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Lockdown Notes April 2020
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Posted
Somehow we have made it through the first three weeks in one piece. I am able to go out, my husband not, though he drives the half mile to his allotment where he can talk across the fence to his neighbours! He also spends endless hours in the greenhouse bringing on new plants and seedlings. I am able to continue my daily morning dog walk mainly along country paths (small sketch book in pocket) and fields so pass few people mainly other dog walkers, and distancing is easy.
We’ve been able to organise a regular food delivery after initial struggles and the main difficulty is we miss seeing family so much and just being able to pop out in the car for a trip out.
When this started, people here said they would do loads of gardening and art work and there’s no doubt a lot of good work has been posted especially for Dawn’s blue NHS challenge, but it seems to me some of our regulars are a little quiet and I wonder if they are all ok. Maybe the usual inspiration of springtime is not the same because we can’t get out among it.
The tv news is so dire that I thought I would open this discussion for people to clock in with something that has made them smile. It doesn’t need to be art work. Being Easter weekend when we are usually out and about visiting family makes it especially hard, but if we stay safe there will be better days ahead.
This little cartoon was emailed by our parish priest, and the other photo is or our almost tame blackbird who is nesting in a small tree in our front garden. The title is ‘how many worms can you get in your beak!’
Posted
Like most people we have been sticking to home only going out for a short walk in the local park. I’ve found that I have needed to motivate myself to paint as my mind is drifting onto other things , not always bad. To do something different I started to paint the garage doors, after sanding them down, apart fro the benefit of them looking good in the end, I have been able to chat with passing neighbours at a distance. Garden is looking great, and due to the warm weather things are growing nicely.
The highlight of my week I when my daughter bring the shopping, as the have started adding unknown treats, the best bit is my two youngest granddaughters come with her. The always bring a painting or drawing etc, but it their smiles and cheerfulness that the big boost. Hope you all stay well and safe, like Tessa I have noticed that some people are missing.
Do let us know how you are.
Posted
Hi, I think this is a really good thread Tessa, I too have been very quiet with my painting, mainly due to being out in the garden, painting fences, moving plants from back patio doors where we were supposed to have been getting a conservatory built, but that's been put on hold for the time being. Online shopping is proving to be a bit of a nightmare trying to get slots!! although I have just got an Asda delivery this morning. My painting has been next to none but I have been painting birthday cards. The reason I havn't posted any of these is because I have copied them from pieces of Art Nouveau jewellery. So pleased that you are all ok, its hard not seeing family and friends, enjoy your Easter weekend, Linda, here's some tulips from the garden to brighten your day, feel free if you want to paint them!!!
Posted
A lovely idea for a thread Tessa. I must admit that though I have done a daily sketch since 1 January, I've not done any acrylic or oil paintings at all. Lots of baking biscuits and making soup! Was lovely to see what looked like every member of the street between the ages of approximately 5 and 80 out to clap, ring bells etc, for the NHS last night. A neighbour has set up a WhatsApp group for the street to with the intention to get us through this but also with the lovely plan of arranging a Street Party/Ceilidh in 2021 - something to look forward to. Here is a photo of a little visitor to help cheer people up - we have been seeing quite a few of them - and I think most cats are inside at the moment so coming right up to the window at times. You are welcome to paint this if you want.
Edited
by Margaret Nisbet
Posted
I am the opposite to you lovely people in a way, I have had a week of work, so I have been painting a lot. Plenty of time to take my mind off working. As you can guess being a postman I get to see and talk, to a lot of people most days. I also get to spend a lot of time outside. Some of the people on my round I know have family live miles away, so I am their only conversation they can get. Its a sad reflection, that some neighbours don't talk to each other. As you all say the weather is great for gardening, spring has certainly sprung, here in east anglia. Summer is rushing close behind. Seeds are germinating well, so we shall have a great variety of home grown again this year. Rhubarb growing well, and we are on our second crumble of the year now. For the lack of sugar we would be making some rhubarb Jam. Keep safe and hope to see some paintings from you all soon.
