Hi everyone! It could hardly be a more wintery day, temps in the 30s, gale winds, heavy rain that earlier wanted to be be sleet. Flood alert, no view of the Pink Full Moon. Mo is not well but improved, he did take meds and eat. Tail unfurled, always a bad sign.
Today we're looking at my Perpetual Nature Journal, entries for this winter of 2025.
I sketched my finds weekly but didn't finish them until I was recovering from both Covid and then an IV treatment. So I am all caught up now.
Possibly out of order, here goes:
Winter Hydrangea on the right/ last year hydrangea leaves in bud on the left.
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one of my more successful page layouts
Crepe myrtle pods and seeds
No drawings for a few covid weeks, recorded the event instead
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Pressed tulip petals
Pink Full Moon April 12. [rained out] Inspired by Flying Geese's Pink Moon antique quilts collection and sale. Pink Moon Quilt Collection I'm so inspired by this quilt curator, 15% of all her sales contributed to funding women's issues. She also hand washes every quilt she sells--which is a huge thing, to be buying a fresh clean textile. @_flying.geese_
English Ivy [evergreen vine / very invasive here]. This was a fun project. IG artist Louise May Watson
@louisemaywatson had been so encouraging, personally messaging me with ideas. Then she did this fun Ivy post, for people who aren't confident at drawing. "Draw around it!" I was amused to see such a ''cheat'' by an amazingly accomplished artist. How fun!
Mo and I hiked off one cold day to find ivy. It is invasive here and much hated, though I remember how proud my grandma was of her ivy, brought from her ancestral home in Alsace France. Anyway, the only ivy was on my friends'' grey fence. The ivy is now neglected and allowed to grow since they moved away 5 years ago, April 1st. Mo was so excited o ''visit them''--then he cried when we didn't go into their once beautiful secret garden and see our best friends.
I admit I cried a little too. We usually avoid their house now, wonderful memories but sad---the good times, those best times, are now gone.
I snipped my ivy leaves and we trudged home, trying to be upbeat about about our success so far. I enjoyed the drawing and painting later. Funny how a couple of little leaves can be so evocative.
Having a great week.
lizzy
gone to the beach...
This is what, with blog friend Jean's help, we think was the original look of the seaglass bottle my friend found. Colgate Toilet Water, 1915
*mystery bottle: beautiful clear glass, blown in a mold w hand finished neck and lip---but modernish " ' ' ' / " / markings on the bottom; no seaglass patina but found on tideline after a storm. Originally had a cork that dried and disintegrated. Volume about 1 pint.
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Simply beautiful drawings/watercolors, Lizzy--what a treasure of memories of your nature "finds" throughout the year...I love the subtle colorations on the flowers and leaves--lovely work...
ReplyDeleteI hope Mo feels better soon-he looks so sleepy and tired--doggies do sleep a lot when they don't feel well...;(((
It is so darn cold here today--so damp --bone-chilling weather...and gray gray gray!!
Maybe Monday Mr. Sun will show us his face....hugs, Julierose
Lovely drawings. I do like the mystery bottle you made a cork for. The little one at the front also caught my eye, I have one that looks the same, dug up in our garden years ago. I believe mine is an old ink bottle.What do you think about yours?
ReplyDeleteJean.
The little bottle is a mid 19th century ink bottle. [so yes Victorian, tho in the US usually only furniture is called Victorian] It is quite crude, roughly hand blown in a mold. I have maybe 6 ink bottles, some are beach found, some were dug by my dad at an abandoned farmhouse in Illinois, dump hunting. There's a lot of info, books and online, about ink bottles for study. So awesome you found one right in your garden.
DeletePS. I think my ink bottle may be Victorian. Could your mystery bottle be for alcohol or an oldish chemist bottle?
ReplyDeleteJean.
I feel the mystery bottle's shape lends to holding a liquid, but not food or drink, so yes, alcohol, witch hazel, rosewater. The age is what intrigues me, upper half looks late 19h century to 1920, base looks last week. The glass itself is oddly beautiful too, very thin and so clear.
DeleteI always enjoy your nature journaling posts. That bulb is catching my eye. It is very wintery here this morning too.
ReplyDeleteLovely lovely water color art. This is your best yet. Glad to hear Mo is feeling better but so sorry for him. I hope the rest does him some good. It's so funny to think someone would buy a bottle of "Toilet Water". I know, it's French, but it still makes me smile. I didn't know there was a "Pink" moon. I missed it totally - drat - I love things like that. Because of you I've let my bouquet of daffodils curl and dry. I can't quilt make myself throw them out yet. They have miniaturized themselves.
ReplyDeleteI always accidently type quilt instead of quite.
DeleteThat's okay I read it as quite.
DeleteI love your nature journals! "Draw around it" indeed! Funny but it does make sense. I was so disappointed that all four of the calendars we got for this year all left off the moon phases, and with all the cloudy skies we have during this season it's hard to keep track. Hope your weather is improving, we had snow every day but Friday last week and today it finally cleared off with bright sunshine and mid-50s this afternoon. Hope Mo feels better soon!
ReplyDeletePoor Mo. I hope he's improved some by now?Your nature journal is just so gorgeous, Lizzy. The paintings are so realistic and accurate! It's amazing, especially considering how small they are. Exquisite, really.
ReplyDeleteHow sad for both Mo and you about your visit to the secret garden where your friends once lived. He must have loved them dearly to cry. You painted the leaf beautifully!