". Arranged Words: autumn
Showing posts with label autumn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label autumn. Show all posts

31 Oct 2023

Parade of Colour

 

                                                                       Sumacs 

Hi everyone,

Here we are surrounded by beauty. "All good things come to those who wait." Apparently still rings true. So pleased to witness the late autumn show. Nature is full of surprises. What a beautiful world we live in.



Generally I try and take photos off the beaten path, but not this time.  Absolutely adore these colours—straight out of nature's paint box.

                                                          
                                                                         Stunning


What a difference a day can make.
October 30th. Snow disappeared by early afternoon.



                       
Hallowe'en tonight so those ghostly looking rain drops could mean spooky goings on are afoot.

When I was a child I was taught to spell Hallowe'en with an apostrophe. Does anyone else remember this? It's not something you see anymore, but I really like the way it looks. Lends a touch of mystery to the proceedings.

             * * * 

                       Mr. Edgar Allan Poe--first airing, I think, of a drawing from several                                                                               years ago.
                         
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”  E.A. Poe.

Have a safe and Happy Hallowe'en!
              
'Til Next Time...Cultivate Your dreams

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17 Oct 2023

Autumn Has Arrived

Hi everyone,

 So far this year the autumn colours are not as intense as usual. Someone said it is because the summer was so hot. Still there are flashes of brightness here and there, and, perhaps, if the rain stays away, there's still time for the fall colours to put on a big show.

Temps are cool and the nights are, of course, closing in early. Time to cozy up with a throw and a good book in the evenings, or perhaps some knitting.


I've been busy farming pastel paintings for the juried art show in November.  I forgot to take a photo of them before framing. Now that they are behind glass it is not that easy to get a glare free photo. My son, at one time, had a small digital camera that had a function for taking photos behind glass. It worked so well.

 
          Probably no one wants to hear this, but since this is a diary of sorts, I can finally bring myself to say that my Mother (Celeste Mary) passed away in April. Mom was 99 years old, and she was exactly two months away from her 100th birthday. 
I know how fortunate we, as a family, were to have her with us for so long, but I do miss her so much.


                                           
                                            Have this photo on my list as a reference to paint from
                                                             I am thinking watercolour.

                                     
                                         I just love these ornamental cabbages. They've got style. 

                                                                   New England Asters.

                                                       Solomon Seal ~ Still pretty, I think.
                                                                     
                                                                     * * *

I recycled Pastelmat for this little painting. How? Well, you can actually wash off a painting that didn't work out, and begin again. Just rinse under water, and use some paper towel to remove more of the pastel and dry it off.  Then I usually place the Pastelmat inside paper towel and weight it down with books until it dries. Of course it doesn't come perfectly clean, and you can't add as many layers. Also, it is not as easy to paint on as the original paper, but it still works quite well.



'Til Next Time...
Enjoy Autumn or Spring wherever you may be.

Cultivate Your dreams

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26 Sept 2023

Mixing It Up

Fishing shacks in Blue Rocks, N.S.

   Hi Everyone,

 Two photos from hurricane Lee that recently blew over Nova Scotia.

                                                            A very good day to stay home.
 

                                  Autumn has arrived and the leaves are slowly changing. I'm always picking up leaves and such even when I say I won't.


                                    Came upon this welcome scene in the middle of the woods.


                                                                       Burning Bush

A lethargic bee

                                                With the temps dropping the bees are moving slowly. Great photo opportunity, but not good for the bees. I am not sure if these worker bees made it back to the hive.


                                                                           * * *

The Birdhouse Inn

The beautiful artwork today is by Jeanie who blogs at The Marmalade Gypsy. You can find Jeanie here. Jeanie sent me this delightful card as a thank you for being a winner of my recent giveaway.

 
Until Next Time...

                                                             Cultivate Your Dreams

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5 Sept 2023

All About Summer



Brockville in the Thousand Island.

Sails up ready for fare winds! Or was he/she just in a really hurry for lunch and a cool drink.

Hi everyone,

Labour Day raced by and I am happy to report we are still in the throes of summer.
Although autumn brings with it so many wonderful sights, sounds, smells, and well, just so much beauty, I like to hang onto summer until the equinox on September 22nd. Autumn can wait.

As you know, August always rushes in the front door and out the back door before you can say jack rabbit it seems. But it did make a pit stop for my birthday. Yes! Completed another milestone trip around the sun. I'm happy to report my birthday was a red letter day too!

 Moving on...I do have a name for the draw, but more about that later.

 
 
 Oh, photo might have been clearer...

As you can see, I was at a red light in a purple and green, backfiring (putt, putt) standard jalopy on a very steep hill--need I say more.


                         
       Just love doors/beautiful entryways. This one in particular looks so cheerful and welcoming. It is a hotel, so a lot of signage going on, but nevertheless I love how it looks. And how about those reflections in the window.
I could easily spend a night there, I reckon.


    
    Took a stroll down this street because one of the windows in this old wall holds a surprise that I've been wanting to get a photo of.


