My Sunday Photo... Flower and Fauna

I can't believe it's Sunday already! 

Does anyone else have to consult the calendar or phone to check what day it is?

I've just snapped a few new arrivals into the garden this week.

It's been a very misty morning and we've had quite a good downpour. 

The first for a good few weeks... so I mustn't complain and I'm sure the plants are happier for it.

 The raspberry canes are sprouting. 

We'll hopefully be tasting our first raspberries soon.

Here's a little sunshine or as near as we will get today by the look of it.

A gorgeous tulip

I hope you have a great Sunday.

I'll linking up as usual with My Sunday Photo

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

My Sunday Photo... Dancing Daffodils and Busy Bee

Hello Everyone,

I'm rather late posting My Sunday Photo today... but better late than ever.

In this part of Bonnie Scotland spring has finally arrived.

The temperatures, whilst not exactly sweltering have risen which has made everything pop.

The bees have started to buzz in their busy sortie from flower to flower.

The tree buds are just about to burst into leaf.

My magnolia is showing promising signs of actually flowering this time and I've actually given the lawn it's first cut!

So all is good in the garden.

Here's my appreciation of the daffodil.

Happy Earth Day to you and thanks for popping by.
I hope to see you again soon.

I'm linking up with My Sunday Photo over at Photalife

My Sunday Photo... Breakfast Alfresco

It appears that spring has finally come out of hiding.

Who would have guessed that we could have our Sunday breakfast alfresco.

It's been such a long time since we could do this and it's been greatly missed.

The trouble is that once breakfast is over there are so many jobs to catch up on... so it'll be a busy day.

I'll be linking up (rather later than usual) with My Sunday Photo.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you again soon.

Enjoy your Sunday

My Sunday Photo... Beautiful Blooms

If you're feeling like me then you'll probably be missing flowers and desperate for Spring to arrive. 

In the meantime whilst we wait... here's a beautiful bouquet that I received last week.

It's a quick post today because I'm trying desperately to revive my mobile phone, after it decided to make a spectacular dive into the toilet! 

After a night in a bed of rice everything appears to be working okay, except the touch screen, so I'm unable to use the password to open it 😞

I'm liking up with My Sunday Photo once again.

Have fun and enjoy your Sunday.

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

My Sunday Photo...The Garden Awakes.

The Easter Holiday is renowned for being the biggest gardening weekend of the year, so I thought I'd show you a little of our garden.

There are lots of activities in other parts of the garden, work in progress as they say, but thankfully this is my little bit of sanctuary.

(It's a pity that the sun wasn't shining today...typical...but it did try)

As usual I'm going to link up with My Sunday Photo over at Photalife.com

I hope you are having a fabulous long weekend... I know I will once I find those chocolate eggs!

Happy Easter to those that celebrate this holiday and for anyone else I wish you a fantastic weekend.

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

If you entered into my Giveaway draw for the Mother and Baby Giraffe watercolour print...you might like to see Muffin pick out the winning name...click the link below.

Thank you to all who entered... I'm just sorry that you all couldn't win.

Denise Allan Art

My Sunday Photo... Spring Snow

They say variety is the spice of life, well in that case I think we can safely say we've certainly had an abundance of spices today. 

We've had all the seasons rolled into one and here's the proof!

The sun is shining, but there's a flurry of snow every so often, with a little rain too.

If you look past the car you'll see some of the hundreds of daffodils that I planted last year.

This weather is certainly confusing to us, so I can only imagine what it is doing to the wildlife.

The poor birds are building nest in my nest boxes... I think they'll need lots of insulation at this rate.

Whatever the weather try to turn that frown upside down.

As usual I'm linking up with My Sunday Photo

Thanks for visiting my place today and I hope you're enjoying your weekend too.

Click, Click, Blooms

Well another week has started and I just can't believe that I actually missed Monday!

What's going on? 

I'm still getting to know my new camera and here's one shot that I managed, although I'm still a little disappointed that I had to take it through the window. 

As you can see... she knows I'm there but tolerating me.

It must be tasty pickings.

I'm hoping that over the summer months... she'll stay and allow me to take a photo from outside.

Here's a few more colourful shots to help brighten the day.

Even though we've had misty foggy days the signs are there that we have in fact entered Spring.

We just need the temperature to catch up too.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.

Today, I'm linking with Mersad over at Through my lens.

and Our World Tuesday

If you'd like to see more photographers work, then click on the link above.

Floral Good Friday... PPF

I'm going to keep today's post to the minimum because it is the long Easter weekend and the weather for today at last is fantastic.
I want to enjoy it because there's talk that rain is on the way tomorrow.

I thought I'd show you the finished 'Hello Spring' that I started last week.

I was inspired by watching the tutorial from Carrie's Misfit Artist blog.

Here's the link if you'd like to see more... click here

Plus I wanted to practice some lettering too. I did think I might have managed to paint an Happy Easter scene, but I went outdoors yesterday and cut the lawn instead. 

