now comes from cows....
Monday, 20 August 2018
Sunday, 19 August 2018
Sunday 19th August - Slow Weekend
I've had a couple of half-days lazing around in bed - easy to do with tablet, kindle, smartphone, books, cat, regular appearance of cups of coffee (thank you...)
So now I'm feeling a mixture of fully rested and ready for the week ahead, and lethargic from too much doing very little.
However, I have accomplished
extreme dead-heading of the rose in the front garden - called 'Princess Elizabeth', we were informed by a neighbour.
I saved a rosebud to have a go at painting it;
No, not like that, like this;
and also re-learning Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata. I've done half the slow movement, the theme of the Rondo (last movement) and scoped out the size of the task for the first movement (daunting).
I'm encouraged by this quotation from one of the books I am reading at the moment;
The act of doing should matter more to us than what we might eventually accomplish; when this is not the case, I can’t help wondering if we are simply missing the point.
from 'Mindfulness in Music' by Mark Tanner.
Because what I might eventually accomplish will be nowhere near the type of performance from a proper, practising professional. However I am enjoying the process of learning to play the music again, with the benefit of greatly improved learning skills, if a reduction in technical prowess.
Today I noticed that the rosebud had opened up since I picked it on Friday;
So now I'm feeling a mixture of fully rested and ready for the week ahead, and lethargic from too much doing very little.
However, I have accomplished
extreme dead-heading of the rose in the front garden - called 'Princess Elizabeth', we were informed by a neighbour.
I saved a rosebud to have a go at painting it;
 |
| Why are you painting those roses red? https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alice_par_John_Tenniel_28.png |
and also re-learning Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata. I've done half the slow movement, the theme of the Rondo (last movement) and scoped out the size of the task for the first movement (daunting).
I'm encouraged by this quotation from one of the books I am reading at the moment;
The act of doing should matter more to us than what we might eventually accomplish; when this is not the case, I can’t help wondering if we are simply missing the point.
from 'Mindfulness in Music' by Mark Tanner.
Because what I might eventually accomplish will be nowhere near the type of performance from a proper, practising professional. However I am enjoying the process of learning to play the music again, with the benefit of greatly improved learning skills, if a reduction in technical prowess.
Today I noticed that the rosebud had opened up since I picked it on Friday;
When I painted the rosebud I was attempting a reasonably faithful copy. This time, I was going for a swifter style of painting, letting the petals be more suggestions than a copy.
The week ahead promises to be busy so I shall probably take a break from the blog.
Thursday, 16 August 2018
Thursday 16th August - This and that
Dayish in bed - bit of a chest infection type sort of thing. Antibiotics kicking in, though, and lying around gives them every chance to do their stuff.
Averted a potentially very annoying incident; when I grabbed my mug from my bedside table to move it in order to read my little clock, I realised just in time that it was still full of coffee. I managed to moderate the broad sweep of my intended gesture to something less extravagant, and so was able to drink the coffee rather than mop it up.
Spent a long time finishing off the process of un-clumping Leo's fur. When the vet, as part of the annual MOT, checked to feel what state Leo's internal organs were in, he was able to reassure us that they a) were still there and b) were approximately healthy. However, for about a week afterwards, Leo was unwilling to jump up onto chairs etc in her normal care-free fashion, and, as we discovered, didn't feel like grooming the fur on her haunches. She has very, very fine "under-fur", which formed itself into matted clumps. The only way to deal with them (apart from shaving her) is to gently tease the fibres apart, separating the strands right down to her skin (initially accompanied by a steady litany of growls and hisses and threatening gestures from teeth and claws). Today I reckon I've removed the last few tangles;
I got up at lunchtime and made myself a very satisfactory lunch - fried egg, fried tomatoes (from next door - swapped them for some apples), fried potatoes (discovered a couple of cold potatoes in the fridge so gave them a purpose in life). Feed a cold - starve a fever, so they say. I have neither, so went for a good meal as a compromise.
