Winter Wonderland In October!

Those of you who visited my blog on Friday will have seen pictures from a 'rain soaked' walk I did on a trail that surrounds our home.  Less than 48 hours later I was surprised to find the rain replaced with big chunks of heavy wet snow.     

We usually don't see snow until December/January so for it to come down while there's still fall foliage on the trees is unheard of!

There's something magical about being the first to make tracks in it.  Everything so crisp and clean, covered in a pristine white blanket.

It snowed all day Saturday and we ended up with 3-4" by the time it got done.

Mother Nature has been doing some crazy things the past few years, have to wonder what the next few will bring.



If You Go Down To The Woods Today

I don't usually go out in the rain but yesterday afternoon the short woodland trail that surrounds our home was calling my name.  I couldn't resist, so I grabbed my camera and an umbrella and headed outside.



The ground was soft underfoot and the leaves that once rustled with each step were now soden and clung to the ground flat and lifeless.

The rain creating a rhythmic pitter patter as it hit the trees.

I love the richness of color that comes with rainfall, how the bark on the trees darken and all the colors become more saturated.

I also love how some of the leaves had been caught mid flight.  It made me think of my husband and how supportive he's been, how he's always there to catch me when I feel myself falling.

Just several minutes later muddy boots were discarded at the back door and I was warm and dry inside again with a few new photos to add to my collection. 

  

  

Have a wonderful weekend.

Linking up with James for this weeks' Weekend Reflections.



Writing Mojo

Reading through some old posts I realized that I used to write a lot more and I have to confess I miss it.  The clicking of the computer keys, watching the words form as I type.  Now each time I sit down to write I find myself staring at a blank screen, the blinking cursor mocking me, taunting me as I search for words that fail to come.

I wonder why this is.  Is it because I've been ill?  Is it because I'm lacking inspiration?  Is it because I've been concentrating on my photography? Is it because I have nothing to say?  I know many of you have found yourselves faced with 'writers block' at one time or another.  How did you push past it?

If you happen to find my writing mojo, please tell it I miss it and want it to come home.

In The Studio This Week

I have lots of new things to share with you this week.  First up is this textured art painting that I recently finished . . . . . 

Crow Bar

12"x24"

. . . . . and a couple of shots of it in progress.

 

It's not the only new item in the shop this week.  You'll also find this textured hanging ornament . . . . .

Textured Tree Hanging Ornament

. . . . .  a halloween inspired skull

Skull

7"x5"

. . . . . and last but not least is this new heart journal.

Turquoise Heart Journal

6"x4"

Have you been creative this week?  What fun things have you been working on?

Linking up with Artists in Blogland for this weeks' Show & Tell.

Texture Tuesday

Linking up with Kim for this weeks' Texture Tuesday.

textured with pumpkin  grunge and aurora



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what I hear I forget

what I see I remember

what I do I know

Blue Ridge Mountains

This weekend was tough . . . . I had some pretty severe migraines with a lot of facial nerve pain so with Sunday being my birthday I was feeling pretty blue.

Thankfully my husband came to my rescue. He bundled me up into his truck and drove us along the Blue Ridge Mountains so that we could see the fall foliage.

It was a little hazy but the fall colors were just gorgeous.  Natures own palette, got to love that.

When we stood under this canopy of trees it was nothing short of magical.

  

  

What did you get up to this weekend?

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WE HAVE SOME WINNERS: 

Congratulations to EGWow, AZPartyMamma and CleverlyChanging for winning 25 Free Holiday Cards With Shutterfly.

Regular Visitors

I love that we live in the country and and that our home is surrounded by trees.  The deer seem to love it too and are daily visitors.  Yesterday I spied two of them munching their way around our yard so I snuck outside with my camera.  I obviously need to work on my 'stealth mode' because this one spied me right away.

They have a really good sense of smell and I think the wind was blowing my scent in their direction.

I must have smelt good because the sniffing was soon followed by a lot of lip licking (try saying that several times fast)!

They also have great hearing.  With ears like that it's no wonder.

Eventually its sibling came into view and after some additional grass munching . . . . .

. . . . . they took off into the neighbors yard.

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Birthday Sale - 20% OFF All Textured Art Paintings

(simply enter coupon code 20ARTDISCOUNT during checkout)

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Leave a comment here for your chance to win 25 FREE Holiday Cards with Shutterfly

The Butterfly Soars



"Just as the bird sings or the butterfly soars, because it is his natural characteristic, so the artist works".  Alma Gluck

New This Week At Dyche Designs

In my shop this week you'll find a large 'Tree Of Life' textured art painting . . . . .

Tree of Life

18"x24"

. . . . .  and a couple of new journals.

Crow/Raven Journal

Silver Tree Journal

Enjoy!

Linking up with Artists in Blogland for this weeks' Show & Tell.

*****

Birthday Sale - 20% OFF All Textured Art Paintings

(simply enter coupon code 20ARTDISCOUNT during checkout)

*****

Leave a comment here for your chance to win 25 FREE Holiday Cards with Shutterfly.

Birthday Sale - Textured Art Paintings

As much as I'd love the hands of time to slow down (or even go backwards for a while) I can't avoid the fact that I'll be turning another year older next Sunday.  To commiserate celebrate I'll be hosting a 'Birthday Sale' on all my textured art paintings this week.

Simply enter coupon code '20ARTDISCOUNT' during checkout to receive your 20% discount (offer excludes shipping).

The fun doesn't end there, don't forget to stop by my Shutterfly post for your chance to win 25 Free Holiday Cards. 

Praying Mantis

We had a visitor recently . . . . .

. . . . one with spiked raptorial forelegs!

If I didn't know better I'd have thought it was Irish.  The way it kept moving its leg made it seem like it was doing its own rendition of 'Riverdance'.

There's something about a Praying Mantis that fascinates me, yet creeps me out at the same time.  I think its the way their eyes lock onto you, like they're considering whether you're they're next meal.

Have a fun weekend everyone.

New This Week At Dyche Designs

I've added some new journals to my shop this week.  The first is a large 8 inch by 10 inch tree journal and the remaining two are smaller journals measuring 6 inches by 4 inches.

Large Turquoise Tree Journal

8"x10"

Gold Oak Leaf Journal

6"x4"

Gold Heart Journal

6"x4"

I think the Gold Oak Leaf might be my favorite, which is yours?

Linking up with Artists in Blogland for this weeks' Show & Tell.