My Sunday Photo... Scottish Beach

Paint Party Friday... Japanese Paints

It's been a funny kind of week, busy as usual but with very springlike weather giving us hope of things to come. 

But the highlight had to be that I finally received my Japanese paints in the post.

It was just enough to look at the box never mind opening them to play.

 

I've been very pleased with my time management because I've actually been able to paint at least for some time every day, which is incredible for me.

I've also managed to spend some time in the garden too.

I've dug borders AND weeded. (Are you impressed?)
I did find a little cat bell in one of the borders, that had obviously become detached from one of our neighbours cats, during one of their forays through the garden no doubt.

We have three cat callers regularly... much to Mufftypups disgust. 

I thought it would be fun to give it a little tinkle, but Muffy's reaction was way over what I expected. Rapid eye movement, head on a swivel and rushing around in every direction.

She obviously thought that there was a cat in need of eviction! 

She had no idea that the bell was in my hand. I know... cruel but fun.

Now I can have play whenever I want.

 I can't wait for the next time that she's hiding in the undergrowth when I'm frantically calling her. 

She has a tendancy to play this game from time to time and just won't come out no matter how urgently I'm calling her or what I'm saying.

Even my trump card of  ' Chicken' doesn't work. Minx!

Now just a little tinkle from the magic bell has her charging from the undergrowth like a raging bull.

The mystery of the invisible cat!

 Anyway... back to the paints. 

I produced a colour chart as I think I'm supposed to do and it was really fun painting Mr Fox.

Why a fox? 

Well I've seen a magnificant fox in our back field but I'm hoping he stays near the woods although I suspect he may have come nearer to the house last week because we had a casualty... 

or should I say a corpse on the lawn. 

A headless poor wood pigeon to be precise.

I'm thinking it was the fox because...

1. Mr Fox looked extemely well fed and healthy, so he can obviously look after himself and...

2. The wood pigeon had no head which I believe is what foxes do to chickens.

I could be wrong, but I'm keeping a close eye on Muffy when she's out in the garden.

With all of the lovely weather we've been having this past week I've certainly got spring in mind. 

We've gained an extra hour of daylight either side of the day, which has made such a difference. 

The birds are singing at the top of their voice, trying to out do each other and the bulbs I planted with such high hopes last year are peeking up through the soil.

With the flowers about to pop I wanted to paint something for spring and because a cuppa is never far from my hand, I thought a flower filled tea pot was the perfect paint project.

I'm still unsure of the paints... we're like strangers but each time we meet over a cuppa we're getting more and more familiar with each other.

I think we're bonding well and may form a firm friendship for many years to come.

Because it's Friday I think it could be party time, so I've linked up with Kristin and Eva at Paint Party Friday. 

This week features Boo's work along with many other artists work.

 Why don't you take a peek?
Or how about Sunday Sketches
Have a wonderful weekend everyone... have fun and hopefully the sun will shine.

My Sunday Photo... train travel

Sourdough, Spring and Sunshine

Helloooooooooo... is there anybody there?

I know I've been neglecting my blog which is not what I planned.

It seems Twitter, Instagram and Facebook have taken over my online time, they just seemed to sneak in and take over... but now I'm aware of that I'm going to do something about it. 

The good news is that my laptop finally made it to A&E and should be ready by Saturday to come home... woohoo

The Geek Squad (and that's the real name for the guys looking at it) didn't seem to think it was that much of a problem. I thought I'd need a seat and at least a cuppa of strong tea to be told the bad news. Many of you might be thinking why on earth doesn't she just get a new laptop, but in my own defence... it's not going to cost a fraction of what I thought it would to get it fixed... but more to the point there is SO much junk, stuff crutial information stored on it, that I need it back to sort through everything and transfer it to a seperate hard drive at least. 

So what's been happening?

Well the craft fair last weekend went really well. 

It was a first for us but everyone made us feel so welcome. 

