Just a quick update.  Although I feel as though I've been busy, I don't appear to have achieved much!  I did however, sustain a black eye, because I managed to lunge at the newel post at the bottom of the stairs, where I usually hang a load of stuff (bags, scraves etc), except on the day I hit my head! The whack was on the side of my head, but the bruising was around my eye.  Decided it was perhaps not a good idea to go swimming, so missed a few days.  Went back last Thursday, and managed 40 lengths.  That seems to be a good distance now, although still hard work.

Painting has been a bit on and off,  Have done a couple of live workshops in both oil and watercolour, but not overly satisfied with either of them.  There is another live oil workshop this Friday, so I'll see how it goes.

Plein air on Friday, but again not too special.  Dull and overcast and that's how my painting looked! Although it was at Osborne House, the weather really did make it a bit of a non event.

We did however go to the Island Sailing Club new members day.  It was ok, and we did manage to talk to a few people.  Although like any new members day you do feel a bit awkward.  However we did get a little snack of fish and chips, which was very nice.

As the weather is so dull and dreary it does mean there is not too much wind, and if it continues until next week, there is a chance we might go sailing, perhaps to Lymington, although  Perry doesn't want to go there again just yet! 

 My  goodness, just signed into my blog and it was like trying to get into my bank account! What  will they demand next time?

Funny week, weather very up and down, definitely getting colder and we have had a couple of really dull days.  Very depressing. I have done some pictures, but the paint alongs that I participate in, were pretty disastrous.

Anyway, I have managed to put some photos on to the computer and will show some of the things I have done:

small

 Oil on small panel

Oil on small panel.  A repeat of the one I sold at Carisbrooke Priory,

 

Another small oil on panel

 Watercolour in sketchbook

 Watercolour in sketchbook

 Watercolour in sketchbook

These are not all the paintings I have done, just a selection.

Henry and Muffin are fine.  I think they are relieved it is not as hot as previously.  However, their walks get a bit restrictive when it rains! Can't have it all ways.

Other than that I'm still keeping up the swimming and am finally feeling a bit better for it (now that I have increased the number of sessions and distance - not a lot, but enough).

So now to publish this little ramble..... 

 

 Jusr a quick update, and of course, again three weeks to catch up on.

I have been doing a lot of swimming, and I think finally it is getting a bit better.   I have also been doing a lot of oil painting, predominantly on small oil panels, which are fun.  I have done some a little larger, and obviously they take a little longer. I think I prefer the smaller ones because I can actually create a reasonable picture in an hour.

I have also been catching up a bit on watercoloour, which has been fun.

However, for the last two weeks we had our exhibition at The Carisbrooke Priory, which, as usual does take up a lot of time, and when it's over, I have to produce the accounts.  Although it was fun, this does put a spanner in the works as regards my painting and swimming, hence why everything has got a bit delayed.  Hopefully, I can now get back to a more organised week and will also start to download some of the pictures I have done. I sold a few cards and one of my small oil paintings.

I did actually go swimming yesterday afternoon, as I am very determined to improve my front crawl.  I think I did make some improvement, and today's swimming session was definitely better.

The boys are ok and now the weather isn't quite a hot, we are able to take them for slightly longer walks, although Muffin is not really up to a longer walk.

Sailing appears to have been put on hold for a little while, but again, that is something we will get round to getting back to.

Better finish here, so that I can at least publish this post. 

 

 

 

Oh dear, three weeks to catch up on.  Daniel came to stay with the girls and it was good fun.  Even went swimming with them.  Found out that my swimming strokes need a bit of work! Daniel also helped put up the pictures at the Monkton Gallery.

Henry is a lot better although things have changed a little.  He is eating less and still occasionally has a cough.

I have been continuing with my oil paintings, but have had to go a little larger because I ran out of the small canvas boards.  Next time I'm in Newport I will buy a whole lot more!

I have been swimmingj a lot, a lot lately and have been doing 40 lengths quite regularly now.  Last week I swam every day! My front crawl still needs some work, but I am working on it.

Managed to sell a picture at the Monkton gallery and next week we are back painting at the Priory.  The following week we have our exhibition for two weeks.  It was not a super success last year, so we will see how it goes this year.

 

  

 

 Unfortunately Henry has got a bacterial infection and is quite unwell.  He's on antibiotics and antiinflammatory medication (for the last two days), so we need to keep an eye on him.  Probably drank contaminated water!

I have been keeping up with the oil and watercolour painting, but not swimming.  Bad girl!  Just a bit too many things going on.  Will post better next week, when hopefully Henry is a lot better.

Daniel and the girls arriving next Friday. 

 Up and down weather. Shouldn't complain. Pool was closed for a few days and also I had a doctor's appointment, so haven't done as much swimming as I should have done.  

Been continuing with my little oil sketches

 

Have actually managed to do about 45. Just realised pictures don't look to clear.

Yesterday we went down to Fort Victoria to see the boats go through the Needles for the start of the Fastnet race.  Some of those boats are huge. 

 and this lot were amongst the second lot of starters.  The first lot were bigger than this.  We had a picnic, and saw most of the boats go through, but then it started to rain, so we went home.

I now have to take Henry for a walk, because I think he's a bit fed up.  Muffin seems to have developed a second wind and has become lively and really enjoying his food for a change.   

 It has been incredibly hot here, which has meant a big dose of lethargy.  Perry has done a couple of jobs on the boat and |I have done some painting, even been swimming.  However, we both could have done more.

Muffin had a couple of days when he very clearly didn't feel too well.  He seems ok now, but I think both boys have suffered in the heat.

I have continued with the oil painting sketches and now also started to include water colour sketches as well. 

oil sketch
 

oil sketch

oil sketch

oil sketch.  This is not all of them, but the most recent ones.

water coloour sketch

watercolour sketch.  Again, there are a few more.

 I do feel a bit more motivated than I have done of recent months, but I do still need to wind myself up a bit better.  I have continued my morning sketch, but unfortunately it's been very confined to East Cowes.  I need to move about a bit more!

Meryel and I are getting ready for our exhibition next month at the Monkton Gallery.