More Photographs of the Wonder of Devon

Rain, rain and more rain. Well, least it has given me a chance to paint more. Although yesterday, the sun was out and I was able to take my 'famous' walk, across the fields and far away, so without further a do, here are the photos from yesterday and a few from a few days ago too:

A couple of days ago, when the grey clouds cleared and the sun came out for an hour

Everything so green, blue and bright

Love the vapour trail - the RAF have been busy these last few days

Keeper's Marsh is the name of that field

Two lambs I met a few days ago, love the 'cat stretch'!!!

Come back sun!!!!

Getting dark and the flash comes on!

More rain to come I fear

love the contrast, from light to dark

Same - the straight lane leading to Moorhill Farm

The skies are getting good - great time of year

The start of walk yesterday - the day before a hare sat to the right of the picture, cleaning his ears, getting very wet and blown by the wind!

The cottage

My little wooden studio attached - can you make it out?

Taken from the next field, further up

Then the sun began to fade - don't worry, I did use a filter on the camera lense!

That amazing effect in the sky - a cloud prism

A painting I might do - perhaps

Walking down the side of the field and I can hear a blackbird singing in the woods!

The sunset at 5:30pm

Moon in between wires - couldn't get it in middle as I would have had to squash the crops and be told off or even shot lol!

My first Primrose of the year, one of my favourite Springtime flowers! Yay!

Someone's walked this way before - a Pheasant's footprint

Sunset, of course, and what a great one!

Pine trees in far distance against the golden sky

Bye, bye sun - please come back another day

If it was the Summer, then those clouds would be more pink!

A sad day today. A close family friend has died. I can't say anymore.

Apart from that, paintings are going well and have found out that the space/business I'll be exhibiting in is a Law firm: Art at the Red House - please bookmark it as my work will be appearing there in 6 weeks or so.

Lots of love to one and and all and I'll be back when the sun shines again!

Emy xxxxx xxxx xxx xx x

I Thought Only Children Were Spoilt? I'm Confused Now

You Are 28% Spoiled

You're barely spoiled. You may have some nice things, but you never let them go to your head. You appreciate each gift you're given - and you don't dwell on what you "deserve" to have.

Are You Spoiled?

You Are Sunrise

You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life. You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary. You are a person of reflection and meditation. You start and end every day by looking inward. Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy. You're often cooking for friends or buying them gifts. All in all, you know how to love life for what it is - not for how it should be.

What Time Of Day Are You?

Your Personality is Very Rare (INFP)

Your personality type is dreamy, romantic, elegant, and expressive. Only about 5% of all people have your personality, including 6% of all women and 4% of all men You are Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, and Perceiving.

How Rare Is Your Personality?

I know all this is a cheatful way to post (is cheatful even a word? Nope, as I have the new firefox version which is giving me a little dotted red line under words it doesn't understand, like firefox for example! lol) but there is nothing to report, only the weather is nasty - really high winds, it's like being on board a ship with great mighty sails, rolling in the waves and captain Jack Sparrow at the helm! ( I wish!) You know I haven't even seen the second Pirates film only because we don't have much luck with dvd players down in Devon, the first was fine until it was destroyed in a lightening storm and the one we bought to replace it was faulty, it didn't understand the dvds we put in and around 2 weeks ago 'Samsung' came and picked it up and we haven't heard anything since. Blast.

Ok folks, I know that was boring, but then I have had a hangover today and of course have done no painting, but a full weeks work starting tomorrow. I am getting a little frightened though as I've moved into bigger canvases and am fast running out of room as they're all in oil and they need a drying place. Anyone got any suggestions? The cottage walls are full up already and the outbuildings are damp, full of spiders and rats - the loft could have been a good idea, but again that's taken up by mice and long eared bats (who are actually currently hibernating, but still), I'm at a loss and have already managed to tread in blue oil paint through the cottage carpet! Whoops one might say.

Emy xxxxx xxxx xxx xx x

Rain Is Being Rained and Paintings are Being Painted and That's A Very Bad Title

Hello all. I have not much to report since I last blogged, only my friend Andy had a great time last weekend at the cottage, the weather was terrible, as you'll see from the photos, but it was a good time nonetheless:

View from Torrington car park over the Torridge Valley

Same view to the right with the river Torridge below

Torrington church stained glass - I have a thing for stained glass - I have things for most!

Herring Gulls at Hartland Quay

Rocks below at Hartland Quay

St Morwenna and St John the Baptist Church, Morwenstow, Cornwall

Church bells still rung


Church tower & Andy taking a picture

Looking down from the cliff top, Morenstow

See you can't always see the horizon! (well, a bit of it!)

The sun came out a few miles over there!

We walked to the end of that cliff!

I've seen Grey Seals in the past, today we were accompanied by a flock of Fulmars

Andy looking the part on the cliff top!

The day after a walk across the fields in the gloom & the rain

Still beautiful though

A perfect puddle reflection!

Snowdrops in and around the badger set

One wind blasted tree - can see the gap it's left from bathroom window

And the next day (Monday) it rained again!

