Hanging me on the line.

Hello! Just been saying to myself, "will blog after I've finished this little bit". And then ten minutes later, "I'll just finish this, then I'll go and say hello to everyone". More time goes by.

"Have to finish this".
Little more time flies by.............. and so on.

I love being gripped by work, it's very exciting when that happens. But I also feel like I've been mugged and holed up in a dark room with one light source: work. I find I want to go on, and on, and on, and I get very tired, rub my bleary eyes a lot, and stop caring about all those little things that need to be done around the house. It used to be I'd have the doggies to fish me out of my work stupor, because they need walking. Now I've got the pull of my blog, which is an excellent thing. (And of course the little doggies still need their walks, don't worry, they don't get neglected!). I imagine Hugo might feel he's living with a strange being from outer space when he sees me in this frame of mind.

It always happens when I start a new book, the excitement of getting to know the new characters, meeting them as they form on the page. And they don't just stop lurking around me when I leave the studio and step back into reality, no, they pop up all over the place. Very distracting.

(So I have to admit, I feel 'fuzzy' at the moment).

The reason I called this post "hanging me on the line" is this, I've been interviewed by a fellow blogger.

Pause.

Don't really know what to say about it, other than, if you'd like to read it, you can, by clicking on this link.

I read the interview with myself, and don't think it's too inflammatory, it was a strange experience reading it.

Anyway, you might be wondering why I'm showing you a photo of my pink bag, sitting on the floor in our hallway? You weren't?!! Oh well, that's a good thing, because there's really not much to the photograph, other than, I was turning the corner, after having come down the stairs, and saw this exact image before me. I thought, "that's a lovely spectacle".  Do you ever experience that? A visual surprise you come across in your own home? Normally I place things around the house to please myself, so it doesn't often happen that I get nice visual surprises, it's usually just a "I do like looking that.........", sort of thing.

Maybe I was having one of those 'aware days'.

Things like the orange washing basket, sitting in the garden, and contrasting with the soft green of the Cotton Lavender, and they grey of the watering can, suddenly became lovely spectacles. 

My neighbour's 'welcome home flowers' (she looks after the doggs a lot, and had been away for a week), seemed too nice to part with. (But of course I did part with them!).

The bright coral colour of the Geraniums, contrasting with the green of the back door, and the grey pot.

The vibrant deep pink of these Sweet Peas, a gift from my Mother-in-Law, Susan.

The table covered with yarn and crochet, a table covered with colour.
All these things caught my eye as I went on my business about the house.
I like these days I become very aware of things around me, it's............ well.......... exciting!

And lastly, before I take the doggies for their leg stretch, here's a number : 227. That's the number of votes I've had for my blog, on the little blogs awards at the Dorset Cereals site! Yippee! Thank you so much, you've been extraordinarily supportive. There is a blogger, (name is 'needled', excellent blog I have to say), who has over 500 votes, so it's impossible for me to win. But if you feel like you want to vote for my blog anyway, just step over to this link, and vote for me, because you never know, I could suddenly get an extra 300 votes! Optimism is a funny thing, isn't it?!

And you know what? It's another three day weekend this weekend! Monday is a Bank holiday. So that means I'll be back here to say hello, on Tuesday. Have a good weekend, even if yours is the regular two day variety. Love Vanessa xxx

Comments

[elsy]

you are such a treat....thanks for the blog, have voted of course.....by the way the scarf is looking very good......

[Natalie]

Good Evening Vanessa, what a lovely little peek into pretty snatches of ordinariness. It's lovely to take a moment to appreciate the simple things around you isn't it.
I'm pretty certain that your blog will stay on the little blog awards for next month so you never know you may be able to drum up enough votes to win for September... I'll happily vote again then!
I suppose i should come clean now & say I nominated you; I was a little concerned that your blog didn't appear on the list until two full weeks after I put your name down. It doesn't seem fair that no one was able to vote for your lovely blog for more than half of the month but the fact you're in second place despite this shows how much people enjoy your blog!
Have a lovely weekend, Natalie x

[wonderwoman]

just love sweet peas - my fav flower! have alovely weekend.

x

[Karen]

Oh lovely someone else who loves Mapp and Lucia. We live quite close to Rye (Tilling) and often have a wander round the places in the books. E. F. Bensons home is open to the public and well worth visiting. Your interview was very enjoyable and I agree with you on almost everything! I am reading a very good biography of Agatha Christie at the moment. Have a lovely weekend. Karenx

[Hen]

Well, I found that all very interesting, Vanessa. I have to confess that if anyone asked me "deep" questions about politics and the like, I wouldn't have a clue! Nice to know more about you.
I like the pink bag. Very much. It is pink, after all!
Have a lovely weekend, the four of you! Lots of gentility (and cakes) please!
Hen x

[Amanda]

Hi! I came across your blog when I was wanting to learn how to do crochet blocks..thank you so much for the pattern and photos! I'm a lefty and this was the most helpful thing ever : ) I learned a treble, I felt so proud. I've been on LOA for maternity and oh my it's like I can't stop crocheting...lol. I am rather enjoying it. I'm sure after our little girl comes I won't have too much extra time on my hands..lol. I'm making a little baby blanket for my friend who is having a little girl named Isabella. : ) Anyways I find myself coming back to look at the great photos and what you are working on next. : ) You are very inspring!

[Mummy Boo Bear]

Loving all the colour as always! I would have found it hard to give those flowers away too. Very beautiful. Good interview. Although if I was asked a lot of those questions I would of drawn a blank! ooops.

