Silent Sunday

What is Silent Sunday?

Busy Bee from Sunrise until Sunset

I hope you had a lovely Easter break. 

I didn't intend to leave you for nearly a week, but it just sort of happened. 

I was too engrossed in eating chocolate!
No not really, but it has to be said that there was some serious commitment on my part to appreciating the Easter Bunny's work. 

There's never an Easter that passes that I don't remember making an Easter bonnet with my daughter when she was about 4 years old. We spent hours enjoying cutting, licking and sticking to produce a stunning Easter bonnet... even if I say so myself. 

I was so pleased with the result and obviously wanted to take a photo.

But that's where it all started to go wrong!
My daughter produced a spectacular strop...virtual meltdown and with a pout, she flatly refused point blank that not under any circumstance and any amount of bribes would she would put it on her head!
More effort went into trying to get her to conform and just pop the thing on for a matter of seconds than went into creating the whole thing. Instead the meltdown built to a crescendo.

I think in the end, I just got the camera and plonked it on whilst clicking at the same time. Oh boy...you should see that photo. In fact if I ever find it in the box (yep...back to the days of boxes full of photos) I'll show you. 

She remembers the incident well... maybe I've scared her... who knows?

She'll probably have her answer to this question so I'll move on quickly.

I think a rainbow is a special sight especially when you are able to see both ends in view at the same time. Does this mean that there's double the chance of a pot of gold perhaps? One end landed in the nearby field and the other into the woods.

I always rush to grab my camera when there's a rainbow, as they tend to be fleeting, but this rainbow stayed a while. If you look carefully there is actually a second rainbow above.

It appeared earlier in the week and perhaps it was a good omen for the forthcoming Easter weekend weather. Normally bank holidays come with inclement weather and traffic jams, but this last weekend was perfect. The weather pulled out all the stops and we were able to enjoy it. Although we're still busy there was time to stop and smell the roses (although they aren't out yet). I've even got evidence of the thermometer reaching 31 degrees. Don't laugh... but it is situated in full sun. 

I'm okay with that... I'll get the best reading I can... however I can. 

It just does me good to see it climb to lofty heights, even if it's had a helping hand. 

I've not been back in this house during spring time for quite a few years, so I'm reacquainting myself with everything. Some old friends and favourites have disappeared, leaving gaps and spaces in the borders, whilst I've introduced a few new additions to take their place. We will wait to hopefully see good results. 

It's exciting times...

A busy bee came to check out the rhododendron whilst I was weeding nearby.  

He was oblivious to me... intent on making the most of the day. 

I'd completely forgotten that I had a blossom tree too... I think it's a cherry blossom but please correct me if I'm wrong. 

And here's a little something from my rockery in the front garden. I'm not sure what it is... so if you know once again... I'd love to hear from you. 

I was going to include it in Blue Monday but never got to post before the deadline to link up. Hey... just call me 'Tail-end Charlie' 

After enjoying the holiday weekend, nature decided to put on a spectacular show last night. We watched as the sun went down and clinked our glasses to a lovely Easter. I hope you enjoyed yours too?

Once again... I'll try to nip over to see what you're up to but it may take me some time.

Toodleloo for now

 

xoxo

Wordless Wednesday...Renovations

wordless

The Jenny Evolution

Happy Blue Monday...Bee Mats and Tractor rides

So the weekends done and dusted...I blinked and it was gone.

Although it was full on, I did manage to squeeze a few new activities in. 

Some that even surprised me!

The sun came out to play along with a very keen wind, but that didn't stop us getting out into the garden. There's lots to get on with so time is of the essence.

I've had plans for a wild flower section in my garden since we returned to the house, especially after hearing that bees are in serious decline.

Apparently 50% have been lost through disease, loss of habitat and intensive farming. Planting wild flowers makes a big difference to bee survival. So I wanted to do my bit.

I bought a bee mat on one of my Garden Centre visits, so it was time for action.

 The site for the wild flowers is right at the edge of the garden under the silver birch trees. The BeeMat is a 200cm x 50cm ready seeded, biodegradable mat that contains annual, biannial and perennial species of wild flowers that are a great source of nature and pollen for bees including: Common Knapweed, Greater Knapweed, Golden Rod, Vipers Bugloss.

As you can see I've picked a sunny sheltered spot as instructed. 

