Virtual Coffee Tuesday - What a difference...

... a week makes!

The Mother's Day chocolates have gone from this...

... to this!

(I have had only a few - honest!!)

This brave little guy has gone from this...

... to this :(

BUT...

My magnolia has gone from this...

... to this!!!!

And the blooms smell h-e-a-v-e-n-l-y...

I so wish there were smelly-vision and you could scratch-n-sniff!!

The downside of Spring continuing to bloom is my hayfever is gathering momentum... I am now on two inhalers, a nasal spray and cetirizine tablets... It's going to be a very long 6 months until it abates... *sigh*

And already my energy levels are depleting, which is why I haven't dropped by your blogs this week to follow up all your lovely comments from last week. So apologies for that...

But I hope to pace myself better this week and visit you all over at Amy's...

With much love xxx

Virtual Coffee Tuesday - You're in luck...

... there are loads of choccies left to enjoy with your coffee :)

On Sunday, it was Mother's Day in the UK, and I got a BIG box of Thornton's chocs from Sam, and this from Esther...

I never got to see it in the cinema, and didn't know what to expect... but wow! they did a great job! Though, I'm not sure about the 12 rating... anyway, E and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I got lovely cards...

and flowers...

... so I was thoroughly spoilt :)

And Spring is definitely on the way here!

A neighbour's trees are full of blossom...

... daffodils are everywhere...

Our tulips are in bud...

... except this little guy, who just can't get enough of the intermittent sunshine :)

And THE best bit - my beloved magnolia is budding!!

I can't wait for it to bloom :)

And Mother Nature cannot be thwarted... I found these little beauties round the back of the shed!!

I so hope you've had a good weekend... and I hope, whatever the weather in your part of the world, these images will assure you that Spring WILL come, just as sure as there are glimmering good moments in every situation...

And I end this post with a wish and a prayer for this young man

Fabrice Muamba is 23 and plays for Bolton Wanderers football club... on Saturday, while my Dad and I were watching the football on TV, Fabrice just collapsed... it was a heart attack... medics were on the pitch in seconds - they had to use a defibrillator and mouth to mouth - and it took several minutes to stabilize him enough to move him...

The latest news is he is still in ICU in a critical condition, but he is breathing on his own... Fabrice was born in Zaire (now the Republic of Congo), and he and his family fled the regime there, when he was 11. He grew up in a war zone, but survived... now I hope he can begin the  long,slow road to a full recovery... with prayers and expert medical care...

With love xxx


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IA Challenge - Vintage Photography

Well, this WAS a challenge!!!

I took this photo from the internet (sadly, I cannot remember where I found it...) It's of an Argus camera - it looks rather 1960s to me...

... and attempted a sketch...

Oh my!!

It's all squiffy... and circles are hard enough to draw freehand, but with my left hand!! *sigh*

I guess, the kindest thing I can say, is it does look like a camera, just not a very realistic one...

Still, I am keeping up with my daily sketches, and the whole point of a challenge is to try...

I'm sure there will be a plethora of inspirational interpretations of this week's challenge over at the Inspiration Avenue, so do drop by for a look after Sunday's deadline...

In the meantime, I'll keep sketching, but I think I'll stick to more organic subjects, like this doodle from yesterday evening done while watching the footie on TV...

Wishing you a wonderful Friday, and a fun weekend xxx

Virtual Coffee Tuesday - Are you sitting comfortably...

... then, I'll begin...

First, I need to get you a drink to enjoy with the nutty chocolate I made at the weekend...

I adore this stuff - a blend of 70% and 81% chocolate and dried, unsalted fruit and nuts *sigh* I keep it in the fridge, so it's extra crunchy :)

So, now we're settled with our beverages of choice, how's your week been? The days just evaporate, don't they? Friday I posted my first sketch in this book...

... it wasn't the greatest success, but I've persevered... The 5x7 pages are divided in half, so the sketching space is quite small, and not too intimidating, and I've sketched each day... here's a couple...

