Not watching TV

Posted on August 12, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Fun, Hunched, Life, Phones, Tired, TV2 Comments

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I realise that I spend a lot of time on this phone and not watching TV, although I do sometimes listen to it. There is a programme on about Hyenas at the moment.

So what do I do? Blog obviously, but also look at Facebook and Instagram and all those things. So I’m still sitting, but with a stiff neck and shoulders from hunching over this flipping phone!

I’m old enough not to have had a phone in the house. Then when we did it was on a table in the hall. It was big and green I think I remember. A base with a dial on it, you had to twirl the numbers to dial. Then a cradle at the top with two prongs sticking up. When you dropped the receiver on the prongs it ended the call. The receiver was a curved bar with a mouthpiece at one end and a microphone to speak in at the other end. It was attached to the body of the phone with a curled wire. Eventually phone went push button, then mobiles came in….. Its a different world!

Got to paint,

Posted on August 12, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Canvas, Design, Painting, Planning, Spode, Staffordshire, Stoke, Stoke-on trent, What is spodeLeave a comment

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This was me in 2007. I might be helping to paint a mural again soon, but I also need to paint a picture of what Spode means to me. I’m not sure what to paint as I never worked in the factory and only know it as it is, I was blogging about that a couple of days ago. Well today I went out and got a largish canvas about two feet by two and a half feet. I’m thinking of finding some old cracked paint or dusty glass, maybe a reflection. I will go and take photos tomorrow. I want to add some metallic glints to whatever I do. I need to make plans…..

Gemma

Posted on August 12, 2019 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Acrylic on canvas, Cat, Gemma, Light, Micro poetry, Poem, Poetry, Portrait of a cat, Stairs, WindowLeave a comment

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She sat at the top of the stairs

Sitting proud on the ledge,

Peeking out

From behind the foliage,

Staring at me.

She was loving and gentle.

Liked the sun,

Bathed in light.

Gemma was my best friend.

Our garden ten years ago.

Posted on August 12, 2019August 12, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Acrylic on canvas, Art, Design, Garden, Landscape, Painting, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trent2 Comments

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This was our garden about ten years ago. The trees are a lot bigger now and there is a lot more shade. There is a buddlea that is touching the side of the house about the quarters of the way up. The picture is an acrylic on canvas. It’s a bit blurry I’m afraid. I took the photo at my sisters house and was rushing when I took it.

I painted it in situ, sitting on a garden chair and holding the canvas so I had to paint speedily. It’s about 12 x 8 inches, so not very big.

Drawing again

Posted on August 12, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Astle Park, Cheshire, Design, Drawing, Lighting, Lunch, Picture, Sketching, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trent, Trentham, Urban SketchersLeave a comment

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Two sketches. One yesterday at Astle Park traction engine rally, I drew this at the end of the day when all the vehicles has left the show ring except for this miniature traction engine. I could have just taken a photo but as it stayed still for quite a while I drew instead.

The second picture was drawn outside but then we went into the restaurant as we were being bothered by wasps. I took a photo of the drawing while we were inside. I didn’t realise it was so dark in there with a blue tone to the lighting. I adjusted it with a photo editor. It shows how long it took to get served, the place was really busy. The food was very nice though.

Trying to make Beetroot Hummus

Posted on August 11, 2019August 11, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Beetroot, Beetroot hummus, Bread, Cooking, Food, Garlic, Lime juice, Meal, Olive oil, Potato, Recipe, Tasty, Walnut halvesLeave a comment

Tried to make this from just a list of ingredients.

Beetroot, potato or brown bread, garlic, a little olive oil, walnuts, cider vinegar (I only had malt vinegar). You can substitute bread for potato.

Method.

I peeled the five Beetroot and two Potatoes , chopped them, put them in a pan to boil for half an hour.

Then I took four cloves of Garlic and crushed them in a pestle and mortar. Then crushed the Walnuts and mixed them with the garlic. I added a little olive oil to help.

