What words contain

I have had a very busy week, full of early mornings and a bit of good news. I am staying in Edinburgh, with full-british permission and have a lot of planning to do from here. But fortunately planning is something I go crazy for and relish in the things when they are made. The winter here has been exactly what the warning said, wetter by the year and pretty much mild and chilly throughout. The snow has never stuck and I don't expect it to. So, though it's missing some of it's whit-winter mystique this season has been surprisingly easy to bear. I'm in this funny mood where I could almost swear that even if the summer never came I wouldn't be hurt. Come back to me in March and perhaps I'll say differently. Here is my IF submission for this week. The word is Contained.

heavy winter grey

The heavy sky and winter rain today is taking considerable energy out of me. Despite it, I walked Archie through our daily wooded path which was especially muddy and slippery and emerged unscathed and happy to have done it. The rest of my day is to be relatively relaxed, my nanny duties to be carried out til 6 or so and then to the Cameo tonight with a friend. Yes, we're seeing Twilight. Recently too I watched Let The Right One In, a Swedish teen-vampire movie which I expect is a very different note from the blockbuster with the same premise. I recommend that one though.
Here is my IF entry for this week, the word being Resolve. Something I feel familiar with, and the kids do too.
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Sweet New Year

Though I still have the weekend before heading back to work I certainly feel I am at the last end of my winter holiday. My dear dad heads back to Germany tomorrow early and we are spending tonight as we have the rest of the week: warm by the electric fire, reading, watching films and just spending time. Last night, New Year's Eve, was spent the same way and I loved it like that. Edinburgh's Hogmanay must be shrinking as I only heard about three fireworks the whole night and the whole town seemed fresh and clean today.
I am happy to have the weekend still but actually look forward to getting back to work, taking care of the three girls and fitting back into our daily routines.
Oh, and above is my Illustration Friday for the week, the word is Clandestine.
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Winter walks

Winter has struck Edinburgh with force today and just in time for the new year it seems. Frost is tipping the leaves of the crawling vines as I am cosy in the comfort of my little granny flat.
The morning was sweet, bright but frigid and I spent it with my Dad (who I am happy to have visiting) having breakfast in Marchmont and then for a walk through the Grange Cemetery.

I now post these Thank You cards I made and managed to pop in the post before the cold really got to us.

Detail of one of the cards.

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Out on a limb

And here it is: my Illustration Friday submission for the week with relation to the theme Voices. I am spending my first winter holiday in Edinburgh and am delighted every day so far with the turn out. I have my father with me and we spend the days just strolling. Even without a trace of snow it is stunning for winter, blue lights on the trees and not a soul out. Lovely.
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The Hand of Burke

I have enjoyed a very busy week just passed and so did not manage my Illustration Friday submission on time. But the word was Similar and I thought it appropriate to post the dry-points prints series from my Degree Show back in June. They were centered very much around twin-hood and fit, though very flexibly, in chronological order.
I had the sweet opportunity to see Edinburgh with the eyes of a holiday-maker as my friend, Sasha, from Florida paid a short visit. We spent the days walking quickly through the cold, making stops for vegetarian Haggis and different sights (including a tiny and not very impressive wallet made from the left hand of William Burke.) We also went on the Ferris Wheel which went much faster than expected and was not the quaint and lovely view of Edinburgh we wished for.
I am more than halfway through my lazy Sunday and expect to spend the rest of the night making holiday cards from the comfort of my tiny couch and preparing for an early rise tomorrow.
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Blue blew away

Here is my IF submission for this week, the word being Balloon.

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