Wednesday 5 May 2021

Now for something completely different . . .

I couldn't resist this acrylic painting (by artist Michael Long, and painted as part of a 2 hour challenge with a Bristol art group).  I talked myself out of it in the shop, but then HAD to go back for it, and absolutely love it. I have it on the mantlepiece in the sitting room, and as darkness falls that sky gets darker and more threatening - more snow on the way, that's for sure.  The scene is a corner of Gloucestershire . . .



 Last week turned out to be quite a busy week.  Brecon for grocery shopping and taking shoes to the cobblers.  Hay-on-Wye for the market on Thursday and then on Friday, an outing to Leominster as now we are in Powys, that was the nearest B&Q, and we wanted to get paint sample chips and chose a paint for our bedroom (one mixed.)  We have a Jewson's here in town, but that's no good unless you want bucketfuls of white emulsion.

We chose the same blue (Midwinter Solstice I think it's called) that we had in our bedroom in our last home, as it was a lovely colour, and came out with handfuls of paint chips for Tam's bedroom and the Library.  The latter is going to be a deep pink (it will look better than it sounds).  It's a room which doesn't get a great deal of light - the only dark room in the house - so will look warm and cosy. Tam wants a very pale pink in her bedroom - not baby pink, far more subtle than that.  She is still deciding exactly which shade.  We also got a new bristly doormat to replace the one which never recovered from being tramped on by wet and muddy feet when we moved in.  Any passing resemblance to a patchwork quilt did not influence my choice in any way.  (No, really!)


In the car park was this beautiful white Cherry tree.  So pretty.




The antique shops were open.  Temptation - the first one was very quiet - perhaps 5 other customers spread over 5 floors.  The garden out the back had garden furniture and decorative pieces for sale. 


19th C Irish Wrought Iron D?? Hearth Toaster (£110).



A painting of Church Street Ledbury, where we were recently.


I can imagine this took some hauling up to be put in place on the front of the roof of a Georgian building in the town . . .

It was market day but all we bought was a piece of cheese.


There are half timbered buildings through the town.


Above and below: two attractively-dressed shop windows (same shop) .  It would have been at home in Glastonbury.



Above and below: lovely old cottages by the river.








Next post: Garden Open Day . . .




10 comments:

  1. I must go to Leominster sometime, I think I have only been there once - a pity really. Bt coincidence I too was writing about paintings today. I'm pleased that you support artists - they need it just as they need people to see the beauty and value in their work. Nice painting - even nicer that you 'love' it.

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    1. We usually went in the middle of winter when we were in Carms - it gave us a day out as we would go round the antique shops.

      This picture really spoke to me, I loved it and the atmosphere it has. I've always bought small bits of art and limited-edition prints (have several of Gillian McDonald's scenes which we bought in one of the Galleries in Hay.)

      I don't "do" modern art - I like paintings which are representational, and love Pre-Raphaelite and 30s landscapes. My dad used to do Impressionist copies and I have a soft spot for Monet and Manet and the rest.

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  2. I do love how history dovetails so neatly with present day in your corner of the world.

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    1. I read on someone's blog recently "what's the point of history?" I thought it so sad that they didn't appreciate it or be interested. The past is always omnipresent.

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  3. That is a lovely painting, and I understand why you went back for it. Hard to believe it only took two hours!

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    1. I think when you are a skilled artist (this chap was 70 or so when he painted it), you can quickly master the scene in your mind's eye.

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  4. Loved reading about your wanderings and seeing the pictures associated. The painting is absolutely wonderful and I'm glad you went back for it. ~Andrea xoxo

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    1. Isn't it lovely Andrea? I shall take it to Hay next week to get it framed.

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  5. I can see why you bought that painting!!! I love it! Very interesting to see your photos of Leominster as, although we drive through it all the time and have had click and collect Morrisons, we have never explored although I know where B and Q is! Its only 20 minutes from us so will have to have a proper mooch round one day.

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    1. Isn't it lovely? Leominster is a nice little town to mooch around. There's a car boot sale there too, when they start up again (don't know if that's your sort of thing). Market Day is Friday.

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