Another New Bird

It would seem that word has got around in the bird community that we love birds at home!

We have had this pigeon hanging around for the past 4 days now.It came down in the recent storms and seems very reluctant to leave!

Its a racer and has rings on both legs but its decided it likes living here better than its loft-wherever that is.

Hes very tame and follows Bill around like a dog, he was outside the bedroom window this morning waiting for us to get up!

Sundorne WI--- Wed 2nd April

After a busy start to the week getting work on a commission nearly finished, we had a trip to the other side of Shrewsbury to Sundorne WI.
The letter sent when booking stated that they met at "The Lantern"
Unusual I commented to Bill-they meet in a pub!
When we followed the directions to The Lantern we found it was not a pub but a community centre!!
It was packed when we arrived, and we set up at the back of the room while their meeting went on.
They turned their chairs around watched my demo -there were a few questions but mainly it was silent!!!.
I finished the first painting in record time-Winter Wonderland was finished in less than 15 mins-and I was stopping to talk as well as painting!
There were many comments when I carried the painting round after I had finished it, -a lot of people said "its the first time Ive seen an oil painting that looks fantastic close up as well as at a distance"
When I started the second painting "Summer Day" it was even quieter-again I finished in record time.
Joan won the 'Winter Wonderland' painting and I donated the 'Summer Day ' painting to the WI to use for raising funds for their chosen charity.
I am conscious that all of the WI and art groups that have booked me to demonstrate all have to pay for the room that they meet in by the hour, so if my demo goes on for too long they have to pay out more money for the room, so I have to keep it as short but imformative as possible.
So my demos range from 60 mins to 120 mins depending on their circumstances!
There are lots of interested ladies in Sundorne WI that will be coming to a class.
I have 3 ladies from Hadnall WI coming again to class tomorrow.
This will be their 3rd time.
I also have one of the WI members neighbours booked for a class at their home for 6 people! Its all go at the moment!

WELL DONE JIMBO

I havent had the finishing results yet but my son Jim finished the rally at WEston Park today. The car ran brilliant, a previous over heating problem he had was sorted out and he was chuffed to bits with his performance today.
He is out celebrating with all his rallying mates tonight!

Oliver's Birthday Party

We had a lovely time today at Olivers birthday party.
We met Oliver a while ago at one of the craft fairs here in Ludlow. He came along to the first oil painting class of the year and is booked in to do the "African Dream" one on March 8th.
All six of the children had great fun using the encaustic irons,wax, and special tools. Their imagination ran riot with all sorts of wonderful things being spotted in the finished pictures.We had polar bears, foxes,dogs, people, fishes--you name it we had it!!
Everyone really enjoyed themselves, and apart from Oliver who had one go at it previously at the craft fair-no one had come accross this unusual way of creating art before!
Oliver was very pleased with his birthday present of a frame big enough to put his big picture into that he created today!

What a start to the day

This beautiful bird flew into our patio doors this morning as we were getting ready to go to the class.It must have been attracted to the ponds.
Bill had never seen a kingfisher in his life-the only time I had seen one before here,it flew off before Bill saw it.
Unfortunately this one broke its neck when it hit the glass.
My friends son used to be a taxidermist and he came and collected the dead bird from the class. I do not like stuffed animals myself but kingfishers are so rare to see these days, I am glad that Dave is able to preserve this beautiful bird.

Landgrove WI

This is Maggie-the president of Landgrove WI.

We first met at last weekends Three Counties Show when she was helping with the refreshments.

When we arrived last night to do the demo/talk the rest of the WI'ers sang 'happy birthday' to her -and guess what --she won the draw too---she was over the moon to choose 'summer day ' as her prize.

The WI will be holding a special draw for the other painting 'the waterfall' next month to raise money for the 'Acorn' childrens hospice, that is local to them.

We had an earlier night than expected because I did my talk and demo before they had their normal meeting as they knew we had to be up early to be at Shobdon Flower, Food and Drink Festival.! So we were back home at 10pm in time for me to clean my brushes and pack the bits and bobs that hadnt been taken to Shobdon earlier in the day!

Paddy

Im not the only one in the house who likes Weight Watchers yogurt! Just look how he turns his head right round!He licks it out clean with his huge black tongue--I have tryed to get photo of his tongue but hes too quick!

Rescued!

This little baby sparrow was bought in on Saturday night by Sparky Cat.We heard him coming across the roof mewing so we knew he had caught something! When told to 'DROP IT' he always does so and the sparrow was taken downstairs given a drink of water and put in a pryex bowl with some kitchen towel until morning.I took him outside and put him on top of the summer house roof and he flew off down the woods!

Birds

Bill spent an hour in the garden yesterday filling up the various bird feeders and tying some fat balls to the washing line.We were rewarded this morning by this woodpecker who loves the fat ball!

We alos have a family of bull finches who come down to feed at the one bird table-its beautiful to see the more unusual birds here.