Artyfactory "offers Free Art Lessons For All"

Artyfactory is a superb site for anyone interested in art, particularly for those interested in learning how to draw.

The site offers a useful feature using the mouse and moving it over an image to illustrate specific tips about drawing. For example, when learning about Drawing the Eye , you can move the mouse over the first image to see how the upper eyelid covers the top of the iris.

In addition to the various drawing tutorials, there is an Art Appreciation feature, a Color Theory section and a Portrait Painting in Acrylics section.

Discovering Fossils: bringing the prehistoric world to life

If you are interested in studying fossils and keen to learn more about fossils, the Discovering Fossils website is essential reading:

Discovering Fossils reviews the best fossil locations and provides detailed resources for raising awareness of this fascinating subject.

The impressive site not only provides detailed information about fossils but also provides a handy guide about how to get started with fossil collecting.

You may register with the site for details about future fossil collecting trips that you may choose to join.

There is also a map showing where to find fossils (England - Wales - Scotland).

Learn how to play chess

If you've always wanted to learn how to play chess, I recommend Chess Rules:

This site is dedicated to publishing the official rules of Chess in a graphical format that can be easily understood by the beginning chess player and referred to on occasion by the more experienced player.

Free online chess course

Teach your kids how to play chess with a free online chess course:

chessKIDS academy "offers online interactive lessons, quizzes and games for kids, five chess computers for you to play, and a resource center for parents and teachers of kids who play, or would like to play, chess, including a scholastic chess download pack to enable any school to run a chess club."

Birding, blogging, and bunnies!

There are so many good blogs on the web that it's difficult to pick and choose the best ones but it helps if they are informative, well-written, and updated regularly. Some of the very best ones are about unusual jobs or hobbies. And it always helps if a blog is also entertaining and fun to read.

Because it includes all of the above criteria, the first blog I'm recommending on Hunkydory Links is:
Birdchick Blog - "The birdwatching adventures of Sharon"

Sharon's delightful blog is very well-written, updated regularly and always informative. I learn something new all the time when I read about her adventures while birdwatching. And her blog is also entertaining, especially when she writes about her Disapproving Rabbits!

Birds of Britain

Birds Of Britain, The Monthly Web Magazine for Bird Watchers, has a lot of useful information for birdwatchers (such as myself).

There is a handy Bird Guide as well as well as a very useful County by County Guide to Britains Bird Reserves.