hat trick

It think we have all been busy these last two weeks first dealing with the disruption the snow brings and then with getting prepared for Christmas. I have been only painting small, particularly while I had kids under my feet during the snow, but today I’m back at the easel painting big again.  I plan to develop the series of interiors as they have been proving very popular and I have had some commissions for more. 

hat trick 8×8 inch oil on canvas bord

December Birthdays

Emily Dickinson would have celebrated her birthday on Friday, along with little ol’ me! If she was on facebook her status would have read “We turn not older with years, but newer every day.”

I’m with you Emily and I would most likely have ”friended” her. As it was, I spent the day basking in the birthday wishes  and kind words that tumbled onto my facebook page from near and far all day and into the night! Isn’t global communication marvelous.

And speaking of famous literary (and dead) people on facebook. What if romeo and juliet were on facebook?

apple skittles

it’s the thought that counts, no really!

Are you thinking about Christmas presents yet? Have them all organized since August or like me are you only getting to it now?  This video made me think again about buying presents that are just stuff.

Every Gift Has a Story from Etsy on Vimeo.

Every Gift Has a Story from Etsy on Vimeo.

It’s not about the money, it really is about the thought! What can you give your loved one/s  this year that will bring that subtle little upturn of a smile that melts your heart? If you don’t have crafty fingers I couldn’t think of a better place to start than Etsy. It has loads of cool, handmade, usual and beautiful gifts from not a lot of money.

knife to meet you

OK, that’s awful. I know! but I’m rushing and it’s bloody cold here so if I do revert to a bad pun occasionally, forgive me (or not, I’m too cold to care)! Anyway, I’m easing back into the still lifes again after a break and maybe you’re ready for a change too. This is a small 8×8 inch oil on canvas bord.

who let the dog(s) out?

It’s -10 today which is a once in a life time event here on our island in the gulf stream (now you’re thinking of Dolly Parton!). But after last year’s week long snow-in we’re old hands at this game and there was only marginal panic buying in the stores after the first inch. 

Maggie on the other hand thinks we have all gone mad and that normal rules (particularly the peeing outside one) should not apply to lurchers who can claim to be half Saluki and are therefore half royal! Everyone knows that!

we were promised a hurricane

OK, so first of all apologises to those of you who have to suffer the effects of real grown up hurricanes. Over here, we get storms but no hurricanes as such. So it was with some excitement that we were told that a huricane was coming to town!

This one was the kind that’s like a major A list celebrity that has sunk to the D list, having lost almost all it’s power crossing the Atlantic. Even so, we were informed that this hurricane would be propped up by a high tide and low pressure so that it might perform with something of it’s past glory.

source:weheartit

Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t wishing the destruction of a hurricane on us, but I have to admit there was a little part of me (the part that sometimes wants to laugh at bad news) that was just a bit disappointed. Don’t think badly of me!

fire and stone

On our recent quick trip to London the girls and I ate in a very cool and surprisingly child friendly restaurant called Fire and Stone in Convent Garden. I loved the lighting and snapped a photo of the condiments as we were leaving. My kids are used to this kind of behaviour from me by now but I did notice a look from our waiter.

fire and stone 8×8 inch oil on canvas bord