The Gorge WI Ironbridge.

We went over to Ironbridge yesterday to do the first demo of the year...Maureen the club secretary has been to quite a few of my workshops after we met at Ludlow market over a year ago..so she recommended me to the organiser Ann..we put up the display of paintings and greetings cards as well as it was quite a big room.I was able to do my demo first before the ladies did they meeting and then we stopped for coffee and did the raffle for the paintings. There were quite a few ladies who painted already there so there were some questions from the audience about the techniques I used.I painted the usual pictures I use for demos--The Waterfall and Summers Day as they use a wide variety of techniques and brushes to achieve the picture-they are also very quick for me to do as I have had lots of practise doing them....I actually had the waterfall picture done in less than 20 mins right from blank canvas to signing it much to everyones amazement,,,,the Summers Day took a little longer at 25 minutes! That left 15 nmins for me to chat to the ladies about the workshops in more detail.

the paintings were passed around after so everyone could take a closer look..

Elizabeth won the Summer Day and Jenny The Waterfall... we will see one of the ladies here at Ludlow for the Stormy Skies and it looks like we may go over there and do a workshop with the ladies as well...

Poor Sparky -Again!

Sparky cat never does things by half....not content with having herpes in his eye-requiring anti-viral and anti-biotic cream being put in it 4 times a day, he has managed to acquire a huge abscess on his shoulder as well.We noticed he was quieter than normal yesterday and he dint want to go out, but we just thought the windy weather was upsetting him,,and his eye looked sore as well but late last night we noticed the swelling on his shoulder and realised it was probably an abscess.Took him to the vets this morning who said he would have to stay in and have an op to drain it :-((  so we left him there while I went to Ironbridge to do the first demo of the year.....

We picked him up at 6pm m the vets nurse said he was fine and he had been a little darling with them,,,,hard to believe he can be such a little monster at home--he is always sweetness and light when he goes to the vets bless him.He had a buster collar on his head to stop him licking the wound which has been left open and not stitched so it doesn't heal too quickly with bacteria still inside it..and poor Sparky is scared stiff of it! As soon as the cat basket was opened he went loopy--ran off bashing into everything, up and down stairs ,into windows, he was just terrified...we managed to catch him and stick him back in his carrier..and rang the vet who said he must keep the collar on at least overnight.So we have borrowed a big dog carrier to put him in so he has more room to lie down and move about in there..While he was under the anaesthetic the vet took some blood from him and they spun it to get the white blood cells out of it, these have to be dripped into his poorly eye along with the antiviral cream  as well, hopefully this will help the eye to heal--if not he will be referred to the specialist veterinary eye hospital nearby.So he is feeling rather sorry for himself at the moment...so fingers crossed it wll all start to get better and we can get the collar off him,,I have ordered some Feliway for him to help him be less stressed..we have used it once before when he had to be house bound and it worked wonders---he hates being kept in the house-and using a litter tray-but he will not be going out for some time by the look of things!

dates for 2012

I have made a start for the dates for your diaries in 2012----there are a few new venues this year.....and no doubt I will be adding some more as we go!
ALL DATES ARE WHEN IM AT THE MARKET IN CASTLE SQUARE, LUDLOW UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED-THERE WILL BE MORE VENUES/DATES ADDED AS I GET THEM!

FEBRUARY DATES

SUNDAY 26th FEB--LUDLOW CRAFT AND COUNTRY MARKET


MARCH DATES

SUNDAY 11 th MARCH--LUDLOW CRAFT AND COUNTRY MARKET

SUNDAY 25th MARCH --LUDLOW CRAFT AND COUNTRY MARKET

 APRIL DATES--

 WED 4th APRIL -LUDLOW MARKET

WED 11th APRIL---LUDLOW MARKET

WED 18 th APRIL----LUDLOW MARKET

SUN 22nd APRIL-LUDLOW MARKET

WED 25th APRIL --LUDLOW MARKET

MAY DATES---
MONDAY 7th MAY --DILWYN SHOW-FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY

WED 9th MAY-LUDLOW MARKET

 SUN 13th MAY--MARCHES FOOD SPRING FESTIVAL/MARCHES TRANSPORT-FUN FOR ALL ON CASTLE SQUARE

WED 16th MAY --LUDLOW MARKET

WED 23rd MAY --LUDLOW MARKET

SUN 27th MAY-LUDLOW MARKET

JUNE DATES

WED 6th JUNE--LUDLOW MARKET
SUNDAY 10th JUNE-BOOK AND CRAFT,CASTLE SQUARE ,LUDLOW

WED 13th JUNE--LUDLOW MARKET
WED 20th JUNE  --LUDLOW MARKET
FRI 22nd/ SAT 23rd /SUN 24th JUNE SHOBDON FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL-FANTASTIC WEEKEND FOR ALL THE FAMILY

WED 27th JUNE-LUDLOW MARKET


JULY DATES

WED 4th JULY--LUDLOW MARKET
SAT 7th/SUN 8th JULY--BROMYARD GALA-STEAM ENGINES AND LOTS OF FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY

WED 11th JULY-LUDLOW MARKET
WED 18th JULY--LUDLOW MARKET

SAT 21st/SUN 22nd JULY-- MUCH MARCLE STEAM SHOW

WED 25th JULY--LUDLOW MARKET
SUN 29th JULY--LUDLOW MARKET


AUGUST DATES

WED 1st AUG --LUDLOW MARKET
THURSDAY 2nd AUG -- BURWARTON SHOW--LOTS OF FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY..

