tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1601952651597367392024-02-22T22:46:10.355-08:00Frannie's New Blogfranniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826977033042342569noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160195265159736739.post-79591542533957409192012-06-05T08:36:00.000-07:002012-06-05T08:36:52.980-07:00Today's Theme: Animals<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b>It's time to look at animals. We don't live on a farm but nevertheless we get the occasional sighting of creatures, both wild and domesticated. For example, in the field across the road we've been watching this hawk, a Northern Harrier, swooping around. As it turns out he's protecting his nest which is on the ground. I haven't seen the nest but I have seen the mom-bird, who is bigger and browner and more difficult to photograph.</b><br />
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<b>I know, it's blurry, but the best I could do with my little camera. </b><b></b><br />
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<b>Today I went out looking for the hawks and saw this fellow instead. There were three of them, enjoying the morning sun.</b><br />
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<b>And as I was watching the deer along came Polly!</b><br />
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<b>Pearl and Polly, in fact. The breed is 'Canadian' and their owner was taking them for a walk before putting them to work on his farm at the end of our road.</b><br />
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<b>Further along the road we often see these Belgians grazing. They have a new addition this year. He's most handsome.</b><br />
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<b>And in the opposite field are the beeves. Funny how they all turn to look at you in quiet contemplation.</b><br />
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<b>This poor guy was presented to me the other morning by a very proud Bridget. Our cats don't go outside but mice do get in and often regret it.</b><br />
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<b>After breakfast, (not the mouse), she likes to do a washing number on Sam.</b><br />
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<b>Sam is a very clean cat.</b><br />
<b>And that's all for today, folks!</b><br />
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<b><span id="goog_772813087"></span><span id="goog_772813088"></span></b></div>franniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826977033042342569noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160195265159736739.post-44509571531361267622012-05-10T08:15:00.001-07:002012-05-10T08:15:14.882-07:00Artist Trading Cards<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Wow! This is the longest time I've been away from blogging. No excuses. Well, just one; I've started writing something else but it's not ready to share yet. </b></div>
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<b>So I'll continue with my blogging theme for the year: a review of my various doings over the past twelve years, things I've started, enjoyed, and ended.</b></div>
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<b>In 2006 I began making Artist Trading Cards, inspired by a dynamic group of local artists who put on an impressive exhibition at a nearby gallery. Our first meetings, the last Saturday of the month, took place at a restaurant/bar in Alexandria, Ontario.( Since then, both the gallery and the restaurant have changed hands. ) When the restaurant was in limbo we found the local community hall in Dunvegan to be a good venue, and so it was until, little by little, interest in this activity began to peter out. Fads have a life, a sustained period of gung-ho enthusiasm followed by gradual lessening and finally stopping altogether. Fun while they last.</b></div>
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<b>One of our group, the multi-talented Ronna Mogelon, created a quarterly ATC Magazine, featuring traders from all over the world. Here is the first edition, Winter 2006. This centerfold page features one of Ronna's cards, bottom right. The top left card was done by Susan Valyi, one of the original editors. </b></div>
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<b>What follows is a selection of some of my own card series, always a group of nine 2.5"x3.5" images, always themed, though there was never a rule about that.</b></div>
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<b>SNOW GLOBES</b></div>
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<b>ROCKABYE BABIES</b></div>
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<b>VARIATIONS ON A GLASS BIRD</b></div>
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<b>(One is missing)</b> <b> </b></div>
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<b>MUSICAL MERMAIDS</b></div>
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<b>When he was ninety I cajoled my Dad to join us for a few sessions. This is what he whipped up for his first effort. He loves trains. </b></div>
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<b>Unfortunately we scanned these without considering which way was up.</b></div>
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<b>So here is a singleton. I love this one.</b></div>
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<b>At the end of the trade we leave with a plastic sleeve that looks like this, a remembrance of that day and the people we shared art with. I have two thick binders full of these. They might make for some interesting perusing in years to come. </b></div>
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<b>And, finally, here is the centerfold in the last edition of the ATC Quarterly. Winter 2012. </b></div>
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<b>It was good and now...Goodbye! </b></div>franniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826977033042342569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160195265159736739.post-21618548067858856732012-03-18T08:51:00.000-07:002012-03-18T08:51:30.269-07:00A Memoir<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>It will soon be twelve years since George and I crept out of the rainforest and flew back east. The re-entry was our millennium project</b>;<b> the six years on the left coast was our experiment. </b></div>
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<b>Over the next little while I intend to write about the experiment and what has happened since the re-entry. A mini memoir.</b></div>
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<b>The experiment began in February, 1994, just after we finally sold our house in Hudson, Quebec. Now homeless, we put our furniture in storage, packed up some essentials, (pillows, blankets, candles, George's computer pre-laptops, George's keyboard and some wine) in the Pontiac STE sedan and headed west in -30 C weather. I cried a lot during that five day journey. What were we doing!? Why were we leaving our friends and family!? </b></div>
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<b>Our destination was Chemainus, B.C., 'The Little Town That Did'. If you want to see a lot of murals go there. We arrived around noon, found a real estate agent called Myrtle and bought a little house.</b></div>
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<b>This little house kept us busy for the next six years as we worked like crazy to fix it up. The window at the very top had a view of Salt Spring Island and that room became my studio. The hedge in front is cotoneaster, an evergreen shrub that required serious pruning every spring.</b></div>
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<b>This shot was taken from Old Town Chemainus looking west toward the small mountain whose name I can't recall but whose presence blocked out the sun at our house after 7:30 pm.</b></div>
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<b>Within walking distance of our house was this natural parkland called the Hermit's Trail. The Hermit's name was Charlie Abbott, a solitary soul who, according to local lore, had once been a master gardener to the rich and famous in and around Hollywood. What caused him to wander northward and stumble upon this wooded ravine and set up camp? There are many stories. He died in the late eighties, I believe, but this enchanting park is his legacy. He created it day by day, laying trails and moving rocks in his wheelbarrow. The villagers supported him with food and shelter donations--he lived in an old camper--and were rewarded with his labour of love.</b><br />
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<b>There is a statue of Charlie with his wheelbarrow by sculptor Glen Spicer at the entrance to the park and local volunteers maintain the trails. Or at least that's the way it was when we lived there.</b><br />
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<b> Some of the things we did during our stay there were pretty wacky. Here's George standing next to his camera suit after taking part in the Chemainus Daze (yes) parade. He was promoting the local photographer, J. Neil Newton. I was not in the parade; I was serving customers at Toad Hall Emporium, owned by J. Neil's partner, Dianne Hopkins.</b><br />
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<b>But I did take part in the Easter Parade and fashioned this 'bonnet' which was supposed to represent angels singing. I don't know why. </b><br />
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<b>George joined a jazz band called The Brady Bunch. Yes, the leader's name was Brady. Here he poses for a photo op in the local paper.</b><br />
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<b>And here I am posing by the goldfish pond we built and enjoyed from the deck for several years. </b><br />
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<b>We had lots of visitors. Sons Jon and Andrew cozy up in front of the fireplace. They hadn't seen each other for a long time (Jon was, and is, living in Montreal. Andrew was in Victoria.) It was so great seeing them together again. They do a good Bert and Ernie routine. </b><br />
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<b>My sister and her daughters flew in from Toronto for a visit. Melissa and Joanna look so young here. They <i>were.</i> </b><br />