Edited
by Alan Beresford
Posted
Thank you all for joining in, feels a bit like a seance! So glad you are all ok. There are a few more I’d like to come through, but plenty time.
Alan you may have the best of it. My husband worked in the PO and sorting office some years ago and I know the postie is a lifeline for some, so keep up the good work.
We also had the big clap last night for the wonderful NHS. I discovered yesterday that one lady I meet occasionally dog walking is nursing end of life patients who have the virus, brave lady. Heroes all around us.
Margaret, what a beautiful blue tit photo. Will keep that for future use! I also had mentioned the idea of a street party when all this is over. We realise having lived here for ten years there are still people nearby that we don’t know, or don’t at least know their names.
I have been finishing off some paintings which had ground to a halt, and have one to go, then I feel ready to start something new, maybe in the garden.
Living in Bourton-on-the-Water we are in a tourist trap which is usually packed at Easter and through the summer especially. Sadly this is the sign at the main entrance now.
Posted
Tessa this is a lovely thread. At long last I’ve finished a painting, it’s been around for three weeks, it took some doing to find inspiration to do it, I think my inspiration has gone into a black hole. I’ve posted it on the gallery.
I miss my daughter, son in law and grandchildren so much, we’re a close family. I still drive to my son, he’s autistic with learning difficulties, he lives in a purpose built apartment in a small community. Just a ten minute drive for me. I’m his main carer, but my daughter has helped out too. He‘s finding it difficult to understand but he’s aware he has to distance from me when I visit to take milk and a few essentials. He has home delivery, but getting a slot is like gold dust at the moment. My eldest granddaughter was devastated about her GCSE’s, she worked so hard, like all the others in her year, she needed those results, she’s desperate to go to art college.
Me and my husband have our one walk a day, we’re lucky we live at the back of a small nature reserve. It’s just lovely to walk along the deserted paths, apart from the occasional dog walker and runner. Feel free to paint the photo everyone.
Ellen
Edited
by Ellen Mooney
Posted
Like some, I've not been able to concentrate on painting, feel a little restless I suppose. Have been sending and receiving amusing videos - we certainly need a laugh right now! We went out and clapped last night too, a bit strange where we live because the river runs in front of the houses, there's no " other side" of the street. Everyday my husband and I walk to the beach. It's quiet most of the time anyway but now there are never more than four others that we see, sometimes not another footprint before ours, a little eerie in a way. And so strange not to be in the company of our family. This is the beach we go to every day, we're so lucky. Keep safe everyone!
Posted
Strange rimes,the” lock up “ as I call it doesn’t affect our lives as much as most. My husbands disabilities stop us going anywhere except in an ambulance. So we are stay at homes .
Like most of you I can’t get a shopping slot so have taken myself off to Tesco on a shopping spree.
I’ve taken food parcels to my daughter who is self employed she is an acupuncturist and now has no income whatsoever.
We have new little rescue dog who though gorgeous can be a pain in the bum ,so long morning walks through the lanes .
The joy of an emergency tooth extraction yesterday after two weeks of raging toothache ...no fun.
This little fella in the pic I rescued fro a hedge ..obviously had got lost on his way home from a picnic. ( no he wasn’t part of a bear hunt} so he’s been well scrubbed and hung out to dry , I’m now expecting a bear hug.
The other one is my wicked new Sam. 
Stay safe everyone .
Stay safe everyone .
Edited
by Sylvia Evans
Posted
Easter Day 1, good Friday. Decided to tidy shed out. 1 st thing I came across was my new chainsaw. Mmm I thought I have a few branches about I better cut them up, ahh I need a flat surface and clamps, to put them on to cut them, so I get a couple of saw horses out, clamped branches to them. That took about an hour. Next thing I moved was a large piece of wood I bought to make a work bench top for the shed. So to cut a long story short I found some tools in my shed that I hadn’t used for years. These were a biscuit joiner, + biscuits, router, long sash clamps, sander, battery drills. Glue, screws. Bench top made success, shed even messier than when I started. So I will try again today.