A Green Wave

Nobody knows for certain when Spring begins. Around this time of year a "green wave" can be observed on successive satellite images moving north at a rate of about 100 miles a week.

For astronomers, Spring begins on 21st March, when the sun crosses the equator on its seasonal journey northwards.

Weather people base it on the weather. Meteorologists consider the 3 coldest months (December, January, February) to be winter. So for them Spring begins on March 1st.

Here, the evenings are light til 6.30, the air is filled with birdsong and I don't need my scarf - Spring!

A Stretch In The Evenings

The last days of January have wrapped themselves in Winter, grey skies, trees draped with drops of drizzle - but already the days are beginning to stretch longer. There is an extra half hour of painting in daylight in the evenings. And tomorrow is the first day of Spring.

Nollaig Shona. Christmas greetings.

Wreaths of leaves, red berries and ribbons fluttering on doors. Cosy cups of warm and sweet - gingerbread, cinnamon, orange and cloves. Twinkling lights, glistening through the shortest days and longest nights of the year.

December Mornings

Morning greetings are cold and frosty. Clothes on the radiator getting warm and toasty.

Quietly Novembering

Quiet colors outside- soft greys and browns and subdued greens. Here and there tints of gold leaves twirling down like yellow paper snowflakes, patterning the dark path underfoot. The trees are quiet too, with their arms folded and eyes closed. Quiet colours inside too, like candlelight.

Bits and Pieces

 Some of my illustrations that were in an exhibition of Children's Illustration in lovely Limavady.

There were 4 other illustrators, Sheena Dempsey, Killian Dunne,
Ciara Healy and Shona Macdonald with work in it and it was amazing and inspiring to see other artists' work. The pieces were all hung low - just at the right height for children to see!

http://www.roevalleyarts.com/rv_events/once-upon-a-time-2/

Sycamore Tryst

The Sycamore leaves. Always whispering, always sighing. Sometimes lively, sometimes softly. If she listens with her soul ears more than her bodily ears, they share their secrets.