Hello everyone,

I would put a smiley in there. But all my smiley icons have disappeared today. Now, isn't that sad?? What's life without some smileys?

Well; still in the land of Arabia and Sand and Camels. And it seems ants do very well here. And what awesomely tough little critters they are. No air-conditioning for them! Here they are in the 40 degree heat, working away at finding a crumb to take down into their nest. I've tried to use vinegar as a deterrent. They're not that deterred really. It keeps them at bay until they mount another assault. And you know, each time they mount a different campaign: from the east to the west, then back again. What an army they are!! And what they ate before we came to live in this house, I just don't know, since the garden was pretty much sand and more sand?

All our cargo arrived safe and sound. So we have a house full of things - wondering why we brought them? As you do! Many boxes are lurking in the spare room, making us look clutter-free for now.

The sparrows here are noticeably thinner than your average fat English sparrow. Do they eat less pie and chips, I hear you ask? No, it's probably just the heat and body fat. I wonder if that works for people as well? I guess heat is a fat deterrent. They pant a lot with their beaks wide open too (that's the birds, not the people)  Hey, look at that! I've found a smiley.........................................

Lots of very nice malls here with lots of GOLD!! It's easy to get sore feet here, from wandering around the malls. And they're just big enough for you to lose shops. And go round and round trying to find them again. We have a 'Boots' pharmacy and a 'Marks and Spencers'. Here's a little photo I took of a jewellers window-display. Hmmmmmm, feel free to have a little drool........

Ooooh, ahhhhhhhh! Very glamourous. And no, not a gold-plating in sight!! Perhaps they are more wedding gifts for Emirate ladies? Lucky lady!

It's a little easy to be swept away by such glamourous retail therapy. Luckily painting seduces me more  Close call though! I bought three of these by the way!  

Just don't get me started on the glamourous gown shops!! Where Indian fabric meets Arabian sparkle and everything in between!

So; we have a little turf in our garden once full of sand. And it saves those tiny sand dunes from building up by the front-door - like true reminders of where you really are. And I can assure you sand really does get everywhere. I even found some in my cooker extractor when I removed the grill?

Anyway; all the birds (mostly anorexic sparrows) have started to come down into the garden, seemingly pleasantly surprised about the coarse new grass. They kind of look around, as if to say 'this is new'!! It must feel nice on their feet compared to hot sand.

Then, two gorgeous Myner Birds came down squawking!! They have yellow beaks and some coloured feathers. And are really quite big for birds. About the size of a crow but more a light brown. Same cockey attitude as the crow though.

 It says in our paper here that 40% of wildlife extinctions are due to invasions by species not native.  And yep, the Myner Bird is also on the 'Most Wanted ' naughty bird list, i.e. it is not a native. Sure is pretty though!!!

White Plumeria Tree

Plumeria, or what used to be callled Frangipani, can be found in many garden areas in Abu Dhabi. Here the Myner Birds like to hang out in gangs! Chewing gum etc and just being rebellious  Not really, but they do seem to make an awful lot of sqawking. I think, I've finally spelt sqawking correctly, maybe........

But these Plumeria seem to love this climate. It's much more steamy/humid than I'd imagined, too. I guess because the close proximity to the sea. But they just continue blossoming for a very long season. As each flower finishes, so another forms. I have a few orange Plumeria seeds pending. I'm sure you'll be on the edge of your seats to know they grow !! Don't worry, I'll keep you informed!!

Just want to thank all those nice Sands Hotel staff who looked after us so well. And look what room-service did to Sikh Mr. Brown with my head wrap......Doesn't he look smart!

Hello everyone  Nice to see you again and long time no see.

So, did you guess where I was?? Well, aren't you the smarty pants?

So, here we are: lock, stock and barrel. Well, actually so far we have two chairs, one tv, one fridge, one washing-machine, one bed as big as a house, one art table and one huge echo. I agree, phew at least I've got an art table  The fridge was touch and go for a while there. Lots of phone-calls and wandering delivery men looking for a house in the desert sand! The bed is a joy: since now everytime my husband turns over I don't get catapulted off the bed  Just kidding! 

We've been told that it's a particularly hot spring for Abu Dhabi, capital of UAE (see, I've just snuck that in there, just in case geography is your worst subject. By now, you'll know of course that mine is maths, numbers are just not pretty enough, though I guess they are to some) But, since it's already hit the 40's, that's 107 in old money, we don't know whether to be relieved, or panic-struck!! Coming from snow in Switzerland to desert, is a uniquely bizarre experience! And I've probably sweated your body-weight  by now, (pleasant image for you there )

But, the strangest thing, being a creature of habit I guess, is the realization that in one month, I haven't picked up a sweater, jacket, cardigan, anything heavier than a shirt. So, half my suitcase proved to be obsolete; that left the other half needing fragrance like mouth-to-mouth! I've never been someone who ever sweats much. And quite frankly I'm a little shocked to discover that girlies sweat at all  

There's been so much to sort out along the lines of visas etc, so there's been many occasion to look like a total tourist in the humid, bustling streets of Abu Dhabi: tottering around in sandals and a sunhat. Finding an internet cafe was an adventure in itself. Abu Dhabi shops have an extraordinary nack of disappearing. I mean, you find a shop once, follow your landmarks, only to find it's disappeared. I'm sure that must just be me............

When we arrived at Abu Dhabi airport we stepped out into the sparkly darkness outside, and it felt like someone had left the heating full on  a room! Once in the ubiquitous taxi, the newly finished 'Sheik Zayed Mosque', otherwise known as 'The Great Mosque' was a dazzling site. And yes, as sure as night follows day and this blog is slow because of all my photos, I've got some photos........

Isn't that something against that blue sky? One taxi driver told me that was made of marble. Another that there are over a thousand mosques in Abu Dhabi. And yes, I do get a lot of taxis! But having so many mosques saves you having to play musical chairs, since one must always be fairly close-by when it's time to pray.

What? You want to see inside? You think they let me inside? Of course they did silly!! Just as long as I removed my shoes and wore a veil. This is a little photo of my up against a wall inlaid with vines and flowers. It was a beautiful effect. I'm not sure my photo did justice to it really.

Yep, that's me! The flowers and vines were in quite high relief, so it was a very tactile experience as well as a visual one. That was nothing, you should've seen the washroom!!

Gotta go, my internet connection is having a nervous breakdown. Don't forget, if you get a little chilly: put a jacket on for me      www.moorethanart.com

Hello bloggers, long time no chat

Well, as you my remember from our last chat I mentioned moving house. What I failed to mention is that we were also moving countries !! Well, I have to keep you on your toes, don't I?

I've put those sunnies on my smiley because it's crazy hot out there! In fact, it's in the 90's F! Any idea which city I'm in yet? It's humid too, so every day can be fairly guaranteed to be a 'Bad Hair Day'! Well, this buzzy, busy city begins with the letter 'A'. No point giving it all away, I mean where's the fun in that (for me)..........

Well we sadly said 'Goodbye!' to Switzerland. To those mountains and valleys and snow and blues skies  And it seems crazy to me that only three weeks ago we had a blizzard of snow. 

I hope you'll follow me on my new adventures. Finding this internet cafe was quite frankly quite an adventure already. Tottering through the hot streets, looking like such a tourist. Getting lost between nic-nac and carpet shops. Everyone was very friendly. Even though the words 'goose' and 'chase' come to mind. But, I found you eventually............. 

I've so many pictures to share, but at the moment they are only in my head! So, they will have to wait for technology or at the very least a paintbrush to oblige.

Happy Easter to you all. www.moorethanart.com

Well, I've been having a fiddle and just wanted to share my artistic, videomaking skills.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-zQcnjUfDM Hope you enjoy.....

I don't quote know how I managed to achieve this - my portfolio with music. It was a simple video making download, I must admit. But, don't you just love that harmonious music? I keep listening to it. And you know, I'm not sure it isn't addictive. All those violins and cellos. Gorgeous. The only mistake I made was making it 5 minutes. Don't panic, it isn't really 5 minutes long! It's only just over a minute. I know you can't sit still for too long   I just managed to make the music go on too long. Due to it's addictive qualities no doubt........

Hello Busy Bees

Since spring is in the air, I bet you're doing all your little jobs: having a clearout, painting the bathroom, getting rid of those unwanted boxes, having a car-boot sale (that's a garage sale to you Americans, except it's all in one big field) . Am I right? Are you in that kind of mood?

We're in the process of moving house at the moment. So, boxes reign supreme at present. So, my blogging will be a little slow and boggy at the moment. But, I will return, soon enough to haunt you  

Like a mole, I may turn up in your garden! That would suprise you, wouldn't it!! If I took a wrong turn and ended up by your hortensias. Mind you, I'd more likely get stuck under a patio these days.

Don't forget to check for hedgehogs at this time of year. Remember that about march they all start coming out of hibernation. And it's a high-risk time for your average hedgehog. So, don't forget to check any mounds that have lain at peace throughout winter. Don't go burning anything cute!! Or stabbing anything organic with a pitchfork.

