Last week, my outlook remained mainly sunny.  However, an unexpected  storm came over, followed by a deep depression, and lots of rain.  Luckily, the depression lifted fairly quickly, and the skies became a beautiful blue once again.
And in the midst of all this sun and showers, a lot was happening.
Saturday found me and son John getting the shed ready for a mini workshop.  We were having a morning of creativity with Dan.  He is a Friday regular, with his dad, down 'The Travs'.  We had no idea how long the session would last, or what sort of art would be achieved, from either John or Dan!  After an hour, we were all enjoying a coffee break, and rolling up the artwork for Dan to take home.
I love the painting he created.........

And whilst Dan was painting with harmony, John seemed to be having a deeply psychedelic experience, as he depicted his rabbit, Hybernia, playing on the grass with her kitten.

Hybernia  had only one offspring, unlike her sister Caledonia, who had very many.  I called her sole baby bunny 'Solo', but John named him 'Darren' after his then boss, before going on to enjoy him in a delicious recipe involving garlic and cabbage (the rabbit, that is, not Darren!)  And then, seamless link here, in the afternoon we went to Butser Ancient Farm, to attend the official opening of the Saxon Longhouse.  http://www.butserancientfarm.co.uk/

Darren Hammerton, the creator of this longhouse, is to be seen above, second on the right.  It was he who the rabbit was named after, a few years ago now, when John was working for him at the Sustainability Centre.  John was his apprentice in the construction of the longhouse, which is why we were there.  John is to be seen above, second on the left, having grown tall and strong after all those  lean meaty feasts he enjoyed.

Here is Hybernia showing her true colours.  She gets cross with strangers, and enjoys apples.  She is also good at shredding classic Penguin paperbacks, that have seen better days.

Mr Cooper and I enjoyed opening some late Christmas presents at the weekend, all the way from the Falklands.  I think unexpected presents are the way forward.... (as well as a large pile of expected presents on Birthdays and Christmas Day)  Sarah, Ali, and the cats had sent us these presents, and as Sarah and Ali are coming over to stay in the summer (Ali so he can meet his potential in-laws before he and Sarah get married next February)  we thought we would put our presents on, and take them down 'The Travs', to show Ali some of the places he will be enjoying soon.

Big smiles all round from future father-in-law, future stepmother-in-law, and future landlord, Colin.

It has been a week of trying to capture smiles with the camera.
As part of an Easter surprise for Mum, we are updating the pictures of all her grandchildren.
I gave George my camera before I went to work, with instructions to capture their good looks and sunny natures.
After work, George informed me that he had taken 3 photos of 'The Kray twins.'
This one was the best, with almost a smile happening.............

In this one, Sam seemed to be experiencing at first hand Hybernia's psychedelic lifestyle!

But I decided to try the next day.  Look, lovely smiles for mummy!

Tuesday found me at another Creative Writing Workshop at Tuppenny Barn, the last of the series on 'Journeys'.  Although I joined the group as I was very much attracted to the title 'Creative Writing for Gourmets', I have found that the titles are so open, that 'Journeys' can  end up as a burst of writing about unwanted soft toys, or the plight of women in some under-developed countries.
Thank you once again, Lizzie, for another enjoyable and worthwhile writing day.
http://www.tuppennybarn.co.uk/

Now we have decided to move house, but not very far, we have just discovered Hamblin Hall, and we went to a film evening there, showing 'The Celestine Prophecy'.  A film from the book that we have both read, and in fact  Mr Cooper has recently re-read it.  The world would be a better place if everyone was to read it.*  Terrific value, a great film and a glass of wine for £5.  We will be going again, and also checking out all the other things they do.  http://www.thehamblintrust.org.uk/

Back to work in the kitchen.  After all this creative writing, running workshops and planning works of art, the surroundings in the kitchen can seem a little mundane.  However, last week Juliette decided to brighten my existence and enliven my windowsill with the addition of flowers.
Why not go further, and turn the washing up corner into a creative corner, we thought?
A pleasing display of original artworks, a different one for each day I am there.
Here is the first artwork, a creation by George Hofman.  Some say horse, some say dog, it could be either.  It is a friendly yellow animal, plus aesthetic banana.