I've been catching up with writing out quotations from the books I've been reading;
with some 'assistance'. I've wondered about the worth of doing this; but on going back through the notebook I find that it has value. I wouldn't be able to go back through the quotes if I hadn't save them somewhere (o b v i o u s l y!), and writing them out has helped me take the time to think about the ideas, or the choice of words even punctuation used by the author. So, although I bookmark the passages electronically, I think I will continue to write them out, and then add my comments as and when.
from 'Miss Pym Disposes', by Josephine Tey (conversation between Lucy Pym and Rick about a difficult decision for Miss Pym, while collecting sandwiches from a buffet)
" ‘You would always do the right thing, and let the consequences take care of themselves?’
‘That’s about it.’
‘It is certainly the simplest. In fact I think it’s too simple.’
‘Unless you plan to play God, one has to take the simple way.’
‘Play God? You’ve got two lots of tongue sandwiches there, do you know?’
‘Unless you are clever enough to “see before and after” like the Deity, it’s best to stick to the rules. Wow! The music has stopped and here comes my young woman like a hunting leopard.’ He watched Desterro come with a smile in his eyes.
‘Isn’t that hat a knock-out!’ He looked down at Lucy for a moment. ‘Do the obvious right thing, Miss Pym, and let God dispose.’"
I found the whole discussion interesting, and several phrases worth thinking about
'You would always do the right thing, and let the consequences take care of themselves?'
'Unless you plan to play God, one has to take the simple way.'
'Unless you are clever enough to "see before and after" like the Deity, it's best to stick to the rules.'
'Do the obvious right thing, Miss Pym, and let God dispose.'
I didn't see the final plot twist coming, when I was reading the book. Even though I had read it before (a long, long, time ago.)
I've discovered a website devoted to all things Mapp and Lucia. That's what comes of a day spent on twitter and facebook.
Going out for supper now. Toodle-oo
Averted a potentially very annoying incident; when I grabbed my mug from my bedside table to move it in order to read my little clock, I realised just in time that it was still full of coffee. I managed to moderate the broad sweep of my intended gesture to something less extravagant, and so was able to drink the coffee rather than mop it up.
Spent a long time finishing off the process of un-clumping Leo's fur. When the vet, as part of the annual MOT, checked to feel what state Leo's internal organs were in, he was able to reassure us that they a) were still there and b) were approximately healthy. However, for about a week afterwards, Leo was unwilling to jump up onto chairs etc in her normal care-free fashion, and, as we discovered, didn't feel like grooming the fur on her haunches. She has very, very fine "under-fur", which formed itself into matted clumps. The only way to deal with them (apart from shaving her) is to gently tease the fibres apart, separating the strands right down to her skin (initially accompanied by a steady litany of growls and hisses and threatening gestures from teeth and claws). Today I reckon I've removed the last few tangles;
I got up at lunchtime and made myself a very satisfactory lunch - fried egg, fried tomatoes (from next door - swapped them for some apples), fried potatoes (discovered a couple of cold potatoes in the fridge so gave them a purpose in life). Feed a cold - starve a fever, so they say. I have neither, so went for a good meal as a compromise.
I've been catching up with writing out quotations from the books I've been reading;
with some 'assistance'. I've wondered about the worth of doing this; but on going back through the notebook I find that it has value. I wouldn't be able to go back through the quotes if I hadn't save them somewhere (o b v i o u s l y!), and writing them out has helped me take the time to think about the ideas, or the choice of words even punctuation used by the author. So, although I bookmark the passages electronically, I think I will continue to write them out, and then add my comments as and when.
from 'Miss Pym Disposes', by Josephine Tey (conversation between Lucy Pym and Rick about a difficult decision for Miss Pym, while collecting sandwiches from a buffet)
" ‘You would always do the right thing, and let the consequences take care of themselves?’
‘That’s about it.’
‘It is certainly the simplest. In fact I think it’s too simple.’
‘Unless you plan to play God, one has to take the simple way.’
‘Play God? You’ve got two lots of tongue sandwiches there, do you know?’
