Well, this winter is certainly speeding by, though it seems to bring a new snowstorm each week. It has curtailed my outings to a certain extent, but I'm still trying to go out as often as possible, depending on my health and the weather. Last week, I went to the Porter Library used book sale, which they have once a year. It fills 3 rooms and always offers a wide variety. This year I got nine books, one DVD (The Matador with Pierce Brosnan) and one CD (Enya), all for $21! What a great deal! Among the books, was a modern poetry anthology, a couple history books, including one on The Crusades and a big, beautiful travel book on Great Britain and Ireland. I was very pleased with my purchases. Last year I wasn't feeling well and couldn't go, so I was making up for it this year.
I have a lot of art projects going. Most importantly, a pastel type drawing of a sparrow on autumn branches and a winter sea scape that I started last year, but had so much trouble with that I put it aside. I got it out last month and finished the snowy rocks, which came out well and also transferred the gulls to the canvas sky. It looks like I need another gull, which I'll have to add before I start painting all of them.
There's also a couple little landscapes I'm doing to add to my matted mini paintings which I sell at craft shows. I don't think I could do larger landscapes, but I do love the colors of the sky and clouds, especially at sunset. So doing the small ones, I can just do them for fun and not consider them serious projects that need to be framed. I've done a couple over the last few years, and they do sell, but animals will always be my focus.
It was 50 years ago last week that The Beatles first came to America and we decided to celebrate it on the literary & cultural website Vulpes Libris with 6 days of posts on them. If you'd like to read any of them, here's the schedule-- Beatles Week on VL
On Sunday night, there was a special on TV about that event and it ended with a concert featuring Paul and Ringo performing together. I greatly enjoyed seeing them together on such a special day and even got a little teary-eyed.
So all of that has been keeping cabin fever at bay, which is a good thing on these snowy winter days.