New paintings and regular art updates.
Seen today in Etruria
that grey thing is a Heron, or as a little child that was passing said ‘an evil heron’! It really did look prehistoric.
At Etruria on the Cauldon branch of the canal. The bird walked along the canal towpath then stood crouched at the side of the water. It was ready to spear into the canal to catch a fish. More intent on staring than wo was watching it. I was amazed to get photos of it.
A car at one end and a sunset at the other!
Walked about 14000 steps. We were walking along the Trent and Mersey canal to a pub at Etruria and back. We were slightly late setting off to come back home and it was getting very dark so we came off the canal and went along a main road. Still it was a good walk, we had a small meal, so overall it was enjoyable. X
It didn’t rain
It didn’t pour,
Even though we sang.
The flags flew
The banners flapped
In the breeze.
The bubble man
Blew huge bubbles
That the children popped.
And the snail man?
He walked very
Very
Very
Slowly…..
No, a mirrored photo, flipped on its vertical axis. The resulting image looks like a green island on a pond edged with a stone path. In actual fact this was a photo taken as we walked along the Trent and Mersey canal near Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent. Its strange how the eye sees symmetry as beautiful. Even ugly shapes can improve when you make them symmetrical. I also enjoy trying to create images that look like animals. If you follow this blog, or my Instagram page you will already know that.
X
Yesterday’s walk was past trees coming into blossom on the Cauldon arm of the canal. The white bridge over it is in the background. I decided to make a collage if it, post it notes cut up for the blossom and leaves. I used some black monoprint for the tree bark. Then I added black ink and graphite. This was for the #bandofsketchers prompt regeneration. I’m afraid the blossom looks more like butterflies.. But I tried!
It’s been fifty days since I started the #100daywalkingchallenge. I’m surprised I’ve done it without a break. I started doing about two miles a day but I’m slowly building up. Today I did 4.6 miles. Yes on the flat, and not very fast, but I keep going.
I’m in a group that are trying to achieve this, not to raise money, but just to try and improve our health. There is no pressure, no minimum amount. Just gentle support of one another. If I don’t feel like going far I get encouraged by a friend, and vice versa.
Walked to Etruria in Stoke-on-Trent and back today. 25th day of the #100daywalkingchallenge. A quarter of the way… If I was walking in a straight line I think I’d be in Birmingham… My daily mileage is going up from about 3 miles a day to 4. Getting very tired!
X
Another walk up to Etruria and back along the canal, but the sun was out and with a light breeze it wasn’t too cold. I’m walking faster, but getting more tired. I was due at choir practice tonight but fell asleep!
Well not all of it, where the water was running through the locks there was less or no ice, but some sections were solid with ice about an inch thick. This was in Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent, by the Etruria Industrial Museum. At least it was sunny and out of the easterly wind.
A thaw is due, but then wet weather too. Oh well at least I’ll be able to save on my heating bills!
Lock at Etruria, steps up to the road and over a bridge at the top. When the snow is thick I actually think its easier to walk in than when it’s like this. Slushy and slippery. But snow doesn’t last that long these days. Last year was as hot as 2016, which was the hottest year on record in the UK.
It would be good to take a long walk along the canal in the summer. Under dappled shade from the trees. Watching canal barges and boats putter past with their gaudily painted castles, and roses painted red, gold and green.
Mallaband-Brown