Cultivated the ground and removed the weeds (well sort of)
I layed the mat over a level smooth bed of soil and covered the fleece with sand and compost. I then watered it and now I wait! 

I'll certainly let you see how it progresses...hopefully we'll have a beautiful wild flower area buzzing with activity soon.
 

Talking of activity...you are never going to guess what happened to me whilst I was in the middle of cooking our Sunday Roast!

As is my want...I am constantly looking for photographic potential even when I'm not aware that's what I'm doing. So when I caught sight of my local farmer busy ploughing a nearby field, I grabbed my camera to capture a shot. 

Unfortunately Sunday wasn't as sunny as Saturday as you can see by the heavy sky in the photo below. 

I missed a fantastic photo only a few weeks ago, whilst out walking with Muffy. The sun was shining onto the blades of the plough, the excitable seagulls were squawking whilst taking flight until the tractor passed and the soil looked like treacle it was so dark and rich. 

Why did I miss the photo do I hear you ask?...because I'd left my camera at home...which is like loosing a limb, especially when you see a shot that you know would be special. 

Anyway...here's the shot I did get (very disappointing but you have to move on)

I had asked the farmer if I could take his photo before I started snapping and initially he just sat there but then I explained that I wanted to shoot him working, so off he went. 

(Just a little note here...he was wearing blue but you can't tell from this shot...and why am I telling you this? I'm linking up with Blue Monday that's why...hence the blue bee mat above hehe)

Anyway, back to my story if you haven't nodded off or have a more pressing engagement to attend...

As he came nearer to me precariously perched upon the bank of the lane trying to avert the barb wired fence he shouted "would you like to have a ride" 

(cough...cough...okay I'm editing here because I know that that sentence could have lots of connotations...but we'll move on quickly...)

So how could I refuse...off went my apron into the hedgerow (don't forget I was in the middle of cooking) and over the gate post I vaulted! Well maybe not quite a vault but I was impressed because it's been many years since I did that. I was giggling to myself thinking the boys were in the house watching their football team (in a crucial match) and would be oblivious to what I was up to. I also laughed when I looked down and realised I was still wearing my slippers! 

I had to take a photo as evidence to prove that I was indeed ploughing a field in the middle of mixing the yorkshire puds! They'd never believe me!

I was able to ask the farmer lots of questions...about the area and why/how he does what he does...which was like starring in my own 'Country File' programme. 

After as I ran back up my driveway I heard the roar of the crowd...well my two boys shouting at an obvious goal in their teams favour. It can be quite deafening if you're in the house, so I waited until full-time to ask them what they thought I'd been doing and that they'd NEVER guess and imagine their shock when I pointed to the field and said I'd been ploughing and showed them my backed of photographic evidence! 

The farmer says he'll let me have a go with his Combine Harvester when the time comes...so we set up a sign language for a cuppa if he was working near again. 

I did mention that I'm waiting for the lambs to arrive in the back field, but I'm not sure about his answer...his accent is extremely broad for a newie like me to follow. 

So we'll have to wait and see. 

Happy Blue Monday to you all...

If you would like to see more Blue Monday links, then nip over to Sally by clicking here

Have fun! 

xoxo

Silent Sunday...13th April 2014

What is Silent Sunday?

Lucky Me....Paying It Forward for Paint Party Friday (PPF)

I'm so excited and must share my news with you all...

Even though I had a different post ready to publish for today, that'll now have to wait for another day.

As many of you know...my middle name is 'tail-end Charlie' because I always seem to be on the last minute when it comes to posting a blog or entering any artwork etc to all the various linky's. So imagine my sheer surprise and delight when I went visiting Paint Party Friday last week, even though I was disappointed that I hadn't completed any artwork to enter myself, but found an opportunity awaiting me. 

I'm a regular visitor to the amazingly talented Tracey Fletcher King's blog who regularly links to PPF. How anyone can make kitchen utensils look so amazing is beyond me, but she manages to. She's so talented and inspiring but not only that, her sense of humour shines through, even as she faces an incredible personal health battle. She manages to find humour in every situation.

 She's my hero!

