mousetales

monday work

This is what my work area looked like as I sat down to paint this morning.  For some reason I like to work in little cozy settings rather than using the lovely big table that would seem more comfortable for all my brushes and paints.  You probably can't help but notice all the chippy bits of china that hold my tools.  My grandmother always wondered why I wanted to save broken dishes but to me the old crackled patinas seem to hint of beautiful tales of days gone by.  And the two googley-eyed kittens?  They were brought back from a trip to Germany where they were found buried in the earth.  I like to think that they're happy to be in the midst of life again.  And a glance in their direction stops me from getting too serious about things.  Just look at those faces!  How could one not smile!

a blustery day

out of the cornfield

Look who I found wandering out of the cornfield and into the lawn this afternoon.  She hasn't told me much other than her name, Dulcinea Eponine Idril, but she has agreed to stay for a while.  The poor dear was hungry and very tired.  She's sleeping under the bed right now.  Perhaps when she wakes she'll tell me a bit more of her story.

tagged... you're it!

 

It's so windy. chilly and grey here this morning I was tempted to pull the covers over my head and sink back into my warm nest.  Brrrr...  But I had to get up and get all the farm animals ready for the day.  They didn't look happy about today's weather either.

So... yesterday I told you I had been tagged by Jael!  And I've suddenly become painfully aware of how  boring I am,  none the less,  I'll give the game a try.  First, here are the rules of the tag:
1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

And now 7 facts about me...

1.  I've always felt as if I was born into the wrong era.  If it was at all practical I would be wearing whirling skirts, petticoats, highbutton shoes and beautifully fitted coats all the time.   My nieces tell me that I certainly a girly girl and their moms are not!

2.  Toads have a special place in my heart.  They look so kind, wise and benevolent plus they have all those wonderful bumps!  Even as a little girl I was always excited to find one in the garden or in the lane.  Did you know they will sometimes sing to you?

3.  There are a few too many spiderwebs in my house.  Now it's not that I like that particular decorating motif it because I can't bring myself to harm even a spider.  I always have to carry them outside and so sometimes when I get busy the indoor spider population is a bit high.  Fortunately the indoor web-makers are usually small and innocent-looking or daddy-long-legs.

4.  Chocolate is always included in my breakfast plans.  Yes, I admit it.  It's true.  I love chocolate - any time and anywhere.

5.  I feel incredibly sad whenever I see land being devoured by developers.  It seems that instead of renovating and reusing existing buildings and parking lots the trend is toward building new sprawling stores on pristine acres.  Acres that should be left to produce fresh oxygen, food, space and hope.  The own where I live keeps spreading outward eating up forested land while the commercial spaces downtown crumble into rubbish and unusable sites.

6.  I've often wanted to become a nun.  My family think I'm mad whenever I mention it.  A contemplative life would suit me fine except for a few technicalities.  I'm often uncomfortable in groups; I'm not good at taking outside direction, and I like to have chocolate for breakfast.  Oh.. and there's the fact that I'm not entirely Catholic.  I would need to find a convent that embraces all religions.  The dress code would be nice though (see item #1) :0)

7.  Lately I've had a strong urge to create a large outdoor installation piece.  It's a little unusual for the area where I live but the urge is so strong that I don't know how long I'll be able to resist.  I'm thinking something very organic and flowing...

8.  And for an extra odd bit... I'm very thankful for all the wonderful people in blogland.  You may not realize it but you have become my best friends.  Thank you for sharing your  talent, vision,  kindness and so much more.  (((Hugs to you all.)))

Hope I haven't frightened you all away!

Now it's my turn to tag...

                             Vivianne at Gotta Share This

                             Julie at Little Cotton Rabbits

                             Ulla at Ullabenulla

                             Prairie Mouse

                             Irisz at Artista Blog

                             Anne at Anne Wood

                             Irma at I Irma

                                                                        ... you're it!

*** please don't feel pressured to play along.  It's all supposed to be fun so play along only if you really want to and have  the time.  I'm sure everyone would like to know more about all of you, though!  Thanks.

                           

             

tagged

  I've been tagged  by the very talented Jael!  Oh, my... this is my first and I'm  a little nervous.  I spent so much time reading all the other lovely blogs that now I'm to sleepy to finish my tag.  But please tune in tomorrow for my answers...it should be fun!

brilliant october

The temperature is perfect.  The crows are calling. And the colours couldn't be any more vibrant.  We're having a picture perfect autumn day here in the north which is making it very difficult to keep myself in the studio!  It the sort of day that makes you want to rake leaves, clean gutters, wash windows... anything to stay outside.
  It's not only me though - everyone here at the farm is contentedly basking in the warm sunshine.  The ducks have found a cozy spot to nap; all except this fellow who is chasing bugs.  I guess he knows that it will soon be too cold to find yummy treats.
And here are Red and Blue playing in the dirt.  These two are completely devoted to each other and get nervous when separated even for a few moments.  Don't let those cute faces fool you.  They're both quite tame but also terribly bossy hence they have their own fence providing peace of mind for everyone else.  Red has some real control issues and will pester the ducks all day trying to make them bow to his will - which usually means standing in a group and no playing in the water!
Don't you love all those dots the guinea hens are wearing?  They are the oddest birds.  Lately I've had to race them to the apple trees in the morning before they take bites out of every apple that has fallen.  They just love to taste each and every one!
Even the hollyhocks are happy.  They're still in bountiful blossom despite the chilly nights.  And I've discovered that they are a favorite spot for bumblebees.  This morning there were one or two Bumbles in almost every blossom.  They look so sweet and cute!
This is the first year that I didn't grow any pumpkins - not even by accident - and I miss them.  The smell of pumpkins would be so good right now!  And I do love to see them all sitting in bumpy rows.  I could buy pumpkins, I guess, but it's just not the same as seeing your own glowing orange out in the field.  Next year.
I leave you today with this old maple tree.  She's well over 200 years old for I have old photos of her when she was just a baby planted in front of the house.  Isn't she beautiful?  And how I would love to know all the things she's seen.
I hope everyone else is having a splendid day as well.  Thanks for stopping by!

mouse dresses

Rosie Posie's debut print

Rosie Posie makes her first appearance in print form today!  Available in the etsy shop today.

in progress