So, I can't even show you a lovely little painting at the moment. Because, I haven't done one  

But, our cats are still prowling. And they give lots of entertainment value for free. Our pretty cat 'lady' now has a possy of male cats who follow her around, reminiscent of the 'Benny Hill Show'. So, if she trots gracefully through our garden now, a line of male cats are usually following. I'm impressed, since I was quite scared of those tom-cats myself ! She seems to have them all in-hand. With her feminine charms. She rolls around on the grass, whilst they all look down on her with what appears to be feline LOVE!

How lovely it is to get a professional portrait taken. Unfortunately, this wasn't one. Here's one to have nightmares to!

www.moorethanart.com Listed Artist Laurel Moore's official art website.

Hello Bloggers,

It was an oversight that I didn't show you the wonderful 'Christmas Steps' (1669) photos I took, whilst recently in Bristol, England. So, here they are now. And aren't they adorable: like the Dickens's England?

Mind you, you can't mention Bristol, without acknowledging it's horrendous connection with the slave trade ships. Bristol is a city in the South West of England (in case you didn't know) And between 1697 and 1807, 2,108 known ships left Bristol to make the trip across the Atlantic with slaves. Only half of which ever survived!   And how horrible that the first slave ship to leave Bristol was called 'Beginning'!

Anyway, sorry to kill the ambience, but I guess the truth is usually worse than fiction.......So; I was on a mission to get my saxophone cork-neck repaired. That sounds painful doesn't it? So, we are wandering around in freezing cold Bristol - wearing a skirt. Well, not my husband. At six foot six I don't really think a skirt would suit him. Mind you, he does have great legs!!

Anyway, we came across this gorgeous little gem of a pub called 'Three Sugar Loaves'! What a great name. Then, I found this great little article on the area by Philippa jacks, if are interested to find out more, or visit:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/articles/2004/07/12/christmas_steps_feature.shtml

Sadly, (yes, wait for it) most of these charming buildings were believed to originally be brothels, since they were so close to the port. Yes, I've killed the romance again, I know  Well, I guess it brings to mind that saying that : beauty is only skin deep.......

It's not known how these charming 'Christmas Steps' street got its name. But, I will pass on Philippa's wonderful ghost story from a couple who own 'Steps To Recruitment' who believe that some of the houses were built on top of an old cemetery! They claim to've seen the ghost  of a young Victorian girl and also been joined at their kitchen table by a ghostly lady, dressed all in black. Of course the Victorians always used to wear black, when in mourning, didn't they? Hmmmmm, interesting.....I bet all you American readers are getting on the next plane, aren't you? All that history and ghostliness!! Maybe that explains why it felt so FREEZING!! All those spirits wandering around  

I can't say I saw anything out of the ordinary. Apart from English people. They are true originals, it has to be said! But, thanks to Trevor Jones and his cute little musical repair shop in Bristol! My saxophone neck is in tip-top condition now. Oooarrrrr!

Here's another little Victorian street. You can't tell from this photo, but the guy on the left was laughing at me. I don't know why? Maybe, he was thrilled to have his picture taken? Or, maybe, he was caught on camera, living a double life? It's a shame he was dressed in such modern clothes - give him a top hat and tails, and it would've been a complete Victorian scene, that even the BBC would be proud of.

Just before I let you go, it's time to have a moan. Think of a sandwhich! Subway, maybe? Ok, I'm getting the psychic picture: lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise, cheese, chicken? Now, I'll show you a typical Swiss sandwhich......

No, this is no joke. And isn't it a desperately sad sandwhich? Yes, that's cheese, in case you're not sure, and two tiny slices of tomato. What is up with the Swiss sandwhich?? Why does it make you want to cry?

Usually, we buy a Swiss sandwhich, then fill it with filling?? But, you are right, that does kind of defeat the objective of convenience, doesn't it? And value for money?

Enjoy your sandwhich  www.moorethanart.com

Hello bloggers, isn't that spring sun wonderful?  I see from my stats that I now have many new Russian readers! So, WELCOME!!

Finally, at last, it has come. Giving it's warmth and greening everything by degrees. How wonderful it is to see that snow finally being melted on the lower levels. One one night temperatures were recorded in Neuchatel, Switzerland, at -38!! Wow! Thanks goodness we don't live in Neuchatel anymore! Actually, no, I always will love Neuchatel and those enchanting old woods. I wonder how those poor little animals fared in those temperatures, not very well I think.......

It was only this Tuesday last,that the snow was relentless; in fact we had a thick blizzard over another foot of snow! And what did we decide to do you ask? We decided to visit the thermal baths again  

Those thermal baths are wonderful (apart from the nakedness in the upstairs saunas) Anyway, wonderful warm bubbly water does wonders for chilly bones. I LOVE BUBBLES! Anyway, I'll paint you a little picture: we are swimming in the outside pools, with snow around the walkways and our heads in a blizzard.

I have to say this is one of the most bizzarely enjoyable experiences I've ever had. When your body is lovely and toasty (that's warm to you americans) and your head and shoulders are being spattered by icy snowflakes! And of course because the temperature of the water is about 34 degrees and the outside is below freezing, you are enveloped in swathes of steam, making it quite difficult to see much around you - but snow  We didn't think it would be open in all honesty, but those hardy swiss were there, toughing it out! At one point between pools I had to get out, walk over some steps to a different pool. What a strange experience it was to see a new sign there saying: careful, slippy ICE!! And yes, wearing a swimsuit, that air was a little chilly.......

Sadly, on the subject of cats, our garden is full of prowling, scenting cats now. I told you how the situation quickly changed after the loss of our lovely dog, didn't I? And is it me, or is everyone getting new puppies  But, those cats are everywhere. I'm very careful about feeding our birds now. So, I moved our bird-seeder closer to the house and away from the hidey-hedge-full-of-cats. I put out some bread, since it has been such a long cold winter. And guess what? All I can see now is cats eating the bread instead!! Munching away with delight. In that funny little hunched position of concentration they take. I certainly didn't know cats enjoyed bread?

I'm getting to know the knew gang of cats here now too. We have two toms, who look quite menacing, even to me. One is a ginger (they always are aren't they?) and the other is of grey pin-stripe. Then, we have one real 'lady' cat, who wonders around sniffing with what only can be described as elegance, since she seems to have grace in everything she does. She's such a sweety. She sits by my back door, hoping I'll let her in, even though I've chased her away twice. I'm sure she was quite affronted and confused by my unfriendly behaviour. She loves bread too, and looks a bit confused as to the real purpose of birds! She's growing on me rapidly. Even though, I am allergic to cats and rabbits, they seem to give me asthma.

It still amazes me how they knew so quickly that our dog was gone. Their sense of smell must be very acute, in that they must be able to recognize a 'stale turd'. Should I have put that more delicately??

I wish I could give you a photo of myself and my husband floating around at the thermal baths, like two Minke Wales. But, maybe that's picture enough............

Happy Springing  www.moorethanart.com

Hey, I've missed you all.......Long time no see............and Happy Valentine's Day!

Well, I've been there and back to England for a long family hospital visit. Which went really well!! Thanks to Bristol hospital and all their great staff

Can't say hospitals are favourite places though. And my God, England was FREEZING! Well, we went from -9 in Switzerland to about zero, but it was MUCH colder in England - because of the dampness, which I didn't really realize until now. It really does creep into your clothes and skin and bones. Mind you, it has been one of the coldest years in Britain. But how pretty it all looked! All those antique cottages, great oaks and quaint villages covered in snow..........

I did have to buy a warmer coat for England though

We were then stuck at Luton airport for two days (not very scenic). Actually, we stayed in a business hotel.  A very nice business hotel - full of suits and laptops and long dinners. Love those buffet breakfasts! Don't they set you up for the day! It's amazing how much longer it takes you, to prepare all that for yourself, when you return home  I MISS ENGLISH FOOD. But my God the portions in England are HUGE. We get about half that amount here in Switzerland! Those plates are huge!

Anyway, we've returned home to good old Switzerland and guess what? SNOW and lots of it!! So, all in all, we've now had about 5/6 weeks of consistent snow. I never thought the day would come that I got tired of SNOW. But, I think mostly it reminds me of our lost doggy and his final difficult months, trying to navigate his failing body in the snow and ice. Not very helpful for a dog who has difficulty walking  So, I guess I'm a bit off snow at the moment. I'm sure I'll mellow in time.........

Hubby paid for 'speedy boarder' on easyjet. Doesn't that just make you laugh: that phrase 'speedy boarder'!! I don't see the difference anyway, everyone just bundles on anyway, elbowing their way to a seat. And watch those old ladies......with very dangerous elbows.

I can't find you a picture of England. I was a little preoccupied with hospital visits etc - walking up and down Bristol highstreet in the freezing cold to think of photos. I can describe the children's hospital, if you like: it was new and had this huge kind of sculpture outside. Are they giant teething rings?? Anyone??