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<b>It was rare to have snow but this snowfall was a biggie. The funny thing was how excited we became when it did snow. Reminded us how we missed the east. And so, after a long and extra rainy winter in 1999 we decided to sell up and move back. It would be our Millennium project.</b><br />
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<b>In February, 2000, our house was sold and our friends threw us a party. This photo was taken by J. Neil Newton at the end of the bash. We had made a lot of friends during that short time in Chemainus. Some have since passed on, but I still enjoy hearing from some of the others. It was another world, another time, and I'm happy we had it. </b><br />
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<b>And before we left I painted this little watercolour of our house. </b><b> </b> </div>franniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826977033042342569noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160195265159736739.post-40339659579069154332012-02-15T11:20:00.000-08:002012-02-15T11:20:15.219-08:00Aquarius<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Aquarius is an air sign. I know this sounds wrong but it is so. Apparently those of you born under this sign have a very active mind and your thoughts just flow--like water--and escape as fantastic ideas into the air.</b></div>
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<b>Naturally, you have your dark side and your light side. Who doesn't?</b></div>
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<b>Your dark side comes across as your unpredictability. We may think you are showing us water, something liquid and flowing, but no, it is ice now, immobile and reflective. We must look closely beneath the surface.</b></div>
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<b>Your light side</b><b> shows originality and inventiveness. This fish print embodies these traits as interpreted by my son, Andrew, who is also an Aquarian. (He also loves water and fishing but he might have Piscean tendencies in his ascendants.)</b></div>
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<b>Here we are looking at water and earth ...from the air. Three elements of the zodiac are represented here. The fourth, fire, could be under the earth or water in this shot as it is over a volcanic zone along the Pacific Coast. In fact I took this picture from a Pacific Coastal Airlines plane as we were descending, very quickly, and my eardrums were exploding, most painfully as we prepared to land in Vancouver. </b></div>
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<b>And so ends my year of zodiac interpretation through art and other images. I hope you enjoyed the trip...but don't take it too seriously!</b><br /> </div>franniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826977033042342569noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160195265159736739.post-20462103687512329052012-01-21T11:57:00.000-08:002012-01-21T11:57:00.125-08:00January...b-r-r-r!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong>This past week has been mighty cold, mornings of -32C with a daytime high of -20C. Then when it warms up we get freezing rain. Therefore I avoid going outside as much as possible, like most sensible people who don't have to go to work do. I did enough of that white-knuckle driving during my 'going-to-work' years and I must say studded tires have a lot to recommend them.</strong></div>
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<strong>So I've been content to stay inside and look out the windows. The spider web above said it all.</strong></div>
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<strong>Here it is at night, caught in the flash. I hope Ms. Spider has found a warm nest.</strong></div>
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<strong>Another kitchen window shows off my glass treasures against a backdrop of pale pink and blue. We sometimes see foxes at this time of year in the far field.</strong></div>
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<strong>Actually here I was trying to shoot the full moon but a cloud covered it before I got the camera.</strong></div>
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<strong>From the dining room we can see the tree of doves. They come here around noon to sunbathe, then later they invade the bird feeder. They're not very bright but they <em>are </em>pretty.</strong></div>
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<strong>The small birds start to arrive during a snow squall.</strong></div>
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<strong>Juncos and finches enjoy some niger seed. </strong></div>
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<strong>Out by the pond...a winter sculpture. That cigar-shaped object is a pine cone caught in the fishing line attached to the glass ball. Behind the ball is a feather from a turkey vulture.</strong></div>
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<strong>Meanwhile, back in the warmth, Sam and Bridget enjoy a good wash.</strong></div>franniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826977033042342569noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160195265159736739.post-91811432810066693882012-01-09T10:15:00.000-08:002012-01-09T10:15:50.873-08:00Capricorn<div align="center">
<strong>First post of the new year and about time too...I've been slacking recently because of being busy with other projects. So it's time to celebrate Capricornians, you tenacious little goat creatures.My sister, Eulalie, (not her real name) is of the Capricorn persuasion and she fits the description just about as much as anyone fits their own zodiac profile. By that I mean I think anyone could fit anyone else's profile, that fact has been proven before. But it's fun anyway.</strong></div>
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<strong>Capricorn is an Earth sign and is populated by hardworking achievers whose endurance and perseverance is their strongest characteristic.</strong></div>
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<strong>You are practical and a dedicated home-maker, taking pride in your surroundings and displaying your belongings to their greatest advantage.</strong></div>
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<strong>Because you have a tendency to fluctuate between ecstasy and melancholy you sometimes need a place where you can escape and meditate, away from your daily concerns.</strong></div>
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<strong>Fortunately you also have a capricious side, (the word capricorn is descriptive), and once in a while you like to put on your glad-rags and just let-er-rippp!</strong></div>
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</div>franniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826977033042342569noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160195265159736739.post-38511223834154534862011-11-29T11:02:00.001-08:002011-11-29T11:34:16.921-08:00Scorpio and Sagittarius<div align="center">
<strong>Poor Scorpions, I went right past you without a tribute! So sorry, because I have a lot of lovely Scorpio friends. I hope you're not offended by having to share this post with Sagittarius but it can't be helped.</strong></div>
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<strong> Scorpio is a water sign with a tendency to be intense and secretive.</strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5bXJ5DGQsNIbPfyZZjC6OyxUpEeD1fGemMzFkD5fcqQiHZHnBTaOHn-kayXOOZNsFdrFOoc-4O7Nbm_7uHKZOe6JvDqu8IG87Avci5HiJbeCEIDU1_w8JG3v5k5vUL4BNjBI5Zt4dIPYr/s1600/enigma.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5bXJ5DGQsNIbPfyZZjC6OyxUpEeD1fGemMzFkD5fcqQiHZHnBTaOHn-kayXOOZNsFdrFOoc-4O7Nbm_7uHKZOe6JvDqu8IG87Avci5HiJbeCEIDU1_w8JG3v5k5vUL4BNjBI5Zt4dIPYr/s320/enigma.bmp" width="246" /></a></div>
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<strong>Your enigmatic nature allows you to prefer the hidden to the obvious. You like the night and are considered the detective of the zodiac.</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpdpjz_20Mv6zrccAQvVeuoWlBgDvm9Tb3MbZ0e08XGvmYEuLlHYRm5wd08RZw0nKOYQ8bxm5LJ5qf9WPv-HJEWj6PJHxjQUjAEVCDMT44wP_XSH3cRX4P3m1AGPzFFW7GVBdAYqtaB0X/s1600/16-12-2009+12%253B11%253B59+PM+sparkle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpdpjz_20Mv6zrccAQvVeuoWlBgDvm9Tb3MbZ0e08XGvmYEuLlHYRm5wd08RZw0nKOYQ8bxm5LJ5qf9WPv-HJEWj6PJHxjQUjAEVCDMT44wP_XSH3cRX4P3m1AGPzFFW7GVBdAYqtaB0X/s320/16-12-2009+12%253B11%253B59+PM+sparkle.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
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<strong>Sagittarius, on the other hand, enjoys a jovial, optimistic nature. You are enterprising and outgoing but never frivolous.</strong></div>
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<strong>The archer has high ideals and can be considered an intellectual. </strong></div>
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<strong>There now. We have two very contrasting zodiac signs. I think perhaps their differences can be a positive combination under certain circumstances. A balanced situation is always desireable.</strong></div>
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</div>franniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826977033042342569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160195265159736739.post-60475183483042503802011-11-09T13:27:00.000-08:002011-11-09T13:27:42.274-08:00Sunday on Sherbrooke Street<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6idbbgJZaV-SH0wCbaR-r18ygYPCV4V3UrFO4pGh803EuWSBrarf6jKqthwrJS3QcwVMXCrN-LxEtdBN9enXFAIaCHjknQQmYW3Aky51GtJzqnufpgyCtWYv9ZJIJtVP5_Yuo2waQyJb/s1600/DSCN0352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6idbbgJZaV-SH0wCbaR-r18ygYPCV4V3UrFO4pGh803EuWSBrarf6jKqthwrJS3QcwVMXCrN-LxEtdBN9enXFAIaCHjknQQmYW3Aky51GtJzqnufpgyCtWYv9ZJIJtVP5_Yuo2waQyJb/s320/DSCN0352.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<strong>Sometimes events just come together in a wonderful way. Serendipity and all that. Last weekend was one of those times. The weather forecast looked kindly, especially for November. On Friday morning I received a message from my sister, Eulalie, (not her real name), that she would be visiting us for a few days. She arrived the next afternoon and we met at The Lodge in Vankleek Hill where our Dad lives. He was surprised and delighted to have his TWO daughters paying him homage, bearing pies and cakes and, most importantly, chatting with him.</strong></div>
