Shedudio

I aim to get down to the shedudio every afternoon I am able , i.e. not going somewhere else.

 I listen to music, mainly classical, opera.  Sundays its  the radio .  Elaine Paige then Johnny Walker.

I look out of the windows, mainly to the right where the bird feeders hang.

To the front of me is, through the gap in the Poplars, Mormond Hill.  A couple of wind turbines.  Not many places in Scotland not without these sadly.  I am all for green energy, (though why our electric bill is higher than anyone elses as we go for the green energy power supplier I know not......)

 

 And to my left I can see the house and the side garden.

 

Well now I have another view.  Upwards.  The Dawn Patroller has decided to finish what I started.  Paint the inside of the shedudio.  It is so much brighter already.  Just one coat so far and half way along the roof. Gone are the days when I had the puff to decorate.....

Which really helps me to do what I really do down the shedudio.  Paint.

Lots of paintings on the drawing board, down the Shedudio.

Not going anywhere - fast.

I have a tendency to forget my disability.  Until it involves me wanting to go somewhere. 

 Still fighting over getting the 'Blue Badge' so I cannot park near to places even though the whole ethos behind the scheme is for people with a disability to  retain their independence  -  I had to ask the Dawn Patroller to come with me to Gardenstown.

 As you can see its on a cliff side.  Which involves hills, and steps.

I was very flattered to be invited to exhibit at a gallery in the village as part of the 

 weekend long art extravaganza.  But how to get there?  Having to park at the bottom end of the village, push the wheeled chariot up hills to the top of this was just not on.

The DP dropped me off at the top of the steps and then drove the car to the bottom end of the village to park it.  Had I had a Blue Badge I could have parked much nearer and on my own.  Hey ho.

 I discovered the brakes worked very well on the chariot going down steps...  And eventually got down to where the bunting was.
 

 And into the gallery.

 Thats me in the corner, Gannets, Black Horse and behind the reflection a seal pup.

I then had to manage the rest of the steps down.

I should say that able bodied persons can park at the bottom of this and climb up.  Ha ha.
 
On the way home we had a not very nice lunch but a good mosey round a garden centre.  And I bought some plastic covered table cloth. a)to protect the tables I use in the shedudio and b) to brighten it up a bit..

The lovely DP has also cleaned  all the windows in the shedudio so  much brighter for me, as poor tree feller we had booked is ill.  So trees remain shading views and light.  The lovely DP has also promised to finish painting the interior of the shed which will further lighten it.
 

 Also a sign to hang on the wall.

And why not spend some pennies.  We have realised we aint going anywhere.  But here.

Monday Meander.

It works!  Now it is becoming much cooler, and the day becomes shorter, it is wonderful to set up the stove.  It takes minutes to get going, and from then on radiates heat throughout the downstairs of the house.  The picture above shows the wood 'catching', but once that has happened everything gets turned down and one, two, maximum three lumps of wood have us feeling cosy, all evening.

Minerva McGonagall is comfortable in the bedroom.  So all is well with the world.

Soon it will be time to pack away the garden furniture.  Once the strong winds come I do not want to see the odd chair heading for the North Sea, or the neighbours.

Whoops, naughty birds.  Fear not, they never flower, which as I understand the cultivation  is such that it needs to before you can start making money.  Its a shame to be illegal to grow it, as it is quite bonny, but to be on the safe side, best pull it up.  But then again....

East Rathen Church.  This church is up the road from us and to the right a bit, its a few miles from actual Rathen.  But the way churches were built way back is fascinating.  Or should I say why and where they were built.

Gothic church of 1842 with subsequent alterations and extensions. T-plan with later octagonal spirelet. Squared rubble with pinnings typical of the area. Fixed pews in the gallery and moveable seating in the nave.

The parish of Rathen is said to be one of the most ancient in the county of Aberdeen, and at one time contained within its limits the greater part of the parish of Strichen, and a part of the parish of Fraserburgh. The church and teinds, it is said, were at an early period appropriated to the Cathedral of the diocese, the incumbent of the benefice becoming the stipendiary of that establishment, till its dissolution at the Reformation.

