Leaning Towards Spring

 

 

Hi there,

I am happy to say it looks like spring out there.

Along with spring, it's my 8th year blog anniversary. A big thank you to everyone who follows and/or visits my blog. Like countless other Bloggers, I can happily say that blogging has enriched my life. I have met many wonderful people and made dear friends in blog land.  A big thank you for reading along. I really do appreciate it. 

In July, Feed burner will no longer send my email followers notification of my new posts. Does anyone know of a free program that will take over this task?  If you are on my email list, you can choose to follow along using a reader such as Bloglovin. Personally I like Feedly. In the meantime, I hope to find a new program to transfer my email followers to. I will keep you posted. 

              Not much greenery yet on the farms. I'd love to tour that old house with the cupola way back                                                                               there in the field.

Dare I mention Covid?  (Skip if you wish.) I know everyone has reached their upper limit when it comes to this topic. But, compared to other countries, we are lucky to have supplies, and here, in Canada, the vaccines are trickling in. We are not out of the woods, or in any way in an ideal situation, but military and Red Cross workers are on their way to help alleviate some of the strain in the hospitals here in Ontario. The wonderful nurses and doctors must be somewhat relieved that some help is on the way.

   Further, we are in lockdown again, and there are a few cases of Covid in the building I live in. However, I am scheduled to receive my first vaccine on Friday. That thought gives me a feeling of lightness and trepidation at the same time. Trepidation because I don't get along well with the flu shot. (I'm keeping up positive vibes for this vaccine though.) It may be late fall or later before everyone gets a second vaccine. My second jab will fall on birthday in the middle of August. ( The best gift, I reckon. The gift of life.)

In some parts of the U.S., fully vaccinated people are having dinner with friends and family.  So keep the faith. It will get better. Soon...very soon.

The Trout Lilies with their yellow bonnets are blooming. Earlier, the wildflowers didn't look like they would amount to much because we had some very warm temperatures and no rain early on. Then came two days of snow which the Trout Lilies and other wildflowers seem to love. 

What a heart warming sight!

* * * 

From the Art Corner

Watercolour book marks.

                                                              

                                                             Pastel on Pastelmat paper.

                      I felt the urge to be bold with this painting. I've been following an Instagram account that post sunrises and sunsets pictures from Australia and New Zealand. Such amazing beauty!  So I am sure the colourful inspiration for this painting comes from admiring those stunning pics.

                              I hope everyone is well and enjoying spring or fall, or the tropics!

                                                                         'Til Next Time...

                                                                   Cultivate Your Dreams

Linking to Link Parties via my link party page. Thank you, ladies, for hosting.

Drawing From Nature

May 24, 2016

A new to me wildflower. I think it's Bellwort.

What a wonderful weekend. Needless to say I was out and about admiring all the new growth.  Just  look at those greens! I recently read that nature walks are one of the best things to do for your health.  Apparently being out in nature decreases stress and is instrumental for sound mental health and overall well-being. I wanted to say: really? I mean really! To me that is self evident. (Although I have met people who absolutely detest leaving the sanctity of their homes and gardens and they are well and happy souls.) Speaking of gardens, they are another refuge...a sanctuary in the midst of it all.  It must boil down to what ever makes your heart sing. For me, that can be nurturing a house plant too, but I do love to take a walk in the woods. It renews and invigorates and, for me, is absolutely essential.

* * *

Last year on a walk through the marsh I met a grandfather (?) with a teenage girl who was boo hooing profusely about the bugs, (where where they?) the heat ( it was hot) and on and on it went. Secretly, I send her a message of good will, hoping that if she calmed down enough she might notice something to appreciate...something to pique her sense of curiosity and wonder.  Of course, I also wanted to say crease and desist, but I thought, as the fussing increased long after I should have been out of ear shot, that just might take a village.  ;)

Wild geranium

Violets

 A fungus surrounded by Solomon's Seal

Sketches...

Now and then I randomly decorate a few of my shoppe order envelopes.

Walking Fern. Difficult to tell which end is which. They creep along the ground.

I hope to paint these two soon.

Lately my ipad often refuses to let me leave a message on your blogs, and sometimes it's difficult to tell, especially if you have comment moderation on.  So if you haven't heard from me in awhile it's not because I haven't been trying. (I've used my other computer recently.)  What's surprising is that it doesn't seem have much of a problem if I try and post a comment on WordPress...what's up with that?  

 Enjoy the week...

Year One ~ Reflections

Celebrator fare:  green tea and French Madelines.

I can't believe it! One year has passed since I started blogging. Although the time has flown by, in the beginning, like most new bloggers, I agonized over every post; but I am glad I took the leap because I've learned a lot and I've met some fabulous folks.

Not that I wasn't looking before, but this year, in particular, I've wandered across so many beautiful blogs that I really enjoy reading. Thank you bloggers!  

Finally, my hat goes off to those bloggers who post informative posts everyday or nearly everyday, with great pictures and content and still care about and find time to stop by to visit the new kids on the block. Long may you run!

Thanks for reading...