*the last day of the year

I feel very ready to let go of the old year and welcome the new one! There were lots of challenges, but also lots of joy!

Those foxes I have found on one of my walks. I know, so sad, but they are still such beautiful creatures! I was never able to look at a fox from so close before, so I took my opportunity to do so and I was fascinated. Such pretty fur! And all layered with frost.

Have a happy New Year and see you soon again!

☙

*advent_challenge2019

I found a lovely drawing challenge on Instagram that I immediately wanted to join. I was not able to paint all prompts from the beginning on, but had a lot of fun painting the last five (the sixth one with the two little birds was just a personal addition).

Advent challenge

Dec 1 Decorating a house

Dec 5 Write a letter to Santa

Dec 9 Turn the Christmas music on 

Dec 13 Wrapping presents

Dec 17 Make some good stuff

Dec 21 Go ice skating

Dec 25 Merry Christmas

☙

*sister days

One of my favorite things when my sister is for a visit, is to stroll around with her in nature to just enjoy being together!

❤︎

*trees

I found this lovely poem:

Trees

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

{Joyce Klimer}

☙

*frosty leaf

Some rare frosty moments.

☙

*watercolor update

I'm still painting and painting...

• More images of the little hedgehog – he loves to wander around between flowers and butterflies and enjoys to read adventurous stories.

• Lots of butterflies which also make a nice pattern for fabrics or wallpapers. 

• Maybe you remember those kind of elephants from my collage phase, I had to try them out in watercolor to see how they look like in this medium.

Today I baked some more Christmas cookies and wrote Christmas cards. It is very foggy and dark again and the air seems to stand still somehow. The Christmas tree is already on his place and is waiting for his decoration. I hope you are enjoying the last week before Christmas!

☙

*moments of surrender

The days are short,

and mostly I paint.

All that I need is there,

when I decide to just surrender to you.

☙

*wintery watercolor

Christmas red flowers and my first winter themed watercolor painting.

☙

*watercolor update

More watercolor paintings & patterns I recently created.

It's really time-consuming, but I love to experiment and learn something new every day when practicing! Today I tried out different papers, there are many different ones when it comes to watercolor paper and each one has it's own charm, I still can't decide which I prefer.

☙

*somewhere in the nowhere | part 2

In the Fog

Strange, to wander in the fog.

Each bush and stone stands alone,

No tree sees the next one,

Each is alone.

My world was full of friends

When my life was filled with light,

Now as the fog descends

None is still to be seen.

Truly there is no wise man

Who does not know the dark

Which quietly and inescapably

Separates him from everything else.

Strange, to wander in the fog,

To live is to be alone.

No man knows the next man,

Each is alone.

{Hermann Hesse}

☙

*somewhere in the nowhere | part 1

I guess you already got a glimpse of the gloominess we are having here in our area at this time of the year. But prompt at the beginning of December we had the first snow and it was a welcome change! Unfortunately I am confined to my bed at the moment even though my feet are itching to get outside to enjoy the first winter signs, but I have to be a bit patient still. Anyway, I wish you all the best for the last month of this year and don't let yourself stress too much!

☙