 I got a bit hungry and ate the banana (very physical work, washing up for 11+ hours a day) but this meant that the second yellow element of the composition was no longer!
Juliette to the rescue..........much more yellow arrived.  A burst of tulips, past their best for the restaurant, but just right for the new windowsill gallery.

If you are dining there in the near future, do look in to see what artworks are starring.  I work for only 2 days each week there, so it won't always be aesthetically pleasing, when you look into the window!
http://thegreyhoundonthetest.co.uk/ 

So, looking back on what has happened, and looking forwards to what is to come.
 Or what we think is to come, for who knows what is just around the corner for us all?
 Hopefully, mostly sunny spells this week, an egg or two perhaps, but most of all, happy times with our families and friends.  (And isn't it just right when your families are also your friends?)

* 'The Celestine Prophecy' by James Redfield.

Another busy, but on the whole successful, week.  A big success was that I was still standing at the end of it!  Last Sunday, Mothering Sunday, I went with Mum for a trip to the local garden centre, and there we ran into the Bradshaws, doing similar.  (Philip and Jayne, son Marcus and Philip's Mum)
We chatted about the forthcoming 'Sunny Hunny' holiday, as the Bradshaws always join us for a day.  Then as Philip said he always looked forward to reading my blog, and Jayne said she loved the kitchen photo series, what else could I do but have a dressing up day the following Sunday?
(To be honest, I don't need much encouragement on that front.)  It adds a different dimension doing veg prep whilst wearing heels!  I urge you to give it a try, unless of course you are doing it already.

 

I was going to focus on another area of the kitchen, perhaps to show off the new curtains, but quite frankly this is still the only decorated and tidy area of the room.  We are getting there, though.

Since deciding to wake up and then write for 10 minutes, during the whole of Lent, I have had less time to read. Especially when most of my free time has now become decorating time......you can begin to see why being upright at the end of a busy working week was indeed a success!

But, I did find enough time to read and very much enjoy the following book.  A really good story. 

It was during the week that I sadly decided that my dungarees are almost at the end of their working life.  (I think Mr Cooper had come to this decision some time ago.)  We have been together for many years now, (both me, Mr Cooper, and the dungarees) but parts of the dungarees are now no longer together!

As I look at this photo now, it seems to be like one of those images that include clues about a person's life.  In this case, 2 painted canvases,* and a wine rack.  Plus only a little bit of the clothes dryer, and a little bit of that area of life suits me fine.  (Mr Cooper is so much better at laundry matters than me.)

It is not the fact that my beloved dungarees are covered in paint that is the problem, (they are almost capable of standing up on their own now), but rather that there are so many large rips that I am now unable to wear them out of the house.  But there is  another pair, waiting in the wings.........

.................and since I have been sorting things out, I have been going through photos from years ago.  Here I am at the Great Dorset Steam Fair in 1988, just a week before John was born, clad in my favourite maternity gear!

 They are not the pair I am currently wearing!

Whilst I was working away last Tuesday, Jordan wished me 'Happy International Women's Day'.
 I had been invited to a celebratory event, but had to decline in order to try to keep the wolves from the door.  "Well", I said to Jordan, "I am doing what women should be doing.  Not only am I very firmly in the kitchen, but I am most definitely at the sink.  And to make matters even better, the head of the house (Mr Cooper of course, not me) was meeting friends for a pub lunch, and then dining out at night with best mate Kev."  Which, as my Mum would say, is only right and proper.

Last week, Sonia and I delivered our first workshop at Havelock Community Centre.  It went well, and we left looking forward to the following one.  What a lovely surprise we had, as at the start of the session, the room filled quickly and soon 15 women were busy making, sewing and planning, and wanting us to return the following week.
 There were 7 present, the previous week.  The word had spread!

