Fifty-One: Show admiration

As I'm in the 'giving' mood, I'd like to give praise for African Women (specially those who live in the rural areas.)

I spent the whole afternoon painting (the last one done in charcoal and pastel) these women.
I think they are admirable.

They carry the burden in every way, caring for their families, providing food and safety, cultivating the land, dealing with aids, childbirth and death, often without medical assistance and certainly without therapists, self help groups and weekly hair appointments, manicurists or plastic surgery.

They are valiant, strong, brave and beautiful.

Let's think of them today ladies!

Tangent: Monday Artday#4: Goddess

Oshun (Yoruba) is the goddess of the rivers that sustain life. She rules love, beauty and the arts, especially dance.

Tangent: Happy Cactus Monday (Tuesday)

This is my second drawing of my new love 'Senita'.
I tried to do it looking down from the top.....mmmmm.....what do you think?

Happy Cactus Monday (Tuesday).

Tangent: Senita

My first attempt at drawing senita.

I used pastels, then painted over it with acrylic, then touched up with the pastels again.

I rather like the result.

It seems that 'bold' is my style.

This is dedicated to Teri. Happy Cactus Tuesday.

Tangent: I got it

Steve has had this beauty for about 2 years now, and I've always coveted it.

Now he has given it to me to look after/foster/maybe adopt, and I'm thrilled.
It's gorgeous.
He kept it on a window ledge in the light, but no direct sunshine, with very very little water/or none at all.
It has never flowered (if it can) or changed in the time he's had it.

Now I need to know what sort it is, where to place it and how best to care for it.

So, TeriC,

H E L P

Forty-four: Send a message in a bottle

I've always wanted to do this.

I know what I'm going to write and who I would send it to.

Maybe while I'm in Australia at the end of the year watching my son getting married as the sun sets on a gloriously beautiful beach, I'll just scurry away and launch my bottle into the sea with kisses and 'waves'......

(BTW this is the sun setting in Llandudno beach near Hout Bay, and I was there. African sunsets are quite spectacular.)

Tangent: Good Morning

Crispy early mornings,

Sun glimmering on the grass,

Quiet and peaceful,

Hope within one's breast,

Snuffles with her jaunty step.

Good morning world!

Tangent: Leaves

A beautiful Autumnal day here in London.

These are photos taken in my garden,the street and on the lawn, leaves everywhere.

The colours are magnificent.

Leaves

leaves

leaves

leaves