SAT 4th  AUG-   TENBURY SHOW-LOTS GOING ON FOR ALL THE FAMILY

WED 8th AUG --LUDLOW MARKET

SUN 12th AUG--CRAFT AND COUNTRY MARKET
WED 15th AUG ---LUDLOW MARKET

WED 22nd--LUDLOW MARKET
SUN 26th /MON 27th AUG  BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND-ONSLOW PARK STEAM RALLY-LOADS OF FUN AND THINGS TO SEE.

WED 29th AUG---LUDLOW MARKET


SEPTEMBER DATES

WED 5th SEPT---LUDLOW MARKET

WED 12th SEPT---LUDLOW MARKET
SAT 15th /SUN 16th SEPT--BISHOPS CASTLE MICHEALMAS FAIR-FANTASTIC SHOW WITH LOTS GOING ON FOR ALL.

WED 19th SEPT--LUDLOW MARKET
SUN 23rd SEPT BOOK AND CRAFT FAIR CASTLE SQUARE

WED 26th SEPT-LUDLOW MARKET

SUN 30TH SEPT --ART MARKET--CASTLE SQUARE , LUDLOW

OCTOBER DATES

WED 3rd OCT --LUDLOW MARKET

WED 10th OCT--LUDLOW MARKET

SAT 13th OCT -TENBURY APPLE FEST.TENBURY WELLS
SUN 14th OCT -- BOOK AND CRAFT, CASTLE SQUARE,LUDLOW

WED 17th OCT--LUDLOW MARKET

WED 24th OCT--LUDLOW MARKET
SUN 28th OCT --- HALLOWEEN CRAFT AND COUNTRY MARKET

WED 31st OCT---LUDLOW MARKET

NOVEMBER DATES
WED 7th NOV--LUDLOW MARKET
WED 14th NOV -LUDLOW MARKET
WED 21st NOV--LUDLOW MARKET
SUN 25th NOV --MEDIEVAL FAIR CASTLE SQUARE,LUDLOW-LOTS GOING ON ALL WEEKEND FOR ALL THE FAMILY
WED 28th-NOVLUDLOW MARKET


DECEMBER DATES

WED 5th DEC--LUDLOW MARKET

SUN 9thDEC-- CHRISTMAS CRAFT AND COUNTRY MARKET ,CASTLE SQUARE,LUDLOW

WED 12th DEC--LUDLOW MARKET

WED 19th DEC --LUDLOW MARKET

Happy New Year 2012

The girls went back to Sunderland in the morning, so then then we got stuck in to getting the food ready for our News Years Eve dinner for our friends Marion and Phil....

table laid all ready....

pink bubbly....yummmmmmmy

garlic mushrooms to start.....

and the leg of pork was just beautiful....best we have had for a long time..

and you just have to have some seasonal sprouts!  Everyone was too full up to have any Christmas pud after all that...though me and Marion did manage some at 10.30pm with some brandy sauce!  We had a great time..listening to some oldies on a Sky channel Marion introduced us to no 369 plays nonstop golden oldies---we laughed our heads off at some of the fashions they were wearing ! All in all a great start to the new year for us.Wishing all our friends and family a wonderful new Year xxxxxxx

Grandchildren At Christmas

Hollie and Lucie came down from Sunderland to stay for 3 nights on Wednesday,,,they were full of beans to say the least....they got stuck in to opening their pressies..

and Lucie fell in love with Biscuit the doggy,

and they both loved my magical snow globe (that is hidden behind the vase with lights in !)

loving Biscuit the doggy...

and Sally the dolly..

we went visiting on Thursday,,,,,to see Auntie Maureen , Uncle Roger and family..

and poor Lucie was quite tired out by it all bless her...

they we went to see my best friends----they had a whale of a time there....

then home to get changed and have their hair done ready for a party at my brothers house...

little Lucie has the prettiest blonde curls..

my niece Natalie made these beautiful cup cakes...

that the girls just loved...

and then she kept them occupied with the crayons and paper--thanks Nat!

they ended up dancing on the worktops.......

today we  had our youngest little grandson round to the house--Ollie...he joined us along with his mummy for dinner....it was lovely to see the little cousins getting along together..they grow up soooo fast....the girls are off back to Sunderland tomorrow with their Daddy...and then we are getting ready for our friends to come round for a slap up New Years Eve meal.... Garlic mushrooms, roast pork and all the trimmings and Christmas pudding and brandy sauce...I cant wait!

