Firstly, you would have heard that there have been issues with Blogger
embedded comments of late —
some visitors being unable to leave a comment. My son and I have a mix
of Apple, Microsoft, and Android devices and, we tested them all, and the
issue seems to only be a problem with the Apple devices. It must be a conflict
with the coding. So, as much as I love the embedded comments, I have switched
to the pop-up comments for now. Even with that option, our Apple devices had
to do their own thing — instead of a comment box popping up on the blog page
like it's supposed to, it opens the comment box in a separate browser
tab.
No offence to Apple lovers but I'm not an Apple fan at all. I'm definitely a
Microsoft/Android gal however my son is a steadfast Apple fan. I
don't even like my iPad and don't use it much at all. I can get quite
frustrated with it's limitations. I plan to send it packing in favour of a
Samsung tablet in the near future.
*****
On another topic, a couple of weeks ago, I snapped a pic of this cloud
formation as it was very clear to me that there was an adult bird coming down
to feed a young bird while a wolf (head only) looked on. Can you see them too?
Two days ago, Brad and I were at the local shopping centre and, as we were
leaving, I remembered that I had some coins to deposit in the ATM deposit
which was just outside. When we went to the machine, there on the coin belt
was a Welcome Swallow. Quite small at around 13 to 15cm (5" to 6") from head
to tail tip. The poor little thing lay there panting very fast. Luckily, I
always carry a spare fabric bag in my main bag so I gently picked her up and
placed her safely in the bag. She didn't even put up a fight.
I quickly deposited my coins and, when we got to the car, I transferred her
into a cardboard pet carry box that I always keep in the car,
among other animal rescue paraphernalia, for situations just like this. Such a pretty bird with gorgeous metallic
colours on her wings.
I took her to the closest vet. You may remember we had to do the same for a
baby dragon lizard a couple of months back. Vets here are obligated to take in
injured wildlife and, if rehabilitation is required, they pass them onto the
necessary wildlife carers in the area. They took the details of where I found
her so that, if she recovers, they can take her back there. They thought she
may have been stunned by flying into something. The vet was checking her over
when I left. I sure hope she survived.
*****
Now onto an art aid I made a few years ago and it still serves me well today.
I like to call it my handy-board and it's 56cm x 36cm (22" by 14").
I made it myself by duct-taping 3 layers of Corflute together — a corrugated
plastic board often used in sign-writing.
It was getting a little grotty so I gave it a clean up and a new pretty border
of duct tape — Owls.
Why did I make it? Well, I found I just didn't have enough workable space when
I had all my sketch and watercolour stuff on the desk. My tables form a right
angle and I saw a possibility of giving myself some extra surface space.
Before
And now with my handy-board in place. It fills in that corner perfectly, giving me extra surface space and
because I made it with 3 layers, it's nice and sturdy too — no bending.
Sitting on top of my handy-board is my location sketch board. I got
that idea from well known Urban Sketcher -
Liz Steel. I will do
another post soon to show you how that one works when in use. Very handy
indeed.
*****
On another note for your horror fans, just this week I signed up to receive a daily email from Dracula Daily. Bram Stoker’s Dracula is an epistolary novel made up of letters, diaries, telegrams, newspaper clippings, each of which has a date. The whole story happens between May 3 and November 10 and this guy has set it up so that we receive an email according to the timeline of the book. I signed up a little late but was able to catch up via the Archive. It's still early days. I used to love Dracula movies in my teens but I don't think I've ever read the book. It's been fun so far and I love that it's written in journal and letters etc. If you're interested in signing up for it, you can check it out HERE.
The rains have eased for now but it will be a short-lived break as they will
be back on Friday according to forecasts. I'm not looking forward to that.
They did forecast that we would be in for a warm and wet Autumn and they
weren't kidding.
I'll be back on Friday with some sketches so stay tuned...
Love, Light and Peace
