I heard a very vibrant old lady say she had been told that when she got old people would tell her to take it eassy. Don't take it easy, she said, take it hard.  Take the stairs, take them two at a time! Push yourself.

Herbert Blomsstedt, conductor, says don't ever be satisfied. Always believe a thing can be improved. Be curious about everything. He is still working at  98.

Some of you will remember slides! I have long since given away the SLR camera, the tripod, the screen and the projector, but what to do with all these slides?

It's another identity clutter issue, isn't it. An interesting concept.

Teaching garden design, giving illustrated talks - I loved it. I can no longer do it, and I can't see the slides. Although I could digitise them I doubt I would acrually sit down and look at them on the laptop. Nor would anyone else.And it would take many hours.

Someone has made a 'stained glass window' out of them. Brilliant idea.

As for mine I am thinking old technology, old energy perhaps.

Make way for the new?

For today I think I will put them back in the cupboard! Not quite in the right headspace..

What have you done with yours?

 ..is my new favourite word. :-)

In the recent big studio tidying up and sizing down I got rid of a lot of paper - lists of paintings, exhibition posters, client lists for private views, gallery contacts ,records of sales and more. So many memories - at ome point I felt I  was disposing of my life and it got painful. Fortunately I Iwas doing this with my sister and my daughter who were happy to listen to my stories and memories of the work, the places and the people, and it began to feel more like a rather nice rounding off of that particular part of my career. It cleared the  studio and it cleared my head.

If you have this kind of clutter clearing to do  I  hope you have thughtful, sensitive people to do it with, and that it becomes a positive experience, as it did for me.

.Don't be too shy to ask someone. It could be a reciprocal arrangement.

Just have to buy oranges with leaves on.

The robin flies up and bumps me on the shoulder if I have not got food on my hand!

It is so easy to eat healthy at this time of year. Still staying off the sugar except for one evening and a packet of biscuits..I felt horrible and zonked out on the sofa afterwards and decided it just was not worth it!

Does sugar affect you this way?

..is very irreverant.  www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg7nlj9g37jo

I have today sold another painting, bringing the total from the Open Studio weekend to 23  (one lovely customer seems to be doing her complete Christmas shopping with me!). I always said being a full time painter was a crazy way to try to earn a living, and I always felt very lucky to sell enough to allow me to keep doing the work I loved.

I know that some of you are artists - Lucille, Grace, Susan in Dorset, Viv, Eizabeth  - any others? Do you think it is harder now to make a living with your art? I began almost thirty years ago and the art market has changed hugely since then. I suspect there is much greater competition. The internet has had a huge impact.

What do you think?

Freezing cold but the sunshine enhanced some of the very handsome buildings in the Merchant City area of Glasgow.

Hucheson Hall  is one of them. Once a hospital and now a restuarant with a stylish candlelit interior.

I don't remember which storm demolished this fence, but it is lovely to have the replacement almost finished. The colour is Cuprinol Silver Birch. Wooden structures, including the house, require quite a lot of maintenance in our wet climate.

Rain again today but more days like this are forecast.

..and frosty mornings. Wonderful, as in full of wonder.

Getting up in the middle of the night I glanced out and saw the starriest of skies. I quickly  put on a few thick layers and switching on the electric blanket and the kettle, went outside and gazed in wonder. I can still see the stars quite well and made out the few constellations I recognize. We don't have streetlights in our village so the velvety dark and the deep silence and stillness were thrilling to me, and I could feel my heart beat a little faster.

 Have you been out looking at the stars?

Some of you know that I like to walk barefoot on frosty grass (it makes me feel so alive!).  Look who sat on my clogs..

Isn't nature wonderful, and it is always there. I only have to look.

Part of the project plan is to take time and care, making something 'properly'. I have to say I just flung this wreath together for effect, but if I was going to reuse it I had to tweak it somewhat and make it stronger to withstand the winter. (Might be something I should do for myself?)

As I reworked it seeds kept falling out.

 I think I will sow them. I have grown agapanthus from seed before and more plants would be lovely.

