A-Z Archive: P is for Plein Air

My husband paints outside in nature, his works are vivid and full of life! This is known as Plein Air painting. A painting done outside rather than in a studio. The term comes from the French en plein air, meaning ‘in the open air’. The Impressionists were particularly interested in the influence of changing light outdoors on color.

You can see some of his art here: http://www.turosshead.org/Artists/StuartWhitelaw.htm

Dont forget you can join in the “P” photo challenge …have a look in your archives and go to http://flickrcomments.wordpress.com/2012/04/17/a-z-archive-p-challenge/ to see what it is all about.

Sunday Post: Nature

In this week’s Sunday Post Jake explains that Nature  “is often taken to mean the “natural environment” or wilderness–wild animals, rocks, forest, beaches, and in general those things that have not been substantially altered by human intervention, or which persist despite human intervention.” Here is my entry, the natural environment, unchanged by man, as far as we can see on the surface.

serene and spacious nature

Water lies on the sand, reflecting the clouds above, in the afternoon light of the sun … all four elements with space making up the natural world of which we are a part. Keeping these elements in balance in our lives is the key to health and well-being. By understanding and cherishing the natural world we take care of ourselves and our planet.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Regret

Polistinae wasp nest against the window

These beautiful and useful wasps had lived here against the window for about six months, gradually enlarging their nest as their population grew. To my great regret they suddenly became disturbed by several of my yoga students passing by on their way to the bathroom (as they had done every week), and two people were stung. Worse was to come, because now we had to remove the nest, the greater regret! Using smoke to drive off the wasps, we knocked the wonderful hexagonal construction to the ground with a long fishing rod, and watched sadly as the adult wasps returned to try to remedy the situation. As you can see I  photographed the nest from inside the yoga barn before the dastardly deed. I have noticed the beginning of a new nest, in a more suitable position, so fingers crossed all will be well.

Here are some other posts on Regret:
Lucid Gypsy on Gallipoli 
Frizztext on Goldfishes
Mike on running out of petrol
Robin on personal regrets
jmeyersforeman on the Tango
Fenland Photos on Family
Connie on curtled yogurt
Northern Narratives on Marching

To find our more about the Weekly Photo Challenge and this week’s challenge of Regret, follow the link to The Daily Post.