Well, I'm far too arty not to find one small photo for my blog. It feels all wrong......so let's have a look......

Spring Hope Primroses.

This is our lovely old neighbour Margaret's garden in spring. Who very sadly passed away last year. She will always be remembered by us. Always chatting over the fence, putting up with my terrible french so patiently, and always giving us the fruit from her garden ( by the bucket load). Anyway, every spring these natural primroses would appear all over her garden, in all conceivable shades of pink, purple and yellow..........so beautiful, bobbing their heads in the trickling sunshine. 

It was always one of the first signs of spring to me. RIP Margaret and Axle.

Hello bloggers  Sorry I haven't written for a while, still trying to squeeze a smile out at the moment, after the unexpected loss of our lovely dog Axle.  We had such adventures together on our doggie walks that I'll really miss.

Lovely Axle.

This was one of his last photographs. I took him to try and enjoy the amazing fall of snow we'd had that day. He's standing quite well there. But, his walking was very difficult. He couldn't walk without support anymore, and for a dog, I don't think that's much of a life - especially since it was getting worse by the day.

But you know I didn't realize dogs so loved the snow! New morning snowfall used to make his eyes sparkle with excitement! I guess it must feel lovely and soft and squishy on a dog's paw. And how he used to love catching snowballs in his mouth!  

I had him on the bed with me, when I knew his days were numbered. And I had the most incredible dream!! I dreamt Axle and I were running along a beautiful white-sand lake/beach. The water was so bright and sparkly. And there was a real feeling of joy. I awoke during the night, thinking he'd passed away, because he was so silent and still. But, when I stroked his coat and heard him sigh deeply, I realized he was in a wonderful state of rest. And when I awoke, I felt in an incredible state of peace...... It felt really magical.

So, you may remember that painting I said I was going to do, and put on youtube? To show it as a  fast-frame painting, from start to finish? Anyway, when I looked at it this morning, I was shocked to realize that THIS painting was my dream!! So, I will paint it in honour of Axle (let's hope it's a goody then) You may remember this was the first shot of the painting.......let's hope it's not its last.........

Anyway, on a slightly more upbeat note: we are THAWING!! At last!! We've been about a month with solid snow and ice now. I've felt like I've been living in the Snow Queen's Palace! And it has made day-to-day living quite challenging. Especially slipping and sliding down an icy road. Although, I have to say it's quite fun when there's no people or cars around  Kind of like being on a fairground ride! Anyway, it's a little difficult to sleep now with the thaw. Can you guess why???

Well, at intervals we have HUGE chunks of ice, sliding down the roof! They sound just like tiles, falling off the roof and crashing to the ground. Very grating and noisy! So now we are living in a world of wet slush instead.

Just must show you my finished painting. I've only ever showed you this as a 'work in progress'. And I'm pretty proud of this one. Especially, since its my first time painting horses. And there were quite a few of them, too! Nothing like running before you can walk, eh?

Horserace painting, by Laurel Moore.

I hope I got a feel for the action. 'Nayyyyyyyyyy'!

Hey and have a good first day at work Barack Obama!! Hope someone shows you where the coffee machine and toilets are..............

Forgot to add, here's a little version of me singing 'Sentimental Journey' with very greasy hair  If you want to have listen, you'll need the volume quite high, and its a terrible recording set-up.......excuses, excuses, excuses  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz35n5a3ONo Fun though!

Hello bloggers. 

I just don't know how to tell you that we lost our dog Axle on Friday 9th January.  

I know he had so many fans on this blog. Who followed his exploits and life. We are devastated and I know you will be saddened too......

He had  a nerve problem in his back, which made it increasingly difficult to walk. And we wanted to end his life before he suffered. He was such a beautiful dog, with such a sweet and loving nature, and such a strong sense of humour.......

Only yesterday, my husband was telling me how Axle seemed to laugh, when he slipped on patched of ice in his big boots, back in Neuchatel. He'd come wagging his tail, with a smile on his face -licking him all over, then running off with glee.......

Do you remember when we found you at four months in Battersy Dog's Home? And daddy carried you in his coat, on the train and all the way home? You grew up to be such a polite and loving dog. And filled us with adventures. You always hated it when there were family rows, and made your disapproving noises!

We feel so lucky to have had you. Rest In Peace beloved Axle

Happy New Year bloggers.

So much sad loss in the Israel-Palestine conflict. Each person's life is so important. To lose fathers, mothers, daughters sons in such a way must be unimaginably terrible.  And bitterness from within must be one of the hardest battles.  I'm sure we all hope for a peaceful solution in 2009.........

Hope you will join me in a toast for a: Peaceful New Year 2009.

Here's one of my old paintings I did, quite a few years ago now. At the time I was very critical of it. I couldn't seem to get the wild flowers painted to my satisfaction. So I kept changing in, until I spoilt it. But, looking at it now, I'm not so critical. I think there's something charming about this oil on canvas, which I called 'Summer Champagne' at the time. What do you think?? It's a little on a tilt I know, maybe too much champagne??

Anyway, you probably don't know that we've been snowed in here!! And it's -6 at present here in Fribourg, Switzerland  Help! I haven't been able to get my car out for a week. And the snow has seemed to have frozen solid at about one foot high. It makes it rather difficult to move or walk in though, since ice makes quite a solid wall. Hubby managed to clear the snow from his car eventually, but it did take about an hour. And now, he was a sore back!

You don't want to know about frozen dog poos though (so I won't tell you, that they fly well) Not a deliberate discovery! It just happened that they kind of catapult like frozen bullets around the garden. (Welcome to my world!)

My week doesn't much change though, whether I'm snowed in or not. It's pretty much the same routine of paintings etc.........Just makes deliveries a little harder. I must just add that I saw the most beautiful sight yesterday: a deer bounded past the window in the snow. It was so beautiful. Right in the middle of the day, all lovely a brown and strong against the brilliance of the white snow. Right past our neighbour's house. Off towards the lake and woods.........

Here's one of our roads near our house. See what I mean? And yes, that is black ice.

Anyway, best thing to do is stay in with a warm fire. So, that's what we'll do...............

www.moorethanart and if you want to see more of my portfolio, please visit www.artwanted.com C U soon.

Hello bloggers

Hope you are having a jolly christmas. Sorry about the snow. It's all gone here now. I think it just blew away in the night! Sad, really, I don't ever recall having snow for Christmas. Instead, we've had wind, and lots of it. Blowing the birds in all directions around the garden, away from their blessed seed. It amazes me how safe they feel when our dog is in the garden. It's quite extraordinary. They must have a keen knowledge of the workings of cats and dogs. When he wanders into the garden, down they come from their tree perches, only one or two feet away from our dog. Mind you, he does have a slow nature (not intellectually), but 'why run when you can walk'? seems to be his adage.

I received a lovely little gold saxophone from my husband. It sits really sweety around my neck. That way, I can still play it during the night  

I've started a new landscape painting, most of which seemed to end up on my dress and around the house. Bright yellow paint, in fact. I found huge splodges on my dress, then on my chair, pillow. I hate it when that happens, and you have to go on a paint hunt. It isn't fun like it should be. It amazes me how quickly the paint goes on.....compared to how long it takes to discover and remove! Nothing like scrubbing your dress when it's still on you too. Not a pleasant experience. And leaving the garmet on, whilst you scrub it, is a laziness you always regret, isn't it?

Anyway, I love seeing those speeded-up paintings done. So, I'm going to give that a try over the next few weeks. I will attempt it by taking a snap of my painting at each stage of its progress, and my husband assures me that you can just piece it all together seemlessly () So that it runs smoothly, and looks like its been painted at lightening speed. I'll post it up on youtube, with my other little videos, when it's 'seemlessly' done  

Here's the unexciting start snapshot, gives you a chance to guess how it will turn out.......great fun!

Can you guess what kind of landscape it is?

www.moorethanart.com and www.boundlessgallery.com

Hello bloggers, hope you are keeping warm and toasty!!

I would tell you all about our wonderful SNOW, but I've been a little preoccupied today. My new 'Blue Snowball' USB microphone arrived through the post today. So, I've been having great fun recording a little of my blues singing to youtube. Will chat soon, but just wanted to post my version of 'Miss Otis Regrets' for you to have a listen, if you're in the mood for a little smooooooth blues  

Yes, I do look a little mad on it. But, I guess that's to be expected.  Love those roses though :) :)

Here's my youtube link below:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOb6u_ZVZSo

Hello bloggers! My, my, isn't it cold now?

Are you being rude? Hey, you have to put on a bit of extra blubber for the winter!! Or winter reserves, don't you? Cos, it really has started to get cold these last few days. We had a big attack of snow, with additional blizzard about a week ago. I remember it was a week, because it was my first time driving my car in the snow. We had to go to our local garage to change our normal tyres for snow tyres. There are police checks at this time of year, to make sure you have fitted your snow tyres. They don't insure you in an accident here, if you don't put your snow tyres on. They grip the road better in icy conditions. Sensible really...........