' there was about the tyme of morneing prayer for diverse dayes togithir, hard in the church a queire of musicke, both of woces, organes, and other instruementes, and with such a ravisheing sweetnes that they ware transported which, in numbers, resorted to heire it with unspeakable pleasure and never wiried delight. The preacher on day being much takin with the harmonie, went with diverse of his parisheners in to the church, to try if there eyes could beare witnes to what there eares had hard, but they ware no sooner entred when, lo, the musicke ceassed with a long not, or stroke of a wioll de gambo; and the sound came from ane upper lofte where the people used to heare service, but they could see nothing.' 

This report is from the church prior to it being re-built in 1842.  Spooky! 

And here is a close encounter with a couple of deer.

Meandering on a Monday.

Visitors and Visiting.

As many of you know I spend most afternoons down the shed/summerhouse/drinking den/opera theatre/bird hide.  Well, not always alone!  

Usually one of our two cats joins me.

Over the last few days other visitors have called in.

Big Daddy.  He has become so brave he now hops onto the verandah and peers in.  Little and Middle Daddy still scoot off if I just lift a paint brush.  Making a terrific din as they do.

The deer don't make it into the garden as there are high fences between them and us, but they come near.

Buzzards call above our heads.

The toad was evicted from the garage.

Our wild birds visit in droves.

When I first saw this bounding around the garden I got really excited and thought, "Ye gods, we have a red squirrel."  Then as he/she slowed down I could see it was not a welcome visitor at all.  Corner one of these and it goes for your throat.

Visiting is sometimes as dangerous.

Plotting at the Lighthouse Museum.

At the Mission.

At Cafe Connect.


Sometimes it's safer to be home with the door locked.

I am retired? Really?

The view from the shed/summerhoose/drinking den/opera theatre.  Definitely going to paint this one.

Blue is not my favourite colour for within the house.  But outside I just love it.  I am now the proud owner of two potfuls of Agapanthus.  And praying they survive for years to come.

I just love the plant, love the colour and love the contrast of colour.  Yellow roses, brighter yellow Creeping Jenny and the spikes of lavender, and that dash of red as the Oriental Poppies finally 'go over'.

The advice from Doug on Monday was to put lines in to indicate the water reflection, I think it has worked.  But will re paint this picture.

Another of my tribute paintings to Robert Burns.  I have still got looads more to do, the more I read of his poetry the more I am inspired.  He was nae bad.

Some sketches of the pigeons and the loft.

I am trying to plan out a big picture incorporating the lovely retired human pigeon racer, the loft and his pigeons.

So - plenty to do.

Meanwhile, I have other things to do.  

I have been having one hell of a struggle with the local paper.  I send in a report on the doings of all that we volunteers/artists/friends of the lighthouse museum/et al and every time what is printed in the newspaper bears no resemblance to what I have reported.  No dates are given, information is totally changed, we have exhibitions 'returning' when they havent even taken place yet, the bare facts I want to go in are totally ignored.  No wonder I have high blood pressure.

But then, there is always a little bit of light relief.  

Down at the Seamens Mission.  

I had said, "If one more time Murray comes in and gets us all to sing, If you are happy clap your hands, he wont see retirement."  

Guess what - here we all are doing it again.  Today is his last day.  May he have many more, somewhere else.

Sunshine again! No shorts!

Loch Muick again folks.  Amazing all these empty properties.

But then, they all belong to the Queen, so perhaps they get filled up when she is visiting, or Charles and Camilla and all the Security Service.  And then there is always William and Kate.

Meanwhile back in my 'second home' the DP decided to trim the hedges, I thought for a panic stricken minute it was going to be my neck or my hair.  But he was just collecting his gardening gloves.

I spent the morning - 9a.m. it was in the seventies - painting more chairs, and the bits of table and chair I missed previously.  Only three chairs to go now.  Hope to finish before the rain forecast for Wednesday, tho I have a busy week in front of me.

Also managed a bit of weeding, apologies for no picture, do you want to watch paint dry or Ground Elder be removed, I think not.

Then came the fun part of the day.  Common Tern.  Just waiting for a bit of gouache on his beak.

Halfway through the day I got the scissors and chopped off the legs of my jeans.  What a relief.  I now have shorts and its still sunny.