A work of art....

Sending out a big bloggy THANK-YOU today to sweet Susanna Gordon of Susanna's Sketchbook. She is the creator of the winged messenger series. These comforting letters of hope have found their way around the globe via willing photographers and continue to do so. I was lucky enough to receive a set of my own to photograph. Susanna is a wonderful photographer in her own right too and I always enjoy visiting her blog to see what new images she is sharing. I am just one of many people saying gracias to Susanna today:) You can see more of these lovely soul lifters in this flickr group, "a message with wings"

presented by...Isabel, Shelagh, Robin, Relyn, Megan, Susan, Kristin, LiLi, Mo'a, Madelyn,Constance ,Shin, Leslie, Bonnie, Christina, Gillian, Olga,Elizabeth, Angie, and Rachel...

poppies blow, between the crosses....

let it snow

My first winter painting this year.
Anna and Scottie find a new friend....
.....on eBay now :)

Tuesday

I've just come in from raking leaves and my arms feel like they are dragging on the ground:) We are having a bit of a weather reprieve and I thought it would be a good idea to go out and finally get it done. I tend to wait until ALL the leaves are off the trees, so it is a big job but then it is over. Well almost over, there are always stragglers.
I've got a pot of chicken soup on the stove for lunch and then time to hit the brushes:)
Ohh, yes, I went to see Coco Avant Chanel.... Wonderful film. Go see it if you are an Audrey Tatou fan, a romantic, love lush backgrounds, period pieces, creativity, fashion and France!

15 Things

Monty senses the excitement in the air! Remember a while back I mentioned a swap organized by Susan called 15 things? Well ......I received mine! The doorbell rang a few days ago and a mysterious package was handed over to me by a handsome postman:)

Look how lovely all the gifts are.... Wasn't sure if there was a special day we were supposed to open.... I couldn't wait.


Monty knew there was a reason to be happy. One of the packages was especially addressed to him!


I am thrilled with all my goodies!!! Thanks so much Pamela!!


Here is the 15 list.....old-fashioned, delicious, natural, salty, sweet, cat, dog, culinary, green,sparkly,useful, paper, scented, soft, garden. Can you guess what is what?

North Star Cove

Available now on eBay...

Brr, it's nippy out today...not at all like this wee painting:) At least the sun is shining!

Friday again

Isn't it marvelous how light can transform! This stopped me in my tracks the other day and I had to go find my camera. My kitchen counter turned into art:)

Not much light today......rain turned snow, then sleet and now back to rain...
Sun is forecast for the weekend so this will all be gone again, and I can get those leaves raked up and tidied away for the winter. I tend to not bother raking until all the leaves are down, do it in one big sweep:)

Went to the symphony last night! What a treat:) Thanks Tammi.
Have a great weekend!

Wednesday

middle of the week reflections....

Loving my new haircut:)
Looking forward to the symphony tomorrow night. A friend won tickets and I am the lucky gal who gets to accompany her:)
Making headway on the paper filing situation:)
Did another large painting and 1/2 of one more
Got lots of exercise, my knee hurts :(
Ate too many cheesies. Darn those orange beasties!
Gotta get the snow tires on my car
Oh yes, saw David Copperfield on Monday...interesting,... he seemed a bit tired/jaded but still can pull those major tricks out of his hat.

Hope you are having a productive week!

Monday, Monday...

Monday morning, back to routine. November is here. I like November, a quiet month of settling in, getting used to the darkness before winter really sets in. I have a lot of decluttering I want to do....... don't I always:) Do you a sense of deja vu visiting here? Always the same goals. I get started and then drift off the path but the really important thing is to get back on it again. Right? Right.

No more Hallowe'en candy. More exercise, that's a big one now with the BustaMove event looming ever closer. Pop over to the sidebar to see what it is all about. I'd love it if you might consider sponsoring me.

Meditation. I am always wanting to get back to that consistently. Everything I read about the benefits makes sense. I love it when I do it. Just have to make...myself...sit....still. Ohmmm.

Painted a large canvas yesterday 18 x 24" and I have it hanging in my living room. Love it. I am thinking of trying to do a large series and possibly getting them hung in a... "dare I say it"... gallery! Just a thought. Putting it out there.

These two pictures are of Barrington Street. Taken from inside the Old Burying Ground.

Dia de Blogandia

Happy Day of the Dead, All Souls' Day...........November 1st!
Inspired by Susanna and Stephanie , I thought I would celebrate El Dia de los Mortes by sharing some interesting graveyard art. Generally the festivities involving All Souls Day are full of colour and warmth, this series is rather lacking in colour but full of the "spirit"of the day:) These pictures were all taken at the Old Burying Ground in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Here is a list of almost all who are buried here.

The one below has a protective covering on the top to stop it from deteriorating.





The headstones range in age from the 18th century to the 19th century. It was created in the 16th century. It is interesting to see linked themes in the carved stone and how they change as the years pass. In the earlier stones, you can see the guide lines the carver etched into the rock to keep the words straight. God bless all these folk, Martha, Susanna, Elizabeth and others...










This is a masonic headstone of course. The all seeing eye perched at the top. The decorated scroll on the left but not the right. Full of symbolism but I haven't a clue what it means.

Last but not least, this picture is a detail of my great Grandfather, William McLean's headstone in Scotland. He was a renowned fiddler. It was carved by his son.