Saturday, June 24, 2006

Jubilee Gardens and Poppies


poppies in pastel
Originally uploaded by wherethewolvesare.
I took Nathan and Mia to Wetherby this afternoon. I needed to go to Castlegate Stationery, a brilliant little art supplies shop with some really unusual stuff, although I was buying anything but the unusual - fixative. As it was so beautifully warm we went to Jubilee Gardens as well, for a sit down for me and a runabout for Nathan. Wetherby has a lovely riverside park with a bandstand, the problem is that it's so lovely it's always packed and there's no parking on a day like today. The answer is Jubilee Gardens. At the other end of town, few people seem to know about it, it's still by the river (River Wharfe) but it's completely fenced off from the river - very handy with a very mobile two and a half year old in tow. Quiet, great views and safe, just the job and the four oystercatchers peeping overhead agreed.

On the way home we passed this poppy field, just outside Wetherby. I've blogged about poppy fields before and I still can't pass one without stopping to admire the spectacle.

Saturday, June 17, 2006

A perfect day


geranium
Originally uploaded by wherethewolvesare.
Went to Hobbycraft in the morning, crisp (chip in US) sandwich for dinner, then spent the afternoon watching a bit of football on telly, watching Nathan playing in his paddling pool and sketching some of the geraniums (gerania?) in the garden. The weather was lovely, warm but not too warm. Like I said - a perfect day!

Apologies for another spot botanical but I like doing them.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Happy birthday


dead tree and ivy
Originally uploaded by wherethewolvesare.
Happy birthday to me, sort of. 'Where the wolves are' is one year old today! It's been such a varied year but just like 14th June 2005, the clematis flowers are almost all gone. There's real comfort in that sort of regularity, long may it continue.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed with their comments, especially as it so often leads me to a new and interesting blog, somewhere exotic, to me at least (that includes Oxfordshire, PG, if you're reading).

I bought a new brush today, so I was trying it out with the sketch of the ivy-clad tree. We've had quite a spate of tawny owls hooting and kewicking in the garden lately, and although I've caught glimpses of them swooping past, none have roosted through the day - yet. I think this tree is my best bet so I'm keeping a close eye on it at the moment. I'm expecting to fing Old Brown snuggled into the ivy (or sat on the television aerial, as is their wont) any day now. I live in hope.

Friday, June 09, 2006

World cup fever


darfield
Originally uploaded by wherethewolvesare.
The sun is shining and the world cup starts today. It doesn't get much better.

Doing my best to concentrate on other things, for the time being at least. This sketch is looking towards Darfield from Old Moor RSPB nature reserve. On a warm day, time stands still, a real lazy, hazy summer day.

Back in the garden, for the last couple of days a male blackbird has been feeding 3 very tame (and fat) fledglings on the patio. Very kindly, he has been feeding them snails. I think I've read that male robins take over the feeding duties so that the female can incubate a second clutch of eggs, so I wonder if it's the same with blackbirds.

Thursday, June 01, 2006

A postcard from Filey


flamborough head
Originally uploaded by wherethewolvesare.
This evening I've been watching David Attenborough on television, extolling the virtues of wind turbines, bearing in mind that the UK is the windiest country in Europe. This fact is not a great surprise to me, having just come back from a few days holiday on the east coast. We stayed in a caravan, near Filey. So, windy, don't talk to me about windy. It sounded gale force in a draughty caravan and felt bracing, to say the least, when we were out in it. Nevertheless, I can forgive the east coast of Yorkshire for a bit of tasty weather. That stretch of coastline has everything - scenery, wildlife, golden beaches, donuts and seaside rock. You really couldn't ask for more. We had a wonderful time.

The watercolour is part of the view from Filey, looking south towards Flamborough Head, with the lighthouse just visible. It is also my donation for a fundraising event being organised by artist Sheila Southwell. Painters are being asked to donate a postcard-sized painting, in any media, to be sold for £2 at an exhibition in Hassocks, West Sussex on 5th August. All proceeds will go to the charity, Age Concern. If anyone else is interested in donating then the paintings need to be sent (by 12th June and with your name and phone number on the back) to Sheila Southwell, Hawthorns, 24 Ockenden Way, Hassocks, West Sussex, BN6 8HS.