We packed up with a really good sense of achievement. 
It is very exciting to be part of the start of a venture, but thrilling when it is already so well received.

And later that evening, I had time to think of this.  I had the rare pleasure of an evening in, and alone.  Just me and my sketch book, and the remote control.  And, as you can see from the spillage, a glass or two of red.

Yes I must take john to the garden at Compton Acres, when I find out where that is**, and yes I must make a jacket from the most soft, slightly furry, dotted pink fabric, from The Eternal Maker.
 https://www.eternalmaker.com/

As this week draws to a close, and as I was gathering my library books to return them (do you remember libraries? Big buildings full of books, which you can borrow for free!!  What a good idea, do you think it will catch on?) I spotted a marker I had placed in one of them.

'A Dancer in the Dust', by Thomas H.Cook  This book taught me a lot about a part of Africa, the beauty of it, but also more importantly, the differences.

I leave you with the quote, as I think it is one that does deserve a little thought.

'“ My comment is that charity is not the same as love,” Martine said.

Gessee had nothing to say to this, but Calley did.

“And what is that difference?” he asked.

“The difference is that charity asks people to give,” Martine answered. 

“Love might ask them not to.”'

What better way to leave you all, than with thoughts of love?

I hope your week is on the whole successful, and that you achieve a lot of the things you set out to do.  And remember, if you don't set out to do them, they will never get done.  Perhaps a lengthy way of saying 'Keep Buggering On' (but do have fun, too)  See you all next week.

*  These are the two painted canvases that were hidden together in the dungarees photo.

What better thing to have than a flying pic-nic?

** It is in Poole, I went there many years ago.  http://www.comptonacres.co.uk/

I am feeling that there needs to be more hours in the day, more days in the week and possibly more brain cells in my head.  This year is just getting busier,  mostly in a good way.  It does mean that my 'time juggling' skills are coming to the fore, and I am painting walls and ceilings at very odd hours.

Last year my brothers and I decided to stop buying Christmas presents for any niece or nephew over 18, but to continue for the two who are under ten.  On Monday, I went to a most marvellous craft shop in Chichester, and saw such a lovely boxed knitting kit.  It was not only so lovely, but it had Rowan's name written on it (Rowan being one of my three nieces)  So the item was purchased and posted to Rowan as a 'happy un-birthday present', something that Winnie-the Pooh was fond of, I seem to remember.

So not only do I hope that Rowan finds her knitting kit as fun as I did, but I shall have fun during this year, purchasing un-birthday presents for rest of the cousins.
(Don't worry Jamie, they won't all involve knitting!)


And it was later on Monday that I felt the need of either more brain cells, or more time to discover all about the Greek Gods.  At Trinity, the art group took on a slightly different slant.  Ali told us the story of Perseus, and we took both drawn and written notes as the tale unfolded.  In our tea break, still steeped in Greek mythology, I thought of the second painting that had been inspired by the Greek mythical figures I had seen in the moonlit sea, whilst staying on Kefalonia.

What I saw ( and Mr Cooper too) to inspire this painting was a goddess in the sea, swirling and dancing, and helping children to cross the moonlit path.  She reached out for them, and held them to safety on the other side, as she danced with them.

This is another painting that was also inspired by this.  I went on to produce a series of etchings to describe the most magical and beautiful events we saw happening in the sea that night. I will have to have a rummage in my plan chest, and track them down for you to see!

Back to the art room, and back to the dramatic part of the story.  Perseus has to sever the head of Medusa, an almost impossible task in itself, without the added problem of avoiding the gorgons, and Hades, and a 3-headed dog to boot.  As I was driving home afterwards, my thoughts were still full of myths, and magical happenings, and being turned to stone, and I recalled a painting that I had re-discovered last week, and one that I thought I had lost track of years ago.
In this painting, I am one of a couple painted as an effigy, but I am not yet dead, but I am slowly turning to stone.  I painted this when I was deeply unhappy in a relationship, and was unable to communicate successfully with my partner.

