Choir practice

Posted on February 11, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Alto, Choir, Fun, Health, Life, Mental health, Music, Sing, Staffordshire, Stoke, Stoke sings, Stoke-on trent2 Comments

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I’m off out to choir practice today. Learning new songs, and old ones to different tunes.

I’m sure my mental health has been better since I began going to a choir over ten years ago. It’s good for things like relaxation and concentration. I would recommend it to anyone who nerds some stress busting.

I can be sitting with the choir with no memory if the words or tune. Then almost miraculously they come to me as we start singing. We sing mainly acappella and my voice is most suited to alto and low parts.

We learnt a version of let your little light shine for the Stoke sings choir festival the weekend before last. With words that were appropriate to the cities history of pottery and mining.

I hope we sing it again tonight. It was fun to sing with 600 other people belting out the various parts. It is on YouTube somewhere.

Come back spring

Posted on February 11, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Blog, Blogging, Flowers, Joy, Life, Poem, Poetry, Spring, Sunshine10 Comments

I miss your sunny face.

Your flowers and your grace,

Your gentle showers

your sunny hours

as life returns

and the year turns.

Life’s ups and downs,

Leaves touch trees crowns.

Pale helibores decline

but tulips grow again.

Now comes the rush

of flowers full blush.

Sparkling sunshine,

birds sing sublime.

Life’s return

For which I yearn

Cat colours

Posted on February 11, 2019 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Art apps, Cat art, Colours, Digital art, Digital photos, Life, Photography, Photos2 Comments

Cat on a mat… I’m thinking of doing a painting of our cat Gracie. But maybe slightly abstracted way by changing the colours slightly. I quite like the turquoise and pink version.

I just like the look in her eyes… “what are you up to?” “again?” they notice me creeping up with my phone.

So like everything else I have to play (I get bored easily) I’ve recently seen some beautiful paintings of cats. There is something very surreal about them. They stare at you in so mesmerising a way. They always enthrall me.

Watch the birdie

Posted on February 11, 2019February 11, 2019 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Birds, Cat, Feeding, Fun, Inside cat, Life3 Comments

I just went into the kitchen, the cat had been sitting on top of the tub of Bird food but he had moved and had his paws on the window ledge, crouched down and looking out. So I crept up behind him and saw what he was looking at. We just got a really large bird feeder and the birds love it. I guess there will be a lot more birds in the garden.

I’m glad he’s an indoor cat. …

He also likes scratching his claws on the settee although he has two scratching posts. Being the cats mother is an interesting job.

In the Dark (part four)

Posted on February 11, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Blog, Continued story, Fun, Horror story?, Life, Scary?, Short story, SpookyLeave a comment

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I had got to the front door and was trying to unlock it when he caught me. I squirmed out of his grip and opened the door, feeling myself falling down the front step. My arm was yanked back in its socket as he gripped my wrist but I slammed the door on him. I felt his nails scratch me as he clawed at my trailing hand…

Out, I was out, back in the cold dark street. Into the car, fumbling at the lock. He was not following? Something to do with the street lights?

I revved the engine and put it in gear. Where to go so late? All my friends would have gone to bed. My sister? She lived miles away. Far enough away to be safe from him.

I drove out of town, into the dark of the countryside. The street lights dwindled and I drove along, marvelling at my night vision. Normally I struggled to see but tonight? There must be a full moon.

My hand itched where he had scratched me…..

I could not seem to concentrate and sweat dropped into my eyes. The heater was on full blast so I turned it down.

Now I was close to my sisters home. I drove into her street. The lights were out but I have a spare key.

I looked in the mirror to tidy myself up. Golden eyes glowed back at me… My eyes…. And I was suddenly very very hungry……

The End

Selfie but I don’t like being seen.

Posted on February 10, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Black and white, Colour, Design, Photography, Photos, Selfies6 Comments

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The world is full of selfies and selfie sticks. People pouting and preening. Apps that smooth your skin, add bunny ears, turn you into altered individuals that follow the latest fashion….

So here is a selfie of me.. Yes I do them, but I try and hide from them if I can. .

Maybe I should try and get one of the back of my head? Photography can be so interesting and surreal, and so can life.

And why are photos usually in colour or sometimes black and white.. Why not more yellow and blue or purple and green….. Hmmm… Maybe….

Who you looking at

Posted on February 10, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Animal, Art, Colours, Digital drawings, Doodle, LionLeave a comment

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Glaring in the mirror. Don’t know if it’s a reflection or your brother?

I thought I would draw this after seeing a beautiful painting of a lion on the TV. I didn’t manage to do it that well so I’ve been playing with colour and this is the result. It’s just fun to play…

The title came from the idea that they are looking at each other. It could be that they are separate animals or that it’s one lion and a reflection.

Pegazeb

Posted on February 10, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Animal, Art, Digital art, Digital drawing, Horse, Life, Pegazeb, Poem, Poetry, ZebraLeave a comment

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You fly over

Huge wings beating the air

Flight

Hooves hook round

Black and white waves

Shimmer in the sun.

Glossy coat and wings.

Look down on the world

Prance and dance

Across the sky

Strike sparks and shards

Shooting stars

Joy.

Wedgewood artisan market

Posted on February 10, 2019 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Art, Barlaston, Blog, Cat, Crafts, Design, Fun, Life, Pottery, Something to do on Sunday, Staffordshire, Wedgewood, Wedgewood artisan market4 Comments

It was a fairly bright morning once you dodged the rain showers so we decided to visit wedgewood artisan market (2nd Sunday of each month). It’s at the Wedgewood factory, near Barlaston,, Staffordshire. We had a fine potters full breakfast in the dining room there (with beans and oatcake). Our friend from Yorkshire was visiting so it was good to show him one of the local attractions. Once we had eaten we went round the outdoor and indoor stalls. Charis Jones with her Sculpted Steel was there, together with Pat Myatt and her potteries art work. Other stalls included whisky fudge, crafted wool blankets, various cheeses and cakes, you could even buy your own fairy kit to make a fairy like the ones at Trentham Gardens. My partner bought me a kit and I bought him a wood turned pen. We also went inside the wedgewood visitor centre and I spent a happy hour trying to create a cat design plate. The pens and pencils they had were not very good but hopefully the image on the plate (a lithograph) will be OK.

I took a couple of progress photos but not one if the finished design. It might take 6 weeks for it to be delivered though…

Where’s the painting?

Posted on February 9, 2019February 9, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Blog, Blogging, Exhausted?, Life, Reflections, Sleepy, TiredLeave a comment

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I haven’t done anything since finishing Jupiter Blue, except for painting scenery.

I have ups and downs with art. As my mom used to say, and as I said to someone recently “don’t force it phoebe” in other words don’t overdo things….

I will try and get organised again. I have things to finish and I think I’ve said I will do stuff. But with this cold I’m a bit mixed up. I need to rest, but I’ve always got bored easily.

I’ve made one decision though. I want to start trumpet lessons again….

Mallaband-Brown

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