JACK BE NIMBLE

I wish I had his energy. The above is him, mid-pounce like a polar bear breaking through ice to get to a seal. Will he ever slow down I wonder? 

 

At last; a decent picture of Snippet:

Back to his bum:

Jack does stop sometimes but always alert:

But not for long:

Snip CAN do it once he's warmed up a bit:

At the end of last week it was incredibly misty:

Nothing will deter the nimble one:

I tried fiddling with the exposure of these misty ones but they looked ridiculous and this really is what it was like:

I think the marsh looks at it's most beautiful and mysterious this way:

A few other things from this week.....

Crow:

Last Thursday I had a very welcome visit from Seagull Susie who writes the great blog Beautiful Brixham (http://brixhamlife.blogspot.co.uk/ ). We went for a walk with the dogs and spotted these strange yellow things on some grass blades. I have absolutely no idea what they are....fungi? Eggs? Can someone please enlighten me?

We saw this beautiful little fungus too. Only one I've ever seen like it:

A young Stonechat experiencing its first winter:

More crows:

Our first proper frost AT LAST yesterday morning! We can finally harvest our Jerusalem Artichokes. Isn't the sky beautiful? This was about 7.30am:

Frosty Witches' Butter on the Gorse:

A dead Foxglove with a frosting:

This looks almost unreal I think:

Frosty grass:

Frosty gate on the way to school:

Cotoneaster in my mum's garden in Chagford:

Fleabane which my mum has always called Mexican Daisy; not looking very Mexican here:

This week OB has decided to get the bus into school as well as home which has been surprisingly disruptive given it should make life easier. Being lateness averse in a massive way, we always leave much earlier than we need to which also means I can get to my mum's by 9.00 to sort her out or take her to Waitrose on a Wednesday. Now, with the bus arriving at about twenty to eight, I'm champing at the bit waiting to discretely follow them in the car. The reason we're doing it is so that he gets used to being more responsible about getting his stuff ready and not relying on us so much reminding him about homework etc. The Aspergers mind is not renowned for its ability with what I now know to be called 'executive functioning'. I can't tell you how often he walks out of the door in the morning clutching a piece of Origami but leaving his coat and bag on the sofa. According to the book recommended by GOSH, 'Late, Lost and Unprepared', we have to try and create a 'prosthetic' environment where, subtly, we make it easier for him to remember things. For example, we have dedicated places for things he has to remember, close to where he is most likely to spot them if you see what I mean. I can't say my executive functioning is great but I've learnt to make copious lists and look at the calendar many times a day!

Things are not moving fast regarding the insulin pump. I had a letter with a booking code but when I rang the number, they seemed thrown by my choice of Exeter Hospital over Torbay (no competition I'm afraid) and said they'd have to pass my details on and get them to write to me. More waiting.....

Right, time to make sure OB is reading a 'proper' book rather than a Wimpy Kid one to which he is addicted but rationed as I'm concerned he'll lose the ability to cope with text without pictures. So, until next time, here are those dogs on their way up to Kestor on that frosty morning. Sorry about the overuse of the term 'frosty' by the way.........there it is again. 

SKETCHING GRIFFIN

Commission two was for Seagull Suzie at the fabulous http://brixhamlife.blogspot.co.uk/ . A real pleasure to do a cat as I haven't drawn one since my two died almost eight years ago. Thanks Suzie! What beautiful eyes he has.

We pretty much missed out on the storm which was a huge relief. I hope those of you in this country were as lucky. So many were not. 

Not many photos today as it's been too wet a lot of the time to venture out with the camera. Half term is in full swing and OB is having a good time with his friends. Not a lot of time for photography or walking but here are a selection of bits and pieces with a smattering of Chaffinches:

Storm clouds on the horizon

Trigger and friends in a VERY brief respite before the next torrential shower

Rainbow today

Poor Jack really doesn't like the rain. Unlike Snippet, with his thick coat, his is like silk velvet which I wouldn't consider donning in this weather. I have to put a blanket over him when we get home poor little thing. Give it one winter up here and he'll probably sprout a pelt.

Thanks to everyone who has bought the Christmas cards. Only two packs left; well three actually but one lot were the models for the photo and may have the odd finger mark on them - nice. A few prints sold too which is just wonderful. So, until next time, when I hope to have got out a bit more, here are the dogs speeding through the grass over the weekend. 

DRAWING JOHN GREY'S DOGS

A few weeks ago, I drew John Grey's dogs William and George. If you don't already follow his blog, you should - disasterfilm.blogspot.co.uk. They were great subjects and, yes, here's one of those progression of a drawing posts. William first..........a more suitable candidate for pencil than pen.

When I started, I felt like I was drawing a teddy but he gradually came to life. 

Eye first, as usual

That little black nose with a tiny bit of light shining on it.

William's coat is curly so many squiggles were required.

Wrist hurting from squiggles, a break for the tail.

Lots more squiggles - sorry -maybe I should be more technical in my description, but I don't really think about it when I draw; squiggles work for William.

Filling in and defining the shadows.

Finished squiggles and more definition. 

A bit of colour....

.....and background for the finished drawing.

George next - a perfect candidate for my pen. Snippet-like so I don't think I could have done him in pencil in the same way as I've never captured Snippet that way. He was considerably quicker to do, more sketch-like and consequently I forgot to take many pictures.

Quick outline.

Eye and ears.

The face begins to appear.

Red of the collar and his lovely scruffy coat.

Finished!

Still no luck on the friend for Snippet front. Looking at William makes me hanker after a Welsh Terrier but there aren't any around here. We either have to get a young dog SOON or wait until we've been away in August and then get a puppy. We made the mistake of getting Snippet in late October and I spent the whole of November standing in the rain saying "have a wee" every half hour. It worked but I would really prefer to do that in more clement conditions. 

Until next time, here are the scans of the finished articles again. Thanks for the great models John.