Nature art book shows my drawings and paintings from nature. The art is often made at the location itself and a few were made during art classes online reproducing well-known work by famous artist. The Cat is reproduced from a Jamini Roy painting and the Prince and the Tiger is also reproduced from work by the same artist . These were drawn over several months and started during the lockdown of 2020. Art Therapy for well-being is a subject I have been researching for the last 4 years and this is a part of the work I did since 2020.
Lifestyle
Summers slain:A lady Gayle Summer mystery by Cassie Rush
An interesting story about a castle inherited by Lady Gayle Summers together with a murder and but is that Aldo a possible motive for getting murdered?That’s the intriguing plot of this historical cozy mystery I read last week.TBR challenge by blog chatter keeps me busy with reading and reviewing books and I am happy to say 2024 is a looking good.
Name of the book :Summers Slain: A 1920s Historical Cozy Mystery (A Lady Gayle Summer Mystery Book 1)
Series Name :A lady Gayle Summer mystery book 1
Author: Cassie Rush
Book Review
A quick read ,though the setting was a little dated .The end had an unexpected twist but there are a few loose threads that I would like to ask about,if I ever met the author .It’s about the order of inheritance and I can’t ask the question here because it would be a spoiler!
When I started reading this book,I had little expectation as I have never read this author’s work before,but I was pleasantly surprised.A good first in the series book, though the main protagonist seems to have too sad a back story.Simple clean cozy mystery with a period setting which will make history buffs happy.
A good read for a lazy summer afternoon or went you want a cozy mystery without too much going on.
I liked the character of the main protagonist Lady Gayle.Her moms character though is neither interesting nor endearing.I hope the other books in the series will show us another aspect.
Overall a good book.
Who is this for
Best for those who like cozy mysteries.
Those who like female protagonists.
Those who like mysteries set in historical backgrouns.
Who like clean mysteries.
Who is this not for
If you like action packed cozy mysteries.
If you are looking for an intricate web of intrigue.
If you don’t like historical settings.
Official Book Blurb
In 1920s England, a young widow, Lady Gayle Summer, inherits a castle, a fortune, and a corpse…
Resourceful and spirited, Lady Gayle is determined to unravel the castle’s hidden secrets. But the stakes rise when a dear friend is murdered, revealing a sinister plot lurking in the castle’s shadowed corridors. Faced with a web of aristocratic deceit and societal expectations, Lady Gayle realises that some secrets are guarded at a deadly cost.
As she delves into the heart of the mystery, she must navigate a perilous path to uncover the truth behind the recent deaths. With each step, she draws closer to the killer, who watches her every move with cunning anticipation. Can Lady Gayle solve the mystery before she becomes the next victim in this treacherous game?
Summers Slain is a captivating journey into a world where the lines between nobility and nefariousness blur. Perfect for fans of Downton Abbey and Golden Age mysteries, this novel offers a thrilling blend of suspense, heart, and memorable characters. Join Lady Gayle in her breathtaking quest to bring a killer to justice and discover why she’s sure to become your new favourite amateur sleuth.
You Raise me Up :A Prayer of Gratitude
Josh Groban’s song is iconic.
“You Raise Me up so I can stand on mountains
You Raise Me up to walk on stormy seas
I am stronger when I am on your shoulders.
You Raise me up to more than I can be .”
Songs with words like these make you remember the higher power who has brought me along in this journey.It’s also a time to remember,all those who raised me up .Josh Groban’s voice and the way he says these words touched a chord in my heart and that’s why this post is a thank you post.
Saying thank you to all those who raised me up.
My Bhagoban
My mother
My maternal grandmother though briefly
My sister(in a strange way trying to be a good sister and setting an example helped me make better choices ).Plus she inspired me to be a better cook and calmer person.
My aunts and uncles who helped me become a doctor by supporting my higher education.
My childhood friends
My best girl friend from college
My husband
My daughter
My books,
My teachers in school,college and now who taught me how to do things right.
All my virtual mentors like Amy Lynn Andrew’s, Pat Flynn ,Joanna Penn
My friends in my life now who help and support me without asking questions.
My plants
All my patients who trust me
All the readers of my blog ,my podcast listeners and YouTube and social media followers
Blogchatter
Amazon KDP
To the unknown muse who helps me fight imposter syndrome everyday.