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<strong>On Sunday I got a message from my son, Jon, in Montreal. I had emailed him earlier to let him know his favourite aunt was on her way. Those two have a mutual musical connection; he plays jazz guitar and she sings and composes. They get each other. They also share a wicked sense of humour...well, we all do. Anyway, the message from Jon was an invitation to an afternoon of High Tea and mellow jazz at a Chocolaterie near Jon's place on Sherbrooke Street. It was all his treat, including valet parking. How could we not go??</strong></div>
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<strong>So there we were, sitting like two 'ladies' enjoying our tea and treats, which were all ceremoniously described in French by the young people serving us. </strong></div>
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<strong>The room was elegant in a funky way: crystal chandeliers, heavily framed mirrors, white naperie and the requisite potted palm mixed in with contemporary wall art. My son is just behind the palm fronds.</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wj1Q32LoNpLjVBzhSpJfkMelclQqsLUsGR_azCuzEI4rCK0P5oaaqrjKiT80UFXeO5IDlTq8gDY6VtAtNMPzO7icyQkZGt32u2VZYJ6k90kUU9NFjkvDZFPU-cJ7ZfwqgdlX3t0T0zoS/s1600/DSCN0353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wj1Q32LoNpLjVBzhSpJfkMelclQqsLUsGR_azCuzEI4rCK0P5oaaqrjKiT80UFXeO5IDlTq8gDY6VtAtNMPzO7icyQkZGt32u2VZYJ6k90kUU9NFjkvDZFPU-cJ7ZfwqgdlX3t0T0zoS/s320/DSCN0353.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>Jon and his friend, Adrian, played their smooth jazz while the patrons chatted, munched and sipped. It wasn't a concert; the sound levels were kept low enough to allow people to talk and yet the music certainly added to the atmosphere.</strong></div>
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<strong>Eulalie and I decided to leave before it got dark. We thanked our hosts and departed. It's usually an hour's ride back and because there were construction barriers at Rigaud on the 40 we decided to take the 20 back. Bad move. More construction around Dorion made us miss our exit. We seemed to be heading southwest for a long time, passing exits for St. Feriol, St. Dominique and St. Emmanuel. We decided to take the next one and suddenly found ourselves in St Clet. This made us laugh. As kids on Sunday drives with Dad we would somehow always end up in St.Clet so it became a family joke. By now it was dark and I was glad my sister was driving, (she's very good). At one point I realised we were going over Rigaud Mountain. Drat! That meant we wouldn't miss the construction barriers after all. But at least we knew where we were. We finally got home, two and a half hour later. It was our Excellent Adventure. </strong></div>
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</div>franniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826977033042342569noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160195265159736739.post-33666956180956959192011-10-31T10:12:00.000-07:002011-10-31T10:12:29.154-07:00Photo Op With Fish (and cats)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhALJbAeoFOhCcF7oUFe-QmKcw1doY6ofj9CUddEJu2hNxJyie_jEJX-MU9hAV5x1O864JVyN49NpdB2OKs6_NHgIit5rmUXrlwnbC1J9Wku4RcfJ9pvCYsEFqZ4G7ht9_xN7OiwmkAXsr/s1600/DSCN0302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhALJbAeoFOhCcF7oUFe-QmKcw1doY6ofj9CUddEJu2hNxJyie_jEJX-MU9hAV5x1O864JVyN49NpdB2OKs6_NHgIit5rmUXrlwnbC1J9Wku4RcfJ9pvCYsEFqZ4G7ht9_xN7OiwmkAXsr/s320/DSCN0302.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>The glorious days of sitting by the pond are long gone. It's so sad.</strong></div>
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<strong>One last lonely lily basks in the fading light of autumn. Sigh.</strong></div>
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<strong>But wait! From our mailbox (distant center top ) came this trio of adorable floating fish, "Your winter fish", explained my sister, who had sent them. She's such a good kid!</strong></div>
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<strong>Bridget and Sam enjoyed batting them around. They made a charming clang when they hit the side of the bowl. And then I thought about all the other</strong> <strong>fish we have around the house and decided to feature them as well. As follows:</strong></div>
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<strong>Wooden fish</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawxcYnV2tKv0fTys5fjBK8KXzyVmJINL26n6iIZ_JTjwZLZEe7-2HDuAMqUYim7oVV6D9DfxTC2CK5YcTWisYHbyjUAHB11bS_CEUoppK6FAFQ8XOW5CSiGzGq4tuc5o4nzPO6H-zg5vs/s1600/DSCN0336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawxcYnV2tKv0fTys5fjBK8KXzyVmJINL26n6iIZ_JTjwZLZEe7-2HDuAMqUYim7oVV6D9DfxTC2CK5YcTWisYHbyjUAHB11bS_CEUoppK6FAFQ8XOW5CSiGzGq4tuc5o4nzPO6H-zg5vs/s320/DSCN0336.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>Ceramic fish</strong></div>
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<strong>Brass fish</strong></div>
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<strong> Glass fish</strong></div>
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<strong>But we like these new ones best! Heh, heh!</strong></div>franniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826977033042342569noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160195265159736739.post-45169161121801062902011-10-14T07:30:00.000-07:002011-10-14T07:30:36.758-07:00Libra<div align="center">
<strong>There are many Librans in my life. How can I describe them? On the one hand...but on the other hand...Yes, I think that's it. Libra is the only zodiac sign that is not represented by an animal. The scales of Libra =balance. That is what you lovely beings strive for. Harmony and fairness above all else; you are true humanitarians. You love beauty; subtle colours, textures, </strong><strong>beautiful music.</strong></div>
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<strong>I shall try to honour Libra with the following images.</strong> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-6GCNSZRXZok-iAo4DSWYsd5gjBb0YWU4mvU_cmCwRVKfQXyNHOYMHNF2MkUBw28fO5lRMJ0A8gDKatwpeCqNSbA5feUCjZvNBq-hF61gZrnsEjbGahUJP664Vl7_r0KPDfzBcD02H0o/s1600/Autmn+1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-6GCNSZRXZok-iAo4DSWYsd5gjBb0YWU4mvU_cmCwRVKfQXyNHOYMHNF2MkUBw28fO5lRMJ0A8gDKatwpeCqNSbA5feUCjZvNBq-hF61gZrnsEjbGahUJP664Vl7_r0KPDfzBcD02H0o/s320/Autmn+1.bmp" width="236" /></a></div>
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<strong>Balance, harmony, cooperation. And a little judge sitting in the high chair.</strong> </div>
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</div>franniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826977033042342569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160195265159736739.post-66711759034757451422011-09-20T08:12:00.000-07:002011-09-20T08:12:15.870-07:00Virgo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1t5Mrxi7SldFx5xCHc75J-2r7UsYvNx8HUMc9xno5ym5FVFY8RcgfWFHhyMsblcWCczbbFazdR9xUY_IRhQj0r3D78xSFyRqNmisdTIzK2eV20EOuhRr6kEgwOdjliXIFLtYlIRf7F3q/s1600/La+Vie+en+Rose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1t5Mrxi7SldFx5xCHc75J-2r7UsYvNx8HUMc9xno5ym5FVFY8RcgfWFHhyMsblcWCczbbFazdR9xUY_IRhQj0r3D78xSFyRqNmisdTIzK2eV20EOuhRr6kEgwOdjliXIFLtYlIRf7F3q/s320/La+Vie+en+Rose.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>Oh-oh! We're almost out of Virgo and I haven't honoured you Virginians yet. Sorry for the lateness, a most un-virgo trait but understandable since I am a Pisces. You Virgos are earthy types, nocturnal and soft-spoken. I think the above painting describes these qualities, especially the soft-spoken part. She has no mouth and she appears to be emerging from the earth...at night.</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CLlCrgmwKdDEEcnJU42tIPnJuOh_xHB2YUBTXIHvEzDFbAFK3QGKgipPyORL6mjlddjuuZ-zxbholTUisHIJkMo8E1i0qm3IcS0M7FAWMsDpVr7tlh4_Xnu9HYg1jxfFxyIJaywYQ5lu/s1600/DSCN0650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CLlCrgmwKdDEEcnJU42tIPnJuOh_xHB2YUBTXIHvEzDFbAFK3QGKgipPyORL6mjlddjuuZ-zxbholTUisHIJkMo8E1i0qm3IcS0M7FAWMsDpVr7tlh4_Xnu9HYg1jxfFxyIJaywYQ5lu/s320/DSCN0650.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>Virgo has magnetic powers and is able to heal through touch like this creature seems to be doing while the rest of the vestal virgins sway under her power.</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGOWBcjtl5KN017wX0tAj3MEjHJYvpDVBcTg5qvNSgsaIlXqpWAIws_vKhoOuwItgFQjFI2UF1Tr-fhLdwtt3xC1h0T_kyfr7gbsumoXMw2La-_gPbxq9l9u-t5mRUSspV6WomyFNq9cu/s1600/15-12-2009+1%253B23%253B34+PM+angel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGOWBcjtl5KN017wX0tAj3MEjHJYvpDVBcTg5qvNSgsaIlXqpWAIws_vKhoOuwItgFQjFI2UF1Tr-fhLdwtt3xC1h0T_kyfr7gbsumoXMw2La-_gPbxq9l9u-t5mRUSspV6WomyFNq9cu/s320/15-12-2009+1%253B23%253B34+PM+angel.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
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<strong>Conservative and perfectionist by nature, you Virgos are the perfect friend to have in a crisis. Bless you all.</strong></div>
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franniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826977033042342569noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160195265159736739.post-22126217169885529132011-09-03T12:06:00.000-07:002011-09-03T12:06:21.959-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBVOPhIvVdHNDTOI08PoywDzq2ZZwCphLcUPMXYjY8jryKqlPdjz6WcIituWFkbiIu6FqlAx9e7jv08qIOM9Ks-xcchp6OX0Mj2Dot7O37fWRn0VLo_qOVyyL9t9NShgjqoqkzlcWCD8A/s1600/DSCN0247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBVOPhIvVdHNDTOI08PoywDzq2ZZwCphLcUPMXYjY8jryKqlPdjz6WcIituWFkbiIu6FqlAx9e7jv08qIOM9Ks-xcchp6OX0Mj2Dot7O37fWRn0VLo_qOVyyL9t9NShgjqoqkzlcWCD8A/s320/DSCN0247.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>I know, I know, September already. I just heard on the weather network that autumn in our part of the world will continue to be warm for weeks to come. Fine by me.</strong></div>