It is a bit big for my table and a bit early for the door but if I think of it as a winter, rather than a  christmas decoration...maybe I won't use the lights until Devember.

The third sunny frosty day in a row - I could take any amount of this kind of winter weather.

Not my favourite time of year, but today sunshine and blue skies lifted my spirits. How was the weather with you? I know there has been some severe flooding  in parts of Wales.  There is snow on the far hills here - so beautiful.

I think I will make something each month, something that requires a little time and care. Dark long nights and gloomy weather mean more time available for such projects. I am starting with a wreath.

You may rememver I made an autumn wreath from agapanthus seed heads. It has bleached rather nicely which gave me the idea of spraying it white for winter. (Best done in a large box and out of doors).

Not sure whether to uuse it with a large candle as a table centre, or to hang it on the door with lights...

I do like the design of this year's Christmas stamps. Designed by Paula Doherty.

I am sure many of you will have noticed an increasing number of mistakes in my posts in recent years as my sight has deteriorated. I have to admit to being a bit of a stickler for good grammar and correct spelling (thenk you Miss Blair my strict English teacher), so it does embarrass me. Some, of course are of my own doing, but some are annoyingly the  fault! of 'the machine'!

I dictate my replies to yourr comments, and I do have a Scottish accent - not very pronounced I believe - so how is it that when I say Freda, the machine prints - these are actual examples - Fred, Frida (OK that's understandable), Fre, Free, The, Creator and Future?

Last night I dictated Dunoon Burgh Hall What's On and the machine wrote Dun butter hole put on.

I kid you not.

Unsurprisingly Google could not find a match for my search!

Aaarggh.

I spent quite an enjoyable time  this evening writing a post which has mysteriously and suddenly disappeared! Sorry - I am too tired to write it again  :-(

Maybe tomorrow..

A haircut, some more bulbs for spring, a new pair of socks - all was going well until I missed the bus home. As it was an hour until the next one and it was dark and raining, I went into a restaurant and ordered a pot of tea. The biscuit that came with it was in my mouth before I remembered I wasn't eating sugar this month.

Surprisingly, it has not been at all difficult so far to have no sugar (other than some honey and gaarlic to ease my cough). How has it been for you Rosemary? Gretchen Rubin author of The Happiness Project says she finds it easier to abstain altogether than to have a moderate amount, and I think I find that easier too - no decisions to be made!

I was soo very happy to get home and put my feet up.

the colours of the leaves are glorious.

Enjoying quiet, ordinary days. Do you find there are times when ordinary is enough?

Banana pancakes.

..

Two bananas, one egg and a handful of porridge oats. Whizz in the blender, fry on a medium heat. Makes about eight.  Nice for breakfast.

I have made these five or six times now, and the only failure was when I made them for guests!

..

Grey rainy days for a week have made me focus on the comforts of home and want to introduce a little bit of sparkle in anticipation....

But winter and the dark nights also make me think of those without homes, and in gratitude donate to homeless charities and the local food bank. It's not much but if enough of us do it it will make a difference to someone.

David Hockney said 'Art moves you' which I think is a pretty sound definition of Art.

Do you remember the scene in the wonderful film Girl With The Pearl Earring where Griet cleans Vermeer's studio with infinite care and attention, patiently going over every surface? Laid low by this horrible cold I took a notion to clean the sitting room where I am spending most of my time. Having little energy,  I decided to work my way round the room slowly - feather duster round the ceiling (there are cobwebs), then all the flat surfaces and even the floor (can't remember when it got more than a quick vacuuming. My housework standards have never been particularly high but not being able to see very well has lowered them somewhat (a fine excuse!).

It was surprisingly satisfying. In fact I would go so far as to say it was enjoyable!

I could not resist the colours of these flowers, reduced from £8 to £2.

The pumpkins had soup written all over them, but I did resist - on day  five of a horrid cold I just didn't have the energy!

One cup of grated cheddar cheese, one cup of self raising flour and three quarters of a cup of milk. Combine to make a quite sticky dough, bake at 180 degrees for about twenty minutes or until golden.

Tasty cheesy bites, with or without butter. I had some with a bowl of soup.