All those scary white-sheet-flapping figures you've been seeing are the ghosts of people who died trying to change their duvet covers.
I can relate!
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All those scary white-sheet-flapping figures you've been seeing are the ghosts of people who died trying to change their duvet covers. I can relate!
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 This is one kilo of quince. I was so delighted with the floral perfume from my few small Japanese quince from the garden (see here) that I decided I would like more as a centerpiece on the table and to scent the room. I was particularly inspired by this beautiful image, which is a painting, not a photograph as I first thought. None were to be had locally (I don't think many are grown in Scotland) and my local fruiterer had never heard of them, so after some searching on the internet I ordered a kilo. The postage cost more than the fruit! Now the little ones scent the kitchen, and these scent the sitting room. These have a slightly different fragrance - slightly more vegetably than flowery and with a hint of sherberty fizziness. It is more pronounced in the warmth of evening and very strong when you come down in the morning, Loving it. I am thinking of making quince gin....which might be ready for (first mention) Christmas! What is your favourite fruit or vegetable smell of the moment? I've always enjoyed the exuberant and joyful work of Raoul Dufy, especially his works from about 1930 onwards. I seem to remember reading, when I was first considering becoming a full-time artist, that he said something along the lines of getting the mundane things of your life sorted so that you can concentrate on the creative side. I remember thinking ruefully he meant getting a wife! Fortunately I decided to ignore his advice (I do by the way have a very supportive husband!) and decided to Paint First and let the rest fit in somehow. I might never have got started otherwise! Many books have been written on this very subject. One I am enjoying now is Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. But back to my topic (I'm breaking my rule for blog posts - one subject and one aspect of that subject at a time..) I came across this brilliant little painting of Venice by Dufy. Enjoy!  I got bored on the bus coming home from the city and started taking random photographs every time the bus stopped, which was frequently in the heavy traffic. Don't you think this view of the River Clyde looks though it was painted by Dufy? I absolutely love it! Here are a few more Glasgow On A Wet Night shots...     A billion or so? I am so glad you enjoyed yesterday's photographs of the autumn trees. I love that we get excited about them every single year! Click here for a novel modern day 'Johnny Appleseed save-the-planet' idea. I'd like to think it would work....  New York city's plan to plant one million trees worked - two years ahead of schedule because there were so many volunteers.... ..get your energy back! I thought I needed to get some treatment or take a supplement - I was feeling so tired all the time recently. Instead I gave a little thought to things I knew made me feel better when I remembered to do them.. These four things gave me my energy back in 2 - 3 days. ONE:  I drank LOTS more water than I usually do. I kept a glassful in the kitchen and made sure I drank some every time I went in there, and I had a glass of water with every meal. If I felt peckish I drank a glass of water before having a snack (and sometimes found I didn't need the snack). TWO: I went to bed earlier and I practiced the art of the guilt-free nap! This little book helped -  I love these images!     Aren't they beautiful? I think there is a kind of innocence about them that convinced me that napping is an excellent idea! And I should give it a try.. THREE: I avoided sugar as much as possible, and FOUR: I made sure to eat a little protein at every meal. It worked for me! Would it perhaps work for you? Do you have any tips to share? Cath asked what a quince smells like. Such a difficult question! Like flowers was my first thought, but I typed it into Google, as one does, and found so many nice things, poetic things, I had to share with you. Some of the bloggers who wax lyrical about quinces are some with the most poetic blog names: In Eat The Roses the scent is described as 'pineapples and heaven' and there is Glass Petal Smoke. Or what about The Joy Kitchen? I like Sue's blog The Quince Tree - full of unpretentious easy sounding and delicious looking recipes. So, like pineapple, pears, coconut, roses, violets, apples, honey, deep, exotic, spicy, tropical or heaven? I still think they smell of freesias. And I think I'll be using them as suggested here. What do you think they smell like?  ..or should I say Venezia. I am enjoying learning Italian with my excellent teacher Luisella. She speaks a lot in Italian throughout the class - talking quickly, translating as she goes, insisting we listen, listen, listen and talk, talk, talk. She goes at a challenging pace!
