From one island to another

Just a little reminder to myself that on a sunny little island in the Atlantic Ocean, the air is fresh with sea breezes, under bare-feet there is warm sand, tastes of outdoor coffees, sounds of palm tree leaves and waves washing the shoreline.

On this little island in the Atlantic Ocean, the air is cheek-reddening cold, under thick socks and boots the ground is hard and wet, noisy percussion of sleet bouncing of roof and window.

Two little islands, thousands of miles apart . . . just a little reminder to myself :)

Bursting out

Aoibheann (ey-veen) wondered how many people had passed her on her walk before she realised her coat had burst open.

365 skies

Hello and welcome to the year to come.

First sky of 2013 is clear, bright and blue. 364 more skies to greet. Who knows the colours they will be?

365 skies to smile up at, from behind windows, through trees, over hills, touching the sea, between buildings, from sick beds, bus seats, office chairs.

365 soft sky smiles to your year!

Winter Song (and a little give-away)

A little feathered carol singer, who stays with us all year round,  perched amid Winter foliage: Ivy, Holly, Mistletoe and Rose-hips - with a hint of cinnamon to bring warmth. 

A kind Norwegian friend has invited me to be part of her Advent Calendar! If you would like a chance to win this winter illustration just leave a comment there before the end of Wednesday the 12th December.

Scattering and reaching without moving

The sun stays low in the sky these days. Tall trees casting even longer shadows. Across fields and gardens and buildings and roads. To places far from where they are rooted. Touching a corner of a field or garden they could never have dreamt of reaching in their immobility. And the leaves too, gathered up by the wind and scattered far from where they grew. A little travel adventure.

Above, a painting inspired by my almost 93 year old Grand-Uncle. All summer long a blackbird in the apple trees outside his window, where he sits all day, came to sing. He thought maybe it was a bird who had come for breadcrumbs on his bird table the Winter before. He said the Blackbird had repaid him in full.

Song investment

If she feeds the birds now in Winter, maybe they will come back next Spring and sing all Summer long.

Don't forget to feed the little ones if it gets cold this Winter!

Changes afoot, underfoot

Every day, a new leaf painting underfoot.