Monday 24 May 2010

PHOTO MONDAY - Signs

For this week's photo theme, I had big plans to check out some signs around the suburbs in search of one that was perhaps humorous or odd but, unfortunately, that wasn't to be because I was still too sick to put  any real effort into it.   However, as luck would have it, not far from here I did spot a SIGN OF AUTUMN!!!   I was quite chuffed because signs of autumn are quite rare in this neck of the woods.  There is the odd deciduous tree here and there but evergreens definitely seem to rule the roost.  The early signs of winter creeping in this past week worked its magic and, lo and behold.....a glorious feast of autumn colour presented itself to me.  YAY!  Thankfully, my camera is always at the ready in my bag so I pulled up in the car and snapped a pic while Aaron picked up a couple of the leaves for me to sketch and photograph. 

Click on any image to enlarge for closer detail


I think it's a Japanese Maple tree
...notice the bird on the wire?


Thanks for all the well wishes on my bout with asthma.   I'm keeping those hot teas coming....thanks for the tip, Julie.  I actually love my hot drinks all year round and they certainly do help to keep me happy especially when I'm not well. I've been staying indoors as much as possible and keeping nice and warm.  Yes, winter officially starts here on June 1st!  

I hope you're enjoying nice weather wherever you are.

~ Love, light and Peace ~

24 comments:

  1. no idea what type of tree, but the colours are gorgeous :)

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  2. wonderful drawings....really amazing....thank you for sharing it with us
    I hope your winter won't be to cold. Here in Austria the summer had a slow start it is finally getting a bit warmer and the rain stopped (for longer I hope).
    I am looking forward to many wonderful creations!

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  3. That is a beautiful drawing, and a lovely japanese maple of considerable size. It makes me laugh at the small red one in my yard that refuses to grow!
    We now have cotonwood season, another aggrevator of the allergies! LOL!!! It doesn't end!

    XXOO!!
    Anne

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  4. Oh, Serena, your comment brought tears to my eyes! I can feel your shorness of breath, cough, etc., and I am so happy the hot BLACK tea is helping you! It is a lifesaver for me. Sounds like you are doing all the right things...and the fall is such an exciting time with leaf changes, isn't it? My husband and I had flown to north Louisiana last November and the trees (Maples, etc., that we don't have here) were all changing. It is something I have always wanted to see, since we never have anything like that here in south Florida. It is just green here ALL the time, sadly. Your leaf sketches are just gorgeous! One day, I swear, I am going to take art classes and do better, and really learn how to be a real artist. It is such a longing in my heart to do that. One day I will. You are wonderful!!!!!!!

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  5. I LOVE autumn colors! Your photos are lovely, but I love your drawing even more!

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  6. Glad to hear you are feeling better. It was relatively cold here yesterday and we AREN'T getting ready to start winter. Today is supposed to be warmer. We must have a very similar climate because what you described, sounds so much like Southern California.

    Hugs,
    Tamerie

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  7. Hi Serena!
    I'm sorry I'm behind on blog visiting! Hope your asthma is better! My mom suffered from that and I know how awful it can be.

    What a beautiful sketch/painting you have done!

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  8. Sorry to hear you are suffering Serena....Lovely sketch spread.

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  9. Clever : ) Great pictures of pretty leaves.

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  10. Hi Serena,
    Ohh, another great detailed drawing!
    Glad to hear you're feeling better.
    Hugs,
    Anna

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  11. We haven't even officially started Summer yet so I'm glad it's not our autumn. The last couple of years we had very little summer weather and it felt like autumn. This years seems to be different. Here's hoping!

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  12. Lovely leaves, Serena! Fall wouldn't be fall for me without the leaves falling and the riot of color. :) Keep drinking your tea and staying warm. Lots of love and good energy being sent your way by so many people. Get well soon! :):)

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  13. What a beautiful maple and those leaves are just awesome. Great photos. I hope your asthma is better. Take care.

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  14. Hi Serena...hahahahha..... oh, man.... I totally forgot about the 'signs" ..... is it a sign I'm losing my last three marbles?? Probably...but, don't worry....next week.....it's signs for me instead of things with wings...

    Darn it... so sorry to hear you are having such problems with your asthma..... keep drinking your hot toddies.....

    oh, I don't want to think winter at all.... it's still so up and down with our weather and I want it to hurry up and be nice. NOt even hot..I don't want hot...just nice enough to put out my poor basil and not have it get frostbite. Yep... it happened two nights ago... after being +27C last week...it was frosty and just below 0C the other night.... I hope it survived... I nipped off all the darker leaves and cooked them up ..they taste good...but, now...did the rest of the plant survive I wonder? ....

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  15. Thanks, Jennifer.

    Thank you, Journal Challenge. We have very mild winters compared to our neighbours in the Northern Hemisphere. I would liken our winters to a Wyoming fall.

    Thanks, Anne. I do feel sorry for people who suffer pollen allergies. I find it bad enough with dust and cold air triggering my asthma. Hopefully, your little maple tree will have a growth spurt soon. :)

    Ooooops, Julie....I've been drinking green tea as I don't generally drink black tea BUT, today, I have downed several cups of black tea - no milk, no sugar - and I loved it! It sounds like Florida is very similar to here as we have mostly evergreens too...it's quite rare to see autumn changes. Now, now...you ARE an artist and the more you practice, the better you will become whether you take art classes or not.

    Thank you, Mary.

    Thanks, Tamerie. When my American husband visited here before we subsequently married, he said that it reminded him of California.

    Thanks, Messyfish.

    Thanks, Darla. I think I'm finally getting a handle on the asthma.

    Thanks, Anita ~

    Thanks, Life with K ~

    Thanks, Anna. Much appreciated ~

    I hope you have a nice, warm summer, Sandi ~

    Thanks so much, Rita. I did get to see a spectacular fall when we lived in Wyoming ~ :)

    Thank you, Gloria ~

    No worries, Vee, and thanks for the well wishes. Your weather seems so crazy at the moment...I hope it settles down soon and that your basil survived.

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  16. Love your drawing of the maple leaves, Serena. It strikes me as poignant and full of stillness -- as of course autumn should be. How strange to imagine winter beginning now, when we're just starting to really sweat! Wishing you a full recovery so you can enjoy all the new season has to offer. :)

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  17. Beautiful drawings,great pics.

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  18. Sorry to hear about your asthma darling. I too am an asthma sufferer so I know what you are going through and the spring weather is no help which is a shame since it is so lovely outdoors. Hope you find some relief soon.

    Love & Hugs
    Duchess

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  19. Hi Serena!
    Just found your blog and love it! Love your art style!

    Ansota

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  20. great sketch..i love using nature to 'draw' inspiration from!

    well done!

    asthma is no fun...take care!

    ciao bella
    creative carmelina

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  21. Hi Serena,
    charming choice for the theme.
    The illustration was wonderful. Congratulations!
    Here where I live autumn is not very visible,
    so the fall is not much.
    Many times we have heat, rain, cold, all in one day;
    vagaries of the Tropics!
    From asthma, take care!
    Nice to meet,
    Greetings from Brazil,
    li

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  22. Beautiful. I especially like the folds at the end of the end of the leaflets. Cheers :)

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  23. Wonderful autumn leaves you painted. Glad you are having the signs you wanted for autumn and read below where you asthma kicked up... but hopefully it is getting better every day now. Your sketches are always so nice to look at.

    And...yeah for the rental stuff!

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