A walk in the dark

We waited till the sun had set before going for a walk last night. It had been too hot and humid to go out before that. We saw this sign above an allotment garden. There were also notes about a sensory garden for local people.

I only walked a couple of miles, but it was so quiet. Very few cars and the birds were silent. We could see clouds building up, but there was no rain.

What would I try and draw on our walk? Despite the dark there were some interesting trees. I could have sketched the way the streetlights illuminated them. Walking under their shadows was a bit hazardous, the tree roots are lifting the pavement.

The Cemetery had a large streetlight just outside the gate, but I didn’t feel like wandering about inside it. You don’t know what or who you might bump into…

(for some reason this post was queued, so I’m trying to post it again).

Gate prompt

#bandofsketchers prompt for Sunday was gate or stile.

I did a coloured drawing of this on the computer but when I tried to save it the computer crashed! Anyway this is a black and white drawing of a broken gate to a field. It was imagined because I couldn’t find a thing that was nice on the computer.

I wonder if the digital drawing I did is saved somewhere on my old PC. Anyway this is the best I can do.

Joined

Passionflower

Another visit to Trentham Gardens today for a gentle stroll after a few too many Gin and Tonics last night. It was far cooler today although the sun did shine. My sunburn kept me warm. We had a meal and enjoyed exploring the show gardens over in a far corner of the site.

I still managed a reasonable 6000 steps although I never really raised me heart rate.

When I looked into joining there were various factors that helped me decide to join. I hope we go frequently enough to make it worthwhile and its pleasant to walk in grounds designed by Capability Brown although urban streets are OK too.

Oh Rose

When I see your blushing pink I can see why Shakespeare was so effusive about you.

Pink and packed with petals, this rose shone out in the twilight. The dark green contrasting with the fresh colour of the flower.

I wish I had the skill to weave a story about you, perhaps your antecedents were worn by Cinderella at the ball, or the scent of you enchanted Snow White.

I think I heard roses came from Ancient Persia. Wherever they originated, they are lovely. I saw these outside the Portmeirion factory in Stoke, they brightened my evening.

Take a break

Thursdays #bandofsketchers prompt was ‘take a break’ so I chose to draw this image from the front of the 2021 National Trust Guidebook. It’d just drawn in coloured pencil, charcoal pencil and fine liner black ink pen.

I need a break! So I would take it at Bodnant garden near Llandudno in Wales. It’s a National Trust garden. A beautiful place which drops into a wooded valley and is surrounded by the Welsh hills and mountains. We are missing the laburnum walk that will be in flower now. I hope to go there soon.

Negative

We are going to our local University Fine Art shows so we had to take lateral flow tests. I didn’t think there would be a problem but we went and had the tests today to check. The test centre was local and easy to find. The staff were friendly and when we arrived we were the only people there. After giving our details we each sat at a table and were shown a diagram of where your tonsils are at the back and sides of your mouth, not at the upper back. Then we were given a swab to rub on your tonsils and then up your nose (yuk). Then the wait, they said it would be half an hour. My hubbys came back negative by text, but no sign of mine. I had to walk back round and get a photo of the form that said negative so I can prove I’m OK!