Sunday, 29 April 2012

Rainy days and rhinos

Happy Sunday to all!

We've had a rainy few days here so, yesterday, I popped some of my potted plants out onto the lawn so they could enjoy a delicious drink of fresh rain-water.  I'm sure they were very grateful.


This a photo I snapped a week ago when Aaron and I went for a walk to the shops.
A bee on some gumnut blossoms.


And here is another sketch I did during my blog break. It's a mix of graphite, micron pens, watercolours and coloured pencil in my large Moleskine sketchbook.

There are various threats towards the Rhino, nearly all of them human-based. Poaching of the Rhino horn for use in Traditional Chinese Medicine is, by far, the greatest threat facing the Rhino today.  Sadly, these unique animals are being hunted into extinction.  Habitat loss by human hands for human settlement, logging and for agricultural purposes also have a negative affect on the Rhino.

Humankind has a lot to answer for.
Visit this link to help Save the Rhino.

Reference image used is credited to Martin Pettitt at Flickr via Creative Commons.

 "If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men."
~St. Francis of Assisi

I still have the rotten asthmatic cough so I'm seeing my doctor in the morning. Apart from it driving me to madness, I need to get it cleared up before my angiogram....still no date for that yet.

I hope you're all enjoying a beautiful weekend.

~ Love, light and peace ~
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37 comments:

  1. Everydaythings29 April 2012 at 17:12

    Hi serena, how close up did you get to that bee to take such a wonderfully detailed photo! I can almost hear it buzzing!

    hope the doc can give you something to clear up that madenning cough youve got!

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    1. Serena Lewis30 April 2012 at 05:56

      I was pretty close, probably just inches away from it. They usually ignore me, however, I do remember one macro shot I was taking of a bee that was pollinating one of my potted plants. I'd get inches away, snap the pic, then the bee would chase after me, give up and go back to pollinating...we actually repeated this act at least three more times just to make sure I had a decent photo. LOL

      Thanks for the well wishes ~ xo

      Delete
    2. sandy1 May 2012 at 15:41

      So glad to see you back. Love the rhino. Coughs are no fun, hope you get it taken care of.

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    3. Serena Lewis3 May 2012 at 05:38

      Thanks, Sandy ~ xo

      Delete
  2. Norma Soulet (AZArtist)30 April 2012 at 00:31

    Hi Serena,
    Wow love the photo of the bee on the flower. Your sketch is amazing! Hope the Dr. can give you something to end the cough!
    Hugs and please take care.

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    1. Serena Lewis30 April 2012 at 05:57

      Thanks, Norma. I sure hope I can get this cough cleared up too...it's asthmatic so VERY stubborn.

      Delete
  3. Janet30 April 2012 at 02:03

    Your bee photo is amazing! Either you have a really great zoom or you were standing too close! Be careful!!

    It's very sad to think of all the animals that are at risk because of human greed.

    Hope you can get something for your cough. Take care!

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    1. Serena Lewis30 April 2012 at 05:59

      I admit to standing too close, Janet...as mentioned above, they usually just ignore me.

      Yes, it breaks my heart to see how humankind treats the animals of this world. :(

      Thanks for the well wishes ~ xo

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  4. Unknown30 April 2012 at 02:24

    Serena, I love the pages you've created and reading what you wrote. What is wrong with humans? Your drawings always delight:)
    THat photos with the bee is amazing and i love the flower it sits upon. I've never seen anything like it.
    Feel better! FranT xo

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    1. Serena Lewis30 April 2012 at 06:01

      I ask that question A LOT, Fran....it truly hurts my heart to see the plight of animals at human hands.

      The flower the bee is sitting on is an Australian native gum tree. Quite unusual and lovely.

      Thanks for the well wishes ~ xo

      Delete
  5. Toriz30 April 2012 at 05:24

    Welcome back to the blogs; I couldn't comment before because I had to figure out how to make Jaws do it. Apparently it works better once others have already commented on the post I want to comment on, otherwise Jaws struggles to find the comment area. Anyway, that's why I didn't comment on the other posts you've done since coming back.

    Feel better! *Hugs*

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    1. Serena Lewis30 April 2012 at 06:04

      Thanks, Tori! I was only talking to Brad the other day saying that I hope you didn't have problems commenting with Jaws. I hope it will get a little easier.

      Actually, I'm still debating over whether or not to keep the template. I love, love, LOVE it but there are some down-sides with the Dynamic Views. They can be quite limiting for what I'd like to do on my blog such as adding special gadgets.

      Thanks for the well wishes ~ xo

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  6. DJan30 April 2012 at 08:57

    I love that rhino picture. It's true that humanity is the worst culprit for extinction of other species. I wish there was something we could do to stop it. Thank you for the link. I'll go over to see what, if anything, I can do. I often feel quite powerless, and it helps to have something I might be able to do.

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    1. Serena Lewis30 April 2012 at 11:16

      Thanks, DJan. Sadly, it's all about power and greed...those that are after it just don't care about the animals. The best we can do is protest, sign petitions or donate to the cause. I know it is deeply appreciated by those closer to the cause.

      Delete
  7. GlorV130 April 2012 at 09:16

    Hi Serena. Thanks for stopping by my blog, I am always happy to see you. Wow, that's a great job on the rhino pages. Excellent work. What a great shot of the bee. I have so many on my lavender. Hope you have a great week and you get over that cough. I too have a kind of "hacking cough" that I developed since I started taking the blood pressure pills. After doing some research on it, there are people who have developed a hacking cough from these particular bp pills. They can't get over it, even when they stop taking them. Take care and get well.