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<strong>And now I'll take you on a tour of our little half-acre. Above...the grapes. This bunch is gone now. I gave it to my dad over at the Lodge. But we have more, much more....</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDT2uXpw1KEDyvYBmWsCkJZpMwLYJLLaU-sjW6vuPA3hAZ38tYawf9tTld2hc-yI8YN7NFTlcyOv3eIT7MzKNA9fI953cgf7vfMAPYfx57QhyF5BU2XTRIuxHe_Oh8KnGjdDXHWNZQsIQ/s1600/DSCN0268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDT2uXpw1KEDyvYBmWsCkJZpMwLYJLLaU-sjW6vuPA3hAZ38tYawf9tTld2hc-yI8YN7NFTlcyOv3eIT7MzKNA9fI953cgf7vfMAPYfx57QhyF5BU2XTRIuxHe_Oh8KnGjdDXHWNZQsIQ/s320/DSCN0268.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<strong>In fact this year the grape crop has been spectacular. The vines are now ten years old, maybe it takes that long for a really big haul or maybe the bees were out at just the right time. We won't be stomping them for wine though, just eating them and making jelly.</strong></div>
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<strong>This tangle of tomatoes is coming to an end but they look pretty just hanging there. I've made all the tomato sauce we could possibly eat as well as a batch of pesto from the basil growing beneath these vines. I've also given a lot away. </strong></div>
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<strong>Then there are the things I didn't plant, like these sunflowers and poppies that appear every year on their own accord and grow where their whimsy takes them.</strong></div>
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<strong>More renegade poppies sharing space with the yellow beans.</strong></div>
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<strong>And here's a surprise...next to the hostas the ferny fronds of asparagus. I have no idea how they got there but I will continue to encourage them. There aren't enough to cook yet but the feathery stalks are lovely.</strong></div>
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<strong>Despite getting off to a rough start this spring the pond has flourished. The four adults, two orange, two white, have produced MANY babies, some still quite tiny and others the size of sardines. I love this white fish. You can see the hint of orange under its scales and when it opens its mouth it's very orange inside.</strong></div>
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<strong>I hope this summer's end takes its time to arrive. Enjoy the long weekend if you can.</strong></div>
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franniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826977033042342569noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160195265159736739.post-78574038720704069532011-08-14T11:20:00.000-07:002011-08-14T11:20:39.601-07:00LEO<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMdn28L64jx4q8yTxgWhz2Zl49wltLRgGp8x5C9hD6UaGIroz068Ba0HX0O5uV16asznH_RW1DsUEBt1NdIeq4MMUw2B-l2H9QLf9ulEzzesA4ALkRXTAFaubkFpRO-GuBsiJZJ_-gWhZ/s1600/Drew+Lion.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMdn28L64jx4q8yTxgWhz2Zl49wltLRgGp8x5C9hD6UaGIroz068Ba0HX0O5uV16asznH_RW1DsUEBt1NdIeq4MMUw2B-l2H9QLf9ulEzzesA4ALkRXTAFaubkFpRO-GuBsiJZJ_-gWhZ/s320/Drew+Lion.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>O.K. all you cats, it's your turn! You proud leonine creatures, you are beautiful...and you know it. Other creatures usually give way to you, let you take your place on your throne and listen to you roar. You love being the center of attention and yet you give the impression that you can take it or leave it. ( I must give credit here to the painter of this lion...my son, Andrew, at age 11)</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qD5Xl6Bxb93k2xopkYDHyy-TrcPKLd7vRFNVUaWBUpFyeLfDH9TZ8FTPOu3WnkHR8UlQL-bQn0jU8FZWLXUo_7Lvg5Fv_lnTIhNlaEOmFeocU3AAmC5s1CiadADkCmeQbOSZW4pQm1GJ/s1600/03-08-2011+10%253B17%253B14+AM+art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qD5Xl6Bxb93k2xopkYDHyy-TrcPKLd7vRFNVUaWBUpFyeLfDH9TZ8FTPOu3WnkHR8UlQL-bQn0jU8FZWLXUo_7Lvg5Fv_lnTIhNlaEOmFeocU3AAmC5s1CiadADkCmeQbOSZW4pQm1GJ/s320/03-08-2011+10%253B17%253B14+AM+art.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>Not all cats want to be front and center though. Our Mongo, above, was very shy and meowed so quietly we called him The Whispering Cat. My painting studio was named after him.</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwC8miUtMoBIXpCY8ZRhFYiibDOuGY-1vX9oxJZ4a0bMlJOpFp9Devau2-knpJluxlx_9DXd9fhsgy8d4cKX2oxQZlAkb6J48BZODmGL4-YSfbyhBkPR77tviQeeY9uv-nGv2tl26cPAh8/s1600/03-08-2011+10%253B19%253B50+AM+art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwC8miUtMoBIXpCY8ZRhFYiibDOuGY-1vX9oxJZ4a0bMlJOpFp9Devau2-knpJluxlx_9DXd9fhsgy8d4cKX2oxQZlAkb6J48BZODmGL4-YSfbyhBkPR77tviQeeY9uv-nGv2tl26cPAh8/s320/03-08-2011+10%253B19%253B50+AM+art.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>We adopted a kitten, Our Tom, who quickly realized that Mongo was a pushover and would allow him to cuddle up next to him.</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtJniyLaTxpEmMpuxV2LgZZRcGILhUybrzkXguuOc8melLtv2oHW0vslXYTA7q2CI3YiSlOgqcrgXyYGlYIvOqOvvtdTt2xiA8zn2yZcylCygx5GKQz16busI6FAjrWBLw0jKt4spO_cNa/s1600/03-08-2011+10%253B24%253B45+AM+art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtJniyLaTxpEmMpuxV2LgZZRcGILhUybrzkXguuOc8melLtv2oHW0vslXYTA7q2CI3YiSlOgqcrgXyYGlYIvOqOvvtdTt2xiA8zn2yZcylCygx5GKQz16busI6FAjrWBLw0jKt4spO_cNa/s320/03-08-2011+10%253B24%253B45+AM+art.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>Our other cat, Danby, was not so eager to play second fiddle to any young whippersnapper but finally Mongo convinced him to stop hogging the spotlight and let the cute little guy in. So you see, even though Leos like to strut and roar and get their way, they also have a diplomatic side and will make concessions when it's to everyones' advantage.</strong></div>
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franniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826977033042342569noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160195265159736739.post-58279402151868252202011-07-26T11:13:00.000-07:002011-07-26T11:13:58.549-07:00Rhapsody in Green<div align="center">
<strong>Way back in April when the snow began to melt and reveal early spring delights we were aghast to discover that, after six years of successful overwintering, our pond critters had failed to make it. This time our little pond was a death scene. It was horrible. Not a single goldfish was swimming; all were floating, as were a few unfortunate frogs. We threw the tiny corpses under the cedar hedge (good fertilizer) and George proceded to pump out the water using the spare sump pump. There was a lot of disgusting slimy matter at the bottom which we tried to remove as best we could, all the while considering just filling in the hole and forgetting about the pond. But no, we decided to have another go at it. We added fresh water from the well and waited till it was time to re-stock the pond. </strong></div>
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<strong>Luckily our neighbour has a pond as well, a much bigger one with fish galore. He gladly donated four adults, two orange, two white. By the time we put them in the water lilies had started to grow and I tossed in a handful of oxygenating plants. George installed a new more efficient pump and we created a small waterfall. </strong></div>
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<strong>And voila!</strong></div>
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<strong>This is where the four newcomers spent a lot of time in June, under cover of the grasses and lily pads. It was soon to become the nursery.</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZnBexLePVxATm5fgknZn4BIvj-HfjJzkgue9D0litBY0-hFwE7rOBg0XR5aw2Q8IsbqWs_Hnhz4rx3WltdbkVTQDAEdzSBLWyt0Mzlf1DXCvk3k84J8NzLfUxx9oTi8EYManbniRaBw7/s1600/DSCN0163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZnBexLePVxATm5fgknZn4BIvj-HfjJzkgue9D0litBY0-hFwE7rOBg0XR5aw2Q8IsbqWs_Hnhz4rx3WltdbkVTQDAEdzSBLWyt0Mzlf1DXCvk3k84J8NzLfUxx9oTi8EYManbniRaBw7/s320/DSCN0163.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>If you look closely around the edge of this lily pad you can see the tiny 'fry'.</strong></div>
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<strong>Soon the frogs started to arrive. This one is Mr. Big.</strong></div>
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<strong>And here is Mrs. Big.</strong></div>
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<strong>And now we have a bunch of Little Bigs</strong>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNsq0Da5KjNMy7QwWhmTGS8WcUwqBchrkcZlu6WEJHhhlP4E7R60IuF8BAXftHL7MWxzUpRrOHjTL9XvaJ0VKRYIQprobzm8itp3E6rrX5GuSNGQGyF0n15eJm3j4NfuJU-0Ikcx0XiBqD/s1600/DSCN0221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNsq0Da5KjNMy7QwWhmTGS8WcUwqBchrkcZlu6WEJHhhlP4E7R60IuF8BAXftHL7MWxzUpRrOHjTL9XvaJ0VKRYIQprobzm8itp3E6rrX5GuSNGQGyF0n15eJm3j4NfuJU-0Ikcx0XiBqD/s320/DSCN0221.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>The fish fry are getting bigger now. I had to play around with the colours here in order to show them more clearly. </strong></div>
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<strong>The waterfall trickles down.</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeIBwlCXqfQDdKG1ZdGxQgcKLi74GEfikEIXwLjL1KhuyIc_X0xCTM57CxDvSAVFj87Q1YeE24npVf51P2SVz9FiSDJOxilUfYyaSWbe4E0N2aoIGZ3V-h7W4Py-f7zSuvZB47I9DN4nb/s1600/DSCN0222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeIBwlCXqfQDdKG1ZdGxQgcKLi74GEfikEIXwLjL1KhuyIc_X0xCTM57CxDvSAVFj87Q1YeE24npVf51P2SVz9FiSDJOxilUfYyaSWbe4E0N2aoIGZ3V-h7W4Py-f7zSuvZB47I9DN4nb/s320/DSCN0222.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>And sometimes gushes.</strong></div>
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<strong>And all is well once more. </strong></div>
