pEcKiNg OrDeR

I was about to hang out the laundry this morning when suddenly l heard a loud croaking and rattling noise outside. I stepped out to see a spectacular argument going on between a Magpie and two Crows ~ all quite large birds. It was obviously a territorial dispute, a bit like two old men haggling over their garden boundary.
These bird gatherings are called ‘parliaments’ ~ also known as a 'murder of Crows' and deal with social standing etc.
It was all quite interesting and they didn’t seem at all bothered that l was below hanging out the washing, however the Crow on the right did keep his beady eye on me.

Last week l also spotted two wood pigeons in same garden.
Check out: . http://www.garden-birds.co.uk/ British Garden Birds

DrEaMy CoRnWaLL

I think Cornwall is a lovely restful place ~ would love to get down there to live one day. My in-laws are locals so we get down as often as we can ~ quite the car journey though!
This painting is done by a contemporary artist l admire called John Dyer. I think that his paintings are a lovely representation of Cornish villages, cliff tops and harbours. They leave you feeling dreamy and wanting to visit. The bright colours are refreshing and the imagery bold ~ I think a little like folk art.

Barbara Hepworth said about the landscape of Cornwall:
“Landscape is strong - it has bones and flesh and skin and hair. It has age and history and a principle behind its evolution”

NeEd BiNoCuLaRs?

gUiTaR mAn

My husband can play the guitar like no one else l know. G. is a folk/blues acoustic guitarist and has played with the likes of John Renbourn, Ralph McTell, Wizz Jones and Michael Chapman. He made his first guitar at the age of 16 and has never stopped playing since.
Sadly in this house he tends to take a back seat ~ the mad happenings of teenagers and a preschooler constantly steal the limelight. To me though, G. is still the wonderful guitar man that l fell in love with- keep playing darling.

hEnRy ChArLeS fOx

Would you believe that l was removing a poster from a frame in our home when l discovered this painting being used as a backboard! The painting is signed by H.C.Fox and is dated 1913. I have looked up Henry Charles Fox (1860-1925) on the web and have found out that he was a London born artist who was best known for his rural landscapes in watercolour and oil. He actually stopped exhibiting the year this painting was done but continued to paint until a few years before he died. If anyone has more information on this painter l would love to hear from you.
Check this out: http://www.artnet.com/artist/6407/henry-charles-fox.html ~ the signatures match and the painting is definitely in the same style- how wonderful is this!

tHe BoOk Of KeLLs

Historians believe the book of Kells was most likely produced on the Isle of Iona, Scotland and was taken over to Ireland around the 9th century to protect it from the Viking raids. The crowning glory of this book is not so much the religious manuscript but more so the exceptional artwork that is interwoven into the text, in which not one symbol was duplicated! I can only imagine that the monks who painstakingly worked on these illustrations over years must have had a real depth of loyalty and love. The fantastic Celtic designs are painted onto vellum (calfskin) producing an excellent surface, and imported from the continent were rare and expensive dyes, which produced the vivid colours.
It is a must for me to visit Trinity College Library, Dublin and see this wonderful creation for myself.
Recommended reading, Dublin by Edward Rutherford.

A gLiMpSe oF tHe MoOn

Bought my lovely husband a Sky-Watcher telescope today ~ he works hard and deserves to be a bit spoiled from time to time. We set it up in our front bedroom from where we have a good sky view. It’s a decent beginners model, ideal for looking at nebulae, galaxies and star clusters. For planetary viewing there are three additional Barlow lenses ~ perhaps now l shall get close up peek at my moon!

DrEsS dEsIgNiNg DaUgHteR

I am very proud of my lass. She pulled out all the stops this past weekend to design this medieval style dress for her higher art class. Only 16 and already a designer! Most of the stitching was done by hand- all of those leaves! The dress was beautifully modelled by her cousin and l took the photographs in the garden ~ snatching the last of the light before it went. Lots of fun.

ThOu DoTh PrOtEsT tOo MuCh!

My wee Sam was not well yesterday- lots of TLC, bed made up on couch, plenty of DVD’s and sips of water. Sam told me that he was feeling poorly; l sympathetically agreed and said that he had probably caught a tummy bug from nursery - BIG BIG MISTAKE! ..Because for the rest of the day he protested that he ‘had NOT been eating any bugs at school’!


Here is something relaxing to do when you have a minute to chill.
You can find the individual letters here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/oneletter.

