The End of a Year

I don't really look forward to a New Year as such, if I thought about it too much I would worry about too many things for sure. But, I do like to have a little reflection on things that have happened during the year.
In a previous post I mentioned that my craft board has been replaced because I outgrew it!



I can't help but smile every time I look at it. There are little bits and pieces of things from some places that I dreamed about visiting for years. I have some business cards on there which are rather meaningful, one from another blogger who I actually got to meet.
There are all kinds of bits that have been collected up and all of them hold a special memory or thought. You will note, I even have some of the envelopes pinned up because they have such lovely stamps too. Some images have also been added to the surrounding wall, including one or two of my own for whatever reason!
However, a lot of this are little works of art that have been sent by other bloggers who I have met over the cyberspace. I started blogging in January two years ago and it has taken me on an incredible journey both in regards to creativity and people.
So to all the people who have contributed to either my blog or my wall, I thank you very much for your friendship during 2009 and I wish you all the very best for 2010.

Blue Elephants

....well it could be worse, they may have been pink, lol!

A few photographs to Share

I hope everyone is enjoying their Christmas break. This is simply a roundup of images taken out and about during the Christmas period in no particular order.













I have been playing with cameras, settings and HDR!

Skywatch Friday on Christmas Day

Other Skywatch images from around the world can be found here.

Merry Christmas

A dog is for life and not just for Christmas! However, in this case, this image is a Christmas prezzie. I think we are near enough the time for me to blog it now, I don't think the recipient knows of my blog so is unlikely to discover it but you never know what pops up on google images ;-) Hopefully, she will be pleased, I did enjoy doing it, he looks a real character and I got some good images to play with. My only reservation was that I had never done a tongue before so it took me a little while to get my head around that!



I also had quite a good time pulling out my card making supplies for the first time in a while. It felt good to get all stuck together and glittery.



This time I painted a few images for them too. This was another attempt at the deer in the frost. my first attempt can be found here. At the time, I thought the background was a little too strong so I created a softer version. Looking back, both have their merits but this one is a little more subtle.



Now, I just need to go out and about to deliver the final cards and presents and then I think I shall sit back and relax a little for a change.
All that remains is for me to wish all my blogging friends and readers a very Merry Christmas. Keep safe and I hope you have a healthy one.

Bridgnorth on a Silent Night

I painted this one a while ago and was considering using it as a Christmas card but did other things instead, as I often do.
The image was taken from up the hill on a snowy cold night and seemed rather fitting for right now.
Those of you that know Bridgnorth will perhaps recognise it as looking down from the Hermitage.



I can remember it being very quiet and silent when I took the picture and would it would probably look pretty similar this evening. But, brrrr. It is too cold to be up there!

However, it rather nicely brings me to another favourite Christmas tune, Silent night.
I found it hard to choose between Sinead O'Connor or the version by Enya (Oíche Chiúin) which I also really love.



But, for now, I went with Sinead, it is hauntingly beautiful I think.

Painting Chickens

Not a particularly seasonal thing to paint but I was rather hoping I would get accomplished enough for one to be a Christmas present. In the end I went for something very different, that I considered more suitable so I am able to share these now.



I am deliberately trying to loosen up a bit with my watercolour. I think I managed it more with this first one and then I resorted to type a little with the second.



Since then, I have done very little insofar as art. I think I did a sparkling sea tutorial and then we hit a busy period for me at work combined with the seasonal build up and everything came to a halt. Thankfully, I now have a little time again because although I will be working for some of the next fortnight, most of this will be from home which alleviates me from a couple of hours of daily travel. I just hope I can now get some inspiration as I fear I have lost impetus and currently have very few ideas for any artwork.

Festive lights for Christmas

I went into Shrewsbury last week to meet up with my son and it was interesting to note that the Christmas lights were a little more subtle than I recall. It looked pretty but understated.



