☆ Granpa

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G'pa and Me at my 21st birthday

Last week marked the seventh anniversary of my granpas passing, a man who had filled my childhood with stories and adventures, my teens with dreams and possibilities, and my early adulthood with understanding and guidance. He was a man who  was held in high esteem by every one who knew him - in fact to know him was to love him, and seven years on there is still a gaping hole in my life and in my heart.

There are so many stories to tell, fond memories to share - he was larger than life really. He always had story to tell, a letter to write or a song to sing, and they always seemed to illustrate a point he was trying to make - often to a strong minded, stubborn grand daughter. He believed that you could be anyone, do anything, and that there was no such word as impossible - in fact impossible was actually 'I'm possible' if you inserted an apostrophe!

I miss his wisdom, his unwavering support, his love and his unfailing belief in me…

I could use some of this when the black clouds of self doubt roll in.  And I can only hope that I can impart a 10th of his wisdom and spirit to our girls.

I miss you…

xx

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☆ Illustration Friday and the flu

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I had such a hard time this week completing an entry for the Illustration Friday prompt.  'Atmosphere' is such an abstract thing to illustrate. My husband immediately thought of a bubble and a city or living thing in this bubble, where as my immediate thoughts were along the lines of an atmosphere surrounding two people - like tension, passion, hate - that kind of thing.

I had a crack at drawing something for both ideas, but in the end I didn't complete either of them. My only free day in between mothers groups, car rego, in-law visits, ultrasounds and specialist appointments was on Wednesday, and wouldn't you know it but I woke up feeling like death - I had the flu. All night previous, I had dreamt I was in an icy cold bath and woke up several time shivering, and the next day I ached - from my achilles, to my finger nails and the chainsaw in my head. But funnily enough it was only a 24 hour thing, and on Thursday I was a new woman!!

Needless to say, on Wednesday, I didn't really feel up to refining my sketches, and Bean was delighted to have almost a whole day in front of the TV.

So here are the part-way finished 'Atmosphere' sketches:

I titled this one 'The Conversation' and although I didn't quiet get the
feel I  wanted I thought it was a cute sketch!

She has a small globe in her hands - quickly coloured with water colours
one day this week I may go back and touch it up with gel pens

Next weeks prompt 'immovable' will prove to be a challenging one too!

xx

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☆ The Ivy War Begins...

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I have just taken Bug up to bed with every single muscle in my body groaning in protests as I walk up the stairs, my arms so sore its a struggle to carry my 10 pound, 10 week old Bug to bed. But there is a sense of satisfaction to my aches and pains, as today, I started to tackle our totally over grown, totally neglected, totally overwhelming back yard - and yet I am still not sure I've made any head way.

According to our neighbours, the previous owner wasn't able to do much yard work in the later years of her life, and you can tell. The ivy has taken over, and is running rampant, strangling several trees and taken over a flower bed in which we have uncovered hundreds of daffodil and jonquil bulbs. (Bring on the spring!) 

Ironically, I thought Ivy was a beautiful plant when we lived in Scotland, and dreamed of white cottages with entrances framed with lush green ivy, yet here in Australia I just want to kill it. 

It. Is. Everywhere.

So I suspect this will be the never-ending battle and the bane of my gardening life! Some what like the black berry brambles and rhododendrons where in Scotland. Every day a new shoot would poke up. Maybe I should give in and buy some kerosine to kill it. If any one knows of another, less toxic way to kill the ivy, I would love to know!

On a brighter note the nursery was having a sale as we walked past it yesterday, and I bought a couple of plants for the front entrance - which I had a great time planting with Bean on watering duty - although she spent most of the time sitting on her bike pretending to 'wide' and trying to dig up the flowers we just planted!

Here are a few pics of  our efforts….

xx

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