When I am going through a difficult time, I often create a painting inspired by my feelings and quite often my frustrations with the situation.
Quite a sad picture, but don't worry, myself and my then partner are both happily married.
Myself, of course, to Mr Cooper.

When I got home, I went to the garage to find the painting, as last week I had found several from the past.  But no, it wasn't there.  I had destroyed it years ago, in kindness to the other person in the painting.  So I will add instead another 'emotion packed and sad' painting.  This was painted about 15 years ago, and took 18 months to complete.  When I first met Mr Cooper, we were not able to have the easiest start to our relationship, for reasons that were out of my hands.
 It is called 'The Mistress'.

I never was a Mistress, of course, but the difficult situation made me feel like I was viewed as one.

But on a far lighter note......now I am writing regularly to inform you all of my thoughts and doings, I find myself jotting down sentences and ideas on scraps of paper, which I then find in all sorts of places.  At the weekend, Mr Cooper and I went for our usual evening jaunt to 'The Travs.'  Perhaps we didn't drink too  responsibly that night.....I do remember ending the evening with a tequila based liqueur, which reminded me of my fondness for Tequila. This made me think that  perhaps we should plan a Tequila night soon.  The next morning I found a scrap of paper on the kitchen surface which said.....'Tequila night, me and Whoops* Ho Ho Ho (bucket)  Perhaps if we do have a tequila night, we should plan to do the 'ho ho ho' but to stop short of actually needing the bucket!

Thursday saw me heading for the Havelock Community Centre in Southsea, for my first workshop there.
It is a lovely community centre, and I set-up with anticipation.

You can sense my presence, as I hardly ever travel without a bottle of water and a backpack!
The latter does tend to annoy Mr Cooper sometimes, but it contains my survival needs (water, sketch book, note book, camera, pencil case) and that's just for a trip into town!

The workshop went well, but not quite as planned.  By it's nature, these 2 hours have become a 'drop in' session, so we started at 12.30 with one person, gained another at 12.45, and ended up at 2pm with 10.  So it was a case of introducing the aims of the session about 8 times.  So next time will be mostly a continuation, with a few people coming along for the first time too.

Pop-up workshops do involve an awful lot of loading equipment into cars, then unloading and carrying items up stairs, then reversing the process.  Sewing machines, ironing boards, boxes of examples, boxes of materials.......

With the workshop being on the Thursday, I had to work on Tuesday and Wednesday at 'The Greyhound', which leaves me having about 4 hours sleep between those days.
When I re-packed my car at the end of the session, then drove to B&Q to buy yet more paint, then Tesco to buy yet more food, I felt very weary.  It was an effort to put on my painting dungarees, and put the first coat on yet another room.
Then, as my son wanted me to make an Iced Bakewell, I made my pastry case ready to be filled the next day.  We were creating a 'Festive Feast' to take to Mum's at the weekend, to celebrate Mothering Sunday with her.
When I read through the instructions, I realised I no longer had any piping equipment, and the frangipane and the red icing both needed to be piped.  Too late for that, I thought, as I coaxed the mixture to be vaguely flat over the jam, and then used a plastic bag as a makeshift piping bag......

It did taste absolutely delicious, but I must make it again, with the right equipment to hand.
It looks a bit as if I made it during a 'Tequila Evening'!  Easter is on the horizon, let's try again.

Well, I think I shall leave you with a successful baking image.

This was taken in The Pink House. If you have a broken bird bath in your garden, you too can turn it into a beautiful cake holder!  The colour of the yellow walls in this picture is when I re-painted the room, to make it more neutral, ready for sale!  You can imagine how bright the room must have been before that.......yes, it did appear to glow.

I hope you all have a productive week ahead, interspersed with fun and laughter.  I am looking for the same, but am also hoping for some cash to come along too........there has to be some compensation for carrying ironing boards and sewing machines around.  Keep buggering on!  See you all next week.

* My pet name for Mr Cooper (or sometimes Mr Whooples)