New paintings and regular art updates.
Wish I’d taken a “before” photo. In the past my back yard would have already been a riot of colour. But age and infirmity have made it difficult to get out there and garden.
But my kind friends Lin and Twiggy came round and gave me a couple of hours of their time. Weeds removed, pots emptied ivy cut back, apple tree tied onto the fence. It’s still in need of sorting but it’s getting there!
Might be done in a couple of weeks all being well. Me? I’m knackered!
On the 5th of June 1925 City status was bestowed on Stoke-on-Trent. So today we celebrated it’s Centenary.
A few years before on 31st of March 1910 it’s six towns of Longton, Burslem, Hanley, Fenton, Tunstall and Stoke-upon-Trent joined to gather to become the County Borough of Stoke-on-Trent.
Notable for living in the city were Oliver Lodge, inventor of the spark plug. Josiah Wedgwood inventor of different types of fine pottery. HG Wells lived here for a while in 1888. And Arnold Bennett, the author of the five towns novels wrote many books about the area.
On 5th July 2025 our area of Penkhull will be putting on a Mystery Play about a reimagined story of how the six towns were named.
Happy anniversary Stoke-on-Trent.
I say hello to him every day
His eyes twinkle and smile
He was my green man
Now sadly gone.
Reading someone’s post on Facebook about her losing a wheel cover bought back not so fond memories.
I took my tyre out of the boot once. Leaned it against the side of the car.. Only to see it roll down our hill…. Luckily it bounced off the side of a bus and rolled into the side of the road instead of down the hill onto the main road! The bus driver just laughed as I stood there open mouthed!
List three books that have had an impact on you. Why?
Youngest influence? Old Yeller. I was at Junior school and read about a boy whose dog catches rabies. It was frightening and sad and tender. I don’t remember everything about it but I learnt about American society. I think Disney might have made a film of it.
The next was the Plague Dogs, written by Richard Adams who also wrote Waterside Down. Two dogs escape from a laboratory in the Lake District, called Snitter and Rawf, it’s about their desperate journey across wild moorland to try and escape to a better life. It’s full on dark adventure. Emotional and sad.
The Third one was when I was at college. It was the handmaid’s tale by Margaret Attwood. Yes it was on bookshelves in the 1980’s. It’s story was frightening then. Now it’s almost prescient.
Yes they influenced and informed me and it’s about time I read them again.
Have you heard of cricket?
It’s a long game…
Two teams hit a ball.
Try to knock it over the boundary.
Two players run between stumps
On the playing surface
Between the two wickets.
A bowler bowls a ball fast or slow
Seamers, googlies, bouncers, catches.
The bowler tries to hit the wicket
Two short bales lie on top of three stumps.
That’s the wicket.
Hit the bales and knock them off?
Or knock over the stumps
Player is out.
11 players to a side
Two play
10 field
1 bowls
Collect runs to win.
1 point running between stumps
4 if the ball rolls to boundaries.
6 if the ball flies out over the boundary.
That’s cricket in a nutshell..
Highest score wins
Don’t get your leg before wicket…
It’s a very big nutshell…
Ugh! Been a long day. Stuff to do first thing, then the local writers group. I was thinking of singing with some friends after that but I was too tired. I was late for yoga group because of a phone call. After yoga choir practise.. Came home via the local takeaway because I didn’t have energy to cook. Now I’m debating going to bed early as I need to go to the hospital first thing before an art group for mental health, then a committee meeting for the Mystery Play. Finally tomorrow night is a singing in a local pub. I’ve got involved in too much stuff possibly. But it keeps me busy and I don’t think of hubby as much when I’m doing things.
Describe one simple thing you do that brings joy to your life.
I love painting (oils, watercolour, acrylic) , drawing, digital art, printmaking, pastel and charcoal drawing. Pottery, jewellery making, creating fused glass. Collage, scenery painting, illustration, photography and more.
I’ll try and do anything once. I’ve even tried drawing with boot polish and had a go at melted wax art. (I’m quite old and don’t like getting bored). Even had a go at brass rubbing once!
While I was looking up “terpsichory”, I came across “Melusine”. I decided to share the Wikipedia explanation. I just liked the idea of such a strange creature, hope you think so too.
For other uses, see Melusine (disambiguation).
Mélusine (French: [melyzin]) or Melusine or Melusina is a figure of European folklore, a female spirit of fresh water in a holy well or river. She is usually depicted as a woman who is a serpent or fish from the waist down (much like a lamia or a mermaid). She is also sometimes illustrated with wings, two tails, or both. Her legends are especially connected with the northern and western areas of France, Luxembourg, and the Low Countries.
Etruria Canal festival. Doomsday Morris dancing by the side of the junction of the Trent and Mersey canal and the Cauldon canal. I love watching them. They have a small group of musicians playing and clash sticks together as they dance. You can hear their boots stomp and the bells they wear jangle loudly. They dance in intricate patterns and whirl and twirl in convoluted ways. A brilliant display of ancient terpsichory.
“In Greek mythology, Terpsichore is one of the nine Muses and goddess of dance and chorus. She lends her name to the word “terpsichorean”, which means “of or relating to dance”. Terpsichore is usually depicted sitting down, holding a lyre, accompanying the dancers’ choirs with her music. Her name comes from the Greek words τέρπω and χoρός.Wikipedia”
Mallaband-Brown