Sunny for a while

Light at this time of year is always low. Striking across the ground rather than high above it. This is because the Earths Northern hemisphere tips away from the Sun. So much so that the North Pole dips into darkness in the winter months. Shadows are long now and when you do get into sunshine the light can be blinding from the Sun on the horizon. You can look for images of the suns track across the sky at different times of the year. It basically arcs round from East to West but tipped at an angle dipping more South as winter progresses, then from the winter solstice around the 21st of December, it starts to slowly work its way back up the sky until its almost overhead on Midsummer day at midday, then the cycle starts all over again.

Vaccine

How amazing to think that a vaccine is coming out for Covid19. If only fake news had not run like a virus through the Internet. There are also fears from other vaccinations in the past. The doctor who linked MMR vaccination to autism and who was discredited over it has not helped matters. At the end of the day we need to listen to scientists and experts. Yes we should ask intelligent questions, but this is a chance to get the ‘R’ number down below 1.

How would it have been if Edward Jenner had worked out how to inoculate people against Smallpox only to be told that he couldn’t use it to save lives? What about all those other viruses out there that used to kill people or make them seriously ill? If they didn’t die people sometimes had to survive in Iron Lungs when they had Polio. Now a new disease needs us to accept a vaccine that may not cure it but could be a game changer.

Sky portrait artist of the year programme

Watched Sky Portrait artist of the year, semi final with Booker Prize winner, Bernadine Evaristo as the sitter. I got an image of her from the net and tried to draw her. It’s not a good likeness but I tried. Thirty to Forty minute drawing. Felt pens on cartridge paper.

Sunset glow

I just found this photo from a year ago. When we had a series of clear cold nights and the sunsets were amazing. This was taken at Alsager mere I think, although you can’t see many reflections on the water (mere is another name for a lake for example Windermere in Cumbria). I remember driving home after this and banks of fog were drifting across the road as I got close to home.

Found old paints

Found these paints in the back of a drawer. About thirty years old!

They are Rowney Oils and Windsor and Newton Watercolours and a box of various paints, chalks, and coloured pencil. Goodness knows why they got put away. I haven’t checked the oils, they may have dried out, but the watercolours and chalks and pencils should be fine. I think I could call this a win!

Dawn through the trees

As the leaves fall the supporting scaffold of the tree branches and the new building skeleton across the road are becoming more visible. That building was being built in the early part of last year, but in March all work stopped. So it remains, almost, but not quite, built. When it is it will cut out the sunrise on winter mornings, shading out our rising star. I may get some of the lower branches of the trees cut back so that more light can get in. Maybe one day the building will be finished?

Outdoor cat likes our bed!

Guess who I found had snuggled up on our bed! He only stayed in for a couple of hours then went back out. Last night he came in late and only went out at 7.30am.Hes very polite, goes and yowls by the back door when he wants out, or if we have gone to bed he comes up and wakes me up! After three years outside that we know about this is really good progress. Goodness knows why he was abandoned, he’s very sweet.

Full…

My WordPress is getting too full of images again. I try and put a new photo or art on each page, but when my media is around 86% full it won’t allow me to upload new images. So unfortunately I’m going to have to delete pictures to make more room. I will delete them from the older pages. It will probably mean that the page and writing will still be there, but the image might be missing. Sorry if this is a problem. I might try and increase my package with WordPress but that will cost me money. I don’t want to clutter my blog up with ads either. We will see what happens.

X