Landscape, ivy, fish, penguins and doves.

As usual we've had great fun on my last 2 lino workshops.

Hilary's ivy was delightful, I loved the wreathe shape.

Jenny's country landscape demonstrated skilful cutting. 

 

A fe days later, more delights...

Sarah's fish had lots of movement..... 

Chris's cute penguins..... 

Jenny's dove looks as if it's flying with the swallows on my apron! Very simple and effective.

So 3 more people enjoying their first taste of lino cutting. 



Nature and wildlife on Offa's Dyke walk

Remembering how beautiful our walk was. Abundant berries; is it going to be a hard winter or was it just a late Spring?

Art ona farmhouse roof. 

     

Beautiful design on a stained glass window. 

Interesting fungi! 

This is the Stinkhorn! so called because it releases a foul smell to attract flies. They land on the slime, pick up the spores on their feet and carry them to new locations, thus ensuring reproduction. Clever! 

The Fly Agaric is round when young, flattening as they mature. 

It is poisonous, the name coming from the custom of putting pieces of the toadstool into a saucer of milk to act as a flykiller.

 

Yellow stagshorn resembles stubby antlers; in dry weather it can be orange. It grows on dead coniferous wood in damp woodlands. 

Best friends. 

The boots that did the walking!

Saturday's Lino workshop

What fun we had on Saturday when Hilary, Janey and Mark joined me to learn about  lino cutting and printing. I really enjoy working with adults and as usual had a lively, hard working day.

Janey's fine cutting of Raspberry, her  border terrier. 

Marc's dog jumping in the air had lots of energy to it. 

Hilary cut a delightful blackbird. 



The print in a delicious prussian blue.

Janey's Raspberry in rubine red. 

At work on the press. 

 

Three in a row- how did Marc avoid my camera with his print?

Another lovely day spent with interesting people. 

After Offa's Dyke the boots have been scrubbed and are off to Cumbria for a few days walking. We're staying at Buttermere, in my favourite area. Hopefully we won't get blown away!

Back from Offa's Dyke Day 1 and 2

Sue, a good friend and I walked the southern part of Offa's Dyke 2 years ago and thought we'd like to complete it, so here we are, ready for the journey to Knighton.

Looking clean, fresh and dry! Our 1st night in Knighton was at The Fleece, a delightful B and B where Dana provided us with a 5 star breakfast which kept us going through the gloom; shame we couldn't see the views! 

Although we couldn't see far it was mild and quite atmospheric. 

Beautiful cobwebs on the gorse. 

Sheep waiting to be wormed. 

A snack in the rain to keep us going... 

and by lunch it was brightening up...... 

Wonderful ancient trees..... 

fungi 

a peaceful scene 

and a view!

After a damp but fun 13.60 miles we arrived at Drewin Farm near Cwm, lovely.

It's surprising how much you eat when walking!! 



A trip down memory lane

Recently I decided that I needed another book case

as the pile of books was getting out of hand! I found an old ex-library bookshelf on ebay which was perfect but was in Birkenhead. However, having wanted for some time to return to the Wirral where I did my first year of teaching, I bought the bookcase and started planning a nostalgic trip to West Kirby. As well as collecting the bookcase we went to Crosby to see Anthony Gormley's Another Place. What an exciting installation! We spent all morning walking along the beach and it's difficult to sum up how I felt - the sun was shining, there was a gentle, warm breeze and I just loved the wonderful sculptures. How clever, how inspiring and how wonderful they remain there rather than be moved as originally planned. Here are a few of my photos. 

 

Great textures and patterns in the sand.

Later on we collected the bookcase and went to West Kirby, booked into a lovely B and B and then walked to where I had my first flat in 1969. It was the top floor of a Victorian house, 4 rooms and a kitchen, use of a bathroom shared with various old ladies, coal extra; all for £2 10s!!

In that little top room there were lots of important times. I started my first teaching job, got engaged, planned my wedding, house hunted but then plans changed and we went to live in Brussels 2 weeks after our wedding in August. That was the start of a new adventure!

The view from the end of the road, across to Wales. 

Goodbye Victoria Drive, fond memories. 

On the way home we stopped at Gayton County Primary where I first taught. Much the same but with a smart new front!

A great trip and it's so easy to find the book I want!