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