Spring is finally here, the tree in the front garden is covered in pink blossom which looks like pink snow when the wind blows.
I've been trying to grow some English bluebells, a few have come up but not as many as hoped - sorry about the blurry picture.
The cats are enjoying the weather although Daisy is a little nervous about being outside so she tends to hang round the kitchen window (yet another blurry picture)
Tomorrow is 1st May which I believe was called Beltane, a festival which marked the return of Summer wth the lighting of fires - and a chance to dance round the Maypole.

http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/festivals/beltane.html

Found an interesting new book on Amazon - Acrylic Revolution by Nancy Reyner. It's not available here till the end of June but should be available in the USA now. Have put it on my wish list. Had a look at the author's website and was impressed by her paintings.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Acrylic-Revolution-Techniques-Working-Versatile/dp/1581808046/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/026-2117146-9726027?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175357794&sr=8-1

Haven't been to the Laing Art Gallery for a few months - even though it's in the centre of town I never seem to have the time to call in. I went yesterday with my partner as it was his birthday and we had a day off work. There's a great exhibition on at the moment 'New Art for a New Era' featuring some of the artists who emerged at the beginning of the 20th Century. I must make a resolution to go more often.

While I was ironing I thought I would quickly try to sketch Carmen who was sleeping on the sofa. For a sleeping cat she moved around a lot in a few minutes. I switched on the TV to pass the time because ironing is one of the chores I hate most in the world – I would really welcome a fashion for wrinkled clothes. March of the Penguins was on – I’ve never seen it but I ended up sobbing most of my way through it – thought I would try a 30 second sketch on the back of an old envelope – need more practice …LOL

My young cats haven’t been outside a great deal so to get them used to the garden we’ve started taking them out on cat harnesses. Here’s a picture of my daughter and Jasper, a close up of Carmen and another picture of Jasper.

It was my daughter’s eleventh birthday last weekend – she had me all over Town and the Metro Centre looking in all the teen clothes shops, by the end of the day I felt very tired and very, very old!
The weather can’t seem to make up its mind – it’s been quite mild but very wet so all the flowers are confused – we already have lots of snowdrops and now some miniature Iris.

I am officially old! I got on the crowded Metro the other day on my way to work and a young man in his early 20’s offered me his seat. It was very polite of him and I’m glad to see that good manners still exist, but I was always taught to give up my seat to the elderly or infirm so where does that leave me!

January 2007 is already passing by at an alarming speed. I realise I haven't posted anything in a while - I've had a reccurance of a 'flu' type virus so I've felt pretty awful for the past few weeks - I suppose it's that time of year - 'post Christmas depression' ha, ha.

My cats are still destroying the furniture - I've never known cats chew so much, in the past few days they've destroyed a telephone, a six pack of bread buns, my daughter's favourite scarf and two toilet rolls! I'll never get any painting done at this rate as they seem to be attracted to my art supplies....

The Christmas cards have only just come down but already the shops are promoting Cadbury's mini eggs and creme eggs. Now I like both these items and eat them all year round (given the chance!) but they’ve got great big displays full of them – please give me a chance to recover from Christmas first…

2007 is here - and I've got a rotten cold (again). Some things never change....