The Artist at Work

I love Frank's no nonsense way of painting. He just gets on with it and it ends up looking really good. This one was done this afternoon and it's already in a frame! He's good at buildings and boats and perspective - they are not my strong point.

I was upstairs laying out the patchwork squares on our bed. A lot of thought goes into which square goes where. Poppy's is now all pinned. Next I'll do Arlo's, then Isla's and Arón's. I've decided to back them with polar fleece fabric so they'll be cosy and also it will be quicker to sew. I don't normally like synthetic fabrics but they all do. These are not traditional quilts - they are modern and quirky so the kids will hopefully appreciate them.

After Frank and Bella May got drenched on this mornings walk the sun started shining just after they got back and it has been dry and sunny all day! Cold though.
I just took Bella for her afternoon walkies but there were too many other doggies out and about. She is sometimes unfriendly towards other dogs - for no apparent reason - apart from probably wanting to be top dog. She just growls at them and shows her teeth. I don't like it because other than that she is such a good girl and loves humans - especially children and she loves some dogs but we never know which ones she will take an instant dislike to.
We had started taking her to dog school before lockdown but only went twice before they had to close.

We watched a really good but upsetting film last night called Journey's End - about soldiers in the trenches in WW1. It was very true to life and really brought it home how awful war is.
I know life for us would have been very different if Hitler had had his way but so many young lives on all sides lost and wasted. So many families torn apart. We must never let dictators rule our lives. I know it is the way people have to live in some countries and it breaks my heart to think of those without the freedom to live and flourish.
Anyway, enough of that, our aim in life must always be to banish such regimes.

As I write this I am listening to Emily Smith - a Scottish folk singer from near where we lived in Dumfries. Sabrina and Emily were school friends and both married New Zealanders.
She has the most beautiful voice. Rich yet gentle. Here have a listen.
https://youtu.be/AQ2OmlIqUIk
https://youtu.be/qnjwiLE_5e0

His Dark Materials tonight!

Hope you all had a good weekend :-) X