More sunptuous colour! A most generous gift (thank you K) will brighten up the autumn table.
A big clear up in the studio has got me going. I threw out 27 things today..it's all about the right mindset isn't it.
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More sunptuous colour! A most generous gift (thank you K) will brighten up the autumn table. A big clear up in the studio has got me going. I threw out 27 things today..it's all about the right mindset isn't it.
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..and the last of the summer flowers. The weather is cooler and wetter here and thoughts turn to the indoor life, and to Marie Kondo! Did you ever use her method? Did it spark joy?   The garden furniture has been given another coat of Cuprinol Silver Birch stain to preserve it through the winter, as has the base of the shed, and I had a good worlout stacking the first load of logs..     A job I really enjoy. This will give you some idea of the character of the landscape I live in. The line on the left represents the coastline of France, that on the right the coastline of my county, Argyll. Many single track, winding roads hug the coastline.  Here are just a few of the many North Points we have made over the years. It's a fun thing to do. Why not give it a try the next time you are out for a walk? You just have to use whatever is around - berries in the Botanic Gardens, fallen leaves or petals - I rather wish I had photographed them all. The top photograph is I think the first one . I made it with my daughter on the shores of a lake in the Lake District. The second was on a pristine beach on Islay with friends. The third on a far from pristine beach at Rhu on the Firth of Clyde - so much blue plastic! I should add that I am lucky to live near clean beaches.     The last one is a South Point made in New Zealand.! Oops! I may have got some of my memores and photogrraphs mixed up there....sorry.. little triangles of cloth can make us feel happy? I smile every time I come round the corner of the house and see this. Simple!  What is sparking joy in your house this summer? A pimbpard with holiday plans attached Some pots of fresh herbs in the kitchen for inspiration Different china - a pretty cup and saucer from the charity shop Some new perfumed soaps in the bathroom Some fresh photographs by the bedsde All of the above? Whyever not! More ideas welcome...  Aplogies to southern hemisphere readers! ..are one of the joys of my life. When I was a child flowers were a luxury we could rarely afford. We did not have a garden,. Maybe that is why it thrills me to be able to buy a bunch (or even two!) with the weekly shop, and why to pick my own from my garden seems like heavan. Tiny posies or extravagant bouquets - you will know from this blog how much I love them all. To me they are the height of romance and sophistication. Yesterday's foxgloves or this tiny jar of daisies, they all spark joy.  Even when they are over...  How will you celebrate Midsummer? Where does the first light of the day come into your home?  It came at about four o'clock this afternoon. I wasted no time in testing out the new cushion covers (£5 from Ikea). I hope the sun is shining where you are.  Making home the place I want to be.. So far in my efforts to get outstanding things done I have posted a book to a friend, sanded a worktop in the kitchen which got damaged by a leaking kettle, ordered paint for said worktop, hand washed two sweaters, got a quote for replacement of the solar panel invertor, recycled a mountain of flower pots, organised several bags for the charity shops, scrubbed dozens of terracotta pots, (how did I come to have so many?) made an appointment at the bank, planned meals for visitors, nearly got to the bottom of the ironing pile, made a staart on the dreaded shed, lined two kitvhen cupboards with fresh paper..... Running a house can be challenging! Exhausting and expensive, but I am so happy and so privileged to have one to come home to. If I can keep this up till the end of May I'll be astonsihed.  The joy of home.
and the beech trees on the shore path are at their loveleiest. I like to pick a few branches and watch the leaves unfurl.    A tiny arrangement of sweetly scented skimmia and a few catkins.  Do you love to change things around with the seasons? I took down the snow painting and lifted the thick winter rug, put down the summer rug and put up a garden painting (called The Yellow Shouts To The Pink)....    and woke up to snow on the hills!
.. From the ferry at 7.30 tonight. On the first day of British Summertime we had snow on the surrounding hills, but it's lovely to have the lighter evenings.  The shops are full of vibrant colours and I could not resist the plate, mug and carrier bag, I just had to bring some of that vitality home with me today.  If yesterday's photograph represents the peace and quiet of home, this one represents the little jolt of city buzz which I need every now and then. I am so lucky to be able to have a bit of both. The ice on the water bowl was thin by the time I photgraaphed it, and althugh we got about twenty minutes of snow yeasterday, it is about to turn to rain again soon.   The cosy throw is back out of the cupboard. Be warm and safe wherever you are. Can you see the moonlight reflected in the ice on the water bowl? And of course there is also the reflection from the open door to the kitchen, and me standing there.  We Brits love talking about our weather. Today there is a diffetence of 27 degrees between the north and south of the country. In our little corner of Scotland we have had the nnost remarkable run of sunny days. 13 days I think! On yesterday's trip to the city the sun spatkling on the water of Loch Long, Holy Loch and the River Clyde was beautiful. Blue water and blue sky. I have had several breakfasts outside and one lunch in the greenhouse. At night the stars have been brilliant and the moonlight bright as day, transforming the landscape into some magical realm. Loved this unexpected spell of sunshine and feel completely re-energised by it. Full sun forecast for tomorrow, though it may snow on Sunday.. It's my word for the year after all, not just for February. It struck me this morning that a good synonym for romantic in the wider sense that I am using the word could be life-affirming. Thank you Rosemary who described the image of my outdor breakfast as life-affirming and put this beautiful word into my head. It makes me want to do a series of paintings of life-affirming breakfasts! I digress (as ever-the format of my blog allows full rein to my grasshopper brain). I intended to write about a romantic home. Flowers, a certain amount of order, treasured things around, and for me, frequent small changes to keep it fresh and full of good gentle energy.    My bedrooom is very simple (all 'stuff' is out of sight). Softly lit, only one painting, plain bedlinen but I love to change the pillowcase with the seasons - from snowdrops in winter to daffodills and bluebells, then there is a summer one and an autumn one. Add a bit of Mozart and it is a very romantic and life-affirming and peaceful place. I am so grateful for it. A little travel, a new window in the studio, and a Highland funeral in the beautiful village of Tayvallich.    Thank you so much for all your thoughts on the fence. I will be pondering.. |
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September 2023
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