Heatwave

I had a lovely day yesterday with my Son and DIL. The meal was delicious and I am pleased to say they both looked a lot more relaxed than the last time I saw them.

They both love the heat. It has come upon us so suddenly we cannot believe how hot it is. The temperature is on a par with the Mediterranean. I try to keep the house cool as I feel the heat terribly. I daren't spend any time in the blistering sunshine because of Lupus but just a short car journey, with the sun coming in the windows is enough to set off my rashes!

Their little dog Jake was not up to his usual self. He didn't want to know us which is not like him at all. As well as not caring for the heat he has arthritis and is on medication so I guess I know how he feels....

The other half of my family decided to have a Car Boot Sale. I kept thinking of them all day, wondering how they were coping ouside in the heat, especially with two small children.
My daughter rang when she got home and said they had all managed OK and sold quite a bit of stuff!

Thank You Digital Whispers!

I have just spent some time doing some Housekeeping....in other words cleaning up my Album files on the Digital Whispers site.
I had so many photographs and I thought it time I deleted some. In the end I deleted quite a few, just kept a few faves and the more up to date ones.
In the process I could see how much my work has improved. (IMHO) LOL!

Much of this is due to practice I suppose but Kimmie's Whispers site and all the members and friends there have added to my artistic journey. Their support and encouragement have kept me going; giving me inspiration, confidence in myself, new ideas and techniques to try. Most of all it is the biggest stress and pain relief I know!

So I really have to say a very big THANK YOU to them all!

I think the chihuahua and the retriever are ready for the sunshine.

Inscrutable

This old vintage photograph fascinated me. I cannot tell if this  Chinese person is a woman or young man. What an expression. Look at the braided hairstyle. What stories they could tell......

All images Googled with photoshop layers added.

New Work

I found this wonderful photograph, taken just after the end of the Civil war in 1865 of General Rufus Ingalls, with family, friends and dog at City Point, Virginia. I just love these old photos......

My son and daughter in law are coming over today and we are going to a local hotel for lunch. I am looking forward to seeing them greatly. I am lucky he doesn't live so far away, about 45 miles or so. We talk regularly on the phone but there's nothing like a visit!
They are both police officers and see some awful things so have a lot of stress in their lives.

They recently bought an apartment in South West France so go there as often as they can manage.
The complete change of scene with different people and lifestyle makes for great relaxation. It looks a wonderful setting, a village with a river running through, surrounded by great craggy rocks and gorges.
You can see the photos above..... All the photos were taken by my son, a great photographer.

June

We are coming up fast to my favourite month and of course my Birthday month.

'In the distance, the deep blue of a summer sea; the small village houses, red roofed cluster round the church for safety and beyond the sleepy streets, swathes of green fields bathed in sunlight.

The barley ripens swiftly now but the wheat ripples in green waves. Soft scented  meadowsweet runs shyly along the hedge and the thick set trees form small islands in the wide expanse of summer beauty.

A twittering close by and singing and soaring, the skylark ascends to heaven.

June in her loveliness.'

Glimpses of Heaven........