail next fall and try to force them. Forcing requires about 12 weeks of cool temperatures. A small fridge should work, although they can't be cooled near fruit.

I tried both sides of the Moulin du Roy 300 lb. watercolour paper for the Himalayan poppies. Another beautiful flower that I've never seen. I'm still not sure which side of the paper I like best, although the right side seems a bit more vibrant.( Yes, I am still arguing with paper. Fabriano was sooo perfect!)

I just noticed I am missing a flower stock. :)

Flower doodles.

💖

 (If you've been watching When Calls the Heart, season 5 starts Feb 18th. I can't wait!)

 My last Amaryllis for the season.

Enjoy the week . . .😘