My Sunday Photo... Summer's arrived.

Today felt like the first day of summer. 

Herons flying overhead towards the river, the swallows have returned and best of all, there's new life in some of our bird boxes, all accompanied by the sound of buzzing from busy bees going about their business. 

We enjoyed warm sunshine, appreciated the perfumed blooms and even enjoyed sitting outdoors eating an ice-cream.

Sometimes there's even a reward at the end of the day of a beautiful sunset. 

Now it's time to link up 'My Sunday Photo' with Photoalife once again.
Thanks for popping into my place. I hope you have a great Sunday.

Home and Away... PPF

Did you miss me?

I bet you never even noticed I was missing.

We had to make a quick getaway to visit a sick relative, but we arrived back home yesterday. 

There's masses to catch up on here... washing, weeding and wondering where to start first, so unfortunately I haven't any of my own art to share this week. 

But I did say that I'd post a photo of the window that my daughter was painting whilst on holiday in Berlin.

The reflection in the window above is the artist at work... so intent and concentrating. 

(If you'd like to see more artwork then click here) 

I love to see an artist's desk. 

There's something very comforting about it... I just wish it was mine.

Still now I'm back I hope I can find my mojo. 

It must be in one of my bags because I've unpacked and haven't come across it yet. 

I hope I haven't left it behind! (gulp)

So to finish up today I thought I'd add some photo's from my time away.

One delight was coming across a little Jenny Wren nest in a garden shed. 

I've tweaked the photo in order to make it lighter, so that you can see the baby birds.

They are nearly ready to fledge and there twittering noises were quite loud from Mum trying to entice them out of the nest.

I couldn't resist capturing this view. 

The Welsh hill's are off far in the distance. 

This was an apple blossom tree. 

Blossom tree's are nearly always photographed with beautiful pink or white blooms, but I liked the idea of capturing it in a different light.

We were visiting someone who was quite sick at the time, so maybe that was just the feeling at the time. 

On a lighter note here's a photo of Muffy on her holidays.

I think she liked soaking up the warmer weather.

She's in serious need of a grooming session which thankfully if booked for next week.

I'm actually carrying her here because she refused to walk on the gritty country lane. 

It was quite difficult to do... but I like the end result. 

I'll leave you here now and link up with Eva and Kristin as usual over at PPF

Hopefully I'll visit lots of desks and artwork this week. 

Plus I hope to make up for lost time and manage to produce some art.

Have fun and thanks for stopping by my place. 

I wish you a wonderful creative week ahead. 

My Sunday Photos... My Sister's Garden

  I'm away visiting family at the moment, so I've not had much time to write blog posts, but here's a few photo's from my sister's garden. 

There are actually three squirrels that visit the garden regularly.

The top quality birdseed might have something to do with it!

Both my sister and I haven't got a clue as to what the above plant is called, but if you know then please put us out of our misery and let us know in the comments below. 

 The orchid is on it's second flowering. 

It obviously likes the kitchen windowsill.

 Here's the beautiful pink ballerina ... the fuchsia.

And finally the bluebells. 

Don't you just love spring?

Muffin's certainly enjoying her holiday... she's even had a brief holiday romance with Dexter!

But she's sworn me to secrecy.

And tomorrow there's to be a new puppy introduced to the family.

No doubt there'll be photo's soon.

Welcome 'Woody'

Now it's time to link up 'My Sunday Photo' with Photoalife once again.

I'm also linking up with Mersad over at Through my lens

Have a wonderful weekend and I hope to be back again soon.

My Sunday Photo... Clematis

Well here we are again... it's Sunday.

Time to link up 'My Sunday Photo' with Photoalife once again.

This week I couldn't resist posting this photo of a clematis flower which had broken off the main plant. I was sitting at my table when I noticed the sunlight shining on it. 

I'm afraid that the photo doesn't do it justice... it seemed to glow in the sunlight and I loved the reflection through the glass.