I loved the bit of your post explaining your fuzzyness and how work is consumming you at the moment. Particularly when you said how it seems to be following you around. If you have ever seen the Beatrix Potter film, I have visions of you having moments when you are telling off your "animated" creations like Renne did in the film! lol.

Well that the state of my mind today. lol.

Have great colourful and resting long weekend. Until Tuesday.

MBBx

[Bee]

Hi Vanessa, reading the title of your posting today reminded me of this little needlepoint piece, http://www.jollyred.co.uk/line-dried-192-p.asp
It was really interesting reading your interview..(from another big Michael MacIntyre fan!) Have a lovely weekend.

[Julie]

lovely flowers for your neighbour, I'm sure they'll be very much appreciated. The picture of your table looks so lovely - cosy and homely and inviting.

Have a great weekend, enjoy the extra day x

[Karoline]

It was an interesting interview, it's good to know a bit more about what interests you.

Love the all the colours, it's been a fairly dreary day here today so the photo's where just the fix I needed.

[kitschen pink]

So, If you can persuade Mr Marr to stand then I'll add my vote. Great interview - well done you!
The only visual surprises in this house usually relate to dirty underwear or things like what happened this evening - the beautiful boy and his friend who is here for a fishing weekend, both decided to get the loppers out of the barn and cut a den into our beautiful formal laurel hedge - oh yes! That was a surprise alright!!!!! t.xxx

[Isabelle (France)]

Good evening! I enjoyed reading your interview! Do you know I am Belgian? Whereabouts did you live in Belgium?
I, like you, sometimes run to get my camera to capture a special view in the house or in the garden, in order to keep it forever.
Have a nice long weekend!
Isabelle

[sue]

Fantastic pictures as always ,enjoyed your interview as some of the others have said it's nice to know a bit more about you,have a lovely weekend

[Cath W]

oooh I LOVE Michael Nyman - he added so much to the Greenaway films. I listen to the Prospero soundtrack all the time. Have a great weekend - the scarf is coming along nicely!
: )

[Nicola]

I see you're 10 years younger than me! I like your answer to the "threat to the peace and security of the world"! Thanks for the colourful pictures (I love hanging out laundry).

[Linda]

I have only just discovered your blog and I must say I am in awe!!! your blog and your work is sooooo gorgeous, such a bright happy place to visit

[Helen Lambert]

..its so nice to see a kitchen table covered with yarn and things of beauty...mine is covered with coursework, paper and books, paint tins and turps...and we have friends for dinner tonight...wish I had asked them for afternoon tea instead!!!! ha ha

[Anna-Karin, Sweden]

It looks really nice in your garden. I love the pink bag, I have one that looks similiar when we go to the beach. One can see that you're working with colours, all the photos are so colourful and cheerful!
Even your laundry cheers me up :)
Have a great weekend (lucky you, three days...)!
Anna-Karin xxx

[gill]

love all that fabulous colour!!!!!!
keep blogging - you are the first thing i read when i turn my pc on.
just voted for you again at dorset cereals - you've now got 244 votes - YIPEEEEEEE

[Penny]

Away in France so it's been nice to get at a computer and catch up! I love your little dachshund, we collect our 8 week old miniature one when we get home next week, I may be coming to you for tips! Enjoy the bank holiday, Penny x

[margo]

Your fuzzy story also reminds me of Miss Potter. How I loved that film and introduction to her life. I had collected the books and figurines for my girls. Perhaps you have learned so well how to let yourself into the creative mode, and now may have to develop a method of winding down by saying good night to your little works with a promise to be back, and then mentally close the red velvet curtain so that you can return to yourself as you go for your doggie walkies.The fuzzy feeling has to be a bit disconcerting.

[cathleen]

Loving your beautiful posts more and more each day, Vanessa. Such a happy and colorful place to visit. Your positive personality is so contagious and that's a very good thing!!!!

[melissa]

One of the few "perks" of being a lowly government worker is we get quite a few "bank holidays" each year. Yea for Labor Day on the 7th!! I'm *assuming* you guys call them bank holidays because the banks are closed? toodles!

[gill]

hi vanessa
just popped over to dorset cereals to vote for you and you're top with 3 votes!! but you dont have a "vote" button - whats happening??

[maggie]

This is a bit late and presumably you already know that someone, the cheek of it, is selling a scarf that looks very similar to yours for £200.. page 103 September CL mag.

[Sarah - Jane down the lane]

Gosh what a beautiful feast for the eyes your blog is, why haven't I found it before? (Note to self: Must try harder!)
I am frequently spotting things that need to be captured in someway before the moment passes and always kick myself when they do and I have no means of recording them other than burning them onto my minds eye for future reference! C'est la vie!
:D Sarah

[Jen Gough]

Your scarf is just lovely...so inspiring! Love all the detail in your photos. Just wondering what type of yarn you are using?

Thanks!

[Emma]

Vanessa! I have only just realised that you illustrated 'Bring Down the Moon'! It is one of our favourites. How wonderful. I had no clue - I was just enjoying the gorgeous crochet. What a surprise - and a very very lovely one!

[Karen]

Hello Vanessa, hope you have had a wonderful weekend. Thank you for your lovely message. The title of the biography is Agatha Christie: An English Mystery written by Laura Thompson and published by Headline. It is a fascinating account of her life and writing. I wonder how Julia McKenzie will be as Miss Marple next Sunday?
E.F.Benson lived at Lamb House in Rye previously also home to Henry James. It is owned by the National Trust. Karenx

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