Snow scenes on slates... PPF

It seem rather ironic that I should be sharing my snow scenes painted on spare roof slates, when in fact we've had fantastic weather during this last week.

For example, it was -3 degrees this morning, but on mornings such as these, it can be pretty magical. Everywhere is covered with a crisp white crust, clear blue sky's and the sunrise brings an amazing colour palette.

I'd much rather this kind of weather during the winter wouldn't you?

It can be a winter wonderland out there, especially if you are wrapped up well.

But I'm not sure that Muffin agrees with this last statement.

We started our morning walk yesterday and not far into the walk, she refused to move any further and promptly sat down and wouldn't budge.

Here's a photo of her...

My hubby had to carry her for the majority of the walk.

(I should have taking the pooch pouch with us)

When I saw this photo, I immediately thought of Paddington Bear for some reason.

I think I'll have to hide her passport just in case... Peru is after all warmer than Scotland.

I think I need to warm up a little now. 

I'm going to link up with Paint Party Friday and hope you'll join me there. 

Thanks Kristin and Eva for hosting once again.

Have fun everyone and thanks for popping over to my place.

I hope to see you again soon.

Snow slate scene... and surgery PPF/Sunday Sketches

My hubby has been using the laptop for most of the day, so apologies for arriving so late.

This is a post of two halves... the first being some artwork and the second about Muffin and her recent emergency surgery.

So let's get started...

Part 1 - I finally finished painting the roof slate and thought you might like to see it.

Here's the finished article.

The inspiration came from a few places... 

... a chalk cat drawing on a blackboard, left over roof tiles and a very talented illustrator called Kirsten Sevig from Minnesota.

If you'd like to take a look at some of her work click here

I enjoyed painting the roof slate far more than I thought I would.

I wasn't even sure that the paint would work on the tile. 

But I was pleasantly surprised. 

For anyone wanting to know what paint I used. 

Daler Rowney Acrylic Ink worked so well.

I've really enjoyed the project, so who knows I might just paint some more of the left over roof tiles.

I'm linking up with the
Paint Party Friday 
Alexandra's Blue Chair Diary
Art Journal Journey

Have fun and a great weekend

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Part 2 - Some of you may already know that I took Muffin to the vet's earlier in the week.

She had developed a lump on her abdomen and it needed to be checked. 

To keep this brief... the Vet recommended that she should have it taken out and we decided the sooner the better, which meant that she was whisked in for surgery the next morning. 

Everyone at the surgery was incredibly friendly, professional and so caring. 

(Thank you to all the staff at the Town and Country Veterinary Hospital)

Muffin obviously played her cute card and it worked really well. 

Off she trotted with the surgery nurse and she didn't even give her snivelling owner a glance! 

She had the operation with fluids administered throughout and she came trotting out of the surgery later that afternoon. 

I couldn't believe just how 'with it' she was, especially after having such a major operation.

She has to wear a surgical suit that looks like a spandex workout outfit. 

It just looks like she's come back from the gym! 

To give you some idea... it's like a baby grow and will keep her wound clean and safe until it heals.

It was the vet's idea to wear this suit instead of the usual collar.

I must admit I rather like this look.

It's just unfortunate that all the red suits weren't in her size. 

Now that would have been very seasonal.

Sorry about the quality of these photographs, but it was taken later that same evening. 

Here she is in the surgery suit eating her evening meal.

I was astounded by how much she eat that night. 

She completely cleaned this bowl out and had three extra portions of chicken. 

We are to revisit the vet for her to check on progress and also to find out if the lump is something nasty. 

We'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who contacted us, either through emails, Instagram or Facebook to pass on their best wishes, positive thoughts, messages and prayers. 

It was lovely to know that so many friends out there were thinking about us. 

If you are squeamish or just about to eat, then you may not want to scroll down any further. 

She had 5 stitches... which is quite a size on such a wee toot, but she's a tough cookie and progressing nicely. 

It looks like she's been for a little nip'n'tuck!

I think after that photo I'd better sign off.

Thanks for your visit and I hope I will see you again soon.

xoxo

Inspiration... Slate Painting for PPF

Do you find inspiration in the strangest and most unexpected of places. 

It can sometimes just hit you when you least expect it.

Well, that's exactly what happened to me today.

I hadn't had time to create any artwork this week and was feeling a little disappointed, but I had managed to tick off quite a few jobs off my Christmas to-do list. 

As I was putting things away in the studio, I saw this blackboard pussy cat chalk image hanging on the back of the door. 

It's an old drawing that my daughter had done and left behind. 

It got me thinking about the black background and I thought I'd like to try painting on a roof slate.

We have had lots of roof tiles changed on the house, since we came home and the surplus are sitting around... just waiting to be painted!

I didn't have much time today to start painting, but I did start and I'm quite excited about the effect.

It's a follow on to the snow scene that I did a few weeks ago.

I hope to finish it over the weekend.

I'll be adding the progress here over the next few days. 

Have you found inspiration in an unexpected place?
As usual I'm linking up with Paint Party Friday

Thanks once again Eva and Kristin for hosting the link up your great inspirational blog.

Late addition... here's a little progress on the slate painting.
I am loving seeing the effect, but it's also a little scary because I have no idea where this will lead.

I'm going to link up with Alexandra over at her Blue Chair Diary blog.

Alexandra is creating illustrations for her very own Christmas Illo Advent and she has some fantastic cute illustrations if you'd like to nip across.

I hope you have had a great weekend.

Thanks for your visit and I hope to see you again soon.