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Looking on the bright side

 

As the rain continues to fall and the river levels continue to rise it is easy to begin to feel rather fed up with our British weather. Dark skies, wet and cold,  muddy paws and dripping rain coats everywhere. It isn't so easy to get enthusiastic about walking  in this climate, but Mother Nature is a wonderful thing. Just when you are feeling the winter blues approaching she senses we need cheering up and sends us something to brighten our day ! So think again we wouldn't have had this gift without the rain. Did you get one too?

                                        

Every day a new inspiration

 

Sometimes the simple things in life are where the inspiration comes from. Just look at this cake asking to become part of my next painting I only went into the shop for a loaf of bread and came out with this little beauty! So here I am at the dining room table with my sketch book and a cup of coffee. Take a look at my gallery in a couple of weeks and see if you can spot where this luscious lovely turns up.

I have finished sketching now and I can tell you it tastes as good as it looks!

CHRISTMAS CARDS AVAILABLE NOW !

JUST TO LET YOU KNOW MY CHARITY CHRISTMAS CARDS ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE ONLINE. JUST GO TO THE GIFTS PAGE, DOWN TO 'CHRISTMAS' AND THERE THEY ARE !

THANK YOU !

Christmas is coming!!

I know it is only September still but can you believe it October is only a week away! So I have had to be thinking ahead to allow time for printing etc and   have come up with two new designs for my charity Christmas Cards. Once again I shall be supporting the Lewy Body Society and £1.00 from every pack sold will go to the charity. For those of you who are not familiar with Lewy Body Dementia you may be interested to visit their web site  www.lewybody.org . So here they are and they will be added to the site shortly. Hope you like :0)

 

Christmas Capers

Mistletoe Kisses

The message inside is 'Christmas Bleatings'

The little gallery opens it's door

With fabulous Autumn weather and sun streaming in through the windows I opened the door of my new little gallery for the first time yesterday morning. I was thrilled to see so many happy faces, familiar and new popping in to say hello and everyone had a kind word to say and shared in my excitement.

For those who live too far away to pop in I have taken a few photographs to show you where I will be spending some of my time over the coming months. Of course most of my time will be taken up in the studio creating more paintings to fill the gallery and to send out to the other galleries I supply, but you will understand why I am so pleased with the result of the family's hard work over the past few weeks.

Take a peek.

           

 

           

 

              

 

                   

 

          

 

I am comfortable - honest!

I just had to share this photo of my daft dog. Martha had her friend Freddy to stay for a bit of a slumber party. He came along with his own bed and overnight bag. After a good long walk and a play in the garden Martha decided it was time for a bit of a snooze, so forgetting she is a Labrador and Freddy is a border terrier thought she would take the pick of the beds, leaving Freddy somewhat bemused, and everyone else amused. She reminded me of Goldilocks trying out all of the 3 bears beds.

My New Little Gallery!

September 19th is a special day. It is the opening day of my new little gallery in Masham. The family have been working hard to decorate and prepare the shop ready to fill it with 'Sunshine and Smiles'. I am so excited that we will be able to hang lots of my latest originals all under one roof. With so many happy and humorous images filling this lovely little building it is bound to be a happy place to work. I shall be sharing the running of the gallery with friends and family who are all as excited as me about becoming part of the community of Masham. We are still dithering about exactly which days we shall be opening but at the moment it would seem Wednesday through to Saturday and possibly Sunday afternoon. More details soon!

 

Exploring the Baltic

 

I have been so lucky this summer to have had the opportunity to do such a lot of travelling. Visiting places I have never been to before and learning  so much about the history and culture of other countries. The weather was disappointing but the company more  than made up for that. Travelling by ship give us the chance to spend time getting to know so many lovely, interesting people, to make new friends and to catch up with old ones.

With so many photos to choose from I thought I would share  a couple one of which sums up the weather and the other which tickled my sense of humour.

Russian Reflections - another puddle!

 

Day Trippers - these little beach huts looked as if they were on a day out at the sea side. I love the way they seem to be huddled round having a gossip and their jaunty angles make them look as if they are whispering and giggling.

Rocky Mountain Colours

 

We have just got back from two weeks of the most amazing scenery in The Rocky Mountains, and I couldn't wait to share some of the fantastic colours. So inspirational, especially the glacial lakes and blue, blue skies. Although I didn't  take my sketch book those aquas and cerulean blues are swimming in my head and I can't wait to paint their liquid beauty.

These photos need no explanation, just enjoy!

       Emerald Lake

 

                                  Moraine Lake    

 

 

 

Pyramid lake

 

Takkakaw Falls

 

Thanks to my lovely friend Di for sharing her favourite parts of her country, and showing us some awe inspiring sights.

Taking Stock

 

This week has been one of many emotions happy and sad, exciting and and fearful, reflective and daring. There has been so much going on in the past few days, final farewells, celebrations of successes, excitement of new opportunities and prospects of travel and reunions. So I have felt the need this morning to take stock of my life. I am so privileged to have so much. Health and happiness, a lovely home and family, many, many friends and perhaps most importantly the ability to appreciate it all, great and small.

So this morning before my usual list of 'Stuff to do' I took a walk around the garden just to think and to give myself time to stand and stare.

I don't care if the neighbours hear  me talking to my flowers, they are here for such a short time they should be told how beautiful and uplifting they are. Let me share some of them with you.

Have a lovely day :0)

That's what friends are for

 

Occasionally there is a need for cake! Popping round to a friends house for a bit of a chat I thought I would treat us to a little indulgence so I arrived bearing scones, jam and clotted cream. Guess what was waiting there already!

 

Well its a girl thing isn't it.

We had a lovely hour sitting in the sunshine whilst just above our heads sat a little broody eavesdropper in amongst the wisteria. My friend Jo had watched this pair of wood pigeons trying to build their nest which continually fell apart until they settled for a couple of wobbly twigs. Worried that she would lay her eggs on the twigs where they would almost certainly drop through to the ground Jo set to work with more gathered twigs and her glue gun to build them a more substantial home. Once complete she then had to stand on a chair and lift the daft thing of its own precarious perch, settle the new nest in place and sit the bird back in its new bed. How daft are these birds? she didn't even flap, just accepted Jo's kind intervention. Now she enjoys sitting listening to all the latest news and her partner comes every evening at 7 30 p.m. to take over sitting on the eggs, he is just as happy to sit just inches away from everyone who comes and goes through the door.

Just had to show you this.

More news soon, take care.:0)