"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.

 

Silhouettes

Hi there,

'Tis the season! I hope you are all having fun with your Christmas preparations, or other holiday planning.

Not my usual Tuesday post, but the good Elves won the debate and decided to post early.

Sunset

I love the beautiful shapes and silhouettes of the bare trees.  As a bonus, once the leaves have flown away, you can sometimes see the intricate nests that birds have left behind.  Often overlooked, I, for one, love the beauty of a world laid bare.

 Speaking of Christmas, what would Christmas be without the redemptive tales? A Christmas Carol  and The Grinch come to mind. Tales that prove that kindness changes everything.

In my recent travels I saw the Grinch in a yard pulling the Christmas tree lights off the roof of the house.
Although I don't have a picture of that scene, I am including the Grinch that I enjoyed painting a couple of years ago for my brother-in-law who really does enjoy the tale.

“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!”

Dr. Seuss

 Have a very Merry Christmas!
And if you do not celebrate Christmas, enjoy your holidays!

I hope to see everyone in the New Year.

Best Wishes...

Cultivate Your Dreams

  I'll be linking up to parties. Please see my Link Parties page.  If you have time, please drop by these wonderful blogs for a visit.

                                                                         

Thank you ladies for

hosting!

Maple Taps

Today, mostly a quiet post with pictures from a recent trip to the Maple Farm and a few more.
If you've been reading along, you may remember that I went to the sugar camp last year only to find it closed. (Apparently, I don't agree with reading fine print on websites.) But this year, all systems: go. Just look at that delightful open sign. A great breakfast was had. For me, pancakes with A lot of maple syrup. So tasty!

 Breakfast by the fire. Love those old skis.

The sap is clear until it is rendered down.

Maple Taffy on the snow. Just roll it up on a stick and viola!

In my element. After a hearty breakfast, time to hike the trails.  Just look at the colour of the sky!

Sap line running.

Along the river. The ice melts nicely. The ships will soon sail the seaway again.

The geese have returned.

I have left comments for those who left one for me on my last post. I hope to continue to do so going forward.

* * *

* A note to let my followers on instagram know that I have closed my original account. (dixie.l) It was compromised; a site was using my pictures to run ads. I could, of course, have asked instagram to remove it, but from the comments I read, it seems that site just kept rearing its ugly head like a Hydra. (Some of my pictures and artwork still appear in as a image search; I do hope they disappear.) So if I've lost you in the shuffle and I have lost many followers, please re-follow at dixielee.k @ instagram. Thank you so much, lovelies!

Wishing you peace, joy and loads of fun.

 ' Til next time...

Cultivate Your Dreams.

All About Wildflowers

Hi there,

I've noticed that certain wildflowers like to create a statement by growing in great drifts. The trout lilies form a carpet and Solomon's Seal seem to drift like clouds through the woodlands. On a good year, they are a sight to behold. But there are several varieties of wildflowers here that I have yet to see. For example, I 'd love to see a yellow Lady Slipper and the Bluebells.

One of my co-workers used to bring Mayflowers to work. What a heavenly scent! I may be able to find them in the woods along the Parkway. I hope to go exploring there this year. In the meantime, I decided to create a few wildflowers of my own.

                                                                   Wild Geranium

Ontario's flower: the Trillium

 Definitely hands on. Since it won't wash off, I'm hoping it will wear off by, say, July.  :)

                                                     Gift tags and envelopes.

                        Trout Lily ~ sienna and black ink on Strathmore mixed media cards.

I ended up carving two trilliums stamps. Apparently, precision counts.

 

      White gel pen on Strathmore paper.

            Wildflowers: Solomon's seal, Trout lily, Trillium, Bloodroot, Turk's cap lilies, ferns, and a Monarch butterfly.

Just now, I hear the geese overhead. Music to my ears. ( Running to and throwing open the window.) I heard them a few times recently. They are flying home for the season.

Next: A sample of what was and is yet to be. 'Yet to be?'

Sounds familiar? Googling.  Ah yes. I remember now. "The best is yet to be." Robert Browning's full quote: "Come and grow old with me. The best is yet to be." Lovely! ( But I digress...)

                                                               Solomon's Seal
                           

                                       "Do you suppose she's a wildflower?", said the daisy.

From Alice's Adventures in Wonderland ~ Lewis Carroll

"Wildflowers are the stuff of my heart."
Lady Bird Johnson

* * *

And finally, to give a nod to the green. A Shamrock ~ Happy St. Patrick's Day!

'Til next time, lovely people. . .Cultivate your dreams.