... in coloured pencils... and this is today's in ordinary pencil...

It's a sketch of this model in a catalogue which arrived in the post this morning...

The clothes are from Saltwater, and you can actually flick through it online here. It's their Artists and Potters of St Ives collection, and I want EVERYTHING!!!

I'm keeping the little catalogue, because it's beautifully produced with lovely pencil sketches interspersed with the photos... and one day, I WILL go to St Ives myself to experience the light and the creative atmosphere...

Well, as you well know, we Brits simply have to talk about the weather...

We had a mini heatwave on Sunday - got up to 18C - so we had a BBQ for dinner! Crazy, I know! But it didn't last, so yesterday and today, we've been shrouded in damp mist... *sigh*

So, to while away the time, I've been answering the first questions on the Your Truest Self course over on my other blog... while listening to my favourite Joni Mitchell album Song to a Seagull, which apparently was her debut album back in 1968!!!!!

Here's the opening track...





And I just might put the album on again, while I enjoy your stories over at Amy's...


With love xxxx

Friday Fun - From the ridiculous...

... to the sublime...

This arrived in the post today...

I'd forgotten I'd ordered it... in a belated New Year moment, I thought 'I want to draw every day, no matter how badly...'

So, in the spirit of honesty, and non-judgement (!), I give you my first sketch...

Lesson learned...

Don't draw in pen - it's cruel and unforgiving...

And faces are HARD, especially if half-turned...

And from this... still in the spirit of honesty, I've posted my first lesson responses to the Your Truest Self course over on my other blog...

Hope you have a fun Friday and a great weekend :) xx

Virtual Coffee Tuesday - Feeling Indulgent...

... so I made a hot chocolate in my new Hush mug....

I got it on Saturday... it's handmade, dishwasher proof, and deceptively light to hold... in other words - THE perfect mug for hot chocolate - and you can just make out the little heart imprint in the clay... :)

Can I tempt you? Or would you prefer herbal tea...? fresh coffee...? a cold drink...?

I'm feeling especially indulgent today, as I had this this morning....

... and my feet and legs feel wonderful!! Kathryn gives me an extra-long leg massage to relax the tight muscles, especially in my right leg, and when she's finished, I can actually plant my right foot flat on the floor...

If money were no object, I've have such a massage every day!!!

We didn't do much over the weekend - it was cold and rainy - but last night, we all sat and enjoyed this dvd after dinner...

It's a great family movie and we now have all the X-men movies on dvd :)

One piece of news I must share...

I started the Your Truest Self course yesterday - I've created a button in the right-hand sidebar under the art quotes - it links to Jan Lundy's Awakened Living website...

I've only had time to browse the course's private site, but it looks like there's some lovely, lovely people to meet, and journey with throughout the coming year...

It's not too late to sign up, and if you're looking for a thought-filled, thought-provoking direction for the coming year, do click the button and find out more...

I plan to write regularly, as I discover more of my truest self throughout the course over on my other blog The Leave-Taking...

Now, I'll leave you with some pics from a new book, which arrived this week... Pattern by Orla Kiely is a gorgeous coffee table book, and I got it for a bargain secondhand on Amazon as it's corners were bit bumped... (there's even a little vid of Orla on the Amazon page...)

Isn't it scrummilicious????

Looking forward to hearing about your week over at Amy's...

With love xxx

IA Challenge - Primavera

I know!
Three posts in as many days!
What is going on???

I blame on the sunshine...(!!)

On it being a new month, and the clear signs of a new season...

I had to get out on this beautifully sunny day... taking pictures as I went...
And hoping, on my return, to be able to create something for this week Inspiration Avenue Challenge...

Primavera - the first green...

And here it is...
My first, ever, photocollage!!

(click on the image to enlarge)

What do you think?

Does it make you feel happy/uplifted/hopeful??

Wherever you are, and whatever your weather today, I hope this little piece of England will cheer you up :)

ENJOY!