The Manifold Way

Thor’s Cave

The Manifold Way is a cycleway near Waterhouses in Staffordshire, England. It runs along an eight mile stretch of valley and is a path for walking and cycling.

There is a cave up on the hillside, it’s called Thors cave. I walked up once.. Very steep. The valley is wooded and there is a stream running alongside the footpath for some of its length. It has a small tunnel through part of the hillside as it used to be a small narrow gauge railway with only two engines (hubby tells me). It was used for dairy products and passengers. A light railway branch line. We are so lucky to be near to such a beautiful place.

Treeish

Mirrored photo from a couple of years ago. I think it looks quite alien. Like a three fingered monolith supporting a world floating above. Maybe a green environment in a space ship. Life held in stasis while the ship ploughs through space, ready to colonise a new planet.

I do like thinking odd thoughts. I clearly am interested in sci-fi. Breath of fresh air, green and powerful.

Seedpod

I have grown this plant in my bathroom for years, it sometimes has tiny white flowers. I think it’s a maiden hair fern but I’m not sure. Then a month or so ago a small green seed capsule appeared on it. Now its turned from green to red. I wonder if it does contain seeds? I might try and discover what it really is.

I’ve just checked Google and its not a maiden hair fern. Does anyone out there know what it is? I need a plant checker on my phone… Not enough memory!

A Plantarium?

My friend has really got into houseplants since lockdown. She regularly posts photos of her wonderful plants. I realised I have a lot of them as well and wondered if there is a word for that sort of collection? I thought of the word ‘Plantarium’. So now I’m going to check Google in case it means something else!

Unfortunately, the word is already taken! Oh well, I like it and I’ve learnt something new today x

Anxiety

Same drawing repeated and coloured. Toooo Close (too close) in red as if a neon sign was lit against a bright green (viral) background. Duplicated to get a feeling of crowded closeness. No one wears a mask. All have faces with staring eyes, All on about the same level so their breathing is near to each other. Title ‘Anxiety 4’,i did three previous sketches.

Stars

Green stars abstract. Using a photo of an illuminated star. Duplicating it then changing the textures. The resulting image is a colourful abstract with an antique feel to it.

Pattern again, I like repeating images and tessellations. Must be the way my mind works… I like to learn and play with things till they look good. X

Fig tree leaves

Our fig tree that grows alongside the house is well sheltered and has got rather tall this year. The leaves are really big and are just starting to fall off. The one on the ground still looks healthy and green. The laurel bush is towering over everything and really needs cutting back but we don’t have the skills or the strength to do it.

So all in all the garden is thriving. We need to maintain it bit it’s our wild haven. I will maybe post more photos as the year turns.