Reading Tracey's Friday PPF post she announced that she would create a painting for the first five people to comment on her blog and 'wanted in'...I noted that four people had already put themselves forward, so trying to control my hyperventilating and typing a comment as quickly as I could, that made sense before the fifth person nipped in before me, I pressed publish your comment button and whoosh...off it went...gulp...and shazam (showing my age here)...I was number 5!!!! YAY! 
I'M IN'
So Tracey will pay it forward by giving away 5 pieces of her brilliant artwork away and I'm on the list to receive something...which makes me very excited but as part of the deal, I will now have to pay it forward as well. 
I have to admit I thought it was a brilliant idea because it will give me focus to produce five pieces of work...and I think that's what I need. 
A kick up the bahooky! 

(a drawing of a garlic from last year...or was it the year before now? It is black ink on white paper but I took this photo very early this morning and the light has played tricks on me)
I'm not sure what 5 pieces I'll produce...it may be something similar that I've posted previously, but there again it might be something completely new.
I don't have a clue at this stage which is both terrifying and exciting all at once.

So here are the details that I've cut and paste from Tracey's blog...

* Pay It Forward Art-making Project for 2014 *

I promise to make a small work of art for the first five people who comment on this post and say "YES, I want in". A 'like' alone is not enough of a commitment, nor is a comment about thinking Pay It Forward is a great idea.

You must in turn post this as your status update and make something for the first five who comment on your status.

The rules are simple:

– It has to be your work, made by you, and the recipient must receive it before 2014 ends.

– It can be anything art-based: a drawing/illustration or a conceptual work of art, a photograph, a knitted item, cross-stitch, paper maché – or anything in between.

I'm paying this forward thanks to Tracey Fletcher King.

Yes, you can be on each other's pay it forward lists.

First five, GO!

PS. It doesn't matter if you aren't an artist, try something out, google/ YouTube how to make stuff, step out of those boundaries. 

If you'd like to see some of my previous artwork then click on the links below...

but it's only a snippet. I'm not sure what I'll create for the giveaway...

...it'll be a surprise for me too 

Zentangle 1

Zentangle 2

Coloured Zentangle

Art 3

Silk Painting

Mandala

Don't worry if you're not wanting to participate...you can still stop to chat. 
I'll only take the first five comments that have the words 'YES....I WANT IN' in their comment to receive a piece of artwork. 
I'll just have a natter with everyone else as usual. 

Enjoy your weekend everyone...I'm off to lie down now...it's all too much for one day!

 

xoxo
I'm linking with Eva and Kristin's Paint Party Friday and you're invited too...

Sprouting Spring

As I start to write this post tonight I've suddenly become aware that the grey sky that has been hanging around for days has suddenly lifted. 
Gazing out of the window I can see what I call a biblical sky. 
A sky that makes you stop and glaze in wonder. 
It wasn't expected...so it's all the more of a delight. 
It was very fleeting and therefore I didn't manage to capture it, but I'm sure there will be lots more now that the spring evenings are upon us. 

I've a few things that I wanted to share with you but they are rather fragmented...which means that this post is in great danger of being a little hotch-potch. 

At the moment my mind feels like it's in a tumble dryer tumbling around and around with so much to think about, but I don't seem to come to any conclusion or decision unfortunately. 
Do you ever feel like that? 

Anyway moving on...I didn't capture the sky tonight, but I did manage a photo earlier in the week of a misty/foggy, frosty morning. 
The photos don't really do the scene justice but it gives you the essence. 

I'm definitely feeling springy this week...and the garden has been calling. 

It's not hard to ignore the mayhem going on in the house with all the renovation work...so it's a pleasure to take a step outside. 

There a strange phenomenon happened because I started my daughter off planting seeds and enjoying nature when she was a toot, but since I've been away from a British garden for so long I've forgotten so much...but thankfully my little helper has grown into a woman with very green fingers. She even knows the Latin names for the plants for goodness sake...which I think is seriously impressive. I can hardly remember my own name so there's no hope for me. But now that my daughter has returned to the nest, she's my very knowledgeable reference. 

I'm sure things will come back to me...the when, how and why for...but for now she's my keen advisor. 

Here she is planting up seed trays. 

It's good to find a sheltered corner out of the breeze because it can still be quite chilly.

We've big plans but they'll probably not all happen this year.

The border on the right hand side (above) has had the honeysuckle cut back and there's lots of seeds planted. Heather, lupins, pansy, tulip, primula, lavender and pinks have also been added. So along with previous plants (that I'm not sure are still there and waiting to make an appearance later) it's time to let nature do its thing. 

Hopefully we'll have a full and colourful cottage garden border soon. 