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    1. Serena Lewis30 April 2012 at 11:20

      Thanks, Gloria! My doctor did change my blood pressure medication in the past month....hmmmmmmmm, makes me wonder if there's a connection. Mind you, my symptoms are typical of the asthmatic cough conditions I've had in the past. I will mention about the blood pressure tablets when I go back to the doctor. I saw him this morning and had a chest X-ray as well as being tested for whooping cough and other chest viruses. For now, he has given me antibiotics to hopefully clear it up before my angiogram.

      Delete
  8. Cindy Lane30 April 2012 at 21:07

    Beautiful images Serena, your rhino is just lovely.

    Re Coughing and BP medication. There is a well known side effect when taking a BP med called Coversyl - it's known imaginatively as the "Coversyl Cough". I had it, my dad had it, heaps of people I know taking this med have had it. I switched to Olmetec and the cough disappeared. Fingers crossed relief for you could be as simple as this.

    Healing thoughts being sent your way!

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    1. Serena Lewis1 May 2012 at 06:37

      Thanks, Cindy. I was on Coversyl since last year and my prescription was recently changed to Coveram which is the same as Coversyl plus an extra component. Thanks for the info...I'll pass it on to my doctor. If all my other tests come back clear, the BP medication could well be the culprit.

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    2. Cindy Lane1 May 2012 at 13:19

      Yay! I can comment again! When I tried earlier, there was nothing on your blog to allow me to even read comments, let alone make one - blogger can be weird sometimes.

      Oh Serena I hope that you can get on top of the cough - it's so frustrating. I was annoyed that the Drs didn't warn me beforehand to look out for this well known and documented side effect. As soon as I mentioned it they look all sheepish and say "yeah, it's very common, try this medication instead..."

      Delete
    3. Serena Lewis3 May 2012 at 05:37

      Cindy - I'm surprised my doctor didn't pick up on it either considering I've been dealing with this cough for over a month now. :(

      Delete
  9. Rita1 May 2012 at 03:54

    The plants do look thankful for the drink! ;)
    I just watched a follow-up on the rhino poachers on TV. Makes me just ill that they don't even bother to kill them! For a false cure for cancer they are being slaughtered be the hundreds. :(
    Sorry you still have your cough. I hope the doctor can give you something for it. I hate having a cough where you can't sleep--just wears you down. I hope you get some help when you go.
    Love and hugs!!

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    1. Serena Lewis1 May 2012 at 06:40

      Plants and rain water are a perfect match. :)

      Rita, the rhino poaching upsets me too. And, you know what, in China, powdered rhino horn is used for everything...even a common cold. It's disgusting as there has been no medical proof that it even works. It's a shameful industry. :(

      Yes, this cough is wearing me down big time....it makes me want to just cry at times. :(

      Delete
  10. Julie1 May 2012 at 22:58

    Beautiful rhino sketch, Serena! That Gumnut bloom is realy gorgeous!!!

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    1. Serena Lewis2 May 2012 at 17:23

      Thanks, Julie! Yes, gumnut trees are native to Australia as far as I know. :)

      Delete
  11. Shashi Nayagam2 May 2012 at 02:19

    We have had a lot of rain and are still being told that the drought situation has not gone yet. Hope we get enough rain even though rain day in and day out is rather a pain but we need it so can't complain. That sketch is beautiful. Well the Indian rhino is extinct but I do hope it is not too late for the African ones.
    Love the photo as well and I hope your cough gets better soon.
    hugs

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    1. Serena Lewis2 May 2012 at 17:27

      I know what you mean, Shashi....when we had weeks of rain over the past year or so, it broke the drought but it became a real pain. I'm usually over the rain if it goes on for more than three days, particularly if it's the heavy stuff. Thanks for the compliment on my sketch. How sad that the Indian rhino is extinct...I pray that doesn't happen for the African ones but the way humans are going with their disrespect for the animals and the environment, it doesn't look hopeful. :(

      Delete
  12. Jane3 May 2012 at 00:20

    Lovely sketches as always! It's nice to let the plants soak up some fresh rain :) Happy Wednesday!!

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  13. GlorV13 May 2012 at 00:55

    Hi Serena. I came by to say that if you do buy the Spirolina, try the powdered form first. It's more natural than taking the pill form. Just a suggestion. Take care and have a great rest of the week.

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    1. Serena Lewis3 May 2012 at 05:39

      Thanks for that, Gloria....I had planned to get the powder form as it's more easily digested too.

      Delete
  14. Unknown3 May 2012 at 18:11

    Sorry Serena I hadn't seen you had started posting again - actually I'm behind on everyones blogs :(

    Good news about the cardiologist. Hope the tea is now working.

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  15. Tracy4 May 2012 at 00:05

    Can almost hear the buzz of that bee through the screen--amazing image! And love the peek in your sketchbook, Serena. I love your shout-outs so that we may help the animals. :o) Having been away some days, it is a delight to visit here. Be well...((HUGS))

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  16. pauline4 May 2012 at 05:21

    This is so beautiful Serena... your artwork never ceases to amaze me...
    And such a wonderful cause - i hope you feel better soon. It's been rough for you this past while. xoxo

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  17. Serena Lewis4 May 2012 at 13:58

    Thanks, Sue....yes, let's hope the cardiologist is right in his opinion. The angiogram is the only way to tell.

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  18. Serena Lewis4 May 2012 at 13:58

    Thanks, Tracy....good to see you too ~ :)

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  19. Serena Lewis4 May 2012 at 14:00

    Thanks, Pauline. Yes, my health has not been the best for over a year and a half now. Hopefully, things will settle down on that score soon. :)

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  20. Tammy@T's Daily Treasures11 May 2012 at 00:13

    I will never understand killing the rhino for his horn or an elephant for his tusk. Killing a large creature just to take one small part for money. It's beyond comprehension. I know my plants would love a good shower. It's sweltering out there right now. Your sketches are always wonderful. Best wishes, Tammy

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