Felt Pig

I bought this little felt pig for my mother-in-law either as part of a Christmas gift, or maybe for her birthday in early January. She is 85 years old,  hopefully she will be around when the time comes! 

Paint Party Friday - Leaf Art

Welcome to Paint Party Friday. I have some leaf art to share with you today based on a photo I took of the sidewalk pavement. It's done in watercolour pencil on an index card.  Soon it will be time to start holiday sketching!  Thanks so much to Eva and Kristin for always hosting. 

Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars

Gather the Leaves

A little over a week ago, I had to drop husband M to the GO train station early one morning, it was about 5.30 am.  We are not usually up that early, it was still dark.  But stepping outside the garage for a little while, I was treated to a wonderland of twinkling stars, it was such a clear night.  I was in awe, it made me sure we are not alone in the universe.  I wish I could have lingered but we had to get going.  It proceeded to rain a lot that day, and into the night.  I tried to peek outside but of course it was all clouds that night.

I was reading this caregiver magazine a friend gave to me, there was an article on '100 ways to feel better right now.'  One in particular stood out in my mind and I tried it.  It said to just smile at yourself in the mirror.  What do you think of that one!  Another way would surely be to just go outside on a starry night and look up!

Danube water levels

The city re-planted some new trees in the neighbourhood. They are to replace trees destroyed in the ice storm 2 years ago. They wrapped these irrigation bags around the new trees. Apparently they are topped up with water to get the new trees started.

I was at the gym a few weeks ago and met an acquaintance.  I asked her if she had booked her European river cruise that she had been planning.  She said she had, but was concerned about the currently receding water levels on the Danube river.  Apparently they are so low that the cruise ships cannot sail.  They are in fact transporting people from port to port by bus!  I told her not to worry and that it  should be okay by spring next year when she is travelling.  This conversation took place before the Paris attacks.  Hmm.

Internal Decapitation

These are some morning shadows from my garden one morning:

At the drugstore, I saw the newly retired church secretary.  I asked how she was doing in retirement.
She said she was busier than she ever was.  She was helping out with a wedding in the younger generation and was heading out to help with the upcoming church craft sale.  She helped both my kids with Holy Communion lessons when they were little.  Well, I think I also attended the classes with them.

I happened upon this news story from Australia.  This little boy was in a terrible car accident where his neck was broken.  Doctors called it an internal decapitation where the child's head was pulled away from his neck but miraculously his spinal cord was intact.  'The surgical team reattached Jackson’s vertebrae with wire and a bone graft. The tot will wear a medical halo for the next eight weeks as his neck heals'.  What a talented surgeon and a lucky boy.

Automation

I thought this view through the curtains was a pretty picture one morning.  It's in the room where I do my blogging posts. 

At Walmart the other day, I noticed the cashier didn't seem very busy.  She told me that a lot of people are using the self-checkout more as they are getting used to it.  I got an email from Costco recently that says you can now do a lot of administrative functions by yourself online, such as renewing your membership.  Then a relative sent me a video of the garbage truck in California automatically emptying the curbside garbage.  It uses a robotic arm.  This is all wonderful, but people do need jobs!

Sunday Sketches - Leaf Art

Welcome to Sunday Sketches! Just a quick leaf art sketch in watercolour pencil on an index card for you today! It's based on a photo I took of the sidewalk pavement.  Hope your Sunday's going well!