Thanks for visiting my place... it's always great to see you.
Today I'm also linking up with Mersad over at Through my lens

I hope you are enjoying your weekend. 

Have fun!

Friday 13th ... PPF

I haven't had much time for art this past week, so I thought I'd show you my daughter on holiday in Berlin! Doesn't everyone whilst having a coffee gain a commission to decorate the cafe shop window?

She's in her element and loving Berlin. 

I hope she remembers to show the window when it's finished so that I can show you. 

Thanks Black Sheep Cafe

If you'd like to see more of my daughters work then click here to visit her.

Her website is undergoing reconstruction at the moment. 

There aren't enough hours in the day apparently!

Now on to more serious issues...

I need your advice this week peeps... the momentous day has arrived. 

My hubby has finally decided to retire! 

ARGH!

He's been thinking about it for some months now, but today Friday 13th is the day! 

That date has an ominous ring to it in my opinion, don't you think? 

So, basically how do I survive?

Any tips, advice or general info would be appreciated. 

I did practice some lettering... on his cake.

I've never know such tricky icing though. 

The gold icing had a very weird consistency.

So that's about it for this week.

Thanks for popping into my place. 

I hope you have a wonderful creative weekend. 

Enjoy xoxo

My Sunday Photo... Sunset

It's been quite some time since we've seen a beautiful sunset here.

Yesterday was the first time, so to celebrate I thought I'd post it for my Sunday Photo and link up with Photalife.

The ruin you can see in this photo is part of an old barn that is actually situated in my garden. 

I love this reminder of days gone by, when the grounds were part of a working farm.
Today I'm also linking up with Mersad over at Through my lens,

Thanks for stopping by my place.

I hope you enjoy glorious sunrises and sunsets in this coming week. 

Caravaning Capers... PPF

Have you ever been stuck on a country road, going uphill behind a caravan?

Did you manage to keep calm or did you or the driver look like they were going to interally combust, because obviously you needed to get to that destination in the shortest time possible.

I remember when I was young that the caravans always seemed to struggle up hill or weaved slightly, which made all other drivers around rather nervous.

So imagine my disbelief when my sister announces that she and her husband are to become caravaners! 

It's something that I thought I'd never, ever hear, but apparently they are so excited.

I must admit listening to her talk about all of the pros, I'm 'slightly' in agreement that there maybe 'something' in this pursuit. 

But I hasten to add only 'slightly'!

 (I'm being generous here because after all she's my sister)

Remember I've never been camping in any shape or form... and I class caravans only just above a tent. 

But there you are... they're excited and are on the hunt for the right caravan for them, and then they will be taking to the open road. 

I've been informed that 

caravans are completely different these days and can travel at a reasonable speed... and up hill to boot!

So for this week's artwork I couldn't resist sending them a little congratulatory caravaning card.

I've never heard of this kind of card before... but then what do I know about caravaning? 

Diddlysquat apparently!

My son was rather bothered that I'd parked the caravan on an apparent sheer cliff face, but I told him he's being over cautious. It'll be fine! (gulp)

I've printed copies of my sister and her hubby's faces from a photograph, so that they can actually be in the caravan, but obviously I can't post their image here, as I haven't asked their permission. 

(Which is something that I always do... but this is to be a surprise) 

The card is on it's way to them today, so I hope that it arrives before she sees this post. 

I placed some kitchen paper over their faces for now, but I'm thinking it looks like net curtains.

Obviously, when she opens the envelope she'll get the full impact photo and all...and it hopefully will give her a good giggle.

I thought I'd use the opportunity to practice some more lettering on the inside of the card.

If you visited last week and saw my poor videoing skills sketching (click here if you'd like to see)

I did promise some readers that I'd show the sketch when it was finished. 

So that's it for this week folks...

I'd love to hear any of your caravaning cappers if you have had any... or what you've done recently to pass on a giggle. 

I'll be linking up with Eva and Kristin as usual over at PPF

If you'd like to see more art just click on the PPF link above.

