A Fairy Tale from The Glen | A Story of Loneliness, Magic & Springtime Hope

" DOES DOG URINE REALLY KILL TREES "

DOES DOG URINE REALLY KILL TREES

We love dogs, cats and trees.

We originally had a Chicago Hackberry Tree in our front yard when we moved to Equinelle, unfortunately the tree was compromised. 

Repeated hits of dog urine peeled the bark off the tree and caused an open wound susceptible to disease. Then, a windstorm hit last year and the tree snapped in half. It was too weak and diseased to fight the wind and died. 

A new tree recently was planted in place of the Chicago Hackberry, a Burrr Oak, but the problem remains. Dogs are already favouriting the tree. It will not be long before even the oak, known to live up to 150-250 years, can survive the burns caused by dog urine. 

I would love this little tree to grow to old age. One way I can help it grow is to make dog owners aware of the potential harm of dog urine to trees. 

Please, pet owners out there, take care when walking your pet.

Below is an excerpt from : MERRILL DOG PARK 





"It’s easy to think, “a little pee from my dog can’t do harm to a huge tree.” Next time you go for a walk with your dog think about it. Your dog “marks” the tree, then another dog walks by smells your dog’s scent and hits it again, a few minutes later and another dog walks by, hits it again. This goes on multiple times a day 365 days a year. Some trees are hit more than others and the cycle begins. One dog’s scent ends up on a tree and other dogs just keep marking it, over and over until the tree is compromised."

Written by Christine MacLean



If interested in the article here is the link.



https://merrilldogpark.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/click-here-to-learn-more-about-why-dog-pee-is-harsh-on-trees.pdf

Magic from Heaven

Magic from Heaven. We never thought we would witness something so beautiful. Glad we took the tiny ride to Domville. My son and daughter took the photos of the eclipse.
Solar Eclipse
Excuse the off focus family photo. Blind as a bat.: )

April Snow

April Snow

April Snow  6 x 6 Acrylic Anna 2024

April snow turned spring into a wintry scene. 
Winter - just catching up with some lost time.

🎵 A BEAUTIFUL MUSICAL COVER OF YANNI  BY WHITE KNIGHT INSTRUMENTAL 

HEART'S DESIRE ~ A WOOD OF MY OWN

I always like to change things in my paintings as I paint and return to them often. Looking at the painting in a different light of day helps me see things I might have missed the day before. I wasn't sure about leaving the trunks without their leaves needles. When I finally decided to add the needles to the trees, I was happy I did.

A pine stand in the woods is always fragrant and delightful. 

HEART'S DESIRE ~ A WOOD OF MY OWN 

~Anna 2024

March 

by William Cullen Bryant




The stormy March is come at last,

With wind, and cloud, and changing skies;

I hear the rushing of the blast,

That through the snowy valley flies.




Ah, passing few are they who speak,

Wild stormy month! in praise of thee;

Yet, though thy winds are loud and bleak,

Thou art a welcome month to me.

NIGHT DREAM SERIES ~ HEART'S DESIRE ~ A WOOD OF MY OWN

There is nothing wrong with dreaming a wish your heart makes. 

My heart's desire ~ own a woodland.

Heart's Desire ~ A Wood of My Own ~ Anna 2024

Inspired by the book I was reading, 'The Hidden Life of Trees', and my dreamscape, I wanted to paint another woodland. 

I began the painting with tall trees and a path. A hidden spring rushed from behind the tall branchless trees down to a velvet green meadow where violets secretly were beginning to bloom in early March. Hearts followed me with every brush stroke, popping up in the most unexpected places. Even when I took my blood sugar this morning, one flowed out of my finger in a heart. And the angel #4, well, that too magically appeared only I extended the cross line.

Illuminated by a starry night sky, the woods show their secret hearts in Spring.

"Haunted? Yes, but by the wrong ghost!"

Currently reading 'The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate—Discoveries from A Secret World' by Peter Wohlleben
I borrowed this book yesterday from my local library. From the rave reviews it received, it will be one to add to my library. But, for now, I'm happily reading the borrowed book. 

The other day, I described the woodland landscape I was painting as a ghostly place. The faint chirp of a single bird echoes in the lonely grove. "Haunted? Yes, but by the wrong ghost!" N.E.GENGE

You see, there are no ghosts to see, only the woods.

From the look on Maggie's face, she might have heard something coming out of the canvas, so quiet only a cat could perceive the sound.
Were the trees talking?