I've also planted sweet peas too because I love to walk out into the garden to collect flowers to bring indoors. Sweet peas are fantastic to add colour and perfume. 
I know some people don't like the sweet pea fragrance and I have to admit it can be quite powerful, but if the arrangement is in a large area or hallway I think they are far better than any chemical air freshner any day.

(Sweet peas shoots)
I have to admit that I was surprised at the rate of growth with these seedlings. 
You can almost see them grow before your eyes...
(a little like the birdseed disappearing from the feeders at an unbelievable rate)  
Hopefully the sun will shine and the seedlings will climb up and race to the top of the trellis. I can almost smell them now.

Whilst I was busy planting I had another helper....Buzz....buzz...

A friendly visitor arrived on the heather...obviously pleased with the selection of new plants.
But we haven't only planted flowers...we've also planted tatties potatoes and they've already sprouted! Not the best photo because the sun wasn't playing.

And here's something I completely forgot about...I think it's a cherry blossom tree. 
Please correct me if I'm wrong...remember I'm re-learning all the time.
The bark and shape of this tree are beautiful. 
Maybe I'll show you it in all it's full glory once it flowers? 

Obviously with so many plants needed...we had to take a few trips to local garden centre and look what I found in the ladies toilets! 

I couldn't stop giggling. 

I thought they were just brilliant. 

There were all different designs...just perfect for a garden centre. 

Dobbies Garden Centre
We've also visited lots of reference books, catalogues and seed guides but there's still a long way to go...and then there's the veggie plot to excavate, build and plant up. That'll probably be next year now as times marching on. 
It's actually still quite light outside and it's nearly 8pm. Don't you just love summertime? 
Whoohoo...
And finally as they say...here's a stunner. 
It's one of my Mothers Day tulips.
I know it's a little late to show you but I thought it was quite exquisite and worth sharing. 
What do you think?

I've lots planned over the coming months...as we head into summer. 

The salmon will be making their way up stream, castles and their grounds/gardens will be opening, the beaches will be warming up and lots of Scottish National Trust sites to visit. There may even be a whiskey distillery visit too. Who knows?

I'd love for you to join me if you're free.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.

Hopefully we'll chat again soon 

 xoxo

Silent Sunday....ZZzz

What is Silent Sunday?

What's On Your Work Desk Wednesday...#252

 I'm not sure how this happened...well actually I am, but there's no way I'm owning up to it! But it appears that there's been an over spill of belongings yet again. Mysteriously they have turned up in every room. Nothing is where it should be...there's no logic to it. Although the windows have been finished (there's only the front door issue to be resolved now) we're still having to move things out of rooms for the painter to have full access. We're still on holiday sleeping in our guest bedroom too. 

As it's Wednesday once again it's time to share our desk space. 

I'm not sure you'll want to see mine though? So if you'd like to see more productive, creative spaces than just click on Julia over at Stamping Ground to be transported. 

I wish my desk had lots of productivity happening but yeah you guessed it...nada! 

But here's the desk...for what it's worth. I'm hoping one day very soon it will all be sorted and in full creative swing! 

The cases don't mean that I've had enough and am about to do a runner...(although that thought had crossed my mind)...its full of handbags, shoes and anything else that would fit. It's such a shame because my daughter had moved some of her belongings into the room last weekend, but as soon as she went off for a week to London, things crept back into the space...but I'll have it all sorted by the time she returns...(gulp)...promise 

(that's just in case she see's this mess)

But there's something I really am thrilled to share with you today and that's Andrew Marr's book about Drawing. 
Have you seen it?

My daughter bought me a copy as part of my Christmas present and it's perfect because he considers all aspects of drawing from the mechanical process to fine art and everything in between. How the act of drawing is as important as what is created at the end. 

For those people who don't know Andrew Marr, he is a journalist and TV presenter who loves to draw and has done since his childhood.  

(Andrew Marr...self portrait)

The book is brilliantly written with fantastic examples of his work. 

It talks about the importance of doing and making, for a happy life.

Andrew suffered a near fatal stroke and art helped in his recovery. 

It's quite a remarkable story and definitely food for thought. 

I hope you'll take a look at it if you get a chance. 

Anyway...I'm off now to try to move more stuff about, but in-between I'll try to visit everyone that visits me at least...it's no good saying that I'll get to the whole WOYWW gang because I know I never could...but I'll try my best.  

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone...enjoy and thanks for stopping by...it's always great to see you! 

 

xoxo