"In the Air

    
 Hi Everyone,

     Spring appears to be in the air one day and gone the next. Fierce March winds have been blowing everything about. But I don't mind the wind. I love to hear it blow and it helps the snow disappear.

In March, long ago, skipping along as children we always said over and over, "March winds, April showers, bring forth May flowers."  In this ever changing world, I am glad to report that that still holds true.  

"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade."

Charles Dickens

I haven't seen a robin yet. Too early I suspect. I do open a window in the morning and listen for their songs. So far I've heard: Geese (love to hear  and see the geese flying over) and Crows and Starlings. Crows and Starlings are not the best singers, but a bird has to start somewhere.

           

                                                                  * * *

From the Easel and other Tall Tales.

                                                

          Pastel on dark maroon Pastelmat paper. I thought I had ordered all one colour. Surprises are good though. 

I've heard of the Sketchbook Project, and I was surprised to receive this in the mail. It's from Brooklyn Art Library in New York. Why am I surprised? Well, because I didn't order it. (Just to be sure, I checked my Visa.) I assume some lovely person had it sent to me. So whoever you are (I have my suspicions) I would like to thank you personally, so please let me know who you are. For now, I thank you so much!  And I appreciate your kindness.

Rules: Art must remain within the 5 x 7 inch parameters, no gesso, and you can opt to have it digitized.

The library also has a bookmobile and they drive across the country, now and then, with the collection. Mine's from Volume 18 and it must be sent in by August 31, 2021. I may fill it with flowers. Decisions, decisions.

Printing Cards       

          

I haven't printed cards for awhile, so it took some time. My notes are geared towards someone who knows exactly what they are doing, or wants to begin in the middle of things.  And sometimes you just need to go back to square one.

                                          

I hope you all have a very Happy Easter! 

                         'Til next time                                         

                                                Cultivate Your Dreams

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

 

Blog Anniversary and A Free Bookmark

Looks like spring inside. So I'll keep that positivity going. Actually, the temperatures are due to rise by the end of the week. And they will go up again the following week so we will soon have lovely weather. Speaking of spring, the robins have arrived. I haven't heard any singing yet though, but I bet they will be singing next week. O, can't wait!

A cheerful faced pansy.

Besides painting and drawing, I've been making a few items with paper clay. Trinket dishes and  needle minders painted with acrylic paint. Now, I'm on the lookout for thin magnets for the needle minders.

On April 21st I will have been blogging five years.  I wish you could all join me for tea and madelines to celebrate. What a lovely day that would be!

Over the past while, I've been thinking about what to giveaway to thank all of you, and since I would like everyone who reads along to have something, I decided on a printable bookmark.
Since I am not savvy with Photoshop type programs, there was a definite learning curve. Thank goodness for You Tube videos. I wrote everything down so maybe, just maybe, I can repeat the process sometime.

Once you've printed the bird on card stock, cut the "Spread the Love Birdie" out along the dotted line. If desired, use a hole punch to punch a hole through the top and thread with pretty ribbon.

Print Birdie Here 

 Nary a straight word in sight. An adrift day. Perhaps. Because the paper is delicate, and even though I wrote the original quote in pencil, I could not erase it. But I like it anyway.

Thank you my lovely blogging pals and readers for reading along! 

 Enjoy...

xo

Cultivate your dreams.

First There Was a Robin and then . . .

Hi there,

Since I generally post on Tuesday, I can't believe it's not Tuesday.  It came and went without me, but, hey, thinking it's Tuesday must mean something. :) Moving on . . . to Spring! We've had it all weather wise. It's been very hot and it's also been unseasonably cold with a lot of rain. Perfect weather, it seems, for a beautiful spring.

Always on the outlook for whatever nature puts on display, I was lucky to happen upon a mother robin and her nest. I haven't seen robins' eggs since I was child. And what can you really say about robin's egg blue? It's the prettiest colour.

Not on her watch. Alert and on guard. I didn't want to upset her too much so I've waited awhile and then made a fast trip in to see her babies.

Two fat chicks, tucked in a warm nest and growing like weeds with the help of a package of mealy bugs and two hard working, diligent parents. Robins never use a nest twice. And these parents could raise two more families this year. Lined with mud (how many trips does it take?) and once that's dry, last year's dry grasses up the snuggle effect. The papa bird brings materials, but the female builds the nest. She's a wonderful artist. The grasses are spread out on the sides and the bottom with a real flare.

Flora ...

Lilacs

 Hostas. Wish they were mine.

Pretty in pink.  A Hawthorn tree.

Solomon's Seal

Once again, lovely ferns on the grow. So fresh and green. I can't help it, I am crazy about them.

The wetlands are actually wet this year. Drained for three years to kill off the cattails, it's, once again, brimming with water. The tadpoles are jumping and the frogs are loving it. What a chorus! 

 * * *

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Turtles."

Art for art's sake...

A mock up of violets. Very soon there will be an art show at the mall. I'd like enter two paintings, so I better get back to the painting board.

And finally, this lucky marsh wren was chosen for the spring show and flew off to the local gallery. 

I hope you are all enjoying spring, or if you are down under a wonderful fall.

Thank you so much for visiting. . .hope to see you on Instagram too. Let me know if you are there.

Enjoy . . .

Hello Spring

Hi there,

Yesterday was the first day of spring. And late last week three feet of snow fell; it will be awhile before we see blossoms like these, but, hey, a girl can dream. The good news: each day brings with it twelve hours of daylight.

A snowy white world.

Recently, I was hanging out at a bird feeder, but most of the birds were too fast for me and my camera. Since I can't take pictures with gloves on, my hands were freezing but I enjoyed watching my feathered friends.
*

The robins have arrived and they look bewildered because of the snow. I saw two pecking at old berries. If the temps stay above zero, hopefully the snow will melt soon and they can get to the business of feeding on succulent worms. In the meantime, they could use some help. As far as I know they will eat raisins, apple slices, berries and the pet stores should have meal worms for sale.

A Starling tries to get a big mouthful of seeds. Obviously, he thinks he can snip the wires with his beak, or maybe he's just angry because he's hungry.

I emailed a few photos and a photo of a painting off to Vistaprint to have stickers and this calendar made. Not quite the calendar I had in mind, but it will do for this year. In case you are thinking of getting stickers ( not shown) made from photos, the high gloss are very nice.

WIP ~ A Botanical Blue

The mess on the desk. Yes, I've been drawing aliens too. Meet Srinda and Zelgog.

Apparently radio signals have been coming in from a certain area in the Milky Way. Speculation is rife. So far I've heard it may be from a neutron star (Hence the star in my cartoon drawing), stellar bursts, etc. etc. Further speculation:  the signals may be from a planet in the Goldilocks zone ( not too hot, or to cold).  All that info made my head hurt and drove me to doodle aliens. :^)

"Spring has returned.  The Earth is like a child that knows poems."-Rainer Maria Rilke

And . . . from yours truly.

Cultivate a dream.

Thanks for reading along.  Have a lovely week . . .

On the Move

I've been moving, but when I take my head out of a box, I've found a little time to knit here and there. And this weekend, after my books are unpacked and put in order, I may reward myself with a marathon viewing of Pride and Prejudice. It's high time!

Two days ago, I saw two robins. Since we are still inundated with snow, I am not sure what they are eating, [poor things] but what a welcome sight!

Enjoy the weekend...