New paintings and regular art updates.
Look into the crystal ball
See what you can see?
Is it a reflection
or is it really me?
Trapped in time and hidden
Never to grow old
A portrait is an instant
In time, no longer told.
Memory of power
Ability to do
But time just gets slower
A reminder of you.
I went to art group for the first time in weeks and picked up a small, 6×4 in canvas.
I haven’t done a painting for ages, my Parkinsons is bad and looking close up is difficult because although I’m cataract free, they also cured my short sightedness and I find it hard to focus on close objects, basically closer than about a foot things get blurred. I need to get some ordinary reading glasses because the ones I’ve got are too strong.
Then I saw a tiny, gold painted, plastic Buddha. Of all the things that I could choose to paint, this seemed like the right karma. The brushes were a bit rough and not easily pointed. It was hard to see the details, but in about an hour I managed to paint him. The best thing? Someone in the group said they really liked it. So I gave it them.
In other news, I know I haven’t been here much lately. I miss my cat so much. It’s another loss I’m struggling to come to terms with. Love to you all.
My friend made this 8 years ago. The buttons were placed in a bowl and glued in place with PVA adhesive. It’s clear plastic spaces have now turned white over time. A few buttons broke off the edge of it but it’s still substantially the same.
It’s in the bathroom near the window but it’s managed to last all these years. I wonder how much longer it will be around, I might give it to another friend to use as a source of buttons if it starts to deteriorate. Only time will tell.
I just found this photo taken in the church when we performed jolly and merry songs for Christmas. When you are in the choir stalls you don’t know what the place looks like. I didn’t realise it looked so sparkly.
I think we were about 30 strong and we mostly sang ensemble pieces and Christmas carols, but some of us sang solos too. I sang eidelweiss from the sound of music, but I did forget two lines. I sang a cappella as I’m not very happy with timing if I have to sing to background music, and also I can pitch the sound to my voice and not to a set note! I had fun despite the nerves. X
Now it’s 2026 I want to get more exercise. I want to put the past few years behind me and try and make a new start. I’ve been stuck in my world of problems for too long.
I tried table tennis over the last few months, but my health isn’t good and I do struggle with movement and motivation. I have stopped going out as much as I used to, I find myself making excuses, will the ground be too slippery? Can I walk that far? I know I’m losing strength in my muscles and I really need to do something now before I give up completely. I’m not that old, but my body is acting like it’s 10 years older.
I guess this is my new years resolution. Even if I don’t do as well as I want I will try.
I like cut glass, it’s pretty and must be done with a steady hand. I tried to do it once in a glass workshop up in a wood near the village of Alderly Edge. There is or was a pub there called the Wizard, named about a character in a book called the Weirdstone of Brisingamen, by Alan Garner, published in 1957 I think. The glass workshop is nearby and it’s linked to the jewel in Susan’s (one of the characters) bracelet. The children’s story revolves around it’s magical properties and the adventures of two children.
You could try your hand at cutting patterns on small pieces of glass that were meant to represent the weirdstone.
It’s strange how one thing can lead to another in your mind.
Also up on Alderly Edge are Copper mines which we once visited. They were up in the woods near the pub. They were extensively worked and date back 4000 years. We took a tour round them about 30 years ago.
If you are ever in the area in Cheshire it might be worth a visit.
At the Beehive pub in Honeywall on Wednesday night. I don’t go very often to listen to the Boatband and their cajun and folk music. But it was the day before the 2nd anniversary of a very sad occasion and I wanted to take my mind off it.
The thing was someone had given me a pencil to make some notes with and I had some scraps of paper in my bag, so I decided to try and do some drawings. This was one of them.
I loved the sinuous shape of the violin and the way the musician held it and the bow, and I was transported back 40 years to my younger self drawing and sketching. I’m rather pleased with the result despite my shaking hands.
Having photos appear on WhatsApp can be odd. I get the pictures loaded into my gallery. I appreciate them all but I don’t always remember who sent them, that means I don’t always remember to reply!
So.. If you sent me this santa Christmas card, thank you! I’ll try and remember to send my cards out before it’s too late! X
If I wait a day or two
My tears will flow
Again
Two times around the sun.
Millions of miles away from me.
Energy evaporated
Thoughts dissipated
My memory is all
That holds you
A ghostly shape
3d nothingness
Grasping for you
In my sleep.
Such a robust person,
Lost and gone.
No more conversations…
Gone.
Gon
Go
G
….
What is good about having a pet?
Cats calm me,
Relax me..
But they trip me up
Knead my stomach
Paw my face
Insist on tasting my food…
But they make me laugh
Purr at me
But then they jump up
On cupboards
Climb up trees
Lie on the stairs
Entertain me,
Keep me company
Cost too much at the vets
Give me love. X
Mallaband-Brown