Dog and Snowdrops

Young Swans

Hare Moths Candle

Hare Moths Candle

Had to scan this on my computer in two parts, hope the join doesn’t show.  Put my cardigan over the scanner in case light crept through, as this is a deep edge canvas.  Needed to do the scan as it may be used as part of publicity material for an exhibition at Harestanes, an Arts Centre near Jedburgh, subject The Hare. The colours come out brighter than the original, even though I have taken otu much of the magenta.

The little ghost figure  with the candle is like Wee Willie Winkie.  In the background is a city, perhaps Sunderland, with the bridge, and  church spires or factory chimneys.  White flowers and moths shine out at night. What is the hare doing on this wasteland?  It looks alarmed, almost frozen, but ready to flee.

Windy Sky

The winds that hit North Wales at 108mph and knocked over walkers in Manchester streets, hit the Borders yesterday, somewhat reduced in ferocity, but still strong enough to prevent me being able to walk by the river on open ground.  I took off my possum hat and put it in my pocket, because it came from New Zealand and I am fond of it and didn’t want it blowing into the Tweed.  Instead of walking my usual path, I turned back. Warily watching the trees and listening for creaking, I took a short route home.  Little birds were being blown hither and thither, and even blackbirds were being blown sideways by the wind.  Little bursts of leaves whirled up from the ground like larks do Victorian novels and still do on Alderney,  but then fell back. At the same time the landscape remained calm, though clouds were being blown fast against the blue.  The word “scudding” came to mind.

Smooth and Rough Water

Snow on the Hills

The Borders sometimes has Spring so late it is hardly recognisable before the wild roses arrive; however, this year has been balmy almost throughout the winter, with only a few days of rain and blustery wind.  Only on the hilltops is there any snow, it lies there thin as a sifting of icing sugar, with above it that layer of white cloud that seems to hang there most of the day, quite unrelated to the rest of the sky.

Snowdrops and River Flotsam

The Weir 2

The Weir 1

February Sky over Tweed