Doesn't time fly!

I just looked at my watch, and did a double take, it's six in the evening, and I'm just sitting down to say hello to you, where has the day gone!

Did you have a good weekend? I hope so. Ours was a very simple weekend really, just walking the dogs, I did some work on my paintings, and Hugo tried to find things around the house to put on e-bay, to make some extra cash. I had to keep a close eye on him.

I thought you might like to see a before-and-after, with one of my paintings. I showed you the above watercolour a few weeks ago, and since then, I've been working on it. I worried that it looked unfinished, and you can be the judge of whether I've ruined it or not, because this is the painting now:

Personally, I prefer this painting after having worked into it more, it just looks more substantial, but you might disagree with me!

I'm so pleased you all liked my last post so much, I did enjoy that massive shot of colour, and glad you liked it too. So when it came to today's post, I was in two minds about it. It's starting off nice and colourful, with the photos of my painting, but I'm just about to launch into showing you pictures of our weekend walks, which are much less colourful. I prefer to put up colour filled posts, but our walks this weekend were so lovely, I thought I'd show you the photos. So be prepared for a sudden drop in cheery colour, because we woke up to a thin covering of snow on the ground on Saturday morning, so the landscape was quite powdery white.

Even the beach had snow on it. But the day was bright as a shiny new button, and the effect of the sun made us feel happy. The dogs were running round like puppies, I love that happy body language of dogs, it's so endearing.

That was our morning walk.

After going home from the beach, doing some work on my paintings, and having a quick read of the paper, it was soon the afternoon, and the light was beautiful.

And it was still light! The days are definitely getting longer, yipee!

So we went off for another walk, by the river. Inland there was more snow on the ground, but the sun was still warm. The evening light was soft. I love that soft light.

We crossed Chain Bridge, (that's it's name), and walked along the opposite bank.

It was still, you know? Peaceful, noone else around. I love having the countryside to myself. Here in the North East of England, we get deserted beaches and countryside, which must seem like a miracle to people from more heavily populated areas. When I first moved here from London almost ten years ago, I couldn't believe how deserted the roads were of cars, now I take it a bit for granted. Well, until we drive to more populated areas, then I know just how fortunate we are.

On the other side of the river, the footpath is lined with intermitent stone walls, which you can get a nice clear view of, because the trees are bare at the moment. These hand-built walls are extraordinary, don't you think? Works of art I think.

Can you feel the chill in the air, in these photos?!

When taking these photos, behind me was the river, with its banks full of the dried stems of giant, Cow Parsley, I think that's what it was.

Hugo found the most spectacularly large hollow stem of the stuff.

And Hugo did what boys do, he made it into a piece of technical equipment, a Telescope.

Well, I then thought that it would be interesting to see what the dogs would make of it.

Douglas made it perfectly clear that he was very uncomfortable looking down a tube. (Shame I didn't think of using a treat to get him to look at me).

Ellie was the perfect little performer, and I managed to get one photo that wasn't blurred, of her little beady eye looking at me.

Ellie is more of a natural infront of the camera. Douglas would rather hide from anything remotely odd looking, or even anything that isn't odd looking.

Well, I hope you enjoyed the excursion? I'm off now, to do what, I don't know. Maybe some knitting? Yes, some knitting, after I've lit the wood burning stove, it's cold in here. So I'll see you on Wednesday then? Yes? Goody! Love Vanessa xxx

Comments

[busybusybeejay]

Loved your post today.Paintings and photographs.great.I also live in a part of the country which is not overpopulated(N Wales).We are so lucky to have all this countryside around us.
I have just looked in your Etsy shop but it is empty.When can I buy?

[Janice Perkin]

loved todays post - always enjoy seeing Hugo and the dogs in that order!! - hope you are feeling better - take care

[ramya]

dear vanes.sa,

hello again. another lovely post cld almost imagine the beach as iread ur account!! u r an artist in every sense of the word!!

been working on those lil s quares feverishly s much so that the hall is littered with them as my lil princess plays about wit them. asa crochet novice i think i doin ok all thks to u!! thk u again. knitting has alwas beena passion but crochet a bugbear!
ur latest painting is shaping p great, i agree with u that the extra work put in it looks even better!!
do let us know on wed about ur progress, wont u?
see u soon
hugs
ramya

[jane smallcombe]

Hi Vanessa

Hope you're feeling better and your dizzy spells have subsided.

I was in Berwick last week - we had a break in Beadnell and travelled by train form Berwick to Edinburgh - a bit of a spur of the moment decision. We spent the morning in Berwick and arrived back early evening.

It was funny because when we returned, we walked into the town and passed a wool shop where it looked like an event was taking place. I wondered whether it was your knitting group but didn't have the confidence to knock at the door!! Maybe next time!

Jane x

[Heather]

I prefer your painting as it is now - with the depth that the water and the island adds to it.

You make me want to go to the beach! I'm jealous of your proximity to the beach. I am currently living in the dead centre of the country which unfortunately means that it is the most landlocked. Bah!
xxxx

[Isabelle]

I've done half a term on 'learning drawing and painting', good fun. What do you do your paintings on? I have done some on paper, but in is all crinkly, what do you use so they go on the wall nicely?

I like your pictures very much. I can't wait to be able to do some of my own.

[Lynne]

I enjoyed the walk Vanessa. I miss those deserted beaches you talk of. We lived quite close to one of them in the south part of Northumberland.
I love the photo of Ellie, I think you did well to get it.
Love the finished painting too.

[julia]

Hello Vanessa

I love the photo of your little dog peeping through the tube there - sorry, I mean telescope!! Your painting is great, I like the depth that the background has created, and I also wanted to write how much I enjoyed your previous post too, the colours were really inspiring!