Meanwhile on my way home, not too far away from where I live, I noticed that the people who seriously decorate their house had got there. Well, almost finished, I think they also add a few more as they go. There is a bit of me that feels it is over the top but, then there is the child in me that says "way to go", especially as they put a box up for local charity. I have always loved Christmas and am pretty much on my own in this in a family that don't see any magic. When I look at this house, the adult thinks wow what a lot of effort but I find myself wondering how many children are delighted.



For myself, I just like a nice tree. I don't go for anything that is theme decorated. That is much too contrived for me. Instead there are a mismatch of ornaments that are an eclectic mix of things I have gathered over the years.



This is my newest, purchased only a few days ago in the sale..




And, this is one of the oldest, always on our tree when I was a child

Severn Valley Country Park

Sometimes it is easy to miss things that are on your doorstep and for some time we missed this one. Although, I suspect we are likely to prefer it off season as hordes of people are not our thing. I could imagine it being very busy in the summer.
However, for now it is a very enjoyable experience and I suspect with the numerous walks we still have a lot to discover.



There are four dedicated walks including one for the disabled but you can vary them pretty much. Right now, we are enjoying those down by the river.
There is usually something of interest to be seen and the view is changing every week with us watching the autumn fall and now moving into winter.



I always thought that the winter was such a barren time for seeing anything, I never realised how mistaken I was until my interest in photography grew. Each time I visit, I seem to see something different or in a different light.



With patience I have got closer to some things than I ever dreamed possible and in this case I had even managed to get a good depth of field set of on the camera which can be a challenge for wildlife shots ;-)



And I have also seen large numbers of so many different types and sorts of fungi, I never realised how many there were. I confess I have almost given up trying to identify them, I just enjoy them aesthetically.

Then, of course there are those things that take you unawares. Whilst taking photo's of some of the birds, this little one appeared on the bank. I confess that I am very ill informed on some creatures and originally thought it was a mouse.



However, once I tried to identify him, I realised the ears are much too small and finally realised, he is a bank vole.



A very cute bank vole! ;-)

Flickr album - Birds

After a recent scare where my computer got nabbed by a trojan, spit, tut etc etc
I have started uploading all my favourite photographs to Flickr as a backup as such.
It is really interesting and focus's the mind when you just go to upload your favourites.



These are my bird images...

Sharing Christmas Songs

It has got to that time of year when Christmas tunes are played everywhere. I laughed when I went into a local shop today, there were some bopping Santa's and the most untuneful Christmas tinny songs being belted out, I felt very sorry for the staff...
Yeah (If you happen to read this from Dobbies), I am sorry, I know I took the mickey too... ;-) *slaps hand very sharply at my wicked SOH*
However, I felt the need to to turn my Christmas music on in the car this evening. Whilst I was listening and playing my favourites, I thought it would be interesting to blog a few!
This is perhaps one of my most surprising favourites!
I am not very religious as such
I am not a great Cliff Richard fan

There is no correlation between this tune and anything I know ~ but for some strange reason it reminds me of my brother. I listen and all of a sudden I have a tear because I think of him...and miss him I guess.



The daft thing is, if he were about, he would be asking why on earth I was playing this tune...and with the tears, I cannot help but laugh too! It is quite bizzarre!

I will post up a few more favourites in the run up to Christmas. However, I have to say there will not be a Slade or Wizard amongst them!

Festive Altered CD

I haven't been making very much in the way of art. For various reasons I have been quite unfit lately, with this mild weather and rain, everyone is going down with bugs and colds including me. Besides, that which I did manage to do is all related to christmas presents one way or another!
So I have been taking it easy and just making a few cards for Christmas.
But, before I got struck down with the lurgy (again), I did eventually get around to doing this altered CD. I keep planning to take a few into the office to add a little festive spice but I keep forgetting to take it off my craft wall.



Which, incidentally is another story. My craft wall was getting rather busy, this is a shot back in September and as you can see I was running out of available space. Strangely, you can see that the CD was just covered in paper hanging around for me to make a decision as to what I was going to do with it!



I wonder if anyone else shelves projects for ages! Anyway, since this image, I recently had to replace my pin board with one of slightly (ahem!) larger proportions!