 
And here they are--horses of all things! What a in your face look.  Could they be stallions with something to prove?

        
                                            A front garden. 

 Although bountiful, and even though it isn't really small it brings to mind a quote from the Pride and Prejudice movie: "You have a very small garden, madam." 


Brilliant idea to create levels.


                                                                 
                                                                              * * *
 
From the sketchbook...
 

First time using Etcher sketchbooks. Rather good sketchbooks, I'd say.

Painted using some metallic and regular watercolours on a background of indigo.
I've been watching a few you tube videos on indigo dyeing. An artform in itself.
                    At some point, I will make a card out of this, I reckon.

 ~ And now to the draw. Drum roll...please Figaro! Oh, Figaro... F-I-G-A-R-O

Figaro the Magnificent fired up the random number generator and... he's happy to announce that the winner is: Marilyn. Figaro insisted on two winners. He loves giveaways! 
So the Second winner is: Jeanie. (Second winner will receive same print but one card will be different.)
Please contact Dixie with your addresses via email/contact form, so she can zoom down to the post office in the jalopy (asap) with your packages.

 A big thank you to all for your lovely comments on my last post and for your visits. You are appreciated.

Until next time...

                                               Cultivate your Dreams

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27 Sept 2022

An Ode to Summer


 Hi everyone,

Depending on your location, I hope you all had a lovely summer or winter and are looking forward to a change in season.

Our summer was hot one with a few extremes. For example, one day the temperatures reached 100.8 F/38.22 C, and the next day it was 64.4 F/18C. First time, I've experienced 100F heat here in this part of the world.
                                  
Here, just now, gold, red, and orange colours are busy painting the treetops.

                                                                * * *

Time to say a few words about the Queen Elizabeth II. She has been a constant in the world for such a long time. I am grateful that she was with us for so long, and that she left us at this time and not in 2020 when she would not have had a proper send off. What a remarkable lady she was. And she certainly kept her promise to serve whether her life was long or short. RIP beautiful Queen Elizabeth. You will be sorely missed.

                                                       
                                                             Wonderful cloud formations. 

                       Pictures taken in Brockville in the 1000 Islands, along the St. Lawrence River.




Tall Ships Landing.
                                                                    Tall Ships Landing

 I think you can buy a condo there for a cool million or more. 



Unfortunately, hurricane Fiona has wreaked havoc the whole way along its track and has also decimated parts of the Maritimes. My relatives live in different parts of Nova Scotia. The storm brought heavy rain and 150K winds to Nova Scotia, but it swerved into a different track, and they were spared the brunt of it. But a state of emergency has been declared for other parts of the Maritimes, and the military has been sent to access the situation. The Maritimes have ridden out many a hurricane, but nothing of this magnitude has been seen for several generations. 

In Newfoundland several homes were washed way, and there's widespread damage throughout Cape Breton and PEI. There are hundreds of thousands of people without power; hard working crews have been working fast in N.S. and half of 500,000 customers without power are, as I type, back online. 
My thoughts and prayers and with the people.
Also praying for the people of Puerto Rico and other areas that were devastated along the storm's tract.

* * *


                                           
                                                     Pastels on Pastelmat Archival Paper

                                                            
Unison's Botanical Set.
     
My birthday was in August, and so I was gifted these lovely pastels. Because pastels are so pretty, it takes time for me to remove the wrappers, snap them in half and begin a painting. 



 A swatch of eighteen beautiful Botanicals and the three extra colours I received for good measure.


Abstract acrylics




                                    Sun print/Cyanotype, Watercolour/mixed media, and Sunflowers.


Linking to Link Parties via my link party page. 

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                                  Until next time...Stay safe and sound and

       Cultivate Your Dreams



16 Nov 2021

All that Glitters



Hi Everyone,

Yellow/gold often gets overlooked when reds, oranges, greens and mixtures thereof take center stage in the fall. But those leaves have already dropped off the trees. And we are left with the staggering beauty of yellow/gold.

I didn't have to go far to capture this cheerful lot, proving that even when matted and wet certain things still look great.


All that is gold does not glitter,
   Not all those who wander are lost;
      The old that is strong does not wither,
       Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

  From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
  A light from the shadows shall spring;
    Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king.

— J.R.R. Tolkien, The Riddle of Strider, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

One of my favourite verses that speaks of caution, and hope among other things, including the old adage: "Don't judge a book by it's cover."  

 

Along with late leaves of gold, at this time of year, the sunsets flame with yellow as well.

                                                                  


                                                          Something yellow/gold.

Yellow has surprised me because the only piece of clothing I own is a pair of yellow finger less gloves you see above. (You can download my free knitting pattern here 

Further, a year ago, I would have empathically said, "I do not like yellow," but a look back tells a different tale. When I revamped my blog awhile a go, I added gold highlights. It seems while I wasn't looking, yellow/gold, has captured my heart.

The paintings above, others, and greeting cards are available here 

 

Until Next Time...

Cultivate Your Dreams

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