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Wednesday 9 February 2011

A short break

Well, a lovely blue sky sunny day at last. I worked hard this morning scaling up a sketch for a pastel I'm doing and then going out to sweep the yard after all the storms. The big conifers had shed a mass of old needles and small twigs all over the place and the blackbirds in their eating habits had thrown leaf litter off the flower beds just to improve things further.

It was freezing cold but I needed the fresh air. I put food out for the birds when I finished and returned indoors just in time to snap our new local resident.
It doesn't eat for long so the birds still get plenty.
While I was sweeping up I found a dead lady blackbird behind the recycle bin in the corner. I think she must have died of the cold. I kissed her and buried her in deep leaf litter under the hedge, it always makes me sad even though I know it's natural.

I then decided to go over to Crickhowell for lunch. It is a small town on the river Usk 15 minutes away by car and a lovely drive over the mountain. I had a bowl of Spicy Red Lentil soup in my fav' cafe (the Courtroom) and then walked down to the river.


                                       

The water has gone down swiftly since I was here last weekend when it looked like it was going to flood.
I love this town and would live here if I could, however I may be able to afford a garage for my car but certainly not a house. So I live where I do and enjoy the wonderful views as I come down from the heights into the valley.

I'll post more pics later but here is the view from the other side of the bridge just to whet your appetite.So I enjoyed my walk in the sunshine and came home to get on with my work.

Forgive the formatting please it seems to have a life of it's own tonight.

I sold three paintings last week by the way, of my Poppy girls so now have to get busy. I have been so busy with the Etsy Shop and the Scraperboard I have neglected the pastels. Watch this space.

Here is a little corner of my studio with autumn leaves and berries and some favourite pots I bought last year. It seems only days ago since I collected them.

From my diary: the Hag of winter keeper of the bare bones of the earth, preserver of life gone underground and the juices of the green world prepares to withdraw, to make way for the spring maiden but not quite yet. Frost thick and hard last night and the blossoms on my Witch hazel were curled up tight. The thrush fed at the bird table and then flew to the top of the Ash tree and sang his I'm here song. Oh, joy.

I saw snowdrops in the hedge on my way home, we are about a month behind lots of other places because we are also nearly 1000 ft up so our snowdrops are not up yet. Goodnight anyone who may still be awake I'm off to my bed.