Saw this scene in our local park and I had to paint it! Watercolour on paper, and this will be in my Etsy shop soon. #rooks

Quietly necking the last 2 inches of the Christmas Buck's Fizz directly from the bottle in order to make room in the fridge this morning...don't judge me, I deserve it after the week I'm having...

Word of advice...don't let your four year old granddaughter who's hyped up on jammy dodgers get her sticky little fingers on a fart machine... #chaos

Despite being up to my eyeballs in Christmas prep,I managed to find some time for this - a misty morning at Brooks Falls, watercolour on paper.

For the love of God, STOP BLOODY RAINING! #dogtowalk

Hooray, hooray, I become a pensioner today...not too sure how I feel about that tbh. #66thBirthday

Wild flowers, watercolour on paper - also available in my Etsy shop, Pretty Flamingo.

Sparrows - painted from photos taken in Boston, watercolour on paper, and available in my Etsy shop, Pretty Flamingo.

Attended my granddaughter's nativity play this morning - she was Angel No.4, among about 10 other angels. She did a fine job...apart from wearing her wings upside down. Two days it took me to make those, two days...😆

Now that we have fish in it, the problem of excessive leaves on top of the pond has to be dealt with on a regular basis. Mr.B suggested using his wet & dry vacuum cleaner this morning - worked a treat! * *no fish were harmed in this procedure. 😁

Another interesting little commission...

All right, crafty folks. I need everyone who sees this to keep a look out for the following shawls. They were lost by FedEx on the way to Barcelona Knits, and have been declared "unrecoverable". 🧶 This is thoussands of euros of work & materials, not to mention their value at Trunk Shows & Workshops.

My first and last attempt at painting a car - a few years ago now. Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed painting the rust and patina, the actual drawing of this was a complete nightmare. Perspective is not my friend...

Heavy horses ploughing, watercolour on paper. This one is still available in my Etsy shop, Pretty Flamingo. (Still haven't worked out how to post a link...)

A couple of weeks ago I was asked to make an angel costume for my granddaughter. 'Of course!' I replied and set about making everything from scratch, including sewing feathers by hand on to the wings. Although the end result was great, I don't think I'll be sewing feathers again any time soon...

It only took one week, five phone calls, two texts and an online consultation form, but my daughter got to see a doctor this morning. She's been prescribed antibiotics to be on the safe side. Also got the form authorising me to speak on her behalf regarding her health filled out & signed.

It's taken 3 days, 5 phone calls, 2 online forms, 2 arguments about my right to speak about my daughter's health (she has Downs Syndrome) and a minor nervous breakdown to get a face to face doctor's appt for her...which should have been organised by the surgery last month after her health check. 😠

Feeling smug - heavy frost this morning but my citrus trees are safely tucked away.

With the promise of chilly days ahead this week, with possible frosts, I've cleared out the greenhouse and put the citrus trees to bed for the winter.

Whilst walking the dog this morning, I bumped into a guy & his dog that I haven't seen for about a year or more. We used to walk the dogs when his was a pup. Today the dog went berserk when she saw me, tail wagging, leaping up, yodelling with delight - totally made my day!

As I can't work out how to post my Etsy shop listings on here, just a note to say I paint pet portraits on commission and am free at the moment...

Fell asleep...😞 #Frankenstein

Hot off the easel, Walker, watercolour on paper. Will be in my Etsy shop soon. #bear #originalpainting #Katmai

Apart from my granddaughter (I'm biased!) my favourite trick or treater last night was the large inflatable dinosaur that couldn't fit down our path to get to the door -brilliant! Unfortunately, the weather was so horrendous in the end we did not get many visits - anyone want about 2lbs of sweets???

I guess the torrential rain and howling gale has put paid to the trick or treaters for this evening...and now we're left with a couple of pounds of sweets which will probably last us until next year!

Sometimes I get asked to make the strangest things...a mini crochet lobster wearing a Santa hat. Don't ask...