So, it was a blizzard when we went to go and change my tyres at the garage. Of course, the Swiss, (like many Europeans) don't really understand the concept of a queue! So, you kind of have to eye-ball people, or do a kind of : 'I'm next in the queue' kind of dance. You don't have a lot of a chance of keeping your place if someone in a BMW drives up though! What it is about BMW drivers?? They seem to walk around like cockerals in a pen of hens. You know who you are, BMW drivers!!

But, it's stayed at -3 these last few days. And I have a feeling we're due for a very COLD winter this year. It's already much colder than last year here. I miss that sunshine.

Great times to be painting though - bunking down in the studio to paint. And it's so very quiet here, especially since all the tractors seem to stop grinding around in the winter time. Very peaceful. Sometimes, we get little swiss children coming round to sell charity cards. But, that's about all the excitement we get around here. The children here are delightfully sweet, and polite. Their childhoods seem wonderfully safe and innocent here.

This is just about the time that the neighbours start decorating their houses for Christmas. Last year, our neighbour purchased and fixed a giant snowman outside, for his young children. Well, quite frankly, I saw nothing scarier than a seven foot lit snowman chuckling malevolently through the night. I say chuckling, because anytime a breath of wind came, it began lurching around for the whole of December. A few nights, it seemed to rage like the very devil - in gale-force winds. Plotting evil no doubt! Or maybe I just have an overactive imagination for my age (5). Amazingly, it hung on in there, through gale and hail. Which points even more convincingly to the forces of darkness   Well, I don't know what his youngsters thought, but it scared the hell out of me!!!! I wonder if it will be up and running in the next few days. I'll let you know! Can't they just settle for a Chrismas tree and a wreath??

Here's a little photo of our house covered in snow, from last year. Very cute! And luckily very warm inside. Trouble is, we have an outside thermostat -so, we're either cooking inside, or cold. We can't seem to get it right. We have a real fire, too, which is wonderful for those chilly evenings.......

Ps. Sorry if you couldn't get onto my blog last week. It had a few technical problems, the main one being I forgot to renew my domain  

Helllllloooooo bloggers!

Cute cuddly toy, Boomoore.

Here we are, busy travellers that we've been lately. Yes, I've been there and back to England. And it was lovely to visit family.

Here's brave Boomoore of course. He was very good and didn't get at all travel-sick. In fact, he really did seem to enjoy the adventure of travelling. He especially liked the turn we took in the massage chair at the airport. Actually, I thought it was horrendous! I expected something soft, gentle, relaxing. But instead, these nasty metal hands seems to be pumelling my body mercilessly! Ouch!! I think they were male chairs. No female would ever be so rough! Or, perhaps I picked a wicked one? A chair with a grudge??

So, hubby got this special deal to upgrade me to business class. Now that really was fun! Lounging in the posh lounge. Snacking on all the food and drink. Which was FREE of course! It's amazing how much you can eat when it's free  Anyway, I made a mistake on my return flight time home, so ended up with five hours to kill at the airport! So, I made my way up to the business lounge -feeling superior of course! I started on the sandwiches and coffee with a rest in a large lounge chair. I then moved on to the internet room. Then on to a tomato juice or two - yum yum. Then, onto the desserts - chocolate cornflake slices and shortcake. Then, back to the quiet lounge to listen to my music. Then, back again to the sandwiches............In fact, it was only towards the last hour that I began eyeing up the wall of alcoholic drinks! I don't usually drink. They did look all sparkly and glassy. Hmmmm, a little drop of Drambuie was delicious. But, since I don't usually drink, it did feel awfully 'hot' going down!

So, anyway, I think that plane might've been a bit heavier than expected, after my five hours of snacking. But, well, you have to make the most of that lovely English food. I don't know why English food has such a bad reputation honestly. And they seem to put soooo much on your plate these days. I'm sure the plate sizes have gotten bigger over the years. I guess that explains why the people have, too.

Boomoore was very excited to fly. It was his first time on a plane. And since I was sitting in business class, I guess he was a VIP really. He did get a few strange looks sitting by the window on the plane. And the stewardess looked a little confused to see he had his seat-belt on, sitting next to me (the plane was fairly empty) But, maybe they realized he was a famous bear??

Beautiful View

Well, I've never seen such an excited little bear! Mind you, we were right by the wing and the engine. And the visibility and sunshine was truly beautiful that day. Of course, I tried to explain why everything became tiny, as we climbed, but I'm not sure Boomoore really understood. He is only a young bear, after all. And I'm not sure I really understand it myself......

Our business class meal didn't require much explanation though. Boomoore has a very good understanding of food, just like most bears. And what a feast! I'm still dreaming about that chocolate torte! Yum! There were some miniature bottles of dressing that Boomoore insisted I sneaked into my bag, since they were a perfect size for him! Though I can't imagine when the need will arise for 'orange and olive oil' dressing? But, perhaps one day such an emergency will arise?

Hey, Boomoore, save some for me!! MOVE AWAY FROM THE CHOCOLATE TORTE! !

Anyway, I returned home to no internet for two weeks, curtesy of Swisscom.....bless. They informed us that we'd never had internet at our address! Hmmm!! Funny, the imagination isn't it? Imagining I've been writing a blog for nearly two years now!!

Anyway, off to bed now. Must just add that we went to visit some Swiss thermal baths last weekend. It was wonderfully bubbly and relaxing, especially the outdoor pool with even more bubbles. But imagine our shock when we decided to wander into the sauna and found everybody NAKED! It took a while for the steam to clear. And there was a moment when you kind of thought: are they? Aren't they? ARE THEY? Then......... the steam cleared........and they were!!

We made a hasty exit!

www.moorethanart.com and www.boundlessgallery.com and www.artwanted.com 

Hey, ho, bloggers  Are you enjoying all those wintry mists?

And aren't there a lot of mists at the moment? Axle our dog and I went out on our doggy trek the other day and saw at least fifty misty cobwebs!! I really wished I'd had my camera with me. They were so white and beautiful. The sunlight had just begun to creep up through the fog, turning them into magical cobwebs. Axle wasn't so interested in cobwebs though. It's nose down and 'follow that smell' for Axle. And there are a lot of lovely smells in our fields here. Well, I imagine that there are: since we have a melting pot of cats around here, foxes, quite a lot of deer, and even the odd boar or two.......... 

Here's me singing you a little blues ditty. We'll call it 'Georgia On My Mind'..... if you like. I'm sure you've heard that fabulous Ray Charles version. It's really worth a listen, if you haven't yet.

Here's an update on my commissions. I don't know whether I showed you my lovely 'Born Under The Sun' lady finished. So here she is........

I finished her off by oiling her off, then varnishing her. Sounds a bit painful, but she didn't mind.......

You know her eyes follow me inexorably around the art room now. I painted her to be looking straight at the viewer, so, that's exactly what she does. It is a bit spooky though. Technically, it is due to the fact that a painting on canvas remains static, so that the angle remains the same in the subject - no matter where you, (the viewer) stands. But, it is still quite unnerving sometimes!

Anyway, on to my more recent commission: horses in a horserace. It's not finished yet, so I'm just giving you a little taster.......yum, yum. I talked last blog about bringing movement into this fact-paced horse-race. It's not an easy thing to do. With a photograph, you can tinker with the foreground and the background, and of course you can do the same with your brush. So, I have endevoured to make the background look blurred: as if those horses are roaring past! And, though I want the main subject horse to be accurate, I don't want it to look too sharply-drawn - since it, as well, is roaring past at great speed (honest!)

Horse race painting, by Laurel Moore.

I've called this oil painting 'Favourite': since this main horse (number 5) is the focus of the painting.

The detail of the muscles of a horse are something fairly new to me as a painter. So, it was a wonderful (yet sometimes frustrating)  journey for me. I hope when I've finished that I will achieve the look and feel of 'power' in the horses. Because, that is always the impression I am left with, when I meet a horse (formally ) That sense of sheer power...........

Anyway, it's a sunday here in Switzerland so: shhhhhhhhh!!! I would like to have a chop around my plants with my clippers, but as you know ( if you read my blog) you can't make noise in Switzerland on a sunday. Unless of course, you seem to be a farmer. Are you a farmer?? Could you pretend to be one?

I must just show you a little frontcover watercolor illustration I did recently -  for a children's book. It is a wonderful story called 'Coming Home', by an American friend of mine. It is a true-story of her adoption of a Bulgarian child from an orphanage there. This is a watercolor I painted of her daughter.

I'll let you know when we have the publication date. But, you will need tissues on stand-by for this sweet and heart-warming story!

'Coming Home' by Kim Garcia.

Illustration by Laurel Moore.

Commissions

No charge for shipping smaller commissions internationally!! Watercolours or oils offered, any subject painted for you! As a general rule: smaller paintings $600. Larger are around $1,500, depending on the detail and time required.

