Happy New Year . . .

The snow has thawed & greenery is peeping through

as, at last i step out into the world again

after chritsmassy hibernations.

My thoughts half filled with delicious memories

cosy fires, candles & candy canes,

pantomine laughter, presents galore.

Precious family times indeed.

I step excitedly back into my dusty studio.

A world of inspiration awaits me here.

Books to be read, threads to be stitched

collected treasures waiting to be drawn. A backward glance at the old year now past

and a while to reflect on ups & downs

Blessings to be thankful for & lessons to be learnt.

Then i turn my head and its foward i go

a list of to do's as long as my arm.

To spend more days painting & sketching

is there at the very topmost!

Last year was so filled with "other" things.

Now, old Sketchbooks full of odd scribblings

patiently wait & new projects jostle in line.

So excited, my etsy shop is just about finished!

I shall let you know as soon as.

* * *

I do so hope everyone had wonderful christmasses

and i am sending wishes for a bestest of New Years

x x x

merry christmas . . .

wishing everyone a wonderful warm & love filled christmas

x x x

light & dark . . .

Such a frost coated winter solstice.

From today onwards . . .

slowly & surely

the daylight will creep back into our homes the dark will draw back to hide under its covers till next time

the beginning & the endings

enjoy

x

red & gold & white . . .

in amongst all the sparkling loveliness of the snow & ice

i have been snuggled in my studio

i have been mixing deep & glowing colours

to keep me warmer still,

christmas stars in velvety skies

christmassy trees, full of heartfelt messages

and christmas dancing angels, to bring smiles of joy

i have also been amending disasters, this last month

my red & unruly hair seems to be a thing

hairdressers have never been able to tame,

by cut or colour, as you see below, sighs

at last i am relenting & returning to my natural untamed state

(top right & bottom left, is where i'm at just now)

do other redheads have the same problem i wonder?

At the end of each beautiful day

wonderful frosty sunsets send me indoors with

a smile on my face

x x x

Palaces & Peacocks . . .

Time out was so very long overdue

but at last we found ourselves travelling

North to Perth, the fair city, ready to explore. The beautiful sandstone "Scone Palace"

(pronounced sku'n ) was saved until last.

The crowning place of many ancient Scottish kings

amongst them, Macbeth & later Robert the Bruce in 1306

We stood & imagined the echoes of ancient voices at moot hill

as the kings sat upon the Stone of Scone

to receive their crowns. We strolled under the Autumn sun glittered on lawns

where once stood the village of Scone. Sadly landscaping in 1802

meant moving the whole village 2 miles away! The only reminders

now are the Mercat cross & mossy stones in the ancient graveyard.

We wandered amongst gardens discovering albino peacocks

stopped in at the coffee shop for warm drinks

& then tried to lose ourselves in the beech maze.

All in all a wonderfully relaxing weekend away.

Time out for Mr O & i, from all the other things

we find ourselves being from day to day.
x x x