"But if you hear a light crackling the next time you take a walk in the forest, perhaps it won't be just the wind...pg#13 'The Hidden Life of Trees'.

STILL A WIP

There Be Ghosts

There are no ghosts to see, just a feeling of loneliness in the stillness of the woods. The faint chirp of a single bird echoes in the lonely grove.
First coat of paint. I shall take my time with this painting.
I love watching Columbo and Perry Mason while I paint. There is something magical about my old favorites; they help me focus on my work. 

WIP 20 X 14 OVAL STRETCHED CANVAS

Vintage Wood

“If you have never had a garden you cannot understand, and if you have had a garden you will know that it would take a whole book to describe all that came to pass there.”
We saw a deer yesterday; I think she brought us good luck
Poor thing couldn't find a way out of the maze. I sure hope she found a way to her home.

I miss the trees, the birds, and the wildlife. 

WIP 20 X 14 OVAL

 

“Perhaps it is the key to the garden!” 

― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

" MOONSTRUCK " ... THE REVIVAL OF "GHOSTS IN THE MOONLIGHT" WIP OIL ON WOOD MIXED MEDIA

 

"Anything can happen when you have all the time in the world"

The merriest month of the year, May.

The flowers of the field and of the garden scented the spring air with their sweet perfume. I closed my lap top and put my phone on silent. I spent my Spring to the end of Summer in my garden. I had all the time in the world to do what I wanted. 

I watched "Gardener's World" on Britbox, went thrifting and bought a few more vintage gardening books, and visited nurseries I had never seen before. I brought home more plants for the garden and added more to my wish list. I had read somewhere pinning a sprig of rosemary in your hair brightened your memory and in the story "The Time Garden" sniffing a little Thyme might just transport u somewhere back in time. These little silly simply pleasures one might discover in the garden amongst the birds and the bees and the dragonflies never fail to enlight my heart.

 And then, early in September as I was watering the flowers, I noticed Bat, our black cat watching me from the bench at the kitchen table he had climbed to get a better view of what I was up to. He was such a cutie standing on his hind legs with his paws over the back of the bench leaning over with his face smooshed against the window. Someday I thought, I would paint him doing exactly that but at that moment he gave me another idea, one of reviving a painting I had already done.

"Ghosts in the Moonlight" was an oil painting I loved but I always knew eventually the forest would change. The way Bat had stood on the bench made me think why not have him climb right to the top of one of the trees and gaze into the enchanted moon. Make Little Bat moonstruck. So I did.

For the moment I shall simply call it,

" MOONSTRUCK " it may change.

 I still remember Bat on the bench, I think the rosemary has helped, lol.

Still a WIP... Mixed Media, Oil On Wood 2022

  

TREE OF LIFE 🌳💚

Discovered this beautiful old maple tree last Sunday during our walk in the woods.

This tree made me think of the tree print we have hanging on our kitchen wall with the verse, ' The Living Life' by Bonnie Mohr.


Living Life ~ Bonnie Mohr


'Life is not a race - but indeed a journey. Be Honest. Work Hard. Be Choosy. Say 'thank you', 'I love you', and "great job' to someone each day. Go to church, take time for prayer. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. Let your handshake mean more than pen and paper. Love your life and what you've been given, it is not accidental ~ search for your purpose and do it as best you can. Dreaming does matter. It allows you to become that which you aspire to be. Laugh often. Appreciate the little things in life and enjoy them. Some of the best things really are free. Do not worry, less wrinkles are more becoming. Forgive, it frees the soul. Take time for yourself ~ Plan for longevity. Recognize the special people you've been blessed to know. Live for today, enjoy the moment.

Shining Like A Fiery Beacon ~ Earth Hour 🕯

EARTH  HOUR  ~ Home is where the heart is and tonight it's right here ♥️

STAY AT HOME AND STAY SAFE 🙏🌏🇨🇦🇮🇹

Johnathan was Here ̼

Spring has arrived and these seagulls where a sight to see.

