Starting small , moving, decluttering sheds

 At last, getting creative again...on a small scale! 

It's one way to make myself do things again, plus I have bigger prints and need small things too.

Our house guest returned this lunchtime, with my eldest son in his van, as that is long enough to fit the longer pieces of wood and also uses less fuel, even on a much longer trip!

Pirate has, between naps , been fettling two mowers that need to find new homes.

They both work well..

A Ransome Bowlic Mark 4 with a quarter horsepower electric motor..a 1930s design from the 40s, for cutting bowling green grass.

This is heading for the British Lawnmower museum in Southport if all goes well.

The other, a Suffolk Punch is apparently too young for them!!

I have offered that one Free to a Good Home on the village barter farcebook page.

Our nice few sunny days have ended and we have returned to cold and damp weather. 

Thankfully pirate gave the grass it's first cut and everywhere looks neat and tidy, even the meadow patch at the front has had its perimeter trimmed.

We escaped!

 And caught a rain free hour for a walk!!

We checked the cherry and apple trees for blossom... hopefully the insects have been able to do their job!!

And talking of trees....

I might have to redo it though...I am learning to do finer lines...

Busy as ever!

 Yesterday we had an early start and headed for Dundee again, not quite missing the traffic congestion through Glasgow.

Showers were forecast, but we didn't expect a hail shower as we were unpacking our bikes!

Thus time I rode the track session, just steady riding for me for about 45 minutes, then the hail started again! The other three ride a little faster most of the time and longer. Then a takeaway cuppa..and the craic lasted as long as the riding!

We decided not to come straight back down the main roads, and had a little detour round small roads and lanes, via Cupar Angus and coming into Perth at Scone.

Down the main road nearly to Stirling, then across via Doune to Fintry. There we had intended going over the Crow Road to Lennoxtown to see a friend in his bikeshop...road closed for three weeks..so we had to go around the end of the big hill not over it! But....road closed signs....but again...traffic coming towards us..ok, carry on....

We weren't supposed to go that way....a quarter of the width of the road had been washed out ! It was safe enough to go through.

Fresh coffee and biscuits were very welcome when we arrived...and more talk and buying tyres for me passed the time to avoid the evening rush hour!

With more long driving coming in the future I need to get back in practice to stay safe...we were both well tired...but it was good to see the landscape for real and to see friends too.

Today was a late start..catch up on housework after yesterday, and get plants out in the new bed at last...just broad beans and parsnip, and thinking where the beans and peas will go.

I managed to finish a small linoblock...of a sunset...

And then we had a magenta and peach sunset....not that this tablet sees it as that!

Drawing, cutting

just small blocks...as much a challenge as big ones.

I might make two of this one, one with just the central trio of maize stalks.

On to the next one. I think I will build up a few before inking, to save on washing the roller, block and slab between each one.

I forgot to reverse the image on the block..tracing then lots of rubbing out!! Followed by putting the design on again.

Thinking through what is black/white is a challenge.

Success

 

Blogger has put these on in reverse..but never mind! 

I have taken a pencil rubbing of the block....

I think I have done enough, test print tomorrow.

We managed a slightly muddy walk around Hannahston reserve at lunchtime. 

It had rained all night, but it was ok then. Looks like the next two days will be wild, possibly snow, certainly wind.

Progress.. of sorts..

 I have started work on a new, seasonal card, and work is going well.

It has been raining most of today and not long ago there was hail in with the rain. 

Indoors jobs have been the order of the day, although Pirate did venture out to move pebbles to go between the greenhouse wall and the house and the greenhouse and nextdoor's fence. He also managed to get wet rather quickly when the rain came, but at least the job is mostly done. 

Photo tomorrow when it is hopefully dry, and daylight! It is 4.30pm and the light is fast disappearing, especially with the low cloud over us.

I have managed to not only write a news article for my website, I managed to add an image..the only problem will be next time, figuring out how I did it!

Back to work at last

 Even if it is just seasonal cards!

That was yesterday..today the building greenhouse wall project took priority until late afternoon rain...and then it was too dark and I was too tired.

Linocutting when tired is not advised, for the safety of fingers as well as not wanting to make mistakes!