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

_20190211_122909

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

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…

Parrot

Posted on February 9, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Birds, Design, Digital art, Digital drawings, Fun, Life, Parrot, SquawkLeave a comment

Squawk,

My plumage is a rainbow

My voice is a scream,

My life is caged

behind golden bars.

I sing in whistles

and talk and trills

My life is long

with many skills.

I can use tools

to eat my food,

Play with toys

and learn your words.

Pretty

Active

Ready

Raucous

Oddly

Tremendous.

5 years ago

Posted on February 8, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged 5 years ago, Art, art Web sites, Digital art, Digital drawings, Digital sketch, Fun, SketchfuLeave a comment

IMG_20190208_124502_428

Five years ago I had been part of an online art group called Sketchfu. It was a large site and I was one of the moderators. It had a simple drawing programme with five sizes of pens, a colour picker, 50 or 60 colours and opacity controls. And yet people were creating art, drawings, enjoying the thrill of sharing their art work. It was like a small WordPress for artists.

Then it all went wrong. The owners became less available. More text was being published as younger contributors got interested in writing blogs instead of drawing. The moderators were not told about what was going on and the owners started promoting a new site. Eventually it was announced the old sketchfu site would close.

On that day I lost a lot of friends I managed to keep a few. They are still around even 5 years later but I do miss all those others I met online.

Barn dance coming up..

Posted on February 8, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Barn dance, Dance, Enjoyment, February frolics, Food, Fun, Life, Music, Penkhull, Staffordshire, Stoke, Stoke-on trentLeave a comment

IMG_20190208_124618_585

Imagine whirling around with a bunch of people… Then imagine some of them looking completely confused, going in the wrong directions and flinging each other about in mad abandon. That’s a barn dance. Add amazing live music. A caller explaining the dance moves to people trying to understand what on earth he’s saying. The fun that can be had getting dizzy, twisting and turning, jumping about….

And a pie and peas supper that has both meat and vegetarian options.

It’s all in aid of the Penkhull Mystery play this July.

If you are in the area perhaps you would like to come along to these February Frolics and then get involved in the mystery play itself where there are openings to act, make props and help paint scenery. You never know you might enjoy it.

Phone doodles

Posted on February 7, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Biro, Drawing, Faces, Fun, metallic pens, Patterns, Phone doodlesLeave a comment

Do you doodle when you are on the phone? I do if I’m on my phone. Its funny what comes into my mind. Mainly faces, patterns, thoughts.

These were drawn in biro on an old envelope. Sometimes I use italic pens or metallic ones. I tend to fill up all the space. I don’t remember when I did these. A few years ago?

And why not draw doodles? The more you practice art the better you can get. It also helps understanding what you are doing. I talk to myself sometimes as I draw to work out where I want to place features on a face for example.

Cat logic

Posted on February 7, 2019February 7, 2019 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Animal, Cat, Digital drawing, Fun, Happy, Humour, Poem, PoetryLeave a comment

Good morning,

I hope you are having a pleasant day.

The sun is shining

and the cats are at play.

Playing hide and seek

behind a small shoe.

My eyes are hidden

so I must be too?

Jumping in the bath,

under the tap.

Your water bowls there but

there’s a drip you must lap.

Now you are sleeping

together as one,

Dreaming cat dreams

curled up in the sun.

Now you are washing

cat yoga for you.

Stretching and bending

is what you must do.

So cats they have logic

all of their own

The way to do things?

They won’t be shown…..

A Thai feast

Posted on February 5, 2019February 5, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged feast, Food, Fun, Restaurant, Sawadee Thai taste, Staffordshire, Stoke. Stoke-on-Trent, Thai foodLeave a comment

We’ve come out for lunch at our local Thai restaurant, Sawadee Thai taste. The owner, Apple, is celebrating Chinese New year because her great great grandmother was chinese.

Well we have had a feast of lovely food. Including fish, meat and vegetarian dishes.

Happy Chinese New Year xxx

My old self

Posted on February 5, 2019 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Acrylic on canvas, Art, Cat, Fun, Humour, Life, Painting, pet cat, self portraitLeave a comment

This is from about 20years ago. It’s me and my old cat. It’s an acrylic on canvas. One friend criticised me for being too splodgy. It’s called Familiar friends.

When you look back at any picture of yourself it can be shocking how much you have changed. The lines on your face increase. I’ve got many more blemishes now. If I take a selfie it tries to blur out the imperfections and I look like I’m standing in fog!

I love this painting. I had dark hair and I was slimmer!

Mallaband-Brown

Tag: Fun