I have decided this this will be my last blog. 

I have been writing my blog now for so many years I have lost count. From chatting about safaris, and living in Africa,  

 to the story I also wrote, not that I am an author. To the special holiday to Borneo, and the amazing time seeing orangutans and other wildlife.

 Swimming with dolphins in the Indian ocean in Kenya, to swimming along a coral reef with a turtle in the south china seas of Borneo. 

Having a go at parasailing, to a lesson flying a plane.

I can look back on how lucky I have been to have these adventures.

Like everybody around the world, this has been a difficult year, and with lockdowns and restrictions, and just trying to be safe, I am running out of things to chat about, and keeping up with art. It's no good painting a few pictures, just for them to end up in a cupboard. People don't have the money these days to buy this sort of thing.

When I first started art back in England after leaving Africa, my challenge to myself was to do a charging elephant, having been charged several times.

                                                                                 

                                                                               

You have followed me with the start of a painting, to the end result.

                                                                                

So a few of my past Christmas paintings and photos of happy memories of past times.

Both my husband and myself turned our hand to some pebble art and painting stones, Klaus also to gourd lamps, having grown the gourds himself.

Snow in Cyprus, thankfully, it mostly stays up in the mountains, but has been known to cover lower areas as well. Some of the pictures were taken from our last house, so only a year or two ago. Where we are now, there should not be any at all.

                                                                                

Clever  Programmes.

                                                                          Troodos mountains.

A visit up there to have some fun.

                                                                             

I would like to thank all my followers from all around the world who have faithfully logged onto my blog .

So here is wishing you all a very Merry Christmas

and

that we all have a better healthy and loving year

in 2021.

 

 Christmas is getting nearer, even with more lockdown restrictions. Cards to buy and write to friends in Cyprus, thankfully the overseas ones I posted a few weeks ago, just to make sure they would get out of the country.

Christmas tree up and  some presents wrapped. Can't forget the little old dear who gives us fruit, or the old chappie who always gives a wave . The kindness of the local villagers who have made us welcome.

No real craft this week, we have been busy putting a lot of our painted pebbles and stones around the garden.

Stopped off to try a little taverna the day before it closed for lunch, as they also do takeaway.

They have a little tree house, which would be good fun to try in summer.  We sat outside as there was two old boys playing chess inside the small diner, and did not want to disturb them with our chatter.

                                                                                 

Managed to finish off the jigsaw we have been doing, will need the space on the table for Christmas.

                                                                             

Yes, it certainly kept us busy, maybe that is why I have not done anymore art!

Take care and stay safe.

                                                                                

                                                 My Moomin picture of busy hands.

 Here we are a few weeks away from Christmas. Shopping for Christmas presents done, in case of a lockdown, cards still waiting to be written, although overseas were posted several weeks ago in case of delays or backlogs.

Our tree is up as we have friends coming for lunch tomorrow. It is also Klaus's feast day which comes from Germany, and we still keep it up as well as the usual birthday. Just get to have another special meal.

We have not painted any more stones this week, giving it a little break, and I have not really got going on the picture I am doing yet. Just sorted out all the colours I would need. Must get myself motivated again.

                                                                                    

I enjoy looking at skies and the beautiful creations that the clouds make, so here are a few taken this week.

                                                                              

                                                              Look a little like a reindeer.

                                                      And a couple of older ones taken.      

Now I hope I haven't bored you with clouds, but they  are lovely to see.

Take care wherever you are in the world and hopefully stay safe.

See you next week.

 It's time to start a new picture, otherwise feel I will get out of practice.  We have been having great fun with the stones and pebbles, if something splodges, so what, it just makes the stone different!

                                                                                      

                                                                     Our latest batch.

I was asked if I could do the dogs for a family relative some while back, so now the time has come to get going on it.

                                                                                  

A sad day for this little butterfly who passed away on a plant.  But beautiful colours.

                                                                  

Wishing you all a good and safe week.

See you next time.

 Military jets thundering overhead on practise, helicopters with the water containers hanging underneath putting out a couple of fires on the hillside, the tractor puttering up and down to the olive press with containers for oil. There is life around in this quiet seemingly sleepy village, if only for a day.

                                                                          

I finished my Sammy grasshopper ,who is now sitting on the garden wall. He is in the right place with the orange and mandarin fruit all starting to ripen and getting the orange and gold colours. Looks like we are in for a bumper year of fruit.

We are so lucky here where we are now, to be able to pick the fruit, citrus fruit, figs, avacado, and also being given all sorts of other fruit from our landlord. Grab some pecan nuts off the tree at the side of the road.

                                                                                           

                                                                                                        

Klaus has painted some more stones, but also varnished some natural ones as well. I think they look really good. Others I have painted a few faces on.

                                                                                       

                                                      Varnished natural stones

Take care and stay safe.

See you next time.