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franniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826977033042342569noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160195265159736739.post-47570493885999877212011-07-13T10:57:00.000-07:002011-07-13T10:57:05.201-07:00Moon Children<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0Sa58ZnvzaoBai90cVFki53XkfW5UNcHimWy7CHxjTbwAhJzwgdHWIVxK6RtYnFTZeXaURR11uSw3YSFd5n15IhO6DJy87nCn_G3pbqIVjHh5tUl_d4FvrhNYKZ01RXjTCx87gRofwjs/s1600/Moonbabe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0Sa58ZnvzaoBai90cVFki53XkfW5UNcHimWy7CHxjTbwAhJzwgdHWIVxK6RtYnFTZeXaURR11uSw3YSFd5n15IhO6DJy87nCn_G3pbqIVjHh5tUl_d4FvrhNYKZ01RXjTCx87gRofwjs/s320/Moonbabe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>We are now well into summer and the astrological sign Cancer. The very word 'cancer' usually causes feelings of alarm and fear among most of us...who hasn't been indirectly affected by or afflicted with this group of diseases? That's why I chose the alternative name for people born between June 21 and July 22. Moon Children have the Moon as their Sun sign, a strange contradiction I suppose but there it is.</strong></div>
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<strong>In fact the crab comes out by the light of the moon and is affected by the tide.</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBliCO-Bdw1MPobQL1MWHdLiRhIldlC36ibQRW9qQi4EMPWuAaE-5p0to73vMpDNEASR4foO2rTuCd6i5jOxY5_EfOORKiS1_P2IXqxgG6xBfcH-Y0ajqeWq3aCd7QEqjSdD7OwkfEN2JH/s1600/25+Lamarche.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBliCO-Bdw1MPobQL1MWHdLiRhIldlC36ibQRW9qQi4EMPWuAaE-5p0to73vMpDNEASR4foO2rTuCd6i5jOxY5_EfOORKiS1_P2IXqxgG6xBfcH-Y0ajqeWq3aCd7QEqjSdD7OwkfEN2JH/s320/25+Lamarche.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>The home is extremely important to Moon Children. Both my parents were born under this sign and I can attest to that fact...their home was everything to them. The above painting is an idealised version of the house I was brought up in. Though Mom and Dad rented it we all felt a great attachment to it. </strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_M25KHKDqbTkwGo0zQcRYZs0FeAmAXdVk8u4msOX4cE-PKvyXoXq6BKRersEiKMZ_1BG52-4ks4XmcsKT8paEuXwUKPrCmRVzzBngayP7R4jMIQjt2xQKOcXPbHhVFCx4dSGmXkMUi6o/s1600/DSCN0642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_M25KHKDqbTkwGo0zQcRYZs0FeAmAXdVk8u4msOX4cE-PKvyXoXq6BKRersEiKMZ_1BG52-4ks4XmcsKT8paEuXwUKPrCmRVzzBngayP7R4jMIQjt2xQKOcXPbHhVFCx4dSGmXkMUi6o/s320/DSCN0642.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>Many years later they bought this old farmhouse which they lovingly restored over several years. They also set up an antique shop at the top of the shed. History and antiquity are also very big subjects on the Crab's agenda. My grandmother, a Gemini, was living with my parents at 'The Farm' and would sometimes serve customers in the shop. Her enthusiasm for old things was not so keen. She would often remark, "Who needs it?" Fortunately the customers were undaunted by her sales put-downs. The shop did quite well. Maybe because of her?</strong></div>
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<strong>Food is another big item on the Cancerian list...well, it's on everyones' list of course, but it's VERY big with the crabs. Mom's garden was bountiful; she always seemed to be blanching beans or making jams and pickles. After the first year she learned to cut back on the zucchini. And, of course, we all came to visit at corn harvest.</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJU_KAWaUqNTIel-hKO0rt00EifaRMIbPBODcsLFbuiaXPuByeaszEPBlIpE361k7Z9_fD0kOyCuIzXBIjejFV4luauWOE6SxyFjlVoOonmR1ekKid-69WGo3fPMtVnIX0eSZpHy5DCtA/s1600/J%2526A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJU_KAWaUqNTIel-hKO0rt00EifaRMIbPBODcsLFbuiaXPuByeaszEPBlIpE361k7Z9_fD0kOyCuIzXBIjejFV4luauWOE6SxyFjlVoOonmR1ekKid-69WGo3fPMtVnIX0eSZpHy5DCtA/s320/J%2526A.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<strong>My sons were lucky to have had many visits to 'The Farm'. Though one is Libra and one is Aquarius it provided them with wonderful memories. </strong> </div>
franniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826977033042342569noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160195265159736739.post-39723954251380393052011-06-26T12:22:00.000-07:002011-06-26T12:22:48.543-07:00KEEPERS<div align="center"><strong>Like many other parts of the country we've had a lot of rain lately so I've been doing rainy-day things. The inventory of life is an ongoing activity; you open a box and root through it, tossing some items, saving others. Here are a few mementos I've kept over the years:</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeH-dYRyAK_SWF5i6QBhXfxAm5Ry_UXdtBjUvuf_tN8iKgXqfzKd3QDltCPQrq8sfk74TBiNtiAuupKv5QmcJEyhhrSsQ2vY7CtBMUvwAFEuaeOHvBZZ28D2w7vzkMBOSvhFVplHvxzq9h/s1600/26-06-2011+12%253B35%253B22+PMpictures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeH-dYRyAK_SWF5i6QBhXfxAm5Ry_UXdtBjUvuf_tN8iKgXqfzKd3QDltCPQrq8sfk74TBiNtiAuupKv5QmcJEyhhrSsQ2vY7CtBMUvwAFEuaeOHvBZZ28D2w7vzkMBOSvhFVplHvxzq9h/s320/26-06-2011+12%253B35%253B22+PMpictures.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Cupid here is one of the oldest cards I have. It was given to me by my very first boyfriend when we both were seven years old. His name was Stuart and our birthdays were one day apart, (I was the older one). He signed his name very small and lightly on the back. I also remember the beautiful gift he sent me: a box of marbles, or allies as we called them. I wonder where he is now. I hope he is happy.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmweK-ej6WXiLAMVRQbRiMwJaeQIe2HHteFshEDTJd4c2kI12OWlJEZPDOIinfXW4H_52hkXycGmds6jrIMKx2yTc9sS9c1hLxxGLCzFAO2U7AKlLmgkS3aQ2KcsGf9Did5bW20dfJVVit/s1600/26-06-2011+12%253B45%253B02+PMpictures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmweK-ej6WXiLAMVRQbRiMwJaeQIe2HHteFshEDTJd4c2kI12OWlJEZPDOIinfXW4H_52hkXycGmds6jrIMKx2yTc9sS9c1hLxxGLCzFAO2U7AKlLmgkS3aQ2KcsGf9Did5bW20dfJVVit/s320/26-06-2011+12%253B45%253B02+PMpictures.jpg" width="170" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>My sister Lynne made me this birthday card for my 26th, so it's also an oldie. But a goodie. She said it was her version of a Gordon Fraser-style card, very popular back then. I love the fine, flowing lines and the colours. She's very talented, my sister.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHwP6BNX6kxrDuXqn8pPgNtQQZB0KGOjOAkVESBINZ03pX76sPqcaVSvD5moxsOOe9qEyzKytDhk_AttmcmDxlxIgb8oA0D8bIUIC1GUHzYLpedYfKxdD0fv_g1D08XWf8tVTsnL20Y_0/s1600/26-06-2011+12%253B31%253B57+PMpictures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHwP6BNX6kxrDuXqn8pPgNtQQZB0KGOjOAkVESBINZ03pX76sPqcaVSvD5moxsOOe9qEyzKytDhk_AttmcmDxlxIgb8oA0D8bIUIC1GUHzYLpedYfKxdD0fv_g1D08XWf8tVTsnL20Y_0/s320/26-06-2011+12%253B31%253B57+PMpictures.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Our grandmother, Mamoe, used to let us stay up late and prance around "harry starkers" on hot summer nights in her back yard. Such freedom for two little kids! I made this drawing as part of a book of memories for Mamoe's birthday. I can still hear her laughing when she got it. She laughed easily and a lot.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EO-C6HKtoZ7_69LCzAL5gGDeKQnSM-26_DNGua87wRsI6SeuzW3Pibk8FBpJUNF-MI-_kF1AvqgmkSpOclU3g9TYv7o19cf0hLKf8JenBILOcrppKZlum5200lOs_kN_FwhT-Vt7WnSQ/s1600/26-06-2011+12%253B47%253B01+PMpictures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EO-C6HKtoZ7_69LCzAL5gGDeKQnSM-26_DNGua87wRsI6SeuzW3Pibk8FBpJUNF-MI-_kF1AvqgmkSpOclU3g9TYv7o19cf0hLKf8JenBILOcrppKZlum5200lOs_kN_FwhT-Vt7WnSQ/s320/26-06-2011+12%253B47%253B01+PMpictures.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>This is a silly card I made for my husband, George, on his 65th, with references to the 'fridge list' and all the renovations he was involved with as well as his computer efforts. I don't recall the significance of the brushes. The cartoon doesn't look one bit like him and the cat looks more like a rat. But never mind.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrenZJNQ2BSkIoAjfsBWV6VDAs5cRSeQQ9KF0Z4CK35tO4o8PhcQ_Kp6tgVwkuO724dj_t_veZbqMWffgKCnV1BaFH34YvBhQPH5TVQhK9nUss0sQjIp05Mw4xUtQDj1285bqBiAhBbTrI/s1600/26-06-2011+12%253B39%253B37+PMpictures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrenZJNQ2BSkIoAjfsBWV6VDAs5cRSeQQ9KF0Z4CK35tO4o8PhcQ_Kp6tgVwkuO724dj_t_veZbqMWffgKCnV1BaFH34YvBhQPH5TVQhK9nUss0sQjIp05Mw4xUtQDj1285bqBiAhBbTrI/s320/26-06-2011+12%253B39%253B37+PMpictures.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>My oldest son, Jon, painted this stylized cow for me. He had earlier painted a very large version of a similar cow on an old tarp which I loved but it was lost in a fire. His apartment building in Montreal burned down the night before Christmas Eve. He saved his cat but everything else was lost. It was a traumatic time for him, that's for damn sure.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLAoUccGTPhz5HwGwq7AddY5b3xpfQy-g2Es4HsGbEyMTVYZ_iPtEvDOWDPMytnVq-WHFokwD7VCGok9ajKPhi8pWh8J1fVufDNe_9yv71MllbW3EXnRFFjlzWjR273l2_3JpXL693FLW/s1600/26-06-2011+12%253B37%253B56+PMpictures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLAoUccGTPhz5HwGwq7AddY5b3xpfQy-g2Es4HsGbEyMTVYZ_iPtEvDOWDPMytnVq-WHFokwD7VCGok9ajKPhi8pWh8J1fVufDNe_9yv71MllbW3EXnRFFjlzWjR273l2_3JpXL693FLW/s320/26-06-2011+12%253B37%253B56+PMpictures.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>I begin and end this post with a valentine. This one is from my youngest son, Andrew, when he was in Kindergarten. You can see the teacher's under-drawing which Andrew happily ignored as he sloshed on the red paint with one of those impossible large-bristle brushes they always give the kids at school. </strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>And back they all go into the box, nothing here is ready for the bin yet. Some things are just too hard to let go.</strong></div><div align="center"></div>franniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826977033042342569noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160195265159736739.post-22043394626250541182011-06-18T11:27:00.000-07:002011-06-18T11:27:18.258-07:00Jesus, the Cat, and Other Moggies<div align="center"><strong>It's been a long time since my last post...almost a month...and I have no new art to show although I've been busy with art-related events such as our annual Art Fayre in Dunvegan. The exhibition looked wonderful and was well attended. There were a lot of sales. None of them mine this time. I must admit to feeling more than a bit disappointed about that. There is nothing like the affirmation of one's efforts via a nice cheque. As well as an ego boost it also helps to pay for the framing and the percentage to the gallery.