In all places separated by time and geography women who have done their bit to make this world a better place for women. My paternal grandmother was working in an office during the sixties .She was a graduate woman and definitely an inspirational figure through family stories.She died before I was born and my mother always reminded us we had this vision to remember. My Maa and all my maternal aunts all worked in reputed Government offices and their struggle helped me realize why women need women to lift them up.
Painting Calm by Inga Buividavice
I liked the name of the book and I bought it.But before that I had signed up for a Domestika course by the same author and liked her style.Welcome to my book review Painting Calm by Inga Buividavice-Connect to Nature through the art of Watercolour!
I quickly read through the whole book because it’s an easy read.Its also great for beginners.It teaches you steps and drawing leaves in wreaths or mandala pattern.That keeps me happy .
Pros of the book
Easy to read
Step by step
Calm illustrations which don’t overwhelm
Helpful tips
Soothing color palate
Anyone can get started with these instructions.
Biggest takeaway:Let nature be your inspiration and stop trying to make it an exact biological illustration if you really want to start enjoying the watercolour process.
I like painting leaves and flowers.That’s a thing with me.I can’t stop painting leaves and flowers,doodling them and planting trees .When I have a lot of money I plan to buy as much land I can and plant and plant and plant.I want to leave a greener world for my child and my painting is a way of manifesting all the green in my life .It started in 2014 but escalated to a dream I am living 2020 onwards .The pandemic did teach me a very important lesson.That of nature being crucial for all kinds of health.You cannot be truly healthy without a dose of nature everyday.
So when I picked up this book I wanted a closer look at the leaves ,wreaths and composition the artist was painting.They looked simple but magical at the same time.
It’s really difficult to paint in the minimalist style which is also soothing.That I think is the artists Inga Buividavice’s book’s usp.You will truly connect to nature in more ways than one.
A must buy book if you want a non stressful way of starting painting from nature and start painting calm.
The Letter to America by Osama :Did American Gen Z fall victim to Tiktok?
If you don’t know this is about Osama’s Letter to America with a clear reason for 9/11 .Cut short he is killing nonbelievers as he believes that’s what he is destined to.
That is not unbelievable what’s horrific is American youngsters are feeling “existential crisis” because of that !The education system and parents both need to look inside because it’s never easy accepting that behavior .
But starting with a prayer.Thank God Tik tok and tiktoking is not legal in India .Because spreading disinformation, misinformation seems dangerously easy with little scope of culpability.
Since the content is misinformation I didn’t share the videos reading the letter.But sharing this to let you know that some people like chaos and they make money when ordinary citizens fall victim to terror and chaos.Don’t believe videos on social media,whatsapp about any even unless you can verify the source personally.Also don’t forward anything in Whatsapp groups which are legally,medically and financially problematic if classified as misinformation or disinformation.
23 Life Lessons from 2023
I wrote the first part of this post after the first 6 months of 2023 sharing lessons from the first 6 months of 2023.So that was part 1 where I talked about those six because I tend to forget if I don’t write them down
So consider this part 2
23 Lessons from 2023
7.Letting go needs to be done a little bit everyday. That way finally we can let go of all the clutter that clouds our vision.
8.Do a little art every day.It makes the day better.
9.Play raquet ball for 10 minutes or dance crazily with some inappropriate music and definitely inappropriate moves.Both will help you release those endorphins which will make you happy,give you a glow and make you absolutely unstoppable.
10.Find the people who light you up and hold them close.
11.Try to be a light to someone else too.Candles work too.
12.Work at getting better sleep daily.
13.Work at being a little kind ,if I can’t be anything else.Its not a cakewalk because our basic instinct is a little …basic.
14.Walk everyday.Running and jogging are great but in the long run the knee takes a hit.But walking is perfect for me.
15.Health first.This needs to go right at the top of the list.
16.People in my life are the real treasures in my life .
17. I need to give myself grace.
18.I need to keep on planting trees.
19.Gratitude is crucial
20.May be I shouldn’t connect all the dots.
21.Rember tigers don’t change their spots.Your eye sight ,that grows weaker.So keep following your gut.
22.Peace is important.
23.I have to be me .
That’s it for the January Ultimate Blog Challenge. I tried .Tomorrow is the start of WriteAPageADay February.