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as I post a few more memories of Venice! I learned from Heather, who learned from Cinzia, who learned from her mother exactly now to make an espresso. I didn't know I liked it.  This came today. First try tomorrow morning.
How do you like your coffee? This is quite fun. I only read it after I came back :-)
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..to sketch and paint, having just spent a few inspiring days with my artist friend Caroline Bailey who generously invited me to share her wonderful studio space. See Caroline's stunning work here. The journey to Skye where she is now based meant a bus route along the shores of Loch Lomond, through moody Glencoe and over the bridge to windy Skye and its stunning west coast.       Apart from her obvious talent (she is a wonderful colourist) I am so impressed by Caroline's commitment and sheer hard work, and - that word again - passion. She has just had a very successful show at the Walker Art Gallery in Harrogate. No more excuses Freda. Just do it. I got a little boost too from an email while I was in Venice to say that I had sold four small paintings in a local gallery.......and I'm staying home now, 'til at least next Tuesday! ..like no other! In Libreria Acqua Alta they are prepared for high water and flooding  with books stacked in a gondola  in bathtubs  and in kayaks.  You can sit and read looking onto the canal  This is also the fire escape. And there are chandeliers on the crumbling ceiling,  and several cats.   Fantastico, no?
Back soon. If you have been to Venice you will know that even in April it can be very crowded and we found it best to be out early, or late after the day trippers have left, and to go to some of the lesser known museums and galleries. On our first full day Heather had us up before dawn to see the sunrise from in front of the Doge's Palace. This is my favourite shot.  One of the many sweepers out at dawn to clean, with birch brooms, the Piazza and the surrounding areas.  There were only the sweepers and a few other photographers around and the light was beautiful.      The Bridge of Sighs Ponte del Sospiri built in the 1600's and so called because of the supposed sighs of those who passed from the courts of the Doge's Palace on the left to the prison building on the right. It took us just 15 minutes with the help of Google to get from our apartment to Piazza San Marco, without it it took 40 fascinating minutes to get back!   There is something to astonish and delight at every turn.  Back for breakfast on the terrace in warm sunshine!
Bliss. Heather and I were walking back through a quiet, almost empty Piazza San Marco to our apartment having just been to a superb performance of Madame Butterfly in La Fenice. It had rained while we were in the theatre. The cafes were almost empty and the chairs were being cleared away but the orchestra was still playing...I didn't really want anything other than Puccini in my head, but my feet were doing the listening and they could not help but move to Scott Joplin. Heather laughed and videod me (No, I am not showing it here!) Almost exactly two years to the day since this post... I am passionate about Venice. A wedding today. More passion. More dancing! So happy. Venice by night is magical. Lighted windows became something of a theme....        'Our' bridge! The door to our apartment is just by the railings on the right.
..for joy in Piazza San Marco last Tuesday night.  What are you passionate about? I read that fear is overcome by passion. Would you agree? And would you agree that you can make a choice to be passionate about something? A blog break while I ponder this (and test it). I find it very hard to believe that this (today)  can possibly do this (17 June 2017)..   by Open Garden weekend on 16 and 17 June this year.
I am so glad to have this evidence to calm the slight panic arising! .. bitter cold wind and more snow on the tops, but good friends staying, delicious food and some very nice wine, a fire, candles, a friendly little dog, and the music of Tord Gustavsson made me very happy. Happy enough to help me get over the discovery that the early morning deer ate almost a hundred white tulips to the ground. Country life. Love it.  ..on Loch Fyne today. In the village of Newton is a long floating pontoon.  Looking north from it..  Looking south to the village..  and at the end of it a picnic table! With flag.  One day I will take a picnic there.
 Lined up for my visitors...
I hope you are having a lovely Easter break. ..or two to my favourite shelf..    The painting is Pauline in the Yellow Dress by Sir James Gunn. (Thank you Jill!) I found these birch branches already in this shape lying in a hedge! All they needed was lightly tied together, and a little addition for Easter..     Thank you all so much for your comments on yesterday's post. You made me laugh and lighten up, and you motivated me! ..for those times when you just can't get motivated and the to-do list is getting longer and longer? Eating a whole chocolate Easter bunny didn't work. Sadly.  ..on the water was beautiful as I waited for the bus home..   Self help
Self care It seems to me many of us have a problem with phrases beginning with self. I often guiltily think selfishness (before I correct myself!) and of course selfishness is bad! What do these words bring up for you? Selfless Self development Self discipline Self harm Self confidence Self esteem Self neglect Self reliant Self motivated Self regarding Self awareness Self obsession What about Healthy Hedonism, and Healthy Selfishness? And of course there is the Selfie! Out with the old and in with the new in the garden as well as the wardrobe. I replaced the tired old lavender with pieris Green Gift    Today felt like the start of the gardening year. What a nice feeling. The sun on my back and my hands in the soil. Am dreaming of masses of wild flowers - pink campion and foxgloves..  ..to Debussy than I knew. It's the centenary of his death and I'm enjoying both live concerts at the University of Glasgow and the many radio programmes about the composer. His Wartime Music for Piano Duet, Solo and Duo at the concert was quite challenging, but interesting and wonderfully played by young husband and wife team Philippa Harrison and James Willshire. They ended with this well known piece which the programme notes described as from 'more innocent times'. Must remember to put the clocks forward! ..for the new season. Are you looking for something to refresh your wardrobe? The work I did mostly in 2014 has stood me in good stead (check under Simply Stylish) but some items are looking a bit worn, though the navy coat in these photographs still looks good after more than two years frequent wear. The shoes are a replacement pair for ones I have been loving wearing since 2013....but sadly are not the same zingy lime green as the originals. They are green, though they look yellow in this photograph..  The new top from COS is navy and mid blue (I don't suit black - in fact I look terrible in black!) Blue jeans and the simplest earrings and ring are all that's needed and I think it's a top which will dress up (with silk trousers) or down for almost any occasion.  I know I am going to enjoy wearing it. Fashion is still my fun.  COS magazine have a nice interview with Piet Oudolf the brilliant garden designer from the Netherlands here. I love this top from COS. Clever tucks and folds have created a lovely shape and the disjointed pattern on the fabric adds to the complexity, yet it is not fussy. Deconstructed is the word that comes to mind! I plan to make it the foundation of a capsule wardrobe, something I've always liked the sound of but never really focussed on before.  ..on the shelves and in my head. I quite like the growly sound of the paper shredder as it eats my words  which then get recycled in the compost bin..   I hope mother nature's microbes can digest all that ink and those chemicals and those thoughts (which have already been in many cycles in my head).... ..the new season (though it was snowing as I wrote this yesterday) with a new pillowcase for the bedroom from the lovely Bluebell Gray range. See also this post.   Today I had my first outside cuppa this year - cold air but the sun was HOT on my face.  |
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April 2018
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