</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>So.</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>On to other things.</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Cm33vaKXi1gNYtZFLze58YssXSvwz5W2hz1G4x3Kqu2W5lzq1mWSXSMsikRRxp1cNCMPb8TmvdY9wTZwLE2xMrRBT-rth843A22t6Pm0CouYq6kFBM2M652BlIT0KaAkUT-FHpxtQFlD/s1600/DSCN0115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Cm33vaKXi1gNYtZFLze58YssXSvwz5W2hz1G4x3Kqu2W5lzq1mWSXSMsikRRxp1cNCMPb8TmvdY9wTZwLE2xMrRBT-rth843A22t6Pm0CouYq6kFBM2M652BlIT0KaAkUT-FHpxtQFlD/s320/DSCN0115.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>This is Jesus. Officially he belongs to our neighbours who no doubt call him by another name but he is known as Jesus to us and several other neighbours because he's always turning up at the door, inspiring the remark,"Jesus! The cat!" And because we are all crazy enough to feed him, he keeps coming around, on the scrounge. </strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOMKqj4mUTI6oZnQtEbp2L7Bf_dawomm_KCH86W1t6be7WRi52RTJub7_U19st-Msa0z518D8qCEPMLaQOHEZoV9UbdhYqC85zFp1XT0TLTBBU-BSsU8MQiuphWe9CU4NXnXJMBa7E3Z2/s1600/DSCN0116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOMKqj4mUTI6oZnQtEbp2L7Bf_dawomm_KCH86W1t6be7WRi52RTJub7_U19st-Msa0z518D8qCEPMLaQOHEZoV9UbdhYqC85zFp1XT0TLTBBU-BSsU8MQiuphWe9CU4NXnXJMBa7E3Z2/s320/DSCN0116.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>Bridget and Sam, our cossetted little princesses, enjoy visiting Jesus through the screen door.</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJH0Kxty1R8QcVfOBFlJnjz3bArvlcU4TcFlPDnohGGWlvsGADg0vuOPLCSBsUsDdHKmUpt4xqhauFVvcKnSkVwCrrX70SGp6NYHxLSS8U4mJSrPq4H2JTjZs8GlAnhYlVQasmvB_kGSe/s1600/DSCN0121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJH0Kxty1R8QcVfOBFlJnjz3bArvlcU4TcFlPDnohGGWlvsGADg0vuOPLCSBsUsDdHKmUpt4xqhauFVvcKnSkVwCrrX70SGp6NYHxLSS8U4mJSrPq4H2JTjZs8GlAnhYlVQasmvB_kGSe/s320/DSCN0121.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>They watch him eat the few cookies we allow him and don't seem to mind sharing. Here he is after a nosh, having a good wash. </strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsoa308KIveB-9tbfTi-ofeB5V5siJtVIa0F1Wa-Zo60yv99ERq0PLS3JXY8jfac_nkQX5dwV_RaQ661bRrE4WSVMJgIdpv0HkqxZeOAyYz69f1ckJST6FEhAIhWwPemQ1kLeNJ6nH4QP/s1600/DSCN0105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsoa308KIveB-9tbfTi-ofeB5V5siJtVIa0F1Wa-Zo60yv99ERq0PLS3JXY8jfac_nkQX5dwV_RaQ661bRrE4WSVMJgIdpv0HkqxZeOAyYz69f1ckJST6FEhAIhWwPemQ1kLeNJ6nH4QP/s320/DSCN0105.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>This is Felix. He belongs to our friend, Monique and is very handsome and friendly. Felix came here for a 'playdate' recently. We wanted to find out whether he would get along with Sam and Bridget in case Monique needs to travel and avoid leaving him alone or at a cattery.</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nzMOBQ9_O0To6-TNwCelJit77k0r5h0k2pEHgeuO4lOo6RFrMNpTMA0wWUM9YAGb2o8fKsoyCFiA_e3GigT4KRyapMrnCUDlT_g-bV2weRV61gT9hAH8nt3tdb3O2EcyTETYttKLX3Kt/s1600/DSCN0133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nzMOBQ9_O0To6-TNwCelJit77k0r5h0k2pEHgeuO4lOo6RFrMNpTMA0wWUM9YAGb2o8fKsoyCFiA_e3GigT4KRyapMrnCUDlT_g-bV2weRV61gT9hAH8nt3tdb3O2EcyTETYttKLX3Kt/s320/DSCN0133.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>He arrived in his carrier and chose to remain there for awhile until the hissing from our two died down. Then he gradually and cautiously emerged.</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMM5SssZa3_Z_0WEcMpH_qp_VWi2gY7FdqBuD5mG1skjGBJDdQhzAFvp2BOIeSzDpynvE4dke8X_QyaS4WwlHAZvs-0LN6BR8GhOiAnNTLWcTzVQxVUBAcQR2EwVkdoGxQK-Rn1NhAr2Ji/s1600/DSCN0129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMM5SssZa3_Z_0WEcMpH_qp_VWi2gY7FdqBuD5mG1skjGBJDdQhzAFvp2BOIeSzDpynvE4dke8X_QyaS4WwlHAZvs-0LN6BR8GhOiAnNTLWcTzVQxVUBAcQR2EwVkdoGxQK-Rn1NhAr2Ji/s320/DSCN0129.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>A little catnip helped him to relax.</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhEVDoWqdnl_x9TBHVuLFZDo5LjHqvPr4yIm6CfaCGwwenPeDLjxd3HCSevTgho_yXctR6uFwnuC1zrFu5xQ46ETJ0YqQKm3DQ_yJdYo1vxR0pErhaPWaqm7_mm-rD0iaswPc0xeE8_lg/s1600/DSCN0134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhEVDoWqdnl_x9TBHVuLFZDo5LjHqvPr4yIm6CfaCGwwenPeDLjxd3HCSevTgho_yXctR6uFwnuC1zrFu5xQ46ETJ0YqQKm3DQ_yJdYo1vxR0pErhaPWaqm7_mm-rD0iaswPc0xeE8_lg/s320/DSCN0134.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>Bridget thought he was making a fool of himself but she remained tolerant of her new guest.</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4LePWceuM2ZQxJbhsD2hFDG8-MPb7wIPGVflFjz8ZFqb1QcmTeyt3UuO4Gqci31LkgWABP0Se9aMYc4Oe3X02fGcViCD8Fq4Zia5vMYP24CV2Og0C7xWaPGX4uxoDbLOgBwoArMidugH/s1600/DSCN0161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4LePWceuM2ZQxJbhsD2hFDG8-MPb7wIPGVflFjz8ZFqb1QcmTeyt3UuO4Gqci31LkgWABP0Se9aMYc4Oe3X02fGcViCD8Fq4Zia5vMYP24CV2Og0C7xWaPGX4uxoDbLOgBwoArMidugH/s320/DSCN0161.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>While Sam watched it all from a safe distance on George's lap. </strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>In all, the visit went quite well. An hour later all three animals were racing around the basement and the hissing had almost stopped. We'll have to do it again, soon.</strong></div><div align="center"></div>franniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826977033042342569noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160195265159736739.post-87737216554234908072011-05-23T10:55:00.000-07:002011-05-23T10:55:57.161-07:00Gemini<div align="center"><strong>Despite the rain and miserable weather we've been having lately I managed to snag a few days of relatively fine weather to work in the garden and found there is so MUCH to do as we head into June. Today is Queen Victoria's birthday and unfortunately for all you working people, the weather has taken another dive. I'm going to use this gray day to write this post in celebration of our new zodiac sign, Gemini.</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiATQOoBdB6pYQMA4lk93tVv2hR5xeh4JiDMFiVg6pdszHbAYZLIM5EpQ4A7MMU8zgPmlRKU7dG3z4v4WuX2TOEZyJy1rI4ZzhhgV-ICpdQwx4UlaHc3YBFj9SF0ttFTNAVL8bgOznIUSj/s1600/P5220010Circus2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiATQOoBdB6pYQMA4lk93tVv2hR5xeh4JiDMFiVg6pdszHbAYZLIM5EpQ4A7MMU8zgPmlRKU7dG3z4v4WuX2TOEZyJy1rI4ZzhhgV-ICpdQwx4UlaHc3YBFj9SF0ttFTNAVL8bgOznIUSj/s320/P5220010Circus2.JPG" width="247" /></a></div><br />
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<div align="center"><strong>Well, these two don't look exactly like twins but they could represent the dual nature of people born under this sign. </strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1S4V76TJ97Zw86kOXcygRiFca5vfxpFo7kUsE9b3SigUHkEZT8ZURgC2q4NWE1IkIGMlmR-cW4_c3u2Tj-1f6dyNMNrbmc9LSZcW9sOFt0_hfIzRXWJE9URmK3DcN6GMv5Mz-psLAcKhB/s1600/DSCN0522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1S4V76TJ97Zw86kOXcygRiFca5vfxpFo7kUsE9b3SigUHkEZT8ZURgC2q4NWE1IkIGMlmR-cW4_c3u2Tj-1f6dyNMNrbmc9LSZcW9sOFt0_hfIzRXWJE9URmK3DcN6GMv5Mz-psLAcKhB/s320/DSCN0522.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>I've always been fascinated by the idea of twins. There's a theory that we all begin as twins but that most of us are born singly after having eliminated our other in utero. Supposedly we singletons are the result of some inside hatchet job. Oh, the guilt! </strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>This painting is called THE MARBLE GAME. I wonder which one wins.</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFwnFEk6vv7inO2rGqkf79u4y9p4Roh2XsnHvCFVys0IoJIE2tHnzc8PjfOHI5c-3SPZx5rwz6WV-tRez8syBcCXbwR9bow65euVdgynpZneujDPpF2VhQFfPcRs4WNTdst8woAqHQqlP/s1600/DSCN0515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFwnFEk6vv7inO2rGqkf79u4y9p4Roh2XsnHvCFVys0IoJIE2tHnzc8PjfOHI5c-3SPZx5rwz6WV-tRez8syBcCXbwR9bow65euVdgynpZneujDPpF2VhQFfPcRs4WNTdst8woAqHQqlP/s320/DSCN0515.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>Sometimes twins are brother and sister...which shoots down the earlier theory somewhat. I called this painting SPIES IN THE NIGHT. It's one of my all-time favourites.</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>So there you are, Gemini people, so lucky to have been born in spring.</strong> </div><div align="center"></div>franniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826977033042342569noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160195265159736739.post-64192722280774045762011-05-05T10:40:00.000-07:002011-05-05T10:40:45.249-07:00Old Sketch Book<div align="center"><strong>I was looking through an old sketch book to see if there was anything worth sharing or even developing into something more profound and although nothing screamed at me, "Oh, yes! This is genius!" I decided some sketches are at least worth sharing. I hope you'll agree.</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiew0uE2pFAm0m9GBFWm_-cSwXvd9ledvrlAstrlOiLwrf8EtfnWe7D-DdmLCI1_Oxsw_IFUzzPRFLwXkaSrue-TMxQtFawzcNOZl0jiYebjiayF-36TSXBYm91GkCB0TwKUuPAQCH_1C3u/s1600/05-05-2011+12%253B21%253B52+PM+sketch+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiew0uE2pFAm0m9GBFWm_-cSwXvd9ledvrlAstrlOiLwrf8EtfnWe7D-DdmLCI1_Oxsw_IFUzzPRFLwXkaSrue-TMxQtFawzcNOZl0jiYebjiayF-36TSXBYm91GkCB0TwKUuPAQCH_1C3u/s320/05-05-2011+12%253B21%253B52+PM+sketch+1.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><strong>Gesture drawings like this are meant to prepare you to see the overall subject, to get its movement and to loosen you up. The idea is that doing a few rapid gesture drawings will prevent you from getting too detailed and tight, a common problem if you haven't been sketching for a while. Eliminate the fear factor by scribbling.</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8teHBXVGXNO-DXGWUCOi0GnkEis7WKXqQTFJxVLEq_Gy_uHvRZpZgaUKHF7omnUHJ1RlY2gYI36btutSkvejioG_IHe4CSUuIItUi06cQa3N1JWFFIgnyqBBT6OSuKEVoJFALHT18XjZ/s1600/05-05-2011+12%253B26%253B19+PM+sketch2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8teHBXVGXNO-DXGWUCOi0GnkEis7WKXqQTFJxVLEq_Gy_uHvRZpZgaUKHF7omnUHJ1RlY2gYI36btutSkvejioG_IHe4CSUuIItUi06cQa3N1JWFFIgnyqBBT6OSuKEVoJFALHT18XjZ/s320/05-05-2011+12%253B26%253B19+PM+sketch2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>Blind contour drawing like the above one I did of my hand is a way to train your eyes and hand to work as one. You look only at the subject (hand in this case</strong><strong>) and slowly outline its features without lifting your pencil. You can use any subject, just don't look at the paper. If it looks too perfect you haven't done it correctly.