colour!

 A mostly sunny day for a change..taking a breather before tomorrow I think!

Today's achievements have been mainly

A jungly greenhouse...

(note to self...sow seeds earlier next year AND look after them properly!)

foraging...apples plums and brambles...and watching swallows...

a much nicer sight than the metal birds that have been roaring overhead for the Ayr International Air show...

I gave my over the road neighbour a couple of pounds each of apples and plums, and received three ripe tomatoes from her greenhouse!

Then after a cuppa, painting time....

Using watercolour washes on a print.

It will be interesting to see how these sell.

I must look through my drawing books and photos to find the next images to make.

successes..and a blogger blip

 First thing, phone the dental surgery...and they could fit me in..so off on the bus on a blustery day.

Teeth sorted in five minutes...it is a matter of getting the technique right! Which is a relief.

Shoes...tough..they ARE leather..but Nubuck is a sort of suède. Nice to see the wee cobbler anyway...and yes, he is a little short of stature! One can of water repellant bought .

It had started that fine very wet rain as I took this photo...the newer building on the left with token references to the one next to it....

With rain and wind...no point in having a day in Ayr. There is also good coffee at home....

I spent the afternoon being productive...

The one on the bottom right is new as a print or card. I made the block a while ago but never took it further. However it has a strength and vitality that will lead somewhere...

Blogger is having a blip again...sometimes I can't reply to a comment...sometimes I can't make a comment....things like this differ between mobile and web versions..

So I'm not ignoring you all..and I'm not the only one this is happening to...Tiggers Mum at least and probably others too.

They'll sort it out soon enough..just carry on regardless!!

new things

 New shoes! 

After getting new top teeth (a new plate) I hopped on the express bus to Glasgow.

Walked down the long hill to Argyll Street and found Clark's shoe shop.

I said "I'd just like another pair like the ones I'm wearing" !!  The lad serving was very doubtful....but eventually I spotted two. One was leather, which I wanted...but the back was far too high and the sole not quite right.

Then I noticed these....Nubuck not leather, so I'll need to treat them somehow..I'll ask the "Little Cobbler" in Ayr.  That is the nearest I'll get to the shoes that I bought ten years ago in the Clark's outlet shop in Gretna Green!!  The old ones will carry on of course, they aren't falling apart quite yet!!

It is another story about the teeth however.

After a sandwich lunch on the bus back...I had an hour in Glasgow and that was enough!!! (far too peoply even on a Thursday lunchtime!!) The rain as we left the city developed into a downpour!!

In Ayr I just went straight for the bus for home....I didn't fancy walking around in that!! The bus took three times as long as usual as the traffic was jammed up for the first two miles. The Ayr Air Show starts tomorrow...

Making supper I thought to take my new teeth out, just to practice....one side won't budge...so I'll be back to Ayr tomorrow!!

What a day!!

being constructive

 

There are now six panels with all the offending nails except one large one that I couldn't shift, removed, loose upright slats nailed tight and missing slats nailed on..

The next step with this job is to get a quote from the fencing company. I have the gates and hinges and possibly enough posts...but they can tell me what else I need.

Today has been a bit frustrating..trying to work out the vest way forward with the kiln and how to phrase what I need to say.

The Oily One has a gauge that might be the right one, so he will post that...when he can find it (!). Meanwhile things must be cleaned and glazing done.  Not a job for a rainy day. I was lucky to have enough dry for doing the fence panels. 

Other than that I've done a little mending before clothes were kept in the drawers. Mended my favourite bag.

Moved the trays of bisqued pots and stacked them on the sideboard, clearing the table for a much needed card printing session. It was easier and less work to do that than to organise the study upstairs!!

So now everything is ready for that, the kitchen is tidyish and the dishes washed.

French practice ...then bedtime and hopefully enough sleep before a fresh start!!

 

Quiet gallery day

 

I added two nightlight/candle pots to my gallery display.

Showers until 11 this morning...when the gallery opens..probably meant that some people didn't come to Culzean...most of it is outdoors...and possibly others were heading home to work, and school. Children here have been back for a  couple of weeks already. 

So apart from two small coach groups, most were walking dogs or perambulating grandkids....Sales were eventually ok...just..and then you have those that roll up with two minutes to closing (4.30) time, mooch around...but at least have the grace to buy a couple of cards before leaving!!

It drains you....either being ignored or responding to people who aren't really interested in your reply.

One decent conversation...a woman had been at the boarding school in Denbigh, Wales and had visited Theatr Clwyd in Mold 

I had then started work as one if the first three staff at Oriel Theatr Clwyd, a long gallery between the smaller theatre space (where snooker tournaments and conferences were held.) and the larger main theatre. This was 1978.

hunting and Values

 Fence painting finished, and with any luck it dried enough before the rain arrived.

(right as forecast on the radar forecast) 

Now I need my claw hammer to remove some nails and to add others as I replace slats...

I have searched everywhere..Twice...I am getting fed up if this game!!

No, it isn't where I last used it...

The last time I saw it, it was during the post Xmas assisted clearout...when I was asked Which of these three are worth keeping?

It will turn up..as soon as I've bought a new one!!

British Values?....should be Human Values..I found this elsewhere....

Positives

 Jobs done today....painted 4½ fence panels of 6 before rain stopped play.

Acquired a balance for weighing small amounts of glaze materials....£40!! It had only arrived at the second hand emporium yesterday!! Plus he gave me a can with some brake cleaner in it to clean the kiln's burners

And thirdly, I've just started a batch of yoghurt to "do" overnight.

Plenty of other things crying out to be done...but these are a good start!