A little more drawing

The next stage of my robin, just a little more done - deepening some colours in some areas and beginning on others. Again the light is poor today and half an hour was enough to give me both a headache and backache. I can't say I'm happy with him at present but will continue plodding on in the hope that he will improve!

A little work on my robin

Just a quick post to say I have begun the robin at long last! Not much, the light has been dreadful today and an hour was enough to give me a bad headache - I really must get the lighting situation sorted or I can see me giving up again. I'd also like to know if anyone reading this has any experience of optivisors (magnifiers which you can wear over your eyes). I have been thinking of one for a while but good ones are quite pricey & I don't know if one will help me. I do know that many crafters and artists use them but that's about it. Meanwhile here is the little robin after todays effort, obviously still a long way to go.

So here we are.............

.......in 2008, Christmas has been and gone and I am feeling very flat after all the festivities. I'm really hoping to get back into my art - I got some new pencils for Xmas - Derwent Coloursoft, so I'm eager to try them out. I've also ordered some drafting film, I've been keen to try this for a while. Just have to decide on a subject!
Had a couple of nice walks recently and also popped up to Hatchet Pond where we were surprised to see three swans (two adults & a juvenile), two cormorants and a pair of grebe. Only the swans were in photographing distance though. Also will post a couple of pics from our last visit to Blashford, where I saw my first siskin & was lucky enough to get a pic of that and also of a great spotted woodpecker. Although I took the woodpecker through glass, it has come out well.

Christmas MeMe

I read Mary's blog (Forest Walks) and got tagged. Anyone who reads this can also consider themselves tagged!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? - I like my presents wrapped but gift bags are lovely too
2. Real tree or artificial? - Artificial
3. When do you put up the tree? - Usually a week or so before Christmas
4. When do you take the tree down? - twelfth Night (Jan 6th)
5. Do you like eggnog? - No
6. Favorite gift received as a child? - I always loved getting a new book.
7. Do you have a Nativity scene? - No
8. Hardest person to buy for? - My father-in-law
9. Easiest person to buy for? - Mum
10. Worst Christmas Gift you ever received? - hankies when I was a kid
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? - Both
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? - Can't choose one - I'm a real softie with Xmas movies - so I've a few - Miracle on 34th Street (both versions), A Christmas Carol (with Alistair Sim or Patrick Stewart), The Bishop's Wife, A Wonderful Life
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? - As early as I can to take the pressure off as we buy for a lot of relatives and friends. I have been known to buy a Christmas present in July! This year though, I didn't start until mid November.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? - No
15. Favorite thing to eat/drink at Christmas? - Chocolate Ginger
16. Clear lights or coloured on the tree? - Clear
17. Favorite Christmas song? - Silent Night
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? - Both, but i would rather stay at home
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? - Yes! Don't want to give them away for everyone else but here are a few clues. 1. Good at a disco, 2. Mister Fox's wife, 3. In a hurry, 4. In the night sky, 5. An arrow from his bow will make you fall in love, 6. Rhymes with the answer to number1, 7. A type of kebab (or german for thunder), 8. German for lightning
20. Angel on the tree top or a Star?- Angel
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? - Christmas morning always!

I tag everyone who reads this!

TYSON FOUND - SAFE & WELL

A happy ending for Tyson, he has been found and has been reunited with his owner.

STOLEN BORDER COLLIE

Urgent, please, please help if you can. Friday evening, returning home from the Championship Show at the NEC, Ross Green stopped at a service station, just off the M1 at J13. Whist paying, he saw a white youth jump into his car, a DARK BLUE VAUXHALL VECTRA ESTATE, Reg. No. KJ55 XFZ. Ross ran out, tried to smash driver window and then managed to open rear passenger door but as he did so the youth started the car and sped away towards the M1. In the back of the car was his and Judith Gregory's Black & White Border Collie, Tyson, (ShCh Tonkory Guinness)
Police are searching but the service station was just a mile from the M1 and the driver could have gone in either direction. There was approx 150 miles worth of fuel in car. Please keep an eye out incase you see either the car or Tyson. If so, please contact Ross Green, tel no: 01234 838380 and/or the police. And pray for Tyson's safe return. This is a tragedy for both Ross and Judith.Urgent, please, please help if you can. Yesterday evening, returning home from the Championship Show at the NEC, Ross Green stopped at a service station, just off the M1 at J13. Whist paying, he saw a white youth jump into his car, a DARK BLUE VAUXHALL VECTRA ESTATE, Reg. No. KJ55 XFZ. Ross ran out, tried to smash driver window and then managed to open rear passenger door but as he did so the youth started the car and sped away towards the M1. In the back of the car was his and Judith Gregory's Black & White Border Collie, Tyson, (ShCh Tonkory Guinness)
Police are searching but the service station was just a mile from the M1 and the driver could have gone in either direction. There was approx 150 miles worth of fuel in car. Please keep an eye out incase you see either the car or Tyson. If so, please contact Ross Green, tel no: 07703 503242 and/or the police. And pray for Tyson's safe return. This is a tragedy for both Ross and Judith.

FURTHER INFORMATION IS THAT THE CAR WAS PROBABLY DRIVEN SOUTH AND COULD HAVE BEEN DUMPED IN THE RICKMANSWORTH.

One month later

Looking back at November, I realise I have spent quite a lot of time at Blashford Lakes nature reserve. This place is a real gem, it's so easy to while away an afternoon there. Five hides in various habitats, pleasant walks through trees, around lakes etc. It has so much to offer I can see us returning many times more. I have seen my first great spotted woodpecker and my first jay. Getting really close to some of the woodland birds is a real treat. Some pics for you later.

On the art front, I am still no closer to doing any work on my little robin, he lies folorn, no doubt gathering dust, on my drawing board. He was going to be this years Christmas card but too late now - maybe next year. Of late I find I am torn between photography and drawing, although I can't draw at present because I need a daylight lamp, I also haven't the inclination. Maybe I'm just choosing the wrong subjects and should stick to drawing dogs.