</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5V8pLBBjIo8Tuohh49lL6ZWvkQ0gqKKMbEARnPYIY3R8ymjwvABPPZvG6GQC0JsCcJM2AsaP90-rZUt4h5qaGtNY5eW4XBgaOv3FV5IWhyphenhyphennZ886Izw2wnSLpFxmKj38rhuEza6H71gD6b/s1600/05-05-2011+12%253B35%253B57+PMsketch6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5V8pLBBjIo8Tuohh49lL6ZWvkQ0gqKKMbEARnPYIY3R8ymjwvABPPZvG6GQC0JsCcJM2AsaP90-rZUt4h5qaGtNY5eW4XBgaOv3FV5IWhyphenhyphennZ886Izw2wnSLpFxmKj38rhuEza6H71gD6b/s320/05-05-2011+12%253B35%253B57+PMsketch6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><strong>Here's a series of quick sketches I tried out for Artist Trading Cards. It was meant to show mermaids doing yoga but I found that in order to do yoga one needs legs so I abandoned that idea and did another series with cats in yoga poses.</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_Ao6JwXZv6mcfFVP4iiFt19pYZ8ocqm67d8BZqULjudUC8xT6a9JGUAYXOa7_PTFguYA0lz_ARmeqYs3DyBN6H4eiMySAnBkf_NA1_9jcsT-pXtE9g0Gxb9UAuW3gjV5hXKFy8TevNid/s1600/05-05-2011+12%253B29%253B55+PM+sketch3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_Ao6JwXZv6mcfFVP4iiFt19pYZ8ocqm67d8BZqULjudUC8xT6a9JGUAYXOa7_PTFguYA0lz_ARmeqYs3DyBN6H4eiMySAnBkf_NA1_9jcsT-pXtE9g0Gxb9UAuW3gjV5hXKFy8TevNid/s320/05-05-2011+12%253B29%253B55+PM+sketch3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>This study of irises got me ready to paint a watercolour.</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMOrh-SNeO22UvhpCuSLJ3dHur7sl6a-S4Wa4FMHb5ZNgxuBb8PRfNJEniuzAIM8AtCy4EH1uiJ5tFPygA-uJHBkQrz_LYQwZmXc8KMW9C52agZ5pwY_iVdDjocihO6JJP20mwEkLjSTrG/s1600/20-10-2009+3%253B27%253B55+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMOrh-SNeO22UvhpCuSLJ3dHur7sl6a-S4Wa4FMHb5ZNgxuBb8PRfNJEniuzAIM8AtCy4EH1uiJ5tFPygA-uJHBkQrz_LYQwZmXc8KMW9C52agZ5pwY_iVdDjocihO6JJP20mwEkLjSTrG/s320/20-10-2009+3%253B27%253B55+PM.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>It's called 'In May'. And now I'd like to dedicate it to all mothers for Mothers' Day, especially to my own Mom whose middle name is Mae. She passed away a few years ago but she shared my love for flowers and all living things. And she did get to see this painting before it was sold. </strong></div>franniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826977033042342569noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160195265159736739.post-89451630164166166122011-04-28T11:15:00.000-07:002011-04-28T11:15:47.638-07:00Taurus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-X-nUowsSfZuZJMMJVndQ9q28WmFiqN3DhivLsqXs16CTQCBNrW6nK2HF95W6PRvW1zkWB9E3WjHzBWLGcua8tQel4tqrpYdy7AbRqPYn8G1jt8KHgn_hQQr_RmTJjzsnYg6wdfQNy7W/s1600/DSCN0517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-X-nUowsSfZuZJMMJVndQ9q28WmFiqN3DhivLsqXs16CTQCBNrW6nK2HF95W6PRvW1zkWB9E3WjHzBWLGcua8tQel4tqrpYdy7AbRqPYn8G1jt8KHgn_hQQr_RmTJjzsnYg6wdfQNy7W/s320/DSCN0517.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>We are well into the second sign of the zodiac and I want to dedicate this small post to my niece, Joanna, whose birthday is coming soon. </strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The above painting, done with oil glazes, is called WOMEN'S WORK and to me it represents the ability to undertake many tasks and to see them through. This quality is strong in people born under the sign of the bull. (I would prefer the bison as an icon but nobody asked me.)</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNJPd7ULF5oOCf4bvi1-3irIAx6Pwx3L7kWjUFCgWKTllMVUUiZ07fjK2eVSyxyHyjAg5yDOMrwZlPliECSCFDaOrEa7kwN0Cq8Oae2TxhH0eAkDIJwNEYAp4lf2a_bFrgnoYmMP22oNS/s1600/Rock+and.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNJPd7ULF5oOCf4bvi1-3irIAx6Pwx3L7kWjUFCgWKTllMVUUiZ07fjK2eVSyxyHyjAg5yDOMrwZlPliECSCFDaOrEa7kwN0Cq8Oae2TxhH0eAkDIJwNEYAp4lf2a_bFrgnoYmMP22oNS/s320/Rock+and.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>This oil-glaze painting was done many years ago just after a disastrous year during which my husband underwent several abdominal surgeries and I was in a car accident and was sidelined by a shoulder separation. I hadn't set out to portray these events but obviously they came through anyway. </strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>It's called A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE and I chose it for Taurus because it expresses the bull/bison's resolve to overcome difficulties. It's not a particularly pretty picture but a very strong one, I think. </strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>franniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826977033042342569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160195265159736739.post-29949592419106155812011-04-15T10:35:00.000-07:002011-04-15T10:35:03.230-07:00Aries<div align="center"><strong>My computer has been to the hospital and had an injection of flash and java, whatever that means. These techies speak blythely about such things, not caring that some of us (me) have no idea about these terms...I don't even know what a 'cookie' is. Yet I like to blog away just for the thrill of seeing my stuff out there and connecting with the world. It's an ego thing I guess.</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><strong>So let's see if it works:( I was having problems uploading images and even viewing them on other peoples' blogs.)</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><strong>This post is dedicated to Aries, the first sign of the zodiac.</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-EKIMmdnpwoGIfz7FvgYKLp7iCsbaoTkKq14gmO8f9AiVT9dOvgg0ycXyBdHXwtwUlsITtrULVy6myx17fa17A_yNYn6Qge7rXUwt-X1UerArQ9dDZlLpXD-n1bG8CyRv5c_mqjvowJ1/s1600/4-5-2008+2%253B02%253B10+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-EKIMmdnpwoGIfz7FvgYKLp7iCsbaoTkKq14gmO8f9AiVT9dOvgg0ycXyBdHXwtwUlsITtrULVy6myx17fa17A_yNYn6Qge7rXUwt-X1UerArQ9dDZlLpXD-n1bG8CyRv5c_mqjvowJ1/s320/4-5-2008+2%253B02%253B10+PM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>Aries, like the robin, is a sign of Spring. It's a fire sign and is symbolized by the ram. I know a few Aries and they certainly fit the description. Fiery, passionate and spontaneous.</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtlUWB964mSloSQwcD9NxOu9yqYuCDKtab31TVs_qxLpXARHNQbnlCRmGkJo0hdCQ_0-JhhOSAV6MkRFmN96R395qPCnxJZHmzDk9N9Rrr6wYtkMEA9MNIDlaOKOtVV94uuniQHixTpvg/s1600/art+%2526+cats+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtlUWB964mSloSQwcD9NxOu9yqYuCDKtab31TVs_qxLpXARHNQbnlCRmGkJo0hdCQ_0-JhhOSAV6MkRFmN96R395qPCnxJZHmzDk9N9Rrr6wYtkMEA9MNIDlaOKOtVV94uuniQHixTpvg/s320/art+%2526+cats+002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div align="center"><strong>Aries are also impulsive and energetic. I would imagine that when combined with a water sign a lot of steam would be produced. So here's to all you Aries people and to new beginnings. And to my reconstituted computer.</strong></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div>franniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826977033042342569noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160195265159736739.post-6151510071113320212011-04-08T11:48:00.000-07:002011-04-08T11:48:29.966-07:00Out of the Trunk<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I'm trying this experiment and if it works you'll see my new blog post which has been a long time coming. I'm working from my husband's computer because my computer won't let me upload images and what's a blog without images?</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Here's the first image ( I hope.)</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0eW_9jIJjq6vgDgyDMzx64-fzry_KB8x1En5CsHMYJ2qp8BR5NYzEJWULmrRmMJqA858KOkFqNiuzX45C4uan9ib7YqbHgJb9lx21aPfqQtsDzRKj0ZfCVksnZNd6Rp8iY7Uc-y6h2MG/s1600/DSCN0064+trunk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0eW_9jIJjq6vgDgyDMzx64-fzry_KB8x1En5CsHMYJ2qp8BR5NYzEJWULmrRmMJqA858KOkFqNiuzX45C4uan9ib7YqbHgJb9lx21aPfqQtsDzRKj0ZfCVksnZNd6Rp8iY7Uc-y6h2MG/s320/DSCN0064+trunk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>So far so good.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The old trunk above (and behind Samantha) is full of odd bits of fabric and attempts to create art from them. They are wall hangings and they usually hang around for a while,then they end up in the trunk. So I'm taking them out today for an airing.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0zLIpKfsGN3npcwRjHM5yM8sSsLOqW2ZC0xCuieRZhKVgK7FnNUAVgr30MfigfN86rLg7LkdiRclkcdrgjEGpGDh4sS6LpfB-aaTumZWmmshyphenhyphen5rMLtoIq7qWkIyWWhLT8WjssxCwnnJm/s1600/DSCN0065+tapestry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0zLIpKfsGN3npcwRjHM5yM8sSsLOqW2ZC0xCuieRZhKVgK7FnNUAVgr30MfigfN86rLg7LkdiRclkcdrgjEGpGDh4sS6LpfB-aaTumZWmmshyphenhyphen5rMLtoIq7qWkIyWWhLT8WjssxCwnnJm/s320/DSCN0065+tapestry.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> It's hanging crooked but illustrates my brief foray into faux-tapestry. Painted in acrylics on burlap it features mixed mythological figures prancing about beneath a William Morris inspired arbour. I gave it to my parents years ago thinking they would recognize themselves in it. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IL9EaM7mzBvFR4kSAJCNCGA8Vn6tubiH7fsEZIn2GfFypPrOMFDu5n2ZY1ySN3m4MAf6AH3b06SKXENUGqeOgmiV76uKqB_0e58CiT1cqq1RjgTv7Sirf-b5L4ydHoPq1sgCRHWWuPTK/s1600/DSCN0066+ants+full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IL9EaM7mzBvFR4kSAJCNCGA8Vn6tubiH7fsEZIn2GfFypPrOMFDu5n2ZY1ySN3m4MAf6AH3b06SKXENUGqeOgmiV76uKqB_0e58CiT1cqq1RjgTv7Sirf-b5L4ydHoPq1sgCRHWWuPTK/s320/DSCN0066+ants+full.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">THE FLIGHT OF THE ANTS</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>In which I was trying to depict the impression of thousands of winged ants soaring into the evening sky one day in August, their glittering wings sparkling in the sun before many were devoured by skuas high above. Their little wings are coated with 'diamond dust' which is difficult to see here.