A Lift to the Spirit♥️🙏🌎

"Find out what you already know and you will see the way to fly "

~ Richard Bach, Jonathan Livingston Seagull

LILIES OF THE VALLEY

When at the end of spring I pick for the last time
My favourite flowers— a yearning fills my breast,
And to the future I urgently appeal:
Let me but once again look upon the lilies of the valley.
Now they have faded. Like an arrow the summer has flown by,
The days have grown shorter. The feathered choir is still,
The sun more charily grants us its warmth and light,
And already the wood has laid its leafy carpet.
Then when harsh winter comes
And the forests don their snowy cover,
Despondently I roam and wait with new yearning
For the skies to shine with the sun of spring.
I find no pleasure in books, or conversation,
Or swift-rushing sledges, or the ball's noisy glitter,
Or Patti, or the theatre, or delicate cuisine,
Or the quiet crackling of smouldering logs on the fire
I wait for spring. And now the enchantress appears,
The wood has cast off its shroud
And prepares for us shade,
And the rivers start to flow, and the grove is filled with sound,
And at last the long-looked-for day is here!
Quick to the woods!—I race along the familiar path.
Can my dreams have come true, my longings be fulfilled?—
There he is! Bending to the earth, with trembling hand
I pluck the wondrous gift of the enchantress Spring.
O lily of the valley, why do you so please the eye?
Other flowers there are more sumptuous and grand,
With brighter colours and livelier patterns,
Yet they have not your mysterious fascination.
Where lies the secret of your charms? What do you prophesy to the soul?
With what do you attract me, with what gladden my heart?
Is it that you revive the ghost of former pleasures,
Or is it future bliss that you promise us?
I know not. But your balmy fragrance,
Like flowing wine, warms and intoxicates me,
Like music, it takes my breath away,
And like a flame of love, it suffuses my burning cheeks.
And I am happy while you bloom, modest lily of the valley,
The tedium of winter days has passed without a trace,
And oppressive thoughts are gone, and in my heart in languid comfort
Welcomes, with you, forgetfulness of trouble and woe.
Yet now you fade. Again in monotonous succession
The days will begin to flow slowly, and stronger than before
Will I be tormented by importunate yearning,
By the agonizing dream of the happiness of days in May.

And then someday spring again will call
And raise the living world out of its fetters.
But the hour will strike. I shall be no more among the living,
I shall meet, like everyone, my fated turn.
And then what?—Where, at the winged hour of death,
Will my soul, heeding its command, soundlessly soar?
No answer! Be silent, my restless mind,
You cannot guess what eternity holds for us.
But like all of nature, drawn by our thirst to live,
We call to you and wait, beautiful Spring!
The joys of earth are so near to us, so familiar—
The yawning maw of the grave so dark! ~ PYOTR LLYICH TCHAIKOVSKY

Spring is late this year but on a good note, it gave me a chance to pick my favorite flower...LILIES OF THE VALLEY and I was ☘️ to find this painting "Lady of Shallott" by Waterhouse.

“What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that's gone forever, impossible to reproduce.” ~ Karl Lagerfeld

These are the memories we will never let go. It seems like it was just yesterday we were treasure hunting with Grace. We discovered Geocaching and M and I went on some wonderful outdoor adventures around our region like Merrickville and Kemptville searching for the secretly hidden geocaches. Grace helped us find them all. Although there are mixed views on the game and I understand the dangers associated with it, we still love playing the game. The clues, the puzzles, the mystery and stories, the thrill of the adventure of finding the cache in the most unexpected secret location are all part of the fun of geocaching and besides that its a wonderful excuse to take a walk in nature, breathe in the fresh air and bring your dog out for a walk, sadly we will miss having Grace on our next hunts.

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal***From an Irish Headstone” Richard Puz

SNOWCAT

Home Sweet Home is especially nice in Stormy Weather. While hubby and daughter watched Monk, I listened to music and played on the computer forgetting all about lighting the fire even though my husband had brought more than enough wood inside to last us the entire night. I found a picture of a Snowcat, “SnowBall The Cat” someone built out of snow and it reminded me of the Snowcat I made a long time ago made with felt, applique, and embroidery. In the past when the kids were little we built a real SnowCat and although it would be great to have a Snowcat in the front yard now, I really don't want to venture out in the cold and build one all by myself, not much fun.

The painting, “Michetto Hill” that you see at the back of the SnowCat Pillow, I painted a long time ago but it is different than the one I have posted online, it's missing Michetto, so eventually, I'll need to paint him in and fix a couple of mistakes I forgot all about.

The good thing about stormy weather, it makes me spend more time on my art.

Merry Christmas 🎄

Wishing All A Very Merry Christmas 🎄Happiness, Health, Love and Peace


"There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humour."

~ Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Anna and Family

Go To Sleep, Darlings

Daisies in the Snow

Go to Sleep, Darlings...

“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields...
It covers them snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, Go to Sleep, Darlings, till the summer comes again.” 

Lewis Carroll

At Last,Spring!

Little Suns 

My husband told me to take a look in the ditch and this is what I found....Little Dandelion Suns❣️

Make a Wish 🍀