Tag: Life

Valley view

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View of Trent Vale and Clayton from Thistley Hough

We went for a walk in the evening yesterday, and instead of just taking photos I took a small sketch pad with me. I couldn’t draw all the details I could see and because its black and white it’s hard to get shade and tone, but I did my best. The two blobs in the sky were hot air balloons. Too far away to see any detail and they were travelling sideways on to us very slowly (left to right). This took about 15 minutes, just trying to get an impression of the view over the valley. I wish I didn’t shake, my lines are very wobbly!

Galaxy

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Today’s #bandofsketchers prompt was Space. It is a favourite subject. I love the Sky at Night Programme on the BBC. I’ve tried to paint the Whirlpool galaxy, using Arteza metallic watercolours and some black and white acrylic. A bit splodgy but the detail on the photo was overwhelming.

Gentleshaw Wildlife rescue

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A racoon, a baby owl and a falcon called Logan. They were all enjoying the sunny weather today.

Gentleshaw is a wildlife rescue centre and is based at Eccleshall in Staffordshire. It’s in a garden centre but is run seperatley. They offer bird flying experiences and take in animals that are unwanted by owners that cannot be placed in zoos. They give space and care for many birds and animals which could otherwise lose their lives.

My photos are a bit blurry but I also drew the birds and animals. See my next post!

How do you release jelly (jello?)

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Trying to make a ginger (orange flavour) cat jelly.

I was given a cat shaped jelly mould a few years ago but never used it. Then yesterday I decided to make an orange jelly for fun. I could have added fruit or trifle sponges to strengthen it but I wanted it to be pure jelly, and I was going to call it ginger and maybe take a few photos in different places before we have it for tea.

I tried mixing the jelly powder but I didn’t realise it hadn’t all dissolved until I cleaned the bowl I’d made it in, would that weaken the jelly? Then I couldn’t lie it down level because it’s head is higher so I had to prop it up in a bowl to put in the fridge. I let it set overnight. But how to get it loose? I tried running a thin knife round the edge, then turned it up on a plate, wobble, no! Tried running the mould under the hot tap, no! Tried tapping the mould, whoosh, a few bits dropped out, tried a knife again and tapping.. It finally came out, a saggy, wibbly wobbly brother cat to the solid mould.

Does anyone know what I should have done?

Glass time

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Today I found someone at a place called Art Glass Lounge where they do glass workshops. I was really pleased because I had wanted to do some more glass pieces and my hubby wanted another go too.

We met a lovely glass artist who was very informative and helpful. Social distancing was used and at the end we bumped elbows. We had a go at grinding the glass to shape it, melting thin glass rods with either a candle or a blow torch to slump it or with the blow torch, fuse it together.

Very interesting and enjoyable.

Computers!

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Reading a blog about computers and computer programming today I suddenly remembered an incident that happened over forty years ago.
I didn’t know how they worked and I was just starting college. I went in an exhibition about information technology. I saw on a computer screen a message which said something about typing the answer to a question and it would then play a game.
I typed in the answer, nothing happened. I did it again and again, nothing? The original question disappeared off the top of the screen….frustrated I gave up.

There was no-one there to explain what had happened. There was no one there to tell me you had to press enter!

Cup of coffee?

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Old drawing done on my old tablet. One of the mugs was bought from Amerton. Amerton is a garden centre, craft centre and has a narrow guage or small guage railway running round a field. It also had a play barn, various tourist shops and a bakery.

We don’t know if it’s opened up again now restrictions are being lifted. It’s on the road between Stone and Rugeley in Staffordshire. I’m sure there will be details on the net.