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeCr7fTdHQ9cLrQjv_hAK8a1f1TKZ3KEMirZoh72wUCnbScpSUpSlG23tWMzQtLjKdDCMwo7Y_cXGjxIiucTFnQfL81EHoPnXtWPqG4b9xTA3Rkm1QFhyphenhyphenDWh5DJYacr2cH_kGTOhlllL4/s1600/DSCN0070+diamond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeCr7fTdHQ9cLrQjv_hAK8a1f1TKZ3KEMirZoh72wUCnbScpSUpSlG23tWMzQtLjKdDCMwo7Y_cXGjxIiucTFnQfL81EHoPnXtWPqG4b9xTA3Rkm1QFhyphenhyphenDWh5DJYacr2cH_kGTOhlllL4/s320/DSCN0070+diamond.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>When my parents' 60th wedding anniversary came diamonds were in order. I asked family and friends to contribute a diamond-shaped memories which I then sewed to a backing to make a 'quilt' hanging. These three pieces were done by my sister and celebrate early family road trips we enjoyed as kids. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-xLXJb0CwFFUX-pz_SAqOA4geaDrVqvfu8GbzG7HZnIVPoemzTkURDb7pSLclcWQ82UW3p-sMg5_HMPcS-KNq5oViwrxYisKaVHBNA7of2Ei4D0MgUvIwPIdOZnpZlchaxGheIS_Zjct/s1600/30-03-2011+3%253B20%253B35+PM+art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-xLXJb0CwFFUX-pz_SAqOA4geaDrVqvfu8GbzG7HZnIVPoemzTkURDb7pSLclcWQ82UW3p-sMg5_HMPcS-KNq5oViwrxYisKaVHBNA7of2Ei4D0MgUvIwPIdOZnpZlchaxGheIS_Zjct/s320/30-03-2011+3%253B20%253B35+PM+art.jpg" width="199" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Here I am sitting by the completed oeuvre hanging on our fence on Vancouver Island where George & I lived during the nineties. It hung for a time in their dining room and now enjoys its retirement in the trunk. As will all the above creations because I still don't have the heart to get rid of them. Some day I will. </b></div>franniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826977033042342569noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160195265159736739.post-38404958766703490952011-04-01T12:31:00.000-07:002011-04-01T12:31:25.973-07:00Blogging Problem<div style="text-align: center;"><b>I would love to post a new blog but am having problems uploading images from my files. I've registered the problem with Blogger and still await a reply. Now I notice some other blogs I follow have no pictures to go with the text. This can't be an April fool's joke because it's been happening for three days now. Any of you have the same problem? What gives?</b></div>franniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826977033042342569noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160195265159736739.post-17976286554017888512011-03-12T13:00:00.000-08:002011-03-12T13:00:15.497-08:00Pisces<div style="text-align: center;"><b>One of the things I plan to do on this, my new blog, is to feature some of my paintings which represent signs of the Zodiac. I don't really believe in horoscopes but I do think it's fun to play in the Zodiac. We are coming to the end of Pisces, the last of the signs, so I'll be working backward for the rest of the year. (Some of you may have seen these images before.) </b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfd15PXsaXX0s3JNbelC8MAu5eKZS3yAatU7dbH0F8jQksJn8wYP_qKse2Gv_PrJTTfXLJM-SYcyLQ_9zqRl1FqFcj5MB84erkSoBAklWLQpAI5jFvsPj152Oajv7FjCQYH8W9n-dGAbZ/s1600/Water+Babe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfd15PXsaXX0s3JNbelC8MAu5eKZS3yAatU7dbH0F8jQksJn8wYP_qKse2Gv_PrJTTfXLJM-SYcyLQ_9zqRl1FqFcj5MB84erkSoBAklWLQpAI5jFvsPj152Oajv7FjCQYH8W9n-dGAbZ/s320/Water+Babe.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>WATERBABE</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>From my 'Fairy Fossils' series: it comes with a poem...</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Tho' I am old I'll never die,</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>or cry</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>or lie.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkrnkU_Xj2YX8ZLLkuoh3h87zy3k8YoFF-1ms7IT-xJkkz2IM7XHbnUOtorYohxLA_2O5ouIoYdGDL9HrS0X9U02m2zDCNipkz8fWs7W4fdPnIqdpa5QgmXdtiXblpS8GXEV6uyDLlZwk/s1600/matrix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkrnkU_Xj2YX8ZLLkuoh3h87zy3k8YoFF-1ms7IT-xJkkz2IM7XHbnUOtorYohxLA_2O5ouIoYdGDL9HrS0X9U02m2zDCNipkz8fWs7W4fdPnIqdpa5QgmXdtiXblpS8GXEV6uyDLlZwk/s320/matrix.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>MATRIX</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Pisceans keep a low profile and seek vast amounts of knowledge. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEYpiat8ntHaaKCNrMkob1H8a_tS3-bpgNIDK0HOM4FC1ogCTYotvIHiFcAl0mUgpyIrKdFFR1syZJpXmY4r4W5i7DB16QnuKJUTr7DzBf-K1uCA8-wLvQ0oOPDZpTwQgEPFlT_WZxqUD/s1600/Tide+Pool.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEYpiat8ntHaaKCNrMkob1H8a_tS3-bpgNIDK0HOM4FC1ogCTYotvIHiFcAl0mUgpyIrKdFFR1syZJpXmY4r4W5i7DB16QnuKJUTr7DzBf-K1uCA8-wLvQ0oOPDZpTwQgEPFlT_WZxqUD/s320/Tide+Pool.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>TIDE POOL</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Pisces are gentle. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR8X0oYvtUr9zL9ZxWjhyphenhyphenPQomT_5AICXgTTEJPBGLw4Klfyu9K5SsmC-1OU3fgJ5UpeHaavCyrzHJM8IL9skzfiOhbzYwDBjTXM0FWTRPpB2MdUQYONzkDedldhKIyWDmhye4nPB8JiamM/s1600/PA250006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR8X0oYvtUr9zL9ZxWjhyphenhyphenPQomT_5AICXgTTEJPBGLw4Klfyu9K5SsmC-1OU3fgJ5UpeHaavCyrzHJM8IL9skzfiOhbzYwDBjTXM0FWTRPpB2MdUQYONzkDedldhKIyWDmhye4nPB8JiamM/s320/PA250006.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>WANDA</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>This is my alter-ego. Yes, I am a Pisces. </b></div>franniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826977033042342569noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160195265159736739.post-29110623011937874732011-03-07T08:45:00.000-08:002011-03-07T08:45:56.797-08:00Freeform<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sometimes I like to try a different approach to painting. Here's a way to begin a piece with no preconceived idea of what the subject will be.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__gWu8jnAFyLL7q_uBq2YjcHlpjbKNLeL5Q19cqGMvLX3HfuJDp1RScBgwHYfoglXhoc31FI0wKvMvTY5bqsZPEjcQYUA9B8OSMiGsgEz0dsFJJrrO4WWv4PJnFOBF5Vqymw5fRhf0QLl/s1600/freeform+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__gWu8jnAFyLL7q_uBq2YjcHlpjbKNLeL5Q19cqGMvLX3HfuJDp1RScBgwHYfoglXhoc31FI0wKvMvTY5bqsZPEjcQYUA9B8OSMiGsgEz0dsFJJrrO4WWv4PJnFOBF5Vqymw5fRhf0QLl/s320/freeform+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Start by wetting your paper and dropping some colour in. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8Angsn9Fe4DZA_DdNtznBJOsku5EZeoH7sfCZy5mZYCx42oX69Or_iC6laXBWzkxm8CjIMo5AH760aRbHGojB146mOfl8OJ6mtJrmdQOyVLa0aMWU0smn-2fMnR7bYwSY8jo3mCkq6uO/s1600/freeform+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8Angsn9Fe4DZA_DdNtznBJOsku5EZeoH7sfCZy5mZYCx42oX69Or_iC6laXBWzkxm8CjIMo5AH760aRbHGojB146mOfl8OJ6mtJrmdQOyVLa0aMWU0smn-2fMnR7bYwSY8jo3mCkq6uO/s320/freeform+002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Add more colour according to your whim. Tip the paper around to let the colours flow.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijopmx98TMXfIrypets-TgkpDemCT4lBYsDUpIZUZ9car0aatmRluRF07b6nA7RsSZU0kdpPFGptuARC1GOWoNr296dVBbdMgzErBwrC1iJoGyn3sw2QYCg7kf5l5abjAFnm3J9XBhFhoP/s1600/freeform+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijopmx98TMXfIrypets-TgkpDemCT4lBYsDUpIZUZ9car0aatmRluRF07b6nA7RsSZU0kdpPFGptuARC1GOWoNr296dVBbdMgzErBwrC1iJoGyn3sw2QYCg7kf5l5abjAFnm3J9XBhFhoP/s320/freeform+003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Tear up bits of tissue paper and place them randomly on the wet surface. You still have no idea where you're going and that's fine. Now let the paper dry. Go do something else. Have a coffee or go shopping. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_JBLAn0sm80ElnYwMBl-rYyxQ2huaP7tmyjN8Avl_HJoy5TCpVISlao4qwgkGfTTirdyTHn1aa9tVkZgPnwnWDjXnLqRklNIZtlJkzvbzaBItm_VdRY8MG3o54wLVU49UEDxCFIzfsXn/s1600/freeform+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_JBLAn0sm80ElnYwMBl-rYyxQ2huaP7tmyjN8Avl_HJoy5TCpVISlao4qwgkGfTTirdyTHn1aa9tVkZgPnwnWDjXnLqRklNIZtlJkzvbzaBItm_VdRY8MG3o54wLVU49UEDxCFIzfsXn/s320/freeform+009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Remove the bits of tissue and stare at the result. You now have the matrix for your painting. Organic forms usually present themselves to be developed this way. Make a thin mixture using all your original colours to begin isolating the forms you want to define. You will have a neutral shade to set off your shapes.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_wK8D5JPfTOi0WHdVpjj7I-WbBnh1ufP5Yi_V95fOZv8Cn68wZQnvPUMwjZFLeTkW1DDQblNPHDNXCGjAXl7-e7MAHhHlt6j_8P7vRqnBvU6_U4jPAQDCxLKWBbKVsKJs6sNFTk6Kwhn/s1600/freeform+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_wK8D5JPfTOi0WHdVpjj7I-WbBnh1ufP5Yi_V95fOZv8Cn68wZQnvPUMwjZFLeTkW1DDQblNPHDNXCGjAXl7-e7MAHhHlt6j_8P7vRqnBvU6_U4jPAQDCxLKWBbKVsKJs6sNFTk6Kwhn/s320/freeform+010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Keep going, adding by subtracting. This is known as painting negative space. You are painting what's NOT there in order to show what IS there. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MIVPJjBcFPGNCNlJIwItw_9_tJsAvCa0cFajzEA9oozM7KCCDy3JJQGK6jesop5wbx6sw6lnrAcrAqeCCL1lo3gCoM4xPjzNbKvly7no0KkT0Hxoi-7ePLp_s-6qn-IMp_LR7i2RBR0d/s1600/freeform+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MIVPJjBcFPGNCNlJIwItw_9_tJsAvCa0cFajzEA9oozM7KCCDy3JJQGK6jesop5wbx6sw6lnrAcrAqeCCL1lo3gCoM4xPjzNbKvly7no0KkT0Hxoi-7ePLp_s-6qn-IMp_LR7i2RBR0d/s320/freeform+011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Combine hard edges and soft edges. To keep an edge soft let it trail off with clear water. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Nn0tIj4t0qsHYY9Y7rWqSsC7tebjV4ZdGwz0Tvl1Igaq3raseyGp2302iNRZKVlbFrGX1AwdbTRsDGKRSLACxcumfLuJbN1-JkXSSgy5qkFW3Nu3qlLnJWHNvWy2VgjInYhBDLDY0j5T/s1600/freeform+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Nn0tIj4t0qsHYY9Y7rWqSsC7tebjV4ZdGwz0Tvl1Igaq3raseyGp2302iNRZKVlbFrGX1AwdbTRsDGKRSLACxcumfLuJbN1-JkXSSgy5qkFW3Nu3qlLnJWHNvWy2VgjInYhBDLDY0j5T/s320/freeform+012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Strengthen your composition with darker washes and glazes in the background. Add a few details but don't be too literal. When you can't think of anything more to do your piece is finished. Resist the temptation to overwork it. If you're not sure just put it away for a while and look at it with fresh eyes. That's always the true test. </div>franniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826977033042342569noreply@blogger.com4