I will take no payment from you, until you are 100% happy with your painting ( I usually will email you a small copy of your finished painting, for you to approve) All paintings are sent signed and insured, by registered Swiss Post. So far, we have had 100% success with our deliveries. Please bear in mind, there may be a waiting list for your commission.

So ask me your questions anytime, show me your ideas/photos at questions@moorethanart.com and get a wonderful original commission  for your house by Laurel Moore.

Hey, I just realized I forgot to mention the pumpkins..........

Hey bloggers

Must share the most gorgeous portrait with you. Quite frankly, this gave me the biggest and longest laughs I've had for months - seeing this. Hope it does you too. Bought one of those cyber webcam thingies, with these special portrait-enhancing extras!

Perfect Portrait of and by Laurel Moore.

So, I hope you like my new look. My bosoms look stupendous in some of them. So funny! I have many more to share with you, so be prepared. Or shall I just find another one? Yes, one more today!

What a hoot!!

So, who needs to learn to paint portraits? When you can produce such great ones, via webcam eh? Nice set of teeth. People have always commented on my nice teeth  

Well, I've been swinging on my wheely chair from painting, to saxing, then to singing then to song-writing this week. I've finished three songs this week!! And though I say it myself, I think they're wonderful! I'm itching to perform them with a band. But, all in good time............

Worryingly, my rings have begun to tighten these last few weeks. At first I really thought I'd been getting chubby. So, I spent some time checking in the mirror, before I relized that they just must've gotten muscly!! From playing the saxophone!

 Well, that wasn't something I was expecting! But, I guess fingers are just like any other part of the anatomy. So, now I have fit, buff fingers  Luckily, they don't look any chunkier. That would be a bit of a bummer really. It must just be on the inside that I have mean and moody fingers now, with which you can't mess! My poor little finger, doesn't quite know what's hit it these last few months. Well, I don't think a little finger is designed to do much really, on a normal day. It's just an added extra. But, it has a lot to do pressing those keys on a tenor saxophone. And those lower pads are really quite beefy. Not a lot of use for nice nails now either really.

So, it's a choice between being covered in paint, or spit at the end of the day now really. What a choice!

Here's a little thumbnail of the oil painting I finished a week or so ago. Isn't she gorgeous? I've called her 'Born Under The Sun'. I've tried to bring out the intensity of the heat in the painting, where the sun is so incredibly hot. I also tried to achieve the rich variety of skin tone. There was an orangy base, with chestnut brown layers. So, I used many layers of glazes (a little paint in oil)  to bring out those layers of  glowing colours. Then I used final glazes over the top, to bring a rich healthy shine to the skin.

The garment in red, was richly embroidered, and I loved the richness of those colours under the intensity of the sun. She took about four weeks to finish. I work a few hours most days, or every other day. I find, if I paint too long, my eyes weaken, and I can get a bit stale with it. So, it's better for me to leave it, then come back later. I seem to have gotten quicker and quicker with my paintings now. Which is great, because it means there's more time to fit other things in too.  So, moving between the other skills works quite well for me now.

I've created these working timetables now; they're great for giving myself more self-discipline and also seeing what I have managed to achieve each week. It's kind of like a tick-list of time spent on each activity. It also helps me keep a better balance on my activities and stops me frittering time away - mostly on this computer!!  Whoops!

www.moorethanart.com and www.boundlessgallery.com

Hello bloggers

Well; welcome home hubby, from your wierd and wonderful business travels! He looks quite knackered really. His eyes don't seem to be focusing correctly at the moment  Comes of sitting some 12 hours on a plane I think. Nasty having a numb ££££. I was looking for my star symbol, but could only find a pound symbol instead. So, there you go........

Unfortunately, he was ambushed on all sides by five screaming babies. And, when one stopped, another set off, kind of like a 'mexican baby wave', I think. Nasty! That could surely be a method of torture: being constantly kept awake by screaming babies. And don't they have such great lungs? Awesome. For myself, I have earplugs, which I find very useful. Keeps most alien sounds - like  snoring out! Not so good if there's a mosquito on the lose though. Cos it'll eat you, and you won't know until the morning, when you've got a lump on your head the size of a golf-ball. Rather a lot of huge mosquitos here. Of course you probably know it's only the women mosquitos who suck your blood! They need it for the strength to bear baby mosquitos. So, blame the women. We also have very strange species of spiders here in Switzerland. Not British spiders, they're far more European - so they have tiny little cigarettes hanging from their tiny mouths (just kidding) they prefer roll-ups

Been working on a horse-race commissioned oil painting this week. It's a nightmare in terms of detail: hats, numbers, saddles, forelocks. Actually, I have no idea what a forelock is, I'm just making that up. But, there's an awful lot of detail to capture. And it's quite difficult to achieve a look of a 'moving' race, without doing cartoon lines, to effect the action (well, maybe I have added a few subtle cartoon lines) I shouldn've told you that, now you'll look for them, and probably find them too!! But horses are very difficult animals to paint correctly, especially those beautiful arabians. So powerful and muscular and graceful at the same time. I love trying to capture those muscles and the beauty of their coats. Well, coats, really doesn't seem the right word? Skins? Flanks? I'll stop there. But, there's such subtle play of colour as the horses move, too. Those rich chestnuts browns change to orange, to blues, to blacks. It's really fascinating. Honest!!

Hey, don't get me started talking about a painting, I'll go on forever!

Anyway, real windy winds have been heading our way now. I guess it is good ol' autumn. But, they've been chasing me, wherever I've gone - or do think perhaps I'm just paranoid  But, even our dog Axle has started growing a thicker coat. Wish I could do that. Could be very handy really. If a bit wierd! But those hats and gloves have already been creeping on, and those winds are starting to make the eyes water. It's been so long since I've heard those strong winds, from inside the house. Since we have had such a warm and still summer. Still, gotta let the summer go!  

www.moorethanart.com and www.boundlessgallery.com

Hello bloggers  Hope you are well.

Well, Damien Hirst sells his 'The Golden Calf' for 9.6 million. Are you impressed? Well, my feeling is that surely 'mother nature' should get those profits? After all didn't God/other do all the creating? Do you think he/she will profit from this? Hmmmmmm!!  

As an artist, would you want people to buy your art for money, or love? Hmmm, that's the age-old question, isn't it?

Anyway, it's been getting really chilly on the willy these morning now (not that I have one) I'm just guessing! But these mornings and evening are getting colder. I'm sure I saw a frost on our lawn the other morning. I even had a real fire the other night. Couldn't seem to warm up, or get the heating to come alive. I think it's still in hibernation. Anyway, the fire was gorgeous! Leapt up like a golden thing possessed -whilst the dog looked on bemused. Of course I was sweating in about an hour.

Watched a very funny film the other night: 'how to lose a guy in 10 days'. Both parties take a bet: the one that she can lose a guy in 10 days, the other that he can make her fall in love with him. So, each are at opposite places in the spectrum. You've probably seen it anyway. I'm just a bit slow on the uptake sometimes. That's the punishment I get, for living in my own world!! And of course, they do both fall in love of course! And nothing she (Kate Hudson) can do, can put him off! Oh, for that quality in a man, in the real world!! Hey, perhaps it would be fun to try. A real test for your partner! Oh, think I already do that actually!

I love the way she stuffs his flat with teddies and tampons, then ruins his gaming night with cucumber sandwiches and tantrums. Very funny.

Anyway, I realize I have been remiss in showing you my completed painting. So, here she is, in all her feminine loveliness! Hope you like her.

www.moorethanart and www.boundlessgallery.com

Hello bloggers,

I think the season of 'mists and mellow fruitfulness' is upon us now. It's getting quite cold in the morning now. Then we are treated to the most glorious sunshine. Or cracks can show, it clouds over, then rains for the rest of the day.

That sweetcorn has reached at least 8 foot or more now. Will it be harvested, I wonder? How big can a sweetcorn get? Or maybe it's used for animal fodder? Don't ask me.

All that lovely fat wheat has long since been harvested. Probably even in someone's breakfast bowl by now. It's sad to see the empty fields though, after the crop has been harvested. So barren and depressing. I love all that green around me. And all that green will go soon enough.

Was woken last night by the most horrendous cackling noises in the garden. Screeching and cackling really. My God, if this was the middle-ages, I would have thought satan and his helpers were in the garden making mischief. Or a herd of witches. Or is it a cackle of witches?  I mean, I'm guessing it was a fox, but my God, what a terrible noise in the dead of night! Even Axle was mildly interested, and thought to take the opportunity of my presence to wander into the garden. Of course there was nothing there for him to see by then. He just ambled out, just noticing a new range of smells to sniff.