The garden is just waking up, so it'll be all go soon.

I really enjoyed painting these flowers and at some point that I'm not sure when, I took a different route and let my brush do as it pleased. 

It's always a little scary going off-piste, but then exciting things can happen. 

I'm pleased with the end result.

Keeping to the spring theme, I thought I'd take you on a little walk before you go.
Not quite an Easter egg hunt... that'll come on Sunday.

Here's Muffin enjoying the new smells of spring and taking an absolute age to walk 20 paw paces.
Stop and sniff on a whole new level.

But if there's sun anywhere... you can be sure she'll find it!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.
Happy Easter to all that celebrate.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you again soon.

As usual I'm joining in with the Paint Party Friday link.

Click above on the PPF link if you'd like to see more art. 

Thanks Eva and Kristin for hosting once again.
I'm also joining in with Alexandra's Sunday Sketches
For the first time I'm joining two new links... Try It On Tuesday with the theme of Nature
and lastly, the theme over at Moo Mania is spring.

My Sunday Photo... Spring

Miraculously I believe spring has remembered us... 

She's slowly creeping in a little more each day...

As usual I'm linking up with My Sunday Photo

and Through my lens

Thanks for visiting my place and I hope you're having a wonderful weekend whatever you have planned.

Have fun!

Spring came to call

I just couldn't contain my excitement today because spring came to call. 

It was a total surprise. I didn't expect it, but you can be sure that I made the most of it... and so did Miss Mufftypup!

Whilst she had a fantastic workout in the woods and a good run home, I spent a few hours outside tidying up the garden.

As you can see here in this little video clip, the birds were in fine voice. 

I missed capturing the geese flying over...yet another good sign of spring. 

They're returning back North!

I tried desperately to obtain a close up photograph of a robin, who was keeping me company as I worked. He was so close at times, busily trying to see what I might unearth, but as soon as I reached for my camera he flew!

I'm sure he was toying with me. 

I even uprooted some carrots that I'd forgotten about.

I thought they might have rotted away due to all of the wet weather we've experienced over the winter months, but I was pleasantly surprised. 

I dubiously pulled one and it was a really good (straight) specimen. 

So I pulled another... and that too was perfect.

They looked fantastic... I just hope they taste the same.

I hope you had an enjoyable start to the week. 

What's on your Workdesk Wednesday (WOYWW #306) Profusions of plants

I had better throw in my cap first to Julia and the WOYWW gang... I may be barred? 

But in my defence, I've had trouble with my laptop (twice), visitors and generally being the preverbial blue ***** fly!

 Just because I haven't posted what's on my desk (WOYWW) doesn't mean I haven't been peeking and thinking about you all.

It's funny how these blogging practices can grab a hold and hang on tight. 

I'm borrowing my son's laptop (again) for this post whilst he's distracted, but I'm aware I'm having to rush because I don't want to be responsible for him not completing an assignment or project. 

So with that in mind... here's my desk.

I was at a loss a few mornings ago. 

I knew I wanted to paint something but couldn't think what... and that's when the negative voice started screaming "well why bother anyway, you're always disappointed with the result" and "you know it's all brilliant in your head... the problem starts when you put the paper and paint in front of you".

Why is it that that negative voice no matter what it refers to is the loudest and the first to come forward. I'm very aware of this, so I gave it a sharp talking to. 

Thankfully silently to myself and not out loud, as I frighten everyone enough already!

Anyway... I picked some flowers out of the garden and started.
I got to that ugly stage and it was nearly time to say "okay you win" but I carried on and surprise surprise I actually like it!!! 

Woohoo

 I went to a watercolour workshop a few weeks ago and hopefully I'll be posting all about it sometime soon (probably when I can bribe more laptop time)

I've also been using a different desk over this week too.

It's the work bench in our garage. 

I've been creating hanging baskets and mangers. 

Yes it's that time already.

They won't be hanging outside for quite some time, but I was caught out last year by starting them too late and they had a job to catch up. 

So I'm ahead of the game... now we just need the right conditions 

(I know the south of the UK is enjoying fantastic temperatures this week, but that frosticle fiend can play cruel tricks) 

I'll not hang them out until at least the end of May and then only depending on conditions.

I came up with an ingenious idea of placing two mangers back to back in the wheel barrow. 

Too many times they have tumbled over and all the tender plants have been given an unwelcome short back and sides! 

Now they are stable and I can wheel them in and out to make the most of the sunshine, but tuck them up safe and sound at night. 

Brillent eh?

So that'll do for today (someone's lurking and wanting the laptop back) 

If you'd like to have a nosy around other talented creative people's desks then click here to be transported to Julia's Stamping Ground link.
I'm also linking up with Create with Joy

Have fun everyone and I hope to see you soon.

My Sunday Photo

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.

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