Cloudy view

This was what I tried to finish painting today. I wanted to paint a cloudy sky and over painted patches with a sponge to give the clouds a fluffy feel . I even tried to paint some Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds above the mountains. They look like rolling waves on the sea. It’s a tiny portion of the painting and probably not that apparent.

Anyway, acrylic on canvas. (cheap canvas, you can really see the warp and weft.)

Frappachino?

I went to my art group for mental wellbeing this morning and decided on the way home because the weather is sunny and burning hot. So I went shopping to save having to go out again later. While I was in the supermarket I treated myself to a chocolate frappachino? Is that what it’s called (milkshake) it was so cold I got real brain freeze! (drawn in Artrage app).

It’s about 30°C outside and I was in the car which was incredibly hot. No air conditioner so I had the windows wide open. I was so tired and overheated when I got home I’ve just come in and kicked my shoes off. Now for a rest!

Slight green tinge?

I was looking outside tonight as I’d got the door open to cool down. I thought the sky looked a bit strange so I set my phone camera to ‘night’ which stacks a series of images over 60 seconds. I saw the photo had a slight green tinge so I took another shot, this time it was normal blue. There is a chance of auroras again because there has been corona activity on the sun.

Apologies for the poor quality of the photo, I shake too much so I get bad camera shake!

No tree

What traditions have you not kept that your parents had?

We always had a traditional Christmas tree, decorated with glass baubles, lammetta to look like icicles (thin strips of shiny metal tassels) also dodgy Christmas tree lights which would regularly stop working. It was a treat to be allowed to decorate it with my mother’s help. I think we always managed a tree with nicely placed ornaments and would then add bits of cotton wool to represent snow.

Scroll forward a few years. Now I rarely have a tree because of my cats. They like playing with the baubles and breaking them. They have also knocked the whole tree over. I haven’t given up on the idea. I even think I could hang a tree from the ceiling just to keep the cats at bay!

Day out

After a long wait we finally went on our choirs boat trip. It was arranged for the singing for lung health group I am part of. It had been postponed due to a mechanical problem, but today was gorgeous, hot, sunny. Ideal for a canal trip on the boat Beatrice which is used to give people with disabilities the chance to get out on the water.

It was a slow journey, a bit nerve wracking because there were steep steps to got into the barge then uneven paths to negotiate to get to our destination a pub called the black lion at consall forge. We sat under an awning and sang a few songs that we have practiced for months. We didn’t have an audience except for a few people sitting on benches at the front of the pub.

Then I carefully picked my way back down the steep path with someone helping me as I was feeling very unsteady and a bit breathless. We meandered our way back along the river Churnet, entering a lock to get back onto the canal and back to our dropping off point. I was tired but I’m glad I went.

Grey hair, short and chubby

How would you describe yourself to someone?

I once read a Garfield the cat quote “I’m not overweight I’m undertall” . I think that precisely describes me. I also have greying hair, glasses and I’m a bit shaky.

If I was to meet you how would you describe me? By appearance or by personality? I hope you would find me pleasant and friendly. I think I’m interesting and have definite ideas about the world and how important it is to look after it. I’m not sure if you would like me, but that is your choice. I don’t judge a book by it’s cover and I hope you feel the same way.