I've been working hard finishing my commissions, and also a new portrait, I'll show you a little photo when I can get my computer to work properly again. But it is having a few issues! Most of them user-inflicted, no doubt. I did managed to pick up another virus by opening one of those 'you've been sent an online card' messages. So, I guess the moral of the story is: never open your junk mail. But, somehow for a girly, it's difficult to resist it, when it says: someone has sent you an online card! You start thinking: how nice, who can it be from..........and before you know it, you've been had!

There's some very funny noises going on in this house at the moment. And I've found pants on the floor, and things fallen over. I'm starting to wonder if there's a ghost in this house (or maybe just a bad housewife  It's probably just the crows walking on the roof again, that sounds funny, in itself. But, you know those crows with those high-heels. They always look good in black, don't they?

Had fun managing to grab the very last sale items in the shops recently. I mean, some of those tops were 5  or 9 francs, I mean that really is a bargain! And I do love a bargain. So, I've bought a few long sleeves for the cooler weather now. And I'll have to start looking for my coats and boots soon.

Keep warm www.moorethanart.com and www.boundlessgallery.com

Hey bloggers

Here I am with my new (old) baby. And it's coming on quite well thanks. Quite a few honks and squeaks here and there, just between friends. But, it has been some 20 years since I last picked up a sax. It is a warm gooey feeling all over again though. Even looking at it, all gold and sparkling in its soft and hard case, makes me bubble inside. Its about as old as me, but they say that good things come with age (don't they?)

It's been really funny reading some of the sax stories on the sax forum. Especially ones about people practising in their cupboards and wardrobes, because of the noise! I'm reading these seemingly perfectly normal conversation about whether someone should add some clothes, to mop up the sound! It's so very funny! What lengths the sax player will go to to play  Can't blame them I guess.

I'm lucky in that we are detatched. But, of course you can't play noisy things in Switzerland on a sunday, or indeed be noisy at all, or even leave washing out. All of those are against the rules in Switzerland!! And No joke! And of course all the shops are shut on a sunday. You can quite legitimately call the police if you neighbour has left out his washing on a sunday! And they do! Party-goers have been known to attend a noisy party, then ring the police when they leave!

But, on the plus side you are guaranteed a wonderfully peaceful sunday, with no mowing lawns or other annoying noises.

Anyway, I've been working on some commissions these last two weeks, so been a little busy. It's lovely to fit some sax time in though. And hubby is back from his adventurous travels, which is a huge relief.  Wonderful to know I steered the ship safely for those three weeks, and didn't hit any reefs, or do something very daft. I wouldn't want to ring any emergency service and try to conduct a conversation in french.

Anyway, popping over the England soon to visit family. Should be great, not to mention fattening myself up over there a bit. The food is getting to me here now. It's a job not to lose weight. I do love to try new food, but it is very dull and unvaried here. And of course you have the incessant problem of smoking in restaurants, with never a non-smoking choice. Rather off-putting really.

We've had a real turn in the weather lately, too. It's turned really autumnal. So I guess that beautiful sweaty summer is on the wane now  Time to put away all those lovely summer frocks and tops and bring out the long-sleeves I think. Still, I don't think I'll notice the grim weather this year, not whilst I have so many projects on the go. Autumn is always great painting weather for me, not too hot and sweaty to make real progress.

C U soon www.boundlessgallery.com and www.moorethanart.com

Cheep cheep cheep

I took this photo on our balcony when we lived in Neuchatel. Isn't he a cutie? But I was thinking how rarely I photograph birds. And the reason is, they are so difficult to capture. Not literally - but on film. Just as you've switched your camera on and framed the shot, they're gone! They are so quick! So, I did manage a half-decent photograph here, because I had an almost captive audience in this newly baked loaf of bread.

Anway, yesterday; I was just grabbing my bedsheet which had been drying in the garden, when something tiny fluttered from the fabric. It then kind of spluttered into our hedge. On closer inspection I realized I had startled a baby-teenage sparrow, which then kicked up a fierce squeaking. It was very cute. It had one of those splatted beaks - you know with that yellow-baby outline, that presumably disappears over time. I chatted to it for a while. Then left it in peace, to squeak to its mum or dad.

Then, Axle (our dog) came lolloping into the garden, wondering who I was talking to. He looked at me inquiringly. I told him I was talking to a baby bird. He walked right past the baby bird and didn't see it. Then he sat down and began rolling about in the sun. I watched the pair of them for a while. The bird sensibly decided to shut up squeaking. Then I left them to it, thinking what a great protector Axle would be for that baby bird. After a time the baby bird began squeaking again, but Axle was far too relaxed to pay any heed.

It's just it amazes me how relaxed the birds are with our dog. Somehow they know, it isn't a cat, or dangerous like a cat. In fact, they make a point of coming down to feed at the bird table when he's close by. Quite sweet really.

You can just see a couple of birds on our bird table, having a happy time with some bread. And there's Axle chewing his bone.

We have trained him to (reluctantly) chase a cat, if one's in the garden. But what's the point of having a dog, if you can't train him to deter a cat from eating a bird? I say reluctantly, because really he can't be bothered to run and chase it. He'd much rather lie on the grass and eat a doggy chew, or just generally lie, without any particular purpose! He does chase the odd cat, but looks at us as if to say: 'why?' But, since he's learnt he gets a treat out of it, he sometimes chases with the real gusto of a younger dog!

Scares the shit out of the cat though! There are a lot of cats here in the country. And they do act like they own the place (maybe they do) They stroll around, meeting other cats for chats. They sit in fields, watching grasshoppers, until they can be bothered to pounce. Then they (deliberately, I'm sure) wait until you are driving through, to dart across the road, when they know they could've waited. Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against cats. I mean most of us eat meat. But I'll never forget when I was a child, seeing a cat playing with a baby bird. Maybe, that's why I'm allergic to cats. In protest.

Well, no harm is ever done to the cat - but you should see the expression on its face - when it thinks it has the garden to prowl all to itself, because Axle isn't always in the garden! Sometimes, he likes to do the same thing in the house - i.e lie around inside.

It is quite handy that he's a laid-back dog though, because he still has this sports injury on his leg. I think he did it climbing a set of very steep steps. So, I'm calling it a 'sports-injury' because it sounds more impressive for Axle. It is getting better very slowly. So, I have to make sure he doesn't really play with his favourite ball. But it is difficult. Because every now and then, he runs into the garden and sits next to his favourite ball, looking at me fixedly.  

Axle has actually got one cat buddy. She lies in the grass, much like him, not bothering to run when  approached. He usually comes up and sniffs her nose. And she seems to like him doing that. She just sits there, and sniffs his giant nose in return. But she never budges an inch. Then we resume the doggy-walk. And I'm sure she's told her catty friends that he's not a chasing menace. Because none of the other cat neighbours can be bothered to run, when he appears either. Or maybe, cats are just a good judge of character. Perhaps you should take your cat on your date. See what he thinks.

www.moorethanart.com and www.boundlessgallery.com

Hello bloggers, are you sweaty??

My goodness, it's hot here in Fribourg, Switzerland. Puff, puff, pant, pant. Every day the thermometer keeps creeping up. It's making me scared! Yesterday it was 32 degrees! Will it go any higher?

Here's a little snow and ice from last winter, to cool your sweaty arm-pits! Don't worry, that snow will be back soon enough.

What has Boomoore been doing? Of course you want to know!

Well; Boomoore told me, (whispered in my ear) when I was driving my car. He said, he's seen a beautiful field of Swiss sunflowers, and could we stop and have a look? So, what could I do but oblige? But, no sooner had I stopped, than Boomoore was off, playing in the field of sunflowers! Studying the bees, trying to find the sunflower seeds! It was a job to find him! But, finally I did find him, in the tall sunflowers. Having a ride!

Boomoore rides a Swiss sunflower.

I think he thinks he's a real cowboy, riding that sunflower! He's so funny, isn't he? With his little cowboy hat?

I've been having fun, too. Doing a lovely new oil painting of a beautiful oriental lady. She's coming on very nicely now. Not finished yet though. I think she'll look lovely in the living-room. Might do a few Limited Edition prints, too. If she whispers in my ear! That would be Chinese whispers then

As you can see, there's a lot to be finished: like the hair and the flowers and the face. But, I've been working very hard on getting a beautifully soft skin-tone. Layering up those oil glazes. I've called her 'Essentially Female', because those colours and the feel of the woman, are so completely feminine. I've added a little lace, to bring more softness to the painting. Hope you like it. I'll show you her when she's completely finished.

I do apologize if my site still takes a while to download and still sounds a bit like churning cheese. I will be working on that problem over the next few months. It's a problem with having so many photos. I need to reduce the size of my photos. I'm trying to think of a joke there......but I can't seem to find one. I'll leave a gap --------- for you to make one then!