All of the other store holders were lovely and helpful. 

They nattered, exchanged experiences and expertise with the newies on the block which was very generous of them. They are like a little crafty community. 

And gues what?

 We were incredibly lucky to be next to the baker Vicky from 'The Little Sourdough Bakery'. 

She bakes a range of speciality sourdough pastries & breads.  Yummy!!!

Of course we had to sample her products (and bring home lots) to check them all out. 

The Blueberry and white Chocolate Sourdough Loaf was possibly my favourite.
But there were lots of wonderful goodies... 

Here's a link if you want to start drooling The Little Sourdough Bakery

Before we entered the Bon Accord Centre on Sunday where the The Crafters Roadshow was to take place the church bells rang out. I adore church bells but I'm not so sure the seagulls perched nearby do. I hope you're noticing that glorious blue sky. 

 In fact we've been having fantastic weather over the last week or so. 

The kind that I love during winter. 

Crisp frosticles with glorious sunshine and clear blue sky. 

Just perfect.

I've been posting photo's on instagram lately, so you may have noticed them or if not on instagram... I have the feed on my sidebar here on the blog, so that you don't miss them.

 This photo was taken in a local park. 

Duthie Park is a park of 44 acres which was donated to the city by Miss Duthie in 1880 and opened to the public in 1883. Mufftypup loves this park but then there are so many others in Aberdeen and fantastic dog walks it's difficult to choose a favourite.

 But don't dispair if you need a little spring... it's taking a peek.

(in a whispered voice...) there's actually a little warmth to that sun.

Yep I kid you not... you just have to make sure that you are out of the wind if its blowing. 

The birds are twitterbaiting (Bambi reference here) and sounding absolutely delighful plus there's little bulbs and shoots appearing everywhere.

I've even managed to dig a border during the earlier part of this week.

It's all looking good and certainly heading in the right direction with an extra hours daylight already. 

I'm keeping a close eye on developments!

 

So that's it for today... I know there was lots to tell you, but I know you're busy and that's possibly the end of your coffee or cuppa break.

I must dash... but it's great to see you again and I hope that I won't be so long with the next post.

Have a great day

Pass on a smile 

Paint Party Friday... Sunrise Watercolour and Valentine Postie

Hello Party People... I managed to finish the sunrise watercolour I brought to show and tell last week, so here it is...

I'm late coming to link up today and I can't stay long because we (that is my daughter and I) are keeping the romance alive out there. 

My daughter's art and illustration business is well and truly flying. 

So much so that I've had to leave household chores (heartbroken... NOT!) and everything that's on my current to do list to give her a hand. 

Here's my daughter with the cards and presents for one postal run.

 

 As you can see there's a fair few love birds out there...

It's warming to see such affection out there especially when everything's chilly, frosticles and covered with snow. 

But take heart spring seems to be taking a peek... 

There's a slight warmth in the sun light AND we've already added an hour to our day light.

We're getting ready for my daughter's first craft fair, so as many of you will already know... there's masses to organise and prep to do so I must fly.

Have a wonderful weekend and I will come to visit all who visit me... promise!

It might take me some time and I am aware that I've still got some PPF peeps to visit from last week... but I will 

 

 Toodleloo for now

My Sunday Photo... Cozy Wood Burner

I had to open my mouth didn't I and say that we'd had no snow...
Well not twenty-four hours after making that statement it arrived. 

The wind has been blowing an icy blast (apparently from the Artic) all day and now snow has arrived with it. 

Hence this Sunday's photo is of our inglenook with the wood burner blasting out heat.

You just can't beat it on a day like today. 

The large tree trunks to the side of the burner are from a friends garden... they chopped down a tree some time last year, so it's perfectly dried out now and ready for burning.

I'm linking up with Darren over at onedad3girls.com once again

Have a great Sunday everyone

I'm off to have play in the snow... what are you up to? 

Whatever it is have fun!