LaNd ArT

Andy Goldsworthy is an environmental sculptor ~ he uses natural surroundings to create art forms~ exploring and experimenting with various natural materials such as leaves, grasses, stones, snow etc.
He evokes a time before the flight to urban environments, when people were generally more connected to the natural world and attuned to its habits. Through Goldsworthy’s work, we experience the world he knows and the world that our ancestors knew.
Andy Goldsworthy reawakens us to the patterns and rhythms of natural settings~ born in England he now resides in Scotland.
"And that's what art's about, isn't it? ... It makes you see things in a different way than you would normally."
-- Andy Goldsworthy

OuR hOmE iN LeGo

Well believe it or not, this is our home. My daughter, instead of studying for exams has been building this Lego house with her wee brother today. Each of the rooms intricately done, nothing missed out~ except for services and upholstery. Even the loft has supporting beams and stairwell is correctly designed- she should go into architecture! I refuse to think that is me at the door, possibly the hubby but he has more hair. It is also worth noting that the exterior is not so colourful. hmm. Now there's an idea! Why are there no lights on?
When children are born they bring light into your life. Thereafter they just leave the lights on around the house.
Dave Greenhead

ScOtLaNd'S NaTiVe SqUirReLs

Our Scottish Red Squirrels need to increase their numbers and be protected against the advance of the grey squirrel, which were introduced into Britain from America in the late 19th century. Since their arrival, they have dominated the food share and are also known to spread a lethal disease to red squirrels. About three –quarters of the UK’s remaining red squirrels live in Scotland. Lets keep it that way.
Check out these links:
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/Redsquirrel
http://www.red-squirrels.org.uk
http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-3219

cLeVeR cLoGs

This picture says it all- only 2years old and Sam was already using his noodle!
Too busy brushing his wee teeth ~ unaware l was taking the picture.

HeReDiTy

POEM
I am the family face;
Flesh perishes, l live on,
Projecting trait and trace
Through time to times anon,
And leaping from place to place
Over oblivion.
The years-heired feature that can
In curve and voice and eye
Despise the human span
Of durance~that is l;
The eternal thing in man,
That heeds no call to die.
By Thomas Hardy
Why not look up your genealogy?

OuR QuEeN MoThEr

Age gracefully? l think not! Age ferociously instead. Seize everything valuable within reach. Extend. Question. Give. The face will follow. All the cosmetic surgeons in the world could never produce such a face or a mother. I think she's fantastic!

Truth: No matter how old she is, a mother watches her middle-aged kids for signs of impovement.

FrEd & GiNgEr?

This dancing building is the work of two men: Prague-based architect Vlado Milunic, who had the original idea for the building, and celebrated architect Frank Gehry.
This modern abstract design of a waltzing pair is daring ~ a modern contrast to Prague’s more historical architecture ~ l think it’s great.

ArChItEcTuRe FoR aRt’S sAkE

The larger photo is of the Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain ~ designed by one of my favourite architects, Frank O. Gehry. The building itself is made up of many wonderful interconnecting shapes. This free-form sculptural style has become a Gehry signature. I also love what Gehry did with the Maggie’s Centre, Dundee, Scotland (insert).

pRiMuLa

Nothing says springtime to me like bold bunches of primrose.
This picture was taken Monday in my front garden.

FaMiLy MaTtErS

What would life be without the hustle and bustle of children? I cannot imagine.
Here is a photo of my three- sometimes very well behaved and sometimes not!
The older two are getting ready to leave school while the youngest has not yet begun - what was l thinking?

"If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?" - Milton Berle

LuRe oF a MaRvElLoUs MoOn

As a wee girl, being pushed in my pram through country lanes in the company of my mother and father it was hard not to notice how marvellous the evening sky was. A giant full moon hung weighty and lit up the dark ~ stupendous and enchanting.
I reached up and cried for my father to get it, ‘get it daddy, get it!’ l pleaded.
To this day my father still remembers my desperation and often asks, ‘Daughter, are you still reaching for the moon?’
Check out these great moon links:
http://moon.google.com/
http://www.inconstantmoon.com/index.htm
http://home.hiwaay.net/~krcool/Astro/moon/

hOw ClEvEr Is YoUr DoG?

A woman goes into the cinema and buys a ticket for herself and her dog. The usher is amazed to see the dog laughing throughout the film. After the show he comments to the woman as she leaves, 'I was amazed to see your dog laughing at the film!' The woman replies, 'So was l. He hated the book!'

WhIrRiNg-WiNgEd WoNdErS

If the puffin is walking rapidly with its head lowered it is saying, "I am just passing through and don’t mean any trouble." This is called a low profile walk and is useful because the colony is very crowded and a puffin is often crossing another puffin’s territory as it walks. The puffins that are guarding burrows usually assume a pelican walk position that has the puffin stand stiffly erect with its beak next to its body and using slow exaggerated foot movements. This makes the puffin look like a soldier on guard duty, which is just what it is doing by guarding the burrow.
I love these birds!