Spent the morning preparing Halloween pumpkins with my 4yr old granddaughter. Turns out little kiddy hands are far more efficient at scooping out the seeds than I am, plus she enjoyed doing it. More than worth getting pumpkin pulp splattered up the walls and in my hair...🎃🎃

On what always feels like the longest day of the year I have...made waffles for breakfast; watched my son run in a 10k; cut down the hops on the pergola &swept the patio, made a start on sorting out the desk in my craft room; long dog walk; painted; cut Mr.B's hair...can I take a break now?

Watched @stephenking.bsky.social The Long Walk last night. Even though I've read the story so knew what to expect, I found this film desperately sad and moving. It will stay with me for a long time.

So, what time is it REALLY this morning? #clockchange

I don't just paint bears, I take pet portrait commissions too - feel free to get in touch if that's what you are after, Christmas is not too far away!

A much better photo this morning in proper daylight. Hops on our pergola in August, acrylics on Dalerboard. Will be for sale in my Etsy shop shortly. I'm now free for commission.

Hot off the easel - the hops on our pergola in August, acrylics on Dalerboard. Can't get the colours to show up properly, will have to try again tomorrow with a proper camera.

My car failed it's MOT miserably today - will cost mega money for vast amount of welding...time for some serious soul searching...I've had my beloved Vitara for over 10 years, this is going to hurt.

I'm giving away this signed 1st edition h/b of my new novel (it has a tiny jacket rip which means I wouldn't sell it) to one person who reposts this. You might like it if you like: Folkloric creatures Old records Intricate psychedelic stories The idea of circular time All shares much-appreciated.

This year a small plantation of various tomatoes sprung up in the remains of the old compost heap - some very recognisable as types bought in supermarkets over the years. They've been delicious, far better than the ones I cultivated. Picked all the green ones today (3lb) & made chutney.

Made (homegrown!) pumpkin soup this morning. Wasn't paying attention and instead of Tropical Seasoning I put in Curry Goat seasoning - to be fair, they're in identical containers. The soup is amazing, will do that again!

Visited the Phyllis Tuckwell 'kilo' sale for the first time today. Clothes sold by weight - got two tops and a dress for £6.45, plus a Dean Koontz book and the first book in the Wheel of Time series. Bargain!

We're almost there! Our new book is published on the 12th September but you can pre-order a copy from our website now! nudinits.com/products/nud... (check out those naughty makes - saucy!) #nudinits #nudinitpatterns #knittingpatternbook #naughtyknitting #knittingpatterns #newnudinitbook #knit 🧶

It's like when the spider that's been lurking in the toilet for weeks disappears - you're glad it's not there but you are worried about what it's up to and when and where it will pop up again...

Not sure how to feel, happy or thoroughly depressed - just received the invitation to apply for my state pension...

It's been 3 days, picking, washing, de-stalking, boiling, straining and boiling again, but all worth it - eleven pots of delicious grape jelly!

Today I will be mostly making grape jelly... Eleven pounds of grapes made just over 6 pints of juice when boiled and strained. I could be here a while...

I've just finished reading Last Summer Boys by Bill Rivers and feel bereft it's over! This was a book I picked at random from a kindle freebie offer - a little surprise gem of a book.

Got lots to be getting on with today...so I'm sitting here doom scrolling with a cup of coffee...

Hot off the easel - bear 719 in watercolour on paper. Private commission.

4 yr old granddaughter: You haven't got a mum. Me: No, she died. She would have been 107 if she was still alive. Granddaughter: She would have been huge by now! Long conversation about growth and aging...

Came across this magnificent clump of "lords and ladies" on our dog walk this afternoon. Also discovered a new path through woodland that hasn't been destroyed by the developers...

Got my copy of the new Nudinits book which will be on sale soon. That's my tea cosy design on the front cover - more cheeky patterns inside! That was a lot of work...

I think we've got the last of the greengages - any left on the tree can be eaten by the wildlife! Picked enough for a couple of pounds of jam and a crumble for pudding later.