Reading and painting

 Having read and enjoyed The Lady in the Van by Alan Bennett I ordered some more books by him from the library. I have started The Uncommon Reader and I am really enjoying it, it is quit a short book and I will probably finish it tomorrow.

I have a hollyhock in a container, it needs a lot of watering but it has started to flower and it is very pretty. It is also a single one which are easier for the pollinators.

I also have foxgloves in containers that are very small, so they need daily watering, but again they are beginning to flower.

I went and trimmed back some beech tree branches from along the church path as they had suddenly sprouted so it was difficult to get past them.This afternoon I sorted out the edge pieces of the new jigsaw and got it done except for one piece. It will be a challenge even though it is a smaller one. As I had been asked to do a ‘yellow’ sketch for a show the WI are entering so I went out today to draw some pansies. I have managed to get it into a suitable frame as well.

Anya and family have been travelling home today, they should arrive there shortly. They stopped at a farm shop nd sent me a couple of photos.

I will finish with a collage made by Google photos, I think it is quite clever to have gathered all those rabbit images from over the years!

Dog sitting and pizza

 I will start with mentioning the jigsaw which was finished yesterday and we bought another one in. Charity shop in Blairgowrie, only a five hundred piece but will be another tricky one.

I walked into Dunkeld this morning to sit with Aurora while Anya, Louis and Isobel had a day out in Perth. I had never really looked at the centre of the statue in Cathedral square, it seems to be fishes.

Aurora was unsettled and whined for a bit but soon calmed down, although her ears pricked up if people passed the house.

Then she spent a lot of time on the sofa.

I tried to sketch her but she kept moving!

They had a good time in Perth and went along the path next to the train line that crossed the river and they went down onto the island, seeing the allotments and golf course! I really must go and check it out, looks lovely.

They got back in time for us all to meet in Birnam and have pizza from the mobile pizza van. We ate them on a bench outside the art centre.

The family went for a walk after tea and found a bit of beach for Aurora to enjoy.

To finish I ordered some bee water flowers, so cute, just a teaspoon of water in each!

A lovely final day for Anya and family, they have te long journey home tomorrow.

Humid trip to Blairgowrie

 Walking into Dunkeld on the way to see Anya and family I took a photo of some yellow antirrhinums as I have been asked to do a yellow painting! It is for a show that the WI are entering in Aberfeldy.

Sat with the family for a while before we set off for Blairgowrie. It is a pretty journey but very bendy roads and quite near lochs in some places. Sadly the noise and traffic really freaked Aurora so we headed for a small grassed square which was quiet and away from the hustle and bustle.

Louis took Aurora for a walk alongside the river, and we went and spent some time in The Nest that has lots of donated art and craft material and sells them at very low prices. We met up with Darren and Tina and went for something to eat. No dog friendly eateries so Louis stayed by the river with the dog.

We went to the dome restaurant and sat beneath the dome. Anya took a picture of us deciding what to eat and of Tina’s all day breakfast!

We met Louis at the green again and Anya went and got him some lunch then we went to look at a craft shop that does classes, but sadly on a Sunday so Tina can’t go with me.

We looked in some charity shops but no dogs allowed except guide dogs so Louis remained on dog duty. The temperature up here is not as high, but the humidity is much higher, so we were all feeling pretty washed out.

I came back with Darren and Tina and Anya and family headed back to their holiday home.

It was still a nice day and Louis and Aurora did enjoy the walk and found a spot where the dog could paddle, and it was quiet.

Pottery painting and great tennis

 This morning I walked with Darren into Dunkeld to meet with Anya and Isobel to go pottery painting, but we couldn’t get in at ten as we hoped but there was space at twelve. Darren had an afternoon appointment so couldn’t join us but we all went for a late breakfast before he went home. I went with Isobel and Anya back to their accommodation for a while. Took a couple of photos of pictures in there, nicely decorated holiday home.

We enjoyed the painting session, I will send their pieces on after I collect them.

We went for an ice cream afterwards, I love this photo.

I had been going to dog sit for the family but Louis had been on a long walk with the dog and was hot and tired, so they decided to just relax indoors. I said I would walk home nd watch the tennis, Anya walked back with me nd came in for a bit before going back, which was nice.i saw most of the amazing tennis match with Arthur Fery winning in straight sets and secure a place on the semi final.

Think o will need to do proper watering this evening.

Ice cream and relaxing

 This morning I went with Tina and Darren to the ice cream parlour where we met Anya, Louis and Isobel.

We mostly had waffles and pancakes and someof us had a small tub of ice cream before we left. I took a photo of the one of the pigs they had there, last time they were sleep.

I went with Anya and family when we left and we went to Taste Perthshire which is a large shop and restaurant. We had a good look round the shop and Anya managed to find a belt she like. They had a mini painted bear there which was very cute, maybe decorated with children’s work.

They had highland cows there and Isobel took this picture. She also took the next three yesterday, very lovely photos.

We spent the afternoon at there accommodation and played some games and started a jigsaw.

Hopefully pottery painting in the morning,

Gardening and embroidery

 I walked into Dunkeld this morning to work in St Ninian’s garden with the Birnam in Bloom group. I weeded along a flower bed and swept up leaves and after a tea break dead headed the hanging baskets. There is n mazing Himalayan lily, it must be eight foot tall. I took a second photo as it is in a shady prt of the garden and difficult to get a good picture.

I had a drink in a cafe and then went to the cathedral to do a sketch, didn’t go home because it was the knit and natter group on Dunkeld in the afternoon. I had taken my pencil case, nd that is what it turned out to be, I hadn’t put my drawing pens back in there. Haven’t done a pencil drawing in a while! Also began to have doubts about the subject matter, but you can see what it is!

I walked to the car or where the public loos re nd spotted this van.

I just carried on with my embroidery at the group, I only do it there so progress is slow. A photo when I have done more. Anya called in towards the end of the meeting as they had got the keys to their second holiday home a few minutes walk away. After the group I went along to their accommodation and she drove me home. They had been to the Hermitage this morning and there is another bear there.

I must get up there again soon.

Have watched some tennis and great to see Arthur Fery get through to the quarter finals.

We are meeting Anya and family at the ice cream parlour in the morning.