I'm also linking to Alexandra's Sunday Sketches 

Until we meet again... have fun and keep smiling.

xoxo

My Sunday Photo... Tulip

Now how is that for a wonderful blast of spring?

I think that this particular tulip looks like it's been painted by an artist.

The splashes and sweeps of red coming from the artist flamboyant brush strokes.

I finally have been able to spend some time in the garden today and it was fantastic to feel the warmth of the spring sun and to see beautiful blooms putting on a show. 

As usual I'm linking up with My Sunday Photo
with Mersad over at Through my lens,
I heart Macro and Wordless (on Tuesday at image-in-ing)

Camera... Action - PPF

Hello everyone... can you believe that it's Friday! 

Woohoo and a long Bank Holiday weekend for some too.

Normally you'd expect good weather for the May Bank Holiday, but once again we had snow and hail storms today. 

Seriously will it ever warm up?

Can I just say please don't judge me... once you see the video below you'll know what I mean.

I thought I'd distract myself from the weather and have a little play by trying to make a video whilst drawing.

To say I got a little worked up about it, possibly was an understatement.

I really don't like any part of me to be in front of the camera. 

I'd much rather be behind the lens. 

The drawing will be used as a draft because basically it just isn't good enough. 

I think I was too conscious of the camera instead of enjoying the journey of creating. 

Usually my mind wanders to I know not where and I feel thoroughly de-stressed after finishing a drawing... but not today. 

Anyway here it is....

Because this video doesn't really show the sketch here's a photo of it.

But as I mentioned it isn't finished yet... there's still more work to be done. 

I've had two weeks of appointments, but finally I'm free now, so hopefully I'll be able to spend some time doing some serious painting soon. 

Especially if this weather continues, because quite frankly there's no way that I'll be spending any time in the garden until the temperature starts to rise.
I'll be linking up with the Paint Party Friday group if you'd like to see some stunning artwork then click here.

I'm also linking into Alexandra's Sunday Sketches

Thank you for visiting today.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you again soon.

Whatever the Weather

Name any kind of weather and I bet you I can confirm that we've experienced it here today.

We've had rain, sleet, snow, sunshine, thunder and lightening... all accompanied with an Arctic blast of freezing wind!

The sort of wind that my Mother used to call 'a lazy wind'

The kind of wind that doesn't go around you... it just goes straight through!

I remember December was so much warmer than this.

If at any time today I looked out of the window, it definitely looked like we were in the grip of winter. 

But along with this changeable weather, we've seen some spectacular sights... from the sun kissed snow capped mountains, with dramatic stormy cumulus clouds behind them adding to the drama, to the beautiful snowflakes drifting slowly down to earth making a white magical landscape. 

But my favourite sight of the day, was to see the local roe deer sparing. 

Not quite rutting, but perhaps practicing for tougher bouts ahead. 

I think it's possibly a yearling (or young male) testing his strength against an older buck. 

The younger deer has been taunting and baiting the elder all afternoon. 

There is a doe (female) involved, but she got bored with the proceedings and after finishing eating, she wandered off to possibly take a snooze in the thick yellow flowering gorse.

Meanwhile, the boys were tearing around the field and didn't even notice her departure. 

I did think at one stage that I really should go to set up my video camera... but then I thought I'd rather watch and enjoy them, than miss it whilst searching for the camera.

Yesterday, I witnessed the female chasing off a fox, who had obviously come into her personal space.

Later this afternoon, I was rewarded by the deer coming right up to our boundary to nibble on some new shoots.

Stunning isn't he? 

I'm getting so used to them walking nearby now, so much so that I'm thinking of names for them!

They have the habit of visiting up near the house at night time too, whilst we are sleeping. 

Well we are until they set off the intruder light! 

I hope your week is going well and that you have been able to appreciate nature too in some form or another.

Today, I thought I'd link up with Our World Tuesday and Wordless (on Tuesday at image-in-ing)

I hope you enjoyed your visit here today and will come back soon.

Hopefully, I'll have some springiness to share with you.