With love
Julia x x x

[Simone]

I love the telescope stems with Hugo and Ellie looking down them. What great shots!!! Love the painting too! x

[Martha]

Oh, I love it all...the beach, the painting, the dogs....
♥

[Lesley]

No, you haven't ruined the painting Vanessa - I agree that the final version looks finished and definitely has more substance. It's lovely!

[Hen]

Hi Vanessa,
Oooh, it looked chilly in those photos, I hope you snuggled up in front of the wood burner when you got home. V pretty though, all the same. Loving the shot of Ellie, the perfect model doggie, though I think Hugo's photo with that colourful scarf is probably best. Good to see you painting anemones, such lovely flowers and in a suitably lovely painting. I think I still like the one that had the cat looking at the birdbath best (of course, I am biased to cats!) but I think it was that stripey reel of string I loved most, must have taken you ages of painstaking brush strokes. Always looking forward to see what you do next...
Hen xxx

[Mrs Bun]

I got called away before I could leave a message on your last gorgeous post. A very essential hit of colour.

The lack of colour is simply wonderful too though. Amazing photos, obviously a lot there to inspire you.

Lisa x

[Ellouise88]

Think you are right about the painting. The second one definitely looks more 'complete'. Lovely paintings, photos, dogs, etc. Really inspiring.

[Anne@andamento]

Hi there,
The plant may have been giant hogweed. I remember getting lectures at primary school about it and it was described as being like giant cow parsley and is found on river banks. The reason we got the lectures was to warn us against playing with it as it can be quite harmful, if you google it you'll see what I mean. Perhaps it's more dangerous in the summer than at this time of year.
Lovely photos of your walks though, and it's great to feel the warmth coming back into the sun a little and so nice that it stays light more and more each day.
Anne.

[Lorraine Tarr]

I Spy with My Little Eye...two precious pooches and one handsome hubby (looking resplendent in his colourful stripy scarf)
Loving those wellies too :-)
How homely the woodburning stove sounds - perfect to cosy up and set the needles flying. Hope you didn't nod off - I probably would've.
The island in your painting is giving me ideas for my hols this year - think a nice Greek Island will do the job -oooh sunshine - bring it on!!! xx

[knittingoutloud]

So much fun to go on your walk with you!

[frances]

Vanessa, it's grand to see that you are feeling better and very much up for a glorious walk.

(I do think that you have added to that painting, and that the results are fine.)

I'd also like to say that I very much like the looks of those stone walls. There is something about something from nature like those beautiful stones, being fitted together by some human, at some time ... whenever that time might have been. And then, nature again asserts herself. Quite beautiful, and very inspriring to artists for ages.

Well, what else might I write ... oh yes, know that before long you will be knitting again. xo

[Kate Bruning]

What a moment of beautiful peace in my day of frightfulness and horror (a little boy at the dentists and one of the first times he has ever just given up). Right now I am trapped upstairs desperate for a cup of tea (long story) so you post has given me the emotional shot I need. I love the colours bright and quiet.

[Pipany]

Hello Vanessa. Yes, it is very cold again isn't it? Lovely pics today, but i really want to see how the knitting is progresing please! xx

[penny]

I enjoyed that walk with you, hope it was less slippery underfoot than the one I did at the weekend. I know what you mean about wanting the colour, but then when you look a the 'white ' pictures there is the sea glass, and the lichen. Really beautiful. And the dogs! What little characters! love Penny x (Planet Penny)

[kitschen pink]

You brought the painting to life! Beautiful. Love the wall pictures. Pure, unadulterated craftsmanship! Down here we have lots of flint walling. I especially love the knapped flint walls - we have lots of pictures of those! t.x

[Mandy]

What a lovely, cheerful post. Thank you!
No, you have not ruined your picture. It is so lovely. I like your style of painting very much.

[Rachel]

What a lovely walk! Love the shot of Ellie peeping through the tube, so cute!
Rachel x

[The Girl]

That picture of Ellie is adorable!! Loving the look of Hugo's scarf as well.

[Siobhan]

What a cutie little Ellie is! I enjoyed going for a walk while keeping nice and warm at the same time. I bet it was just a little bit bracing - v good for you and beats the gym hands down I think. Snow and frost may not be colourful but it brings its own beauty doesn't it? (That's before it all turns to slush of course!) Lovely photo's - totally capturing the chilly crispness of winter; especially love the trees. I love trees so much; in the winter we get to see the bare shapes which are just so intriguing and of course we have the major beauty of Spring just around the corner. I can't wait for all that pretty blossom everywhere. You are right about the cars in London - thousands of them everywhere!
I think you were right to go on with your painting - I love its richness of colour and now it has even more depth to it; its beautiful! Nice to see Hugo wearing his colourful scarf too, it suits him.

[greenrabbitdesigns]

What a lovely walk. How cute are your dogs!!!
Vivienne x

[Joni]

Oh I'd love to more of his scarf! What is the pattern, looks simple but classic, the colors wonerdful!

[Amy]

Love the bit of glass? and the boot shot...all the nature pictures...just LOVELY! :)

[alisonb2]

I like your painting but prefer the more relaxed edge on the first. I love your mosaics, (I wish I could do them, but can't get it to work!!!) the one of the stone walls is just fabulous. Can you make some cards pleaseeeeeeee!!!!!

[sumea]

Lovely post Vanessa. My goodness Ellie is a real supermodel..she's Gorgeous!

xxx Sumea

[Jenni]

going back over your blogs Vanessa and I love the contrast between the colour and the walks. Lovely photos, thanks for sharing :-)