‘Unless you are clever enough to “see before and after” like the Deity, it’s best to stick to the rules. Wow! The music has stopped and here comes my young woman like a hunting leopard.’ He watched Desterro come with a smile in his eyes.
‘Isn’t that hat a knock-out!’ He looked down at Lucy for a moment. ‘Do the obvious right thing, Miss Pym, and let God dispose.’"
I found the whole discussion interesting, and several phrases worth thinking about
'You would always do the right thing, and let the consequences take care of themselves?'
'Unless you plan to play God, one has to take the simple way.'
'Unless you are clever enough to "see before and after" like the Deity, it's best to stick to the rules.'
'Do the obvious right thing, Miss Pym, and let God dispose.'
I didn't see the final plot twist coming, when I was reading the book. Even though I had read it before (a long, long, time ago.)
I've discovered a website devoted to all things Mapp and Lucia. That's what comes of a day spent on twitter and facebook.
Going out for supper now. Toodle-oo
Tuesday, 14 August 2018
Tuesday 14th August - Here, there and everywhere
The son and daughter came on Friday evening for a long weekend (they are still here -the weekend ends tomorrow).
On Saturday, we went to the Kite Festival at Southsea Common. It took a fair bit of discussion before this plan was finally agreed upon; considerations such as what people would like to do, what people thought other people would like to do, what the weather would be like, was it ging to be too crowded, too hot, too far away, too -
It was good! To save crawling along the various roads looking for a parking space, we just drove straight to the Park and Ride, and took the bus that goes to Bus Station. It was a short distance but a long walk through the Gun Quays shopping centre, but we emerged without having bought anything except lunch.
The weather was grey, and occasionally showery, which, on the whole, is better than being blisteringly hot.
Kites don't photograph very well on my phone.
Fortunately Himself had brought a real camera!
There was a lot going on - who would have thought of 'kite ballet' - surprisingly impressive. (This is a youtube from last year)
There's a lot more to see looking around Southsea and Portsmouth (not including the docks which are worth several trips in themselves). I remember the town featuring in the books by C S Forester, about the naval career of Horatio Hornblower having several scenes set in Southsea, still full of little old Naval Officers style homes. We were also very taken by the idea of a day trip by Hovercraft to the Isle of Wight!
On Saturday, we went to the Kite Festival at Southsea Common. It took a fair bit of discussion before this plan was finally agreed upon; considerations such as what people would like to do, what people thought other people would like to do, what the weather would be like, was it ging to be too crowded, too hot, too far away, too -
It was good! To save crawling along the various roads looking for a parking space, we just drove straight to the Park and Ride, and took the bus that goes to Bus Station. It was a short distance but a long walk through the Gun Quays shopping centre, but we emerged without having bought anything except lunch.
The weather was grey, and occasionally showery, which, on the whole, is better than being blisteringly hot.
Kites don't photograph very well on my phone.
Fortunately Himself had brought a real camera!
There was a lot going on - who would have thought of 'kite ballet' - surprisingly impressive. (This is a youtube from last year)
There's a lot more to see looking around Southsea and Portsmouth (not including the docks which are worth several trips in themselves). I remember the town featuring in the books by C S Forester, about the naval career of Horatio Hornblower having several scenes set in Southsea, still full of little old Naval Officers style homes. We were also very taken by the idea of a day trip by Hovercraft to the Isle of Wight!
Friday 10th August - More pictures
I did these two;
This is my version of that colour mixing exercise I mentioned in the previous post. I was a bit reluctant to stick the masking tape grid down too firmly, in case it ripped up the paper like the last time I used it. So quite a bit of pigment found its way underneath the borders!
This is a copy of a study in my main "text book" - the Collins Gem book of 10-minute water colours - using just one colour (Hooker's Green, in this case).
This is my version of that colour mixing exercise I mentioned in the previous post. I was a bit reluctant to stick the masking tape grid down too firmly, in case it ripped up the paper like the last time I used it. So quite a bit of pigment found its way underneath the borders!
