Hi everyone!
I'm still in vacation mode with Aaron on school holidays for yet another week so I do apologise for being AWOL of late. It's been so nice not having to follow a set routine. Surprisingly, I haven't been doing much in the way of art but I have been doing a lot of reading. I've also been doing some house rearranging which has prompted a lot of ideas for future painting tasks involving furniture and fabric.
I recently read Dean Koontz's latest novel - 77 Shadow Street - and it started me on a reading marathon. I'm now re-reading some of his older novels. Dean Koontz novels are a weakness of mine. I just can't resist them. My current read by him is Dark Rivers of the Heart.
YIKES! I almost forgot about my self-portrait for this week! It was fairly late in the afternoon when I remembered so I quickly snapped the shot below. I love lying on my bed to read...it's so comfy! That white blob of fur at the base of the bed is Cody, my dog. He loves my bed too.
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| Week 2 - 52 Weeks of ME 2012 project |
We have attracted a family of butcher birds AND a family of magpies over the holidays. Aaron started feeding them back in December and then I kinda joined in. Now, they come right up to the window, or under the front entrance, to demand their food each day.
There is another member of this butcher bird family but it wasn't in the shot. They seem to take turns at sitting on the fence on guard duty while the others eat. The plan is to feed them until their babies are a bit older.
The bird in the shade is a young magpie. It's parents are nearby.
We experienced a terrible heatwave this past week. It was SO hot and humid! I sure wish we had air-con. Yesterday brought some rain, and again today, so things have cooled down a little thank goodness. How's the weather in your neck of the woods?
~ Love, light and peace ~
Great post, Mum!
ReplyDeleteI have to admit, it's great not having routine while Aaron's on holidays, unfortunately, it'll have to end soon. I see you reading quite a lot, I try to read if I've got nothing to do, but read to long, then I get bored.
Great self-portrait shot! I love how Cody always lies up next to you! As for the magpies and butcher birds, great pics! I always know when they're here when I hear the baby chirping away!
I really hope we don't have any more worse days than what we had last week with the heat and humidity. It was terrible. Bring on Winter, then I'll be happy!
Love Brad!
xoxo
It's cold here. But it's Winter with us, so that's not surprising really.
ReplyDeleteReading while curled up with your dog... That's one of my favourite ways to spend my time! :)
It is cold and rainy here. I would love some snow since snow and winter go hand-in-hand in my mind.
ReplyDeleteYour self-portrait is wonderful. We have the same love of colors in our homes. What I just realized is that while my home is very colorful my paintings are much more quiet and reflective. Wonder what that means?
Have a wonderful rest of the week. Keeping to that nonschedule can be wonderful.
Really cold here--if Cody were here, I'd be encouraging him to nap *on* my feet instead of at them ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Serena, I've been thinking about you. Glad to hear that all is well and that you are just relaxing for a bit. I haven't read anything in a while. Had a quiet weekend but it was back to school today. Was very glad that our blue skies returned. Have a great week. Tammy
ReplyDeleteNice to have no schedule!! Enjoy it! Enjoy it!!
ReplyDeleteI love switching up what I do. Art, crafts, reading...whatever strikes my fancy--LOL! ;)
Have fun and I can hardly wait to see what you create from the plans you've been making inside your head. ;)
hugs
its been frosty that last 2 days, but no snow thankfully :D
ReplyDeletei used to read koontz when i was younger but then his books all started to read the same so i stopped
I love reading too. Especially in the summertime. Great Sp!
ReplyDeleteBeing in vacation mode is good and reading is what I love to do when I have free time. Love the shot of you and the book.
ReplyDeleteOur weather is very mild right now. Maybe about 60 degrees (F) today with sun and a bit of wind. I don't look forward to hot summer days here! I'll take the cool any day.
So nice to see you here again Serena. :-)
ReplyDeleteGREAT self-portrait! Sounds like you're doing exactly what you should be doing on vacation. NOTHING. (well, ok, reading is something, but you know what i mean!)
Weather here today? minus 20, but really minus 30 if you factor in the wind chill. :-) Welcome to Canada.
xoxo
What a GREAT self portrait! And here, the weather turned rainy and then snowy. Cold out there! Brrr!
ReplyDeleteIt has been cloudy and rainy here, with cool wind. Now, I'm curious about Dean Koontz's novels. Haha! Will have to add him to the list of authors.
ReplyDeleteKeep cool there, Serena! ;o) Here it's been very, very cold...not too much snow yet though, thank goodness... LOL! Enjoy the holiday time... ((HUGS)) P.S.
ReplyDeleteI'm hosting a Valentine Swap and Giveaway, if you have time, stop by to see if you'd like to join in.
Thanks, everyone. xo
ReplyDeleteJennifer - I don't think all of his books read the same but there are similarities and familiar settings in some of them. I don't really mind that tho. I do prefer his earlier books to his later ones.
Gerene - Dean Koontz writes horror and macabre, similar to Stephen King...nearly all of his books include a murderous psychopath. So, it you like that sort of thing, you may enjoy them.
Tracy - Thanks for the heads up on the Giveaway and Swap.
Sorry for your terrible heat. Glad it has cooled down some. Thats how we are on the opposite months of the year...but now we are so happy in our cooler months! Soon we will be opposite again!!!
ReplyDeleteYou had me at "furniture and fabric"! Sounds like you've been having a nice, relaxing time. I had one of those days yesterday. We all need that kind of time and I'm glad you got to have some for yourself. Happy Tuesday, Serena!
ReplyDeleteLove love LOVE your feathered family! I had black (adult) & brown (juv) butcherbirds in my garden in Cairns. Unfortuantely they lived up to their name and took out so many baby birds - sickening to see them whacking them and impaling them on tree branches, but oh gawd can they SING!! The Singing Assasins we called them.
ReplyDeleteButcher bird - what a cool name, ha. Love the photos.
ReplyDeleteLove your self portrait- wonderful creative angle and composition- I love reading too and would love to have a small dog like that to cuddle with.
ReplyDeleteJohnina
Thanks for visiting my blog- Please pass on my best wishes to your SIL- I can feel for her
I LOVE the colors in your bedroom Serena! I want to redo mine this summer and I've never thought about using such a beautiful color scheme like this....you've inspired me!! Hope you're feeling well, I know it's been a tough time. Sorry I haven't visited for awhile, I appear to be in my post Christmas slump again. So much go, go, go time and then I hit a wall! haha
ReplyDeleteI love the composition of this portrait Serena.
ReplyDeleteHappy Chinese New Year.
Hi Serena, stopping by as I saw your blog info on Strathmore comments. Love your sketchbook entries. They are so perfect..especially because they are from the animal world. I love Dean Koontz, too. One of my faves is the one you are reading here.."Dark Rivers of the Heart". I am going to tackle "from the Corner of his eye" after I finish the " Hunger Games" trilogy I am on right now. Glad you left your blog address, I will be returning soon!
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