The rain had made it's way here over night so a grey and miserable start to the day. I did a bit more to the portrait and watched an episode of Monarch of the Glen which I have got addicted to for a second time. A real feel good drama. Headed off to town and tried every possible shop to try and get some beads, or something that would do, for the teeth on the portrait..Didn't succeed  but was given an idea by the lady in Fandangles. Beginning my was back I thought these clouds behind the buildings looked like smoke. Maybe not quite the same in a photo.

Several gardens round here have what I think are Californian poppies, may have to go out with a trowel one night so they adorn our garden too!

Walking back up our road I just marvel that the plants that grow out of the brickwork can get enough sustenance!

I have now finished off the portrait, well, all I intend to do to it anyway!

I topped the teeth off with small pieces cut from pearlescent sequins!

This morning I went into town to see if I could get some different shades of beads for the portrait, which, although I am disappointed with it and it doesn't look like Marilyn, I will attempt to finish it. I did get some more beads and did a little to the picture when I got home. Tina had a meeting way along the south bay this afternoon and offered to drop me off there so that I could walk back. It was a grey day, but not cold, the sun never did appear here today. I took a picture as I was further along than I have been before.

It was obviously a less populated and trodden area as there were rabbits out enjoying the grass in broad daylight.

Oliver's Mount was hidden by the low cloud.

Before I did much walking I did sit down and do a quick pen sketch. I am not great at the cliffs and seascapes, but if I keep taking the sketch book hopefully it will come more easily.

It was quite a steep stony path on the way down, so I had to go pretty carefully as going down bothers my knees more that going up (going up the knees are okay but I can't breathe!)

I walked on the beach for a bit and took one of the boulders along the beach at that end.

Then took one of the castle as I walked along the sea wall.

A bit later when the castle had disappeared because of the sea mist.

Walking up towards the valley bridge took this misty one of the Grand Hotel.

Then one of the mist really descending, it has come down even more since I came home.

I saw the acorn plate on the way home, it needs a couple of sharp points removed so just took a photo. The acorns are barely visible, obviously it works better using the Sharpie on top of the paint, but that is more difficult and not kind to the pens!

This morning I decided to try getting to The Mere on the bus again. All was well this time, the bus stop was a little way from the Mere, but a lovely day so pleasant to do a bit of extra walking. Didn't have to walk right down to the car park, there was a cut through so a different approach.

A lovely welcoming party!

Ducks, geese and swans, not too unusual here I know!

Then a swan family.

Plus vibrant flowers.

Today I wandered around the further lake which was the 'wild end', not many water birds and no  people today apart from a couple of fishermen.

A baby bird was on the ground next to me and froze so that I could get a picture. Not sure what it was but thought it may be a thrush. I haven't seen any thrushes for years.

I took a path which was really not used a lot, think I got stung by a few nettles!

On the way back this gull was at the edge of the lake and I don't think it is one of the usual ones that I have seen.

When I came home I watch a dvd, as I had done more walking today than I have in a while, but I wasn't exhausted, just thought it wise to have a rest. Then I did some more to the portrait, I knew it would be difficult and am not sure whether to continue really, but probably will!

Off to see a show at the YMCA tonight.

This morning Darren and I went along to the Parish House to be there when Tina took her first full communion service. She did really well, and it is a very pretty little chapel there. Then I had a quick chat with the ladies at the studio and left there to go off for the button class. Just three ladies today. Sue is getting on really well with her plaque for the Fandangles shop. They were very generous giving us some love beads a few weeks ago. I did take in a card and pot plant as a thank you, but Sue was keen to make something more personal for them to display in the shop.

I managed to do a bit more to the portrait picture, I have left the hardest part until the end!

I came home for a bit and did a bit more to the picture, but the weather was so lovely I decided to take a short walk down to the front. Then, as I am feeling a little less tired, I decided to try going back the cliff way.

The a little way up this is how it looked!

The view was very good and I managed to make it to the top without being too out of breath!

I took a different path along the cliff top and then started a zigzag walk down, but ended up having to come down these steps and wasn't far from where I had started going up!

I watered the gardens and the ladybird poppy has burst into life with flowers!

Yesterday evening Tina and I went to collect our auction purchases. Both oak bookcases except mine is also a very unusual writing desk, and both over 100 years old! This is Tina's, a really nice piece of furniture.

Then here is mine, closed and open, very unique I think!

This morning Tina gave me a lift to the studio on her way out. When I got there Sandy was on the phone and was talking to Donna who had fallen down the stairs in the night. She couldn't bed her arm and was in a lot of pain, so I covered the shop while Sandy took her to the casualty department. I was there a couple of hours and the good news was that her arm isn't broken, just badly bruised. It is her right arm so she won't be painting any of her beautiful items for a little while. After that  walked through town and up to Sainsbury's to get a bit of shopping. When I was waiting for the taxi to collct me there was a fairly unusual vehicle parked opposite me, well, in a store car park anyway.

I have had a pretty quiet afternoon but have done a bit more to the hair of the bead portrait, not convinced it was one of my better ideas!

Another moody sky last night!

Had a reasonably quiet morning and made sure I was here to let a painter come to price up the external woodwork. The tamarix, which survived well, has now come into it's feathery best.

I went off to the button class, which was a pleasure as usual. Linda did a butterfly on a post card for the show in the summer to raise money for the hospice.

Sue finished off her simple but very attractive canvas using painted, re-cycled toilet roll centres.

And I made a good start on my Marilyn picture. I had put a few on before but pinged some of them off and used different beads.

After the club Tina and I went off to the auction house, more about that tomorrow!

Last night I finished the edging on the table mats I started a good while ago. Better corners on the later ones, so another skill sort of mastered!

It was a nice day and I had decided to go to The Mere on the bus and have a walk round and maybe do a sketch. Was at the bus stop in good time, but the bus went sailing by even though there were two of us at the stop! The information place wasn't open and the girl at the station said she knew nothing about the buses. Had to think of a quick plan B and crossed the road and caught a but to Filey instead. I turned down a different road once there as there was a sign to a park with facilities, but after a good while it was nowhere to be seen, so obviously a sign for drivers, Passed a nice , compact church building.

Then walked along a road towards the front with very strange walls to the small gardens.

There was a lovely shaded walk down to the promenade.

With some gorgeous flowers.

And...Filey has lots of steps too!

I walked along the front and was looking for something to sketch. There was a garden near the front where I could sit with my back to the sun. Took quite a while as I had a very sore bottom when I had finished!

It is a steep hill going back to the town. I made it without being too puffed out, so signs of improvement there! This was looking back down.

Back in Scarborough there were some native American buskers in very colourful outfits attracting quite a lot of attention.

I watered the gardens when I got home and don't plan to do a lot this evening. May watch some of the Grand Prix. I had a sore throat when I got up and am developing a cold, any excuse not to be busy!!