Painting and reading

Which activities make you lose track of time?

When I paint I lose track of time, the world goes away. Sometimes I lose myself completely. I know I feel pain in my arms nowadays, and I can’t always focus on the tip of my brush because I get slight double vision. But I have to do it. I’m under a compulsion to spread liquid onto a hard or soft surface (board, wall, or canvas) and recreate images or come up with ideas of my own….

My other passion is reading, I rarely read a book from cover to cover anymore unless it’s very short, my hands stick in place, my trigger fingers play up and I get cramp in them. But I do like using reading to send myself to sleep. I’m currently rereading The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton. It’s a sci-fi novel set in the 1960’s? It’s also a very good film…. He was the author of Jurassic Park by the way.

Goodnight, off to bed to read….I might just lose track of time again. X

Petunia or Surfinias?

Double flowers, pretty but not good for bees, I have a lot more open flowers. Much better for insects. My garden is looking lovely.

Sometimes called petunias or Surfinias, these plants get covered in flowers in the summer. I think these flowers look like the dresses of Spanish dancers, skirts flying to the music of the Flamenco. So exuberant.

Blue

Feeling blue.

Can you see a face,…?

Head tilted to the left, a streak of light catching the nose?

My friend saw it first, where I had roughly painted the scenery for the show. Random brush strokes that created a male face…

My hubby’s face? Not scary, good to feel I had unconsciously incorporated him! He was an enthusiastic actor in the shows. Glad he was there apparently in spirit. X

Square sheep

It looks like its been baked in a bread loaf tin. This is a copy of one of those paintings that they did in olden times to emphasise how much wool the sheep could grow I think. There are definite exaggerations in its size.  And a small head and legs. It was fun to try and paint. As it is for a set in an opera it didn’t need to be totally accurate. Took about an hour to paint.

Mystery Play success

I don’t have many photos of the play because my sister only took a few. There are lots of images online though.

It went well considering the wind was very breezy and because we don’t use microphones, you really have to project your voice. The children, who had been quiet during the rehearsals really upped their game and could be heard. In one small scene I had to push a “boulder” (hula hoop and black cloth) in front of a creepy cave to trap the children. I pushed the boulder, said my line, walked off and the dratted thing blew over, flat! Luckily the audience laughed in amusement.

I hope we do another one next year.

Lemon curd cheesecake

Afternoon tea. Why do we post photos of food. This was lovely, tart and served cold with cream. Best cheesecake I’ve had in years. Plus a nice cup of tea.

We’d gone looking for plants for dry conditions, which we got, but had to visit the cafe. I was tired after Saturday so I hardly had any energy but I’m glad I got out for an hour or so. It was nice to have a gentle rest and a chat with my sister.

Hay-fever and health.

It’s been hot so I’ve got the back door open. But it’s dry and breezy and now my nose and eyes are streaming. I think I’ve let a lot of pollen in.

I’ve also just had the shingles vaccination this afternoon. I’ve had shingles in the past, and it’s not a nice illness to get. I was warned the injection might cause pain in my arm, and it has! It’s a real deep aching sharp pain! It may also cause flu like symptoms. Consequently I’m feeling very tired, achy, and not much like walking the short distance to shut the door!

Wish me luck. I am in no danger, just being a wuss!

Creepy cave

How do you know it’s creepy? It’s written on it…

Mystery Play set. In the past I would paint 2 or 3 8x8ft panels for the Mystery Plays. The last time was 5 years ago just before Covid struck. Then a year ago I was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease. Now it’s taken me all my time to do this and a cottage scene on the back of it. Luckily we have old bits of scenery to fill the gaps. I wish I could do more….