Anyway, did you enjoy celebrating Swiss day? All those flags flying and those fire-works banging for the first of August. Annoying weren't they  

Well, can't say I did a lot, except feel like an old grouch, complaining at the fire-works banging into the night, waking me up! Well, with my husband away on business, you tend to feel a bit of a 'billy-no-mates' when everyone is having a fun time, except you  

Anyway, the light is fading now. The grasshoppers are chirping sweetly and the birds are getting ready to tuck-into bed. So nighty-nighty.........

www.moorethanart.com  and www.boundlessgallery.com

Hello Bloggers,

Had some lovely weather here in Fribourg, Switzerland. My, that corn is growing tall, isn't it? It's must be up to seven foot tall. We have a lot of corn/maize around us, and it makes this really spooky clacking noise in the night. I've just recorded a film called 'Haunted', so I hope I don't get spooked. I have to limit my horror intake! To nil, usually! Actually, I can't watch horror at all. Especially not if I'm alone, it's too embarassing checking the house afterwards. Can't imagine why people like to watch it really. Surely life can be scary enough, without adding coal on the fire?

How tall in the corn? Boomoore will show you.

That's very helpful, thankyou Boomoore. It took him an awfully long time to make this climb, without any climbing equipment, too. You are so brave Boomoore! But it is all that sunshine, then torrential rain we've had that makes everything grow. Is that why my husband is so tall?? Did he get rained on alot?? Such a sweetie-pie! He thinks I have long legs, but that's only when I wear black trousers.  That's because really, they are very short

Here Boomoore is again frolicking with his pal Axle.

As you can see they are brothers. They do look identical, don't they? Apart from the amount of rain each received, affecting growth. They do like to go on adventures together, too. Although, in this photo, it was too hot for an adventure - they are both panting from the heat.

Talking of brothers: I've just watched a very interesting programme about being gay, with John Barrowman. The most interesting findm seemed to be related to the mother continuing to have sons. They have found that there is a possible immune response created by the mother's womb, which can block some of the testosterone to the fetus. So that each male born, has a higher and higher percentage of being gay. How interesting!! Love it when new science comes out! Not that I am in any way scientifically minded though. Don't know how that works for females though? That could be another interesting programme.

That was a change of subject, wasn't it? Talking about the change of subject: very worried about the bees too. Love bees. I hope pesticides prove to be the problem, so that farming is forced to become organic, or at least to use biological methods avoiding chemicals. So many things to worry about, if you're not careful..............

Now I have a question for all you bloggers?

What on earth are these 'billes' balls (pronounced Beeeeeels)? In our shopping center for weeks now parents and children have been running around getting excited about these balls. They are hard, like marbles. Can't remember the last time I ran around getting excited about little balls

Should've turned that photo around really. But, I.T isn't my forte. Anyway: twice cashiers have happily put these into my hand! I've smiled and said "thankyou" twice, too. Which is probably even stranger really, given that I have no idea what to do with them. So why are people asking everywhere if I want a ball (bille)? And why are people running to little sweet-like machines extracting billes for money? Traditions are very wierd, when you don't understand them, I can tell you!

I have to say, they are probably the most dangerous thing you could give to a small child!! Has no one considered that? Children running around with hard gobstoppers-sweet-like-things, which even I was so tempted to suck and eat like a sweet - I had to give away!

Anyway, finish with a lovely painting. Cos that's what I do really.........

Up for bids on ebay on this monday coming, is my wonderful watercolor print of this charming little Swiss girl. I found her standing by St.Blaise, a harbour at Lake Neuchatel, feeding her duck. I painted this a couple of years ago, and have recently created this as a Limited Edition Print. So, only 250 will ever be produced. Starting bid of only $45. It is an unframed print. The frame is for illustration only. If you tick 'title and description' for Laurel Moore, you will find this lovely print on ebay soon. Happy Bidding bloogers

www.moorethanart.com and www.boundlessgallery.com

Hello everyone, hope you are not suffering from too much rain.  Can I give you some of ours?

You just can't beat those summer days of endless blue skies, can you? And how beautiful water looks under a summer sky. I could watch a summer sky for hours. Did I ever show you what I called my 'Hand Of God' cloud formation. It sold very well, too.

Religious Cloud Formation.

Doesn't it just look like a giant hand with a cuff? It makes a lovely poster print. I photographed this when we lived in lovely Neuchatel, Switzerland. It was the first rental house we chose, when moving from England to Switzerland. We had this most incredible balcony, with a breath-taking view across Lake Neuchatel. How lovely to watch all those little boats winding their way, or birds skimming the surface, or sunsets in autumn. But, anyway, I did have to race downstairs very quickly to find my camera - before this cloud formation drifted away forever. I have two shots, one when it's just coming into view and another (this one) when it comes into formation.

Anyway, I must introduce you to Boomoore. Say hello Boomoore!!

Boomoore Copyright Laurel Moore 2008.

Boomoore is a very cheeky little toy. Though, he doesn't actually like being called a toy, but a boy. In fact (when he's listening) I call him Boy Boomoore.

Anyway; he's decided he wants me to START WRITING A BOOK ABOUT HIS CHEEKY ADVENTURES! So, I have agreed! I mean, how could I not? He's convinced me that children of about 4-7 years would love to read his cheeky photo adventures. So, I will be publishing 'The Adventures Of Boomoore' books, very soon. Well, what does a teacher, who doesn't teach do?? They are great stories for siblings to read together, because it will really give them the giggles.

I'll let you know where you can purchase my little book for your little cheekies soon! He does get up to all sorts of things. I mean, recently, when we went to go and buy a car, of course Boomoore had to come too!

Boomoore buying a car.

He wasn't sure about getting a BMW. What do you think? He really liked the black and blue and white badge though. He even tried to take it off. He didn't really understand how it was stuck down. Well, nor do I, do you?

I've just bought him some lovely new clothes for his photographs. But, you know what it's like when you shop for clothes online: they're always the wrong size!

Here's Boomoore in his new cowboy outfit.

Doesn't he look peachy? I think he's doing a little dance on the table-top there. He's so excited with his new clothes. Do you dance, when you get your new clothes? I do! We're not too sure about that look for him though. Love those boots though!!

ANYWAY, IN TIME YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PURCHASE BOOMOORE MUGS AND TEESHIRTS!

Won't that be fun? Will Boomoore conquer the world? Will he consider world domination? Or just have a few friends like you? Who knows!

CU soon   www.boundlessgallery.com and www.moorethanart.com

Hello bloggers  Hope you are well.

Very soggy here at the moment in Fribourg, Switzerland! The grass is getting all wet-carpet-like again. And I had to bring in my poor little orange tree, whose disapproval has started showing in its browning leaves. Must be a sign of something? Where's all that lovely sunshine gone? Was it because I'd started talking about lovely crunchy snow?

I have some lovely new oil paintings in progress to show you. Hope you love those poppies. For some reason I don't usually paint a lot of red. I think you either love red in your house or not.

Apparently, the eye is always drawn to red, which is why the old masters used to put a tiny drop of red in the distance, just to draw your eye in a certain direction. I suppose it is a real impact colour. The colour of blood and of ambition. Maybe, I lack ambition............

Smiling Poppies, by Laurel Moore.

I love that resonance of sky blue with the red, don't you? Those primary colours kind of bring each bring each other alive. I called it 'Smiling Poppies', because I think those poppies could not have a happier day, than that particular day, by Lake Leman in Switzerland - soaking up the summer sun. And wild poppies have such explosive days, when they burst into bloom - to which almost nothing can compete. Did that sentence really make sense? I'm not really sure. Sometimes, what you think you are saying, and what you are actually saying are poles apart!

The Cottage At Boudry, Switzerland

When we were looking for a house I came upon this little Swiss gem in Boudry. This cottage was only 50m2. Which was probably one room only and a toilet! Admittedly, I did fall in love with it (as you do) Unfortunately, there was no permission to ever extend this house. So, 50m2 it will remain forevermore. Rather sweet really. I guess it must have some kind of preservation order on it. So, if there are any tiny people around? Who require a tiny house? With lots of land? I like the idea of it remaining so though, don't you? Never being knocked down, or changed in any way. Preserved, like my painting, for however long it lasts.................

Lake Leman, Geneva, by Laurel Moore

Here we have a view across Lake Leman in Geneva. It has that wonderful shade of blue, which those mountains and lake seem to absorb here in Switzerland. There is just a little hint of snow on those distant mountains and the lush wildness of the Oil Seed Rape and Poppy flowers in the foreground. This one is quite big and long (behave!) I hope I've achieved a dreamy quality, as if looking through a window.

Email me at questions@moorethanart.com anytime. Or to visit my galleries www.moorethanart.com and www.boundlessgallery.com

Hello bloggers

Autumn carpet, woods in Neuchatel, Switzerland

I really miss those beautiful woods in Neuchatel. There was something so very old about them. And you hardly ever met another soul. That's so refreshing nowadays - not that I don't enjoy the company of people - but it's just wonderful to escape to such stillness, just for a while - where nothing can penetrate the silence.

These woods were covered in an autumn carpet of leaves and the colours were all so subtly different: from red to orange to yellow to brown. I tried to capture the thickness of the carpet floor with the help of oil paints. What a joy it was to paint! All that splish-splashing around. And what a joy to walk with the dog every day, especially as woods like those always protected you from any bad weather!