Snowmans Winter Wonderland

Way back in the summer I met a lovely chap called Trevor and his son Mark when on Ludlow market..we got chatting and Trevor asked if I could do a commission for him.     He explained that he collected Royal Doulton snowmen and every Christmas he set up a nativity scene with them and wanted a backdrop to put behind them...so I got out my oil paints and a 36in x 14in canvas and got cracking!      Trevor wanted Cotswold stone walls, a 5 bar gate, hills and a distant village, all in shades of blue ,black and white. I was pleased with the result and when Mark bought his Dad to collect it -he loved it but I couldn't quite imagine it in situ with the snowmen!    How chuffed was I tonight to open an email from Mark with the photo of it in situ with the snowmen...Trevor had promised me he would let me see what it looked like...I love it! Thank you both so much for letting me see it---Happy New Year to you both, and I will look forward to seeing you both on the market again in the spring when we are back!

Christmas...so far..

Christmas Eve and I had a large glass of lovely Baileys while I was getting all the Christmas goodies prepared before our friends came round for a few hours....

The ham joint got cooked in Coka Cola....if you have never tryed it-you don't know what you are missing!It gives the meat a beautiful flavour and turns it a dark brown.......I would cook ham any other way now...

the cranberry and port sauce didn't take long to do...

and the luxury bread sauce was done in the microwave,,,I have to make enough for my sisters family as well.......its one of my favourite bits of Christmas dinner..

my special layered stuffing was soon prepared-mainly by Bill this time as I was busy getting the table done..

A black and white theme this year...

The Camembert was studded with loads of garlic and Bill made some mulled wine -and we had a lovely couple of hours with Marion and Phil, dipping crusty french stick into the gloriously melted garlicky cheese,then we started on the pate!  Christmas feel like its really here when we start on the mulled wine with our friends!!

My son Jim called by to drop off some pressies and Jake decided he was going to take advantage of Jim's slightly drunken state and try and tear the buttons off his shirt!

Christmas Day----The turkey this year was one of the smallest and cheapest we have ever had---only me and Bill for Christmas lunch this time so we didn't need a huge one----have to say it was one of the best we have ever had! Bill covered it in bacon , loads of butter under the skin and it was just beautiful and moist and very tasty--thank you Aldi! As it was only a small one we cooked it on Christmas morning instead of Christmas Eve which was another first for us! We had a huge piece of beef to cook in the afternoon ready for Boxing day..

the stuffing was cooked to perfection..lovely and crunchy outside...and moist inside.It was first for us to have just the 2 of us for dinner---its usually a very busy day--so it was nice to have a relaxed day with no pressure to get things done to a timetable...my lovely daughter Becki and Wayne called by for a couple of hours,which was lovely!

Boxing day we had 15 for lunch so we had a very busy time from when we got up...I got on and made a lemon and lime cheesecake, while Bill was busy making a beautiful cheese,ham and tomato quiche....

the table was groaning with food by the time we had finished--besides the heated food warmer keeping the buttered potatoes, bread sauce and other hot bits warm and another table with all the sauces etc on..

Bill quiche was still warm when everyone arrived---it really was scrummy

Bill got the cream done for the  trifle,,

while everyone was having a breather from all the food--my niece Natalie gave me a manicure, couldnt decide which colour I wanted so ended up with 10 diferent ones...

I wish we had a bigger front room,half of us were in the kitchen lol....

looks like my brother had enough to eat and drink.... we are having another quiet day today  .Hollie and Lucie are coming down from Sunderland with their dad tomorrow and staying for a few nights so the peace will be shattered then , but it will be lovely to see them and help them play with their huge sack of new toys they have off us for Christmas!

Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year

I would like to wish all my family, friends students and future students and very Merry Christmas and a Happy,Healthy New Year....lots to look forward to for me and Bill with our  new baby grandchild expected in May around Bills Birthday....some new shows to attend and new students to meet and teach to paint...an exciting year ahead....

Congratulations!

A huge big CONGRATULATIONS to my lovely daughter Becki and Wayne her fiance.....they got engaged in Cuba last week while having the holiday of a lifetime!   Wayne did it properly down on one knee on a moonlit beach---very romantic!   I can honestly say I couldn't have picked a more lovely husband for my Becki if  I had tryed..he is a real darling--- and we love him to bits!    Everyone is soooo happy for them...So we are looking forward to a new baby in May  next year followed by a wedding the following year---unless those 6 numbers come up first of course!

Poor Sparky -Again!

Poor Sparky is in the wars AGAIN!  This time he has been fighting with another cat and has 6 yes 6 scratches on his eyeball. So He was down to the vets yesterday who put some dye into his eyes which showed up the scratches. So we have to put cream into his eye 3 times a day and he has to go back tomorrow for the vet to see if its helping. Thank goodness we didn't cancel his pet insurance as we were tempted to do when it came up for renewal....they upped the excess to £100 as he has turned 10 years old now...but its looking like a good job we didn't cancel it , the vet said eyes can be hard work to get right,,so fingers crossed the cream does the job!