Watch the Beetroot and Potato and when you can push a knife into them and they are soft, drain off the water.

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Allow the Beetroot and Potato to cool, then add the crushed Walnuts with the garlic. I had to add a bit more to improve the consistency. I also added the juice of half a lime to give it a kick. _20190811_224230

I mashed the Walnut and Garlic into the Beetroot mix.

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The final result, in a covered bowl in the fridge. _20190811_231423

Meal, jacket potato with coleslaw, chopped tomato, Beetroot hummus and sausages (apologies to vegetarians and vegans). I could have used a food blender, but decided its easier not to have to clean it and waste electricity.

Coincidence

Posted on August 11, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Animals, Art, Big cat, Coincidence, Design, Faces, Fun, Images, Life, Lion, Tiger2 Comments

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I was playing with the masks you can use on Facebook and found one that turned you into a tiger. Then I decided to see how my face would look with one side mirrored. It looked interesting.

Today I was out at a traction engine rally. I had to take a photo of the big cat that was part of its decoration. I think he’s a lion.

But the image reminded me of something. Especially around the eyes…. I feel like saying Snap!

Design

Posted on August 11, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Art Submission, Artwork, Community, Design, Life, Project, ThinkingLeave a comment

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I’m in a bit of a quandary. I’d been asked to join a team to design a piece of art for an art project. I didn’t decide to submit my own application because I haven’t had the experience of putting in a proposal. I came up with an idea, but it hasn’t been accepted. What has happened is that someone else has come up with the ideas and I think I might be asked to paint them. I want the project to succeed and this is a community project so I need to be more understanding and co-operative even though my ideas are not being listened to.

I’m undecided as to whether to go ahead. The submission is tomorrow and I’ve just been asked to come up with a whole section of artwork, not my design. I’m having ideas suggested to me that don’t fit the brief. Ah well, I need to chill and try and come up with something.

Astle Park traction engine rally

Posted on August 11, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Astle Park, August, Chelford, Cheshire, Day out, England, Fun, Steam traction, Traction engine rally, Tractors, Weekend rallyLeave a comment

We visited Astle Park Traction Engine rally today. There were a vast number of stalls with everything from crafts, car spray paint, antiques, archery and many more things. There was a show ring and tractors, Land rovers, steam traction engines and other vehicles trundled round it to the delight of the crowd. We enjoyed a drink from a bar in a marquee and some food. There was an old fashioned fairground with a galloper roundabout and steam organs, there were also old lorries and military vehicles. We had a go at archery and firing cork guns and paint ball guns.

It was overcast and threatened rain but it kept off. The ground was churned up in places but because it was dry it was starting to dry out so there was only a bit of mud.

Astle Park is just outside Chelford in Cheshire, its near Jodrell Bank Observatory. The event happens in August every year.

Cold as ice.

Posted on August 10, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Blogging, Cold, Horror, Ice, Ice maiden, Ice queen, Kiss, Short story, Spooky, Very short story2 Comments

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Her face seemed chiselled and angular, it was pale and smooth. The one blemish was a small mole just below the left side of her mouth. Icy, that’s what he thought, like an ice sculpture. Her manner was friendly though, a slight smile played around her mouth as they chatted. He was attracted to her and decided to ask her to go for a drink.

At the bar he asked her what she wanted? Vodka and tonic was her reply, no ice.

They sat and drank and chatted, he felt closer to her than anyone else he’d ever met. He held her hand and she smiled that quiet smile again.

Look I’ll give you a lift home he said. No problem, it’s on my way. She readily agreed.

As they pulled up outside her house he leaned towards her, a little peck on her cheek, it felt cold under his lips. He looked into her tranquil blue eyes. She took his face in her hands, directing her mouth towards him, pulling his face down, inwards. He felt the cold now, sharp, icy, his mouth was numb. The chill spread across his face, his head. Despite the heat he was freezing, shivering. The kiss continued until his eyes glazed over and he slumped forward.

Sorry hun, she said.