Snow, icicles and ice.

Do you remember this great shot I took of Axle? Must be a year or so ago now? What a classic! In our cosy house, we hadn't realized the nights had been so cold. But it must have gone down to below 15 in Neuchatel, Switzerland: to achieve such incredible icicles. It's funny how you start romanticising bad weather, when it is continuously hot?

 Love the heat of summer though.  Even though Axle had such fun destroying lumps of ice, by kind of jumping and diving on them. Guess they make such a lovely sound, too. But I think there are few things lovelier than walking through a wood deep with fresh snow, where no other footsteps have yet made a single mark. And you get that lovely tight, squeaky sound of fresh snow underfoot. Wonderful! See, I'm doing it again.

Well; my husband has bought me a wonderful anniversary pressie! A tenor saxophone! Yes, it's true I did play years ago (sorry neighbours) so it will be very interesting to note if I can play it first time?

I remember when I first went into a music shop (many years ago) and the assistant said: "if you can get a note out of a saxophone the first time, you are doing very well." Luckily I did get a honk or two initially. My very tolerant neighbours said that they were 'willing' me to complete the song: 'Merrily We Roll Along' for quite some time! I guess I taught myself from books and by ear really.

We've bought an old sax with lots of charm - a vintage Buescher Aristocrat ( for you pros). Those were the days that things were built to last. It has a few dents and dings and lots of history no doubt. I hope it might whisper some of that to me in my left ear! It should have that lovely rich sound that older saxes had. Not the sharper sound of many modern saxes nowadays, which I so dislike. I can't wait to get my hands on it! But have prepared myself for lots of disappointing hours ahead - I think that that's the best way. Luckily we're are fairly neighbourless here, so I don't expect anyone to be banging on my door, holding lumps of their own hair in their hands!

I'll keep you posted on my honking though. Maybe, I'll take a little passport photo of it, when it arrives. Because if I travel with it, maybe I'll get it it's own passport, just so customs don't think I'm drug smuggling or something. My husband keeps saying: "bet you can't wait to have some sax!" He's right, I can't!

I bought my husband two of those lovely wedding bears. Have you ever seen them? A bride and groom? I think it's a great anniversary gift. Mind you, this bride looks a right misery-guts. Not like me! Honest!

Bearington Bears

Aaaah! Aren't they cute? Admittedly, not quite as impressive as a saxophone though!  Actually, today the groom looks rather distracted, doesn't he? Maybe he's bored and she's just bad-tempered by nature! Bit of a worry! Still, they do look like they are holding hands though, despite everything miserable in the bear world. Not sure why I put them underneath my orange tree. I think it reminded me of those honeymooners in the Seychelles, underneath the palms. Did it work? Were you fooled  ? Were you transported away to paradise momentarily?

I'm afraid that sometimes I do take my toys out for some fresh air. It's kind of like you do with houseplants.....I think. So yesterday Boo Boo went for a nice ride on Axle. Axle didn't seem to mind much. He's a very patient dog. He's patient when I stand for ages gorging on cherries, too, or just sit looking at nothing much, or having a cuddly toy riding his back.

Hello Boo Boo and Axle!

I love the way Axle is just nonchalently sniffing the grass. Aren't they lovely the same tan colour? Just like brothers!

Have a Seychelles day! www.moorethanart.com and www.boundlessgallery.com

Hello bloggers, thanks for stopping by.

Hey hey, that fooled ya!! Did you think I was going to start talking about football? Well, I have to a bit I suppose, reluctantly, since it's all happening this year in Switzerland. Well, I do find it difficult to be interested in the 'beautiful game'. But, hey, the jet planes were interesting here! Every match you could hear the F-18 jet planes commence their security flights. Checking for any security breaches, I guess. Never usually hear planes here at night. Well, I'm sorry to say that those little Swiss flags, flying out of those Swiss car windows didn't last very long. They disappeared mightly quickly. Where did they go??

So, who's in the final?? Hang on, I'll just go and ask my husband. He does enjoy so watching the beautiful game................Germany v Spain.  I disappear and do some singing practise when I can no longer watch all those little men running around the green grass!! So, who shall we guess? I always have a theory that the team with the brightest colours will always win! Logic says to me that you can more easily see your comarade to which to pass the ball?? Good theory?? So; my bet is on the brightest team. But, is orange or blue or yellow or white brighter? Well, I think it depends on the weather and lighting.

Anyway, had to slow down for a very slow hedgehog crossing the village road yesterday. You could see he was an adolescent. He was kind of a lanky hedgehog. Hadn't yet filled out. Very cute though.

Here's a little photo of what might be our new kitchen. Nice isn't it? Love yellow. How can you not feel bright and happy around the colour yellow?

Poor old Axle, is suffering from a muscle strain. He's lumbering around at the moment like an old dog. It's a job getting him in and out of the car, too; though it's not worth missing a trip to the woods - since he gets depressed and sulks, if he thinks he's due a trip to his favourite woods. He's a heavy dog, especially when it comes to supporting his back legs at difficult times. Sure my biceps have grown! It's difficult to get him to slow down, too - in order to rest his leg. We don't speak dog, and sometimes that's difficult. Here's a photo of him smiling at his favourite woods.

Gave him a lovely shower this afternoon. It was a bit fraught, because I was worried his leg might slip, and he might hurt himself all over again. But all went well, he was happily rolling around in the garden afterwards.

Talking of happy, although I'm not so keen on animal circus' there was a lovely photo of the circus elephants in today's paper: bathing in the Lake. They do that each year, and my, I bet they remember and look forward to it. They looked like they were having a ball. Lovely sight for onlookers, too, I'd imagine. Fabulous weather at the moment for elephants bathing. Very sweaty for us though. I'm not complaining though. I've got used to this year's heat now, I find it takes a few days to acclimatize. Recently, it's been about 40 degrees. And we've had to shut all the blinds on some occasions, just to keep out the rising heat. We'll have to start to learn to pant, soon.

Check out my SUMMER SALE at www.boundlessgallery.com  where shipping is FREE to anywhere.

www.moorethanart.com and www.boundlessgallery.com for my ORIGINAL art or commissions.

Hello bloggers

Woke up to our first day of sunshine today! In what must be quite a few weeks. Everything has been looking so sad and soggy. I think even the slugs have had their fill of all that rain. I went to these woods in sandals the other day. Big oversight. How the mud had squelched up and around the sides!

Hey, look who I found on my Swiss travels. Isn't he a cutie? He was in a glass cabinet near a children's play area. If he wasn't locked up, I may have run off with him. Could you blame me? Was he happy there? Locked away. He looks quite happy, doesn't he? He hasn't got a funny head of hair, that's just an odd shadow. I called him Tommy. That's Tommy Ted.

Just finished a lovely oil of Lake Geneva. It's a big-un too.

Lots of lovely swiss spring flowers in the fore-ground: Poppies and Oil Seed Rape. Hope you like it. Though we haven't seen much of those blue lakes and skies lately. I think the weather is picking up now though. Enough to enjoy the fruits of the season. Used my palette knife for the flowers and the water, which is always messy fun. Always managed at least one huge streak for my face. This time in emerald green. Nice.

Forgot to show you some of my snaps when I visited Chichester. Looking through my photos today, I remembered how quaint it is. I managed to get this shot in the morning, before the crowds and traffic and rain had arrived.

Chichester town.

And here's the Chichester Cross a one-time site for the market, which stands at the intersection of the four main roads in the centre of the city.

Very sweet. Lots of roman interest there, too. It has been argued that the area was a bridgehead for the Roman invasion of Britain. And, yes; I did just copy that information from an article about Chichester. Gotta make it look as if I know what's going on, haven't it??

Anyway, well worth a visit. Shame about all the sweaty travelling in between though.

Our dog has had the sulks if he doesn't go the the woods now. So, getting a new car, has had a bit of a reverse effect! Nothing seems to be good enough but the forest now. So, he lumbers around, determined not to enjoy his ordinary wood-less walk. But that wasn't the idea Axle, it was meant to be a treat! Every now and again. He won't sniff around and walks really slowly, so that I have to put him on his lead to drag him along! Mind you, he does hate the rain. Even though I put his coat on. Maybe, with the sunshine today, he'll find a little spring in his seemingly old bones!

www.moorethanart.com and www.boundlessgallery.com

Hello bloggers,

Just a quickie, I have so many people looking for raining paintings. I guess they are very atmospheric. So, here it is again.

Rain painting, by Laurel Moore.

Print available at www.boundlessgallery.com This is a suggested mat and frame only. It is called 'Umbrella Days' and the original was painted this spring on a trip to Berne, the capital of Switzerland. Everything looked wonderfully smudged and puddly. The only people on the street were dashing around with brightly coloured umbrellas.  Enjoy!

Also find me at www.moorethanart.com anytime.