Christmas Season

Happy Christmas

'So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.'

Matthew c1 v17 – 25 KJV

The background frame is based on an e-processed red brolly fabric. 

Advent Sunday (3)

‘Gaudette’, Rose colour  featuring the Prophets including John the Baptist.  This Sunday is known as joyful news by John the Baptist heralding the coming of the Messiah.

John’s message regarding Jesus

‘In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’ KJV c3 v1-3

Some of Jesus’ comments on John 

‘For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.’ KJV c11 v10-12

It is believed that Leonardo Da Vinci painted a version of John the Baptist with his assistant Salai as the model sometime between 1513 and 1516,  Leonardo would have been living in Rome at this time under the patronage of Giuliano de’Medici, brother of the recently elected Pope Leo X. 

The background frame is based on an e-processed pink brolly fabric.

Bird Feeders

This bird feeder sketch is an adaptation of Edith Holden’s 1906 illustration.

Edith drew two types of home made bird feeders in both the 1905 and 1906 Nature Notes.  On 3rd December 1905, she wrote,

 'Since I hung the cocoa-nut up to the ledge of the birds breakfast-table a few days ago, the Tom-tits have been much more numerous.'

That made me wonder when coconuts first arrived in the UK.  After a little research I found that coconuts were imported as luxury goods via Venetian traders from India into the UK since at least the 13th century.  They were initially referred to as "nuts of India" or "great nuts“ and were a rare and exotic luxury item. 
Primarily used for medicinal purposes the coconut shells were then often polished,  mounted in precious metals and made into ornate drinking vessels or goblets for wealthy people.
The backgrounds frames are based on e-processed red and green brolly fabric respectively.