Winter's back

The spring weather has been and gone and collapsed - we had a few days of sunshine last weekend which saw great activity in the garden and happy moods all round. Now it's back to grey skies and rain. As a well waterproofed hound I am of course only too pleased to splash about in rain-sodden fields but I do note a marked lack of enthusiasm in the arty ones.

April is going to be busy - her ladyship has now stopped paid employment to concentrate on arty pursuits full time. I hope the Workhouse name does not prove too apposite in the coming months. (Good word that, coming from a labrador, don't you think? I quite impressed myself) There's the imminent launch of the Border Tart and several outings lined up for Hugh's pics.

The ones above are both for sale online - they are acrylics on canvas panels, 30cm x 40cm x 4cm deep, and are £80 each including postage (UK) or £85 (all other countries). The duck is called Giles and he's a richer colour than may be showing on your screen, very orangey at bottom left corner. That's the commercial over with, folks. Update: BOTH SOLD!

I am contemplating allowing Hugh a monthly guest spot on the blog - possibly entitled The Oily Rag - so that he can rattle on about Land Rover adventures. Now don't hold your breath....

Mad March Hares

I've been chasing hares - not catching any, I admit, but I have been trying hard. And there was SNOW this morning which as any fule kno, makes for extra special sniffs. However, it was just as well there was fun to be had because yesterday was a very long quiet day with no exercise as him and her set off at five o'clock (without giving me breakfast) to drive down to Herefordshire and back (550 miles) to pick up some unsold pictures from a gallery. They has rain, wind, drizzle and then glorious spring sunshine (that was the farthest south bit) then the same in reverse on the way home.

I spent the day next door with Lindsay's mama - and they eventually re-appeared at nearly nine o'clock. It transpired they had decided to visit the Royal Air Force Museum near Telford on the way home, so they were both spouting bizarre facts about ejector seats, transporter planes and the Cold War. Bit of a mystery to me but they see to have enjoyed themselves, bless 'em.

Hugh's latest landscapes are gathering in preparation for various exhibitions locally over the next few months. The one above is called On the Skyline and is 36" x 14" with lots more detail than you can see here. Bulk supplies of paint and canvases have arrived. Lindsay is all excited because lots of them are for her and she is itching to clear a space in the scrap store up the ladder that she calls her room, and get started.

Meanwhile, she made lemon curd for the recent jumble sale - it always looks and tastes lusciously rich because it's our own hens' eggs - and those girlies know how to eat! There are eggs in the incubator which should hatch in a couple of weeks' time so watch this space for cute chick pics. L is also toying with the idea of offering people the chance to sponsor a chick for a year for a one off cost of £10 - you get chick pics and updates and then lemon curd or meringues made with your chick's eggs when she's old enough to lay 'em!