Upskilling...

Gardening:
~ School hosted a workshop on Pruning Fruit Trees this afternoon (they have quite an extensive vegetable garden, compost bins, and many fruit trees around the grounds). So, I went along to see if I could figure out what to do with my lot. They are very unloved and need quite a lot of attention. I have several apple trees that are 2-3yrs old, and two very large, old trees (a pear and a plum). Those are going to be the mission to sort out. So, off for a bit of a read-up on what to do with them. The 3yr olds I think I can get on top of no problem in regards to sorting out the side branches and leader though.

~ I visited the garden of a friend from school today and checked out her garden set up. Very inspiring, and came away with some good ideas on staking and growing vertically.

~ I noticed just this afternoon that my plum tree is beginning to blossom. It always surprises me that it makes a start so early into winter. But, it is a Christmas plum and fruits mid-December.

Drawing:
~ I have continued to make my way through the drawing lessons in my book. Today's lesson was to copy a picture with it turned upside-down. This allows the right-side of the brain to kick in and "see" the space, lines, angles, and proportions, rather than allowing the left-side of the brain to "assume" and try to copy based off our preconceived ideas of what something looks like (that's a nose, that's a hand). I was quite impressed with my attempt (the lesson was to copy Picasso's Portrait of Igor Stravinsky). When I attempted copying the picture with it up the right way, I found I was a bit hasty in copying and assuming as the book had explained.