A challenge I had not anticipated was being unable to read the whiteboard when Luisella uses a coloured or faded pen. I had to explain that I have an eye problem. (I have AMD, a degenerative eye condition.) Until now when out and about or meeting new people I get away with not saying anything, but we are asked to work in pairs and read to each other from the textbook. If the lighting is not good - and it isn't - I can't see the words. I am still so shocked when this happens! So of course I have to say 'I'm sorry I can't see that'. I have a tiny torch the size of a credit card (thank you Lynne, what a thoughtful gift). It helps but makes me very slow. I've never before in my life been slow in a learning situation. It is so hard! It makes me feel foolish and so self-conscious. I know I have to get over those feelings and find ways of coping. It also makes me feel humble when I see people coping with far greater difficulties. I enjoyed this post on a favourite blog about Venice. (This post explains why I am learning Italian!) Autumn that is....  The little Japanese quince fruits are edible I believe, but very small and very bitter. The lovely fragrance of them got me thinking about other favourite smells of the moment. Woodsmoke and mushrooms out of doors, and indoors I am loving the smell of these candles. They are my favourite candles for Christmas so they are still in the cupboard, but I get an enticing whiff every time I open the cupboard door. (Thank you Lynne).  When I find a scent I love I have learned to stock up in the sales, which is just as well as they tend to discontinue my favourites! St Eval do this scent in a tin....  ..and I have one and a half tucked away. The candle on the right is Fireside by The White Company. Absolutely gorgeous - like a wonderful old library with leather armchairs and a log fire and perhaps a sniff of brandy. I adore it, so why have they discontinued that as well?  I recently bought this bottle of distilled rosewater from M&S delicatessen - £2.95 I think. On impulse I put a splash of it into the water for the iron. Such a pleasure it made of the ironing today!   On my way to Italian class today I looked back across the water towards home as I got off the ferry, and something about the delicate light, the fluid shapes of the clouds, and the misty blues and greys made me want, for the first time in ages, to get out my watercolours.... Tonight it is raining heavily and a wind is getting up. Change is in the air, A beautiful power station?
Is that possible? Apparently so. See here. It certainly looks beautiful compared to any I've ever seen. Of course there will be problems and an environmental cost, nevertheless I find this pretty impressive and hopeful. As is the website.. What do you think? I do love shoes and really like these ones which are currently stalking me on the laptop after I idly clicked on them. I know they're a bit clunky but somehow I still like them. Pity about the price.. But there is a little free fun to be had here. Why not give it a try? Visitors, half term and a prolonged spell of good weather are making us feel we must make the most of every sunny day, so we went boating on Loch Lomond today. Not on this one  Not on this one..  This was our wee boatie for a trip around the islands on the loch   With a local skipper who knew about the wildlife, the monks, the summer houses and the laird, and the latest local news. Asked how the season had been for his business he said 'Well, I'll never be a millionaire!' But he seemed a really happy man.     The boat was homely, and the scenery was fabulous! Please click on photos to enlarge.. We finished with a meal at a window table in the Lodge On Loch Lomond at Luss   Wonderful setting, and very fancy desserts!  One hour from home, just half a day, and we feel we've had a holiday. We are so lucky to live where we do. ..by Laura,  foot art..  by Freda. Isn't that sole shaped stone a gift? (Found by Barry.)  .There's something about it isn't there.
It kept ten of us (5 year old to 75 year old) busy and entertained for hours this sunny afternoon. Digging the pit, finding some kindling, collecting wood - stopping for food and drink and skimming stones on the loch, but always back to the fire - poking at it with a stick, adding a bit to it, but as often as not just gazing into the flames. Why is it orange? asks five year old Scott, thoughtfully.... Just one of the most relaxing things, and the first fire we've had on the beach since we made the new path. There will be more I think. Fires, not paths :)  This is a coat.  In a bag about a handspan long and weighing next to nothing.  A warm winter coat.  ..to take photographs today on our trip to the Isle of Bute. Except for this one.  I managed to resist.
The peeling paint, rusty chairs, polystyrene cups, cracked formica and general grubbiness at this beach café may have put me off. Why can't we do better than this? It's embarrassing! (I couldn't help but compare it with all those simple clean attractive cafes in yesterday's video of Denmark.) However the walk along miles of lovely beach in bright sunshine, watching flocks of Canada geese on the sparkling water and listening to their honking calls on the cold wind was invigorating. The lovely colours of sea and sand and views of Arran, the autumn colours - there was lots to enjoy. And the forecast for tomorrow is good too!   ..some nice nights in! With a touch of Hygge perhaps? See here (and more links within) Log/peat fire, candles, Rachmanninov 3 or Chopin, and a glass of something nice... What is your idea of a good night in? And can you arrange one some time soon?  Under this rug..  is a little hoard  of pressed leaves  to play with!      Look what they've done with the Whitworth! Click here. I used to go there when I was a landscape student. It was very old fashioned and dark (I liked it though) and the park was sad and tired. There was a tiny wee café, with good coffee. I'd love it to win the Stirling Prize. You can see the other entrants (I also like the Maggie's Centre) and you can vote on the website too.     Really simple! A few little crab apples and a candle on a shelf or a table.. This kind of decorating - in the American sense of the word - I love! The kind that involves emulsion and rollers and stepladders I'm not so keen on. Here in UK we talk about DIY (do it yourself). I'm not so keen on that either I have to admit. A chimney leak in one bedroom, a burst pipe in the loft above the other and insulation which involved cutting holes in the bedroom walls all impacted on what were nicely decorated rooms, and now that most of the clutter which does provide a distraction, is gone, I am noticing the worn paint and the chips and marks. Laura when aged about 13 once told me I had 'an attitude problem'. It still makes me laugh (she happened to be right!). So, how do I change my attitude towards this problem? |
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