My Sunday Photo... Edinburgh

I'm still away at the moment, but heading home via Edinburgh.

On the northward journey the weather and scenery were perfect.

Here's just a few photos that I snapped along the way.

It appears that Autumn slipped away without a word.

We are well into our winter now.

Temperatures have fallen, but that means bright, crisp days.

My favourite for over the winter.

There were blackbirds eating the succulent red jewel-like berries in this photo, as the sun dipped below the horizon.

And finally we arrived in Edinburgh.

If you'd like to see lots more photos, then click the link here to My Sunday Photo

Thanks for visiting my place and I hope to see you again soon.

Have a great weekend everyone

My Sunday Photo... Cosy Toes

With an arctic wind blowing a hoolie around the house, what better photo could I have for My Sunday Photo than one of our wood burner blasting out beautiful warmth with gorgeous flickering light. 

It never ceases to bring me pleasure.

For anyone who needs or misses an open fire...here's the video below...

If you'd like to see lots more photos, then click the link here to My Sunday Photo

Thanks for visiting my place and to Darren for hosting My Sunday Photo once again. 
I hope to see you again soon.

Have a great weekend everyone

Paint Party Friday... Elf

Hello everyone...here we are... Friday once again!

 With only a few weeks until the holidays begin, I thought I'd do a Christmassy sketch this week. 

Hopefully something to inspire me into all the preparations.

The only trouble is that this is kind of mixed up... a Santa look-a-like if you will. 

I did have an elf in mind but then Santa intruded.

 I wouldn't say that I'm a negative person, but as I come to write this post I begin to wonder?

I'm normally a half glass full kind of person, but yet again I'm posting something that I don't particularly like. I'm hoping that the Paint Party Friday gang will be able to help me. 

It seems the trouble is that I've lost my passion for painting. 

I think a lot of it is that I don't have a theme, or subject matter that I can progress with. 

My subjects just seem so random and individual. 

I think if I kept to a theme it might help.

I'm trying out new paints and with each painting I'm learning, but the end design isn't quite what I'd like. 

But it's a journey...right?

I'm going to be with family over the next week, so they'll be no time for painting.

But hopefully I'll find inspiration from somewhere.

I'm determined that in the New Year I'm going to devote more time and energy into my art.

(Where have I heard that before?)

I started sketching the design below a few months ago and I feel maybe it's time to revisit.

I apologise for the photographs.

Unfortunately it's difficult to get enough light at this time of year.

I hope you can see it.

Now don't laugh but we are making plans for the girls (hens/chooks) to stay in a 'Hen Hote'l whilst we are away. I know it sounds ridiculous and I would be laughing along with you... but I feel this is the best option.

It would be a lot to ask someone to come a few times a day to see to them and the Hotel sounds brilliant.
I'm hoping that I'll be able to do a blog post...if all goes well once I get back.

Yet again we've found a mass of feathers and a wiped clean breast bone on our garden this morning, so the fox has ventured here once again. 

Poor wood pigeon by the look of it!

The hotel option is far safer.

Thanks for visiting my place and if you'd like to see more artwork, then why not join in the party over at PPF by clicking HERE.

Have a great Friday everyone.

Enjoy

Spot The Wildlife

As I enjoyed my morning cuppa whilst gazing out of the window, I became aware of one of our neighbours. Someone else was enjoying the beautiful warm morning sunshine. 

I'm not sure you'll immediately see the subject of My Sunday Photo in this photograph below, as he was quite a distance... even for my zoom lens. 

Right in the centre of the shot is Mr Fox!

His winter coat is quite spectacular and he's a handsome, healthy looking chap. 

He's obviously a very good hunter by the look of his physique... he's certainly not managing on scraps by the look of him.

Now I'm not saying that this particular fox is the one that nearly took our Annie away, as I have seen two foxes playing in the field, but I certainly hope this one keeps his distance... even if it means My Sunday Photo has to suffer.

I'd much rather that than losing one of my chooks! 

My elderly neighbour had mentioned that she'd got some more chickens (about 12 in total) but 'someone' had been taking them? I didn't have the heart to tell her that it probably wasn't a 'someone'... more a 'something'!

I have cropped the photo so that it'll make it easier to see him.

He certainly knew I was taking his picture as he looked directly at me.

The click of the camera travelled right across the field, blowing my cover!

I managed to take a few shots where he had his eyes closed, enjoying the rays.

It was the perfect perch for him... on the raised grassy mound. 

It enabled him to enjoy the sun, but also to see all around.

Well it was perfect until a dog came mooching along...then Mr Fox slunk away into the ferns and that was the last I saw of him for the rest of the day. 

If you'd like to see lots more photos, then click the link here to My Sunday Photo

and Image-in-ing.blogspot.co.uk
Thanks for visiting my place and I hope to see you again soon.

Have a great weekend everyone

Up up and away... PPF

It's been quite some time since I joined in with the Paint Party Friday link and even though I'm not totally happy with this watercolour, I've decided it's better to just put it out there and enjoy seeing everyone. 

I've missed you.

My head wasn't particularly in the right space for painting, but I decided that I needed the therapy that painting can provide. 

The reason was that sadly we have had to say a final farewell to my husbands Mother, my fantastic MIL (who never interfered in all the 40 years that I knew her) and my children's fun loving (anything goes) Grandmother. 

She had been ill for quite some time, but it still so painful to say goodbye.

She would love the fact that she managed to reach her 87th birthday...even if it was only by a few hours.

I have just looked back to see when I last joined in with the PPF link and it was back in September! 

My goodness how does the time go so quickly.

If you'd like to see all the entries in Eva and Kristin's PPF link up then click here.

Thanks ladies for hosting and I hope you'll forgive my absence.

Take care everyone and have a great weekend.

My Sunday Photo... Chatting Robins

Let me introduce you to Britian's most popular bird... The Robin.

As I carried out the laborious task of picking up the millions of fallen leaves in our garden yesterday, I suddenly became aware of some tiny cute bird chatter.

I noticed these two Robin's having a kind of conversation.
It sounded like nothing I've ever heard before.
Not the usual song or chirps... it sounded like a real conversation.

As they flew past me I dropped my rake and grabbed my camera only to witness something I've never seen before.

The one robin squeezed into the wall cavity and stayed there, whilst the other strutted his/her stuff on top of the wall. 

It was quite bizarre to watch and I'm not sure if they were having a territorial battle which the robins are renowned for...or whether one was not taken with the others advances! 

It didn't seem like aggression and really quite cute to watch.

They stayed talking to one another for a quite some time before the one inside the wall made a quick escape and flew off only to have the other quickly follow. 

As winter approaches the robin's song resonates around the garden and really is quite delightful.

Here's a video just in case you might not be familiar with our native favourite.

(Credit for video to Paul Dinning - Published on 17 Sept  2014

Robin Birds Chirping and Singing - Beautiful Video, Bird Song and Nature Sounds in HD

The National Bird of Great Britain)

If you'd like to see lots more photos, then click the link here to My Sunday Photo 

and Image-in-ing.blogspot.co.uk

Thanks for visiting my place and I hope to see you again soon.

Have a great weekend everyone