This is a copy of a study in my main "text book" - the Collins Gem book of 10-minute water colours - using just one colour (Hooker's Green, in this case).
Friday, 10 August 2018
Friday 10th August - In and Out of the Garden - 4
The fence is complete
It looks a bit severe at the moment, and the neighbours are a bit thoughtful. It is several feet lower than the confers that they had before; I'm confident that we will get used to it in time...
See that lovely blue sky? It is now 4pm and it has been raining, pouring, Old Man Snoring sort of rain, most of the day. And it will do so again. Which month is this? I know it begins with an 'A' - April or August?
The white Japanese anenome, near the blue tub, has survived all the upheaval, I'm happy to see. I rushed out, and with the help of Himself managed to prop up the pink anenoesat the exteme left of the picture which were all flattened and despondent.
I sowed radish seeds at the beginning of the week - and look - they have come up already!
As well as sowing, I have been sewing. I have been eyeing up a linen tunic-top in Seasalt for some time, but it is £70 and I'm not ready to pay that yet. Maybe soon... but then I got hold of a linen-cotton remnant and have made myself a similar top for around £10, plus several hours, plus a few mutterings and blood stains.
It is remarkably difficult to take of selfie of NOT your face but here it is. I might add some patch pockets later on, but I have run out of time because the tribe are arriving for the weekend so the dining room table needs to be clear. Which it is - now.
I have also discovered how to sew 'bento bags' - a Japanese thing. You need two strips of fabric, three times as long as they are wide, and you sew them together and do a sort of origami, and sew here, and there, and hey presto! The fabric strips I used were some scraps 12" by 36".
Perfect for wrapping up a small project. Or a small anything. I can see a whole load more of these happening soon. I found the pattern on another blog, and was a little mystified by her remarks about the cold weather, until I realised that the writer lives in New Zealand.
Yesterday I was on my own for lunch. When did I last have a boiled egg and soldiers? I can't remember. The egg was delicious - a blue-shelled one from Marks and Spencers.
I now have a couple of hours before everyone arrives. I shall untidy the dining room table and have a go at this; - painted by Rick Surowicz
Not sure how mine will come out!
It looks a bit severe at the moment, and the neighbours are a bit thoughtful. It is several feet lower than the confers that they had before; I'm confident that we will get used to it in time...
See that lovely blue sky? It is now 4pm and it has been raining, pouring, Old Man Snoring sort of rain, most of the day. And it will do so again. Which month is this? I know it begins with an 'A' - April or August?
The white Japanese anenome, near the blue tub, has survived all the upheaval, I'm happy to see. I rushed out, and with the help of Himself managed to prop up the pink anenoesat the exteme left of the picture which were all flattened and despondent.
I sowed radish seeds at the beginning of the week - and look - they have come up already!
As well as sowing, I have been sewing. I have been eyeing up a linen tunic-top in Seasalt for some time, but it is £70 and I'm not ready to pay that yet. Maybe soon... but then I got hold of a linen-cotton remnant and have made myself a similar top for around £10, plus several hours, plus a few mutterings and blood stains.
It is remarkably difficult to take of selfie of NOT your face but here it is. I might add some patch pockets later on, but I have run out of time because the tribe are arriving for the weekend so the dining room table needs to be clear. Which it is - now.
I have also discovered how to sew 'bento bags' - a Japanese thing. You need two strips of fabric, three times as long as they are wide, and you sew them together and do a sort of origami, and sew here, and there, and hey presto! The fabric strips I used were some scraps 12" by 36".
Perfect for wrapping up a small project. Or a small anything. I can see a whole load more of these happening soon. I found the pattern on another blog, and was a little mystified by her remarks about the cold weather, until I realised that the writer lives in New Zealand.
Yesterday I was on my own for lunch. When did I last have a boiled egg and soldiers? I can't remember. The egg was delicious - a blue-shelled one from Marks and Spencers.
I now have a couple of hours before everyone arrives. I shall untidy the dining room table and have a go at this; - painted by Rick Surowicz
Not sure how mine will come out!
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