New paintings and regular art updates.
The snow stuck. The apple tree looks like it’s been in a winter storm. It’s bent over because the neighbours pushed it over to put a fence in. It’s actually fruiting more because the branches are horizontal now, I might clip out some of the more central branches to give it a bit of air.
The weather forecast is more snow later. The cats are going out in it although it’s been about 4 to 10 degrees Celcius lower than normal.
The Moon is able to eclipse the Sun because it’s distance from the Earth is 400 times closer than the Sun and is about 400 times smaller. So they look similar in size.
But there is a twist..
The Moon can sometimes cause an annular eclipse where the Sun can be seen behind it. That’s because the Moons orbit is elliptical and has two focuses. So in the furthest position, it’s apogee, means that it appears slightly smaller. Hence an annular eclipse. The Moon is gradually receding from the Earth. The mirrors left on the Moon by apollo astronauts are used to check it’s distance. By using lasers reflected from them they have found it is moving away by about 3.8cm a year. Eventually it will be far enough away that no full eclipses will happen anymore.
Snow is falling. The road is covered by it and since we live on a steep hill cars are coming up but doing three point turns because of it. I’ve seen at least 5 reversing lights through the front door window so far tonight. I think it was gritted during the initial snow fall, but they haven’t come back and it’s 11.45pm now.
It’s worrying because this is the main route ambulances take up to the hospital. We don’t get a lot of snow in the winter so I thought it was worth taking a photo. I hope it clears up soon. Another car just turned up the street then turned round and one crept down the hill very slowly. We just aren’t used to snow in this country.
I like cut glass, it’s pretty and must be done with a steady hand. I tried to do it once in a glass workshop up in a wood near the village of Alderly Edge. There is or was a pub there called the Wizard, named about a character in a book called the Weirdstone of Brisingamen, by Alan Garner, published in 1957 I think. The glass workshop is nearby and it’s linked to the jewel in Susan’s (one of the characters) bracelet. The children’s story revolves around it’s magical properties and the adventures of two children.
You could try your hand at cutting patterns on small pieces of glass that were meant to represent the weirdstone.
It’s strange how one thing can lead to another in your mind.
Also up on Alderly Edge are Copper mines which we once visited. They were up in the woods near the pub. They were extensively worked and date back 4000 years. We took a tour round them about 30 years ago.
If you are ever in the area in Cheshire it might be worth a visit.
Last summer I was helping produce a play called the Six Towns. It was for the Penkhull Mystery Play on a Saturday in July.
Not that many people saw it because it was outside on the church green. As it was on a windy day the voices of the performers were lost to the audience. Our retelling of the story will be slightly longer and will also be inside with microphones. It was successful in July so I hope it does equally well in February and helps raise funding for the Mystery Play coming up in July.
I wish it was Rose day
Summer scented
Whiffs wafting
In the bright sunlight.
No thought of winter
Or sadness
Or dark days
Just glorious beauty
High up
Entrancing
Captivating my soul.
The contrast
My life in shadow
He didn’t paint much, but this painting was one of our first cats, he also did a tornado shaped painting in many colours, and a sunflower painting (all acrylics on board). These were his efforts at creating some exuberant pieces of art.
He also made drawings which he did in an A4 sized hardback blue book. It’s crammed with notes and thoughts. Often quite disjointed, he was by training a chemist/physicist. That didn’t stop him enjoying the artistic side of life. I will always miss his thoughtfulness and quirky creativity.
Just a little finger painting on my phone to wish you all a Happy New Year for 2026.
I hope things go well for us all, that you are safe and happy, cared for and loved.
Best wishes to you all. X
For some reason my stats shot up over December. I don’t know why but my account was being viewed by many people in China. My likes didn’t go up, just several thousand views each week.
Now things have quietened down, going back to what I would see as “normal”. I’m not bothered, I guess it doesn’t mean a lot to me, I’m not monetising this blog in any way, and if my posts are even slightly interesting then I’m pleased. I hope some of my thoughts have been taken in the friendly and peaceful manner that I meant them. Wherever you are, as the old year dwindles and the New year arrives, I wish you peace and tranquility, better times and the best life you can have. X
One problem with a large cat on the stairs is trying to get past him. He’s almost big enough to to fit across the whole width, so if he’s there in the morning I have to tread very gingerly. He’s one of those cats who are so self important they plonk themselves down, or stretch in the most inconvenient places, in a doorway, or by the armchairs so I have to sidle past him.
It’s a nuisance because I’m not very steady on my feet, life is like that, I wish we had nine lives like cats.
Mallaband-Brown