Sheep & lambs are used to it anyway

Love her woolly hat!!!!

For some reason the Exeter gallery contract was lost in the post to London so I phoned up the other day and the gallery manager sent me a new one, so all signed and sent and now I need to do 12-14 pieces, I have around 4 paintings good to go already but I need to do a lot more and so the good news is that I've started painting and so far so good I haven't come against any brick walls - yet. Although having not painted for so long I forget how hard it is and how much time and effort it takes just to paint one canvas let alone 14! Least I have a range of sizes to play around with and quite a few to use so I can just make a selection at the end of our stay here - which is fast approaching yet again, only 3 and a half weeks left - a lot to some, a tiny amount to me. Oh well c'est la vie!

By the way, can someone remind me never, EVER to buy European Trance from itunes! It was only £5 but boy is it lame! The first tune is fine but the rest 8 (yeah, 8) are nasty. I think my clubbing days are catching up on me, as in, I think I'm getting old as the Trance tracks I used to listen and dance like a maniac to are far, far superior to anything that is released today! Dear God, turning into one of those annoying people who preach their life away saying that music and everything was better when they were young!

Now I must love you and leave as my eyes are closing rapidly and I need my sleep to wake up tomorrow with my imagination and creative juices flowing - it has all been going too well these last few days - I'm afraid, very afraid. Help.

Emy xxxxx xxxx xxx xx x

Really BORED and Half of Them Don't Come Up - What Do I Care?! Not A Lot!

Ok, really bored tonight - as there's a BORING football match on and folks are watching it cos they have no life - well, not when football is involved! So I'm going to bore you all senseless with all these stupid questonnaires you do online and then post them up on your blog when you're THAT bored and THAT sad!

The University of Blogging Presents to Emyjane An Honorary Bachelor of Whingeing Majoring in Self Deprication Signed Dr. GoQuiz.com ®

Username:

Blogging Degree
From Go-Quiz.com

Quite a good one to start off with I feel/fear

> WARNING

Emyjane is radioactive. Wear protective clothing at all times.

Username:

From Go-Quiz.com

I would never have doubted it!

Which internet subculture do I belong to? [CLICK] You are a FURRY! You are a sick, sick, individual. Stop lusting over animals! Take off that fursuit and quit yiffing. No-one likes furry art! STOP NOW! More Quizzes at Go-Quiz.com

Should I be worried?!

Your Deadly Sins

Envy: 20%

Gluttony: 20%

Greed: 20%

Lust: 20%

Wrath: 20%

Pride: 0%

Sloth: 0%

Chance You'll Go to Hell: 14%

You will die a boring death. While dying, you will be jealous of those who die dramatic deaths.

How Sinful Are You?

Funny ha ha

Your Power Level is: 82%

You have all the tools you need to be a success - both professionally and personally. You'll probably go beyond reaching your goals. You'll change the world (at least a little).

How Powerful Are You?

Alright. One more because I'm getting sick of this and BORED already!

Your Observation Skills Get A B-

Your senses are pretty sharp (okay, most of the time) And it takes something big to distract you!

How Observant Are You?

Even though I scored pretty well this is really for people of the U.S.A!!! Questions like:

2 In which hand is the Statue of Liberty's torch?

5 On the American flag - is the top stripe red or white?

8 How many channels on a VHF TV dial?

12 How many hot dog buns are in a standard package?

I mean, come on, I did pretty good right?!

Emy xxxxx xxxx xxx xx x

Ok Well THAT Doesn't Surprise Me - Not In The Very Old Least!!!!!

You Belong in the UK

Blimey! A little proper, a little saucy. You're so witty and charming... No one notices your curry breath

What English Speaking Country Are You?

Spring is in the Air

Hey everyone, well, I feel slightly better and so does the weather - as you'll see from the photos - but heavy winds and rain are/is (never know which) on the way, so tomorrow I may 'relapse' with the weather - sorry, I've had wine and all that and Vicks has gone to my head, plus I have to do this now as the Brit Awards are on tonight with 'live' performances (yes, LIVE!!! The Brits are 'live' tonight - yet Noel Gallagher is collecting an award, watch out ITV, do you think he's going to be good tonight?!) Now, where was I? Oh yes, live performances of The Killers, Scissor Sisters & Amy Winehouse - great stuff, so the blog has to be done now, now, now, NOW!!!! As I have lovely photos of my first walk outside the cottage since Saturday - when you're ill you turn into a hermit and when your an outside person like me you tend to go a little mad stuck inside all day, every day! Ok readers! Photos!!!!:

Ok, I definitely have a 'thing' for snowdrops - I love them and I love this time of year!

Hibernating snail in garden wall - sweet dreams

And another picture of our lovely old wall and moss - got a thing for old walls and moss!

Now when the gorse is in season, so is kissing - that's the closest I'm getting to Valentine's Day!

The Scots Pine still standing strong - for now . . .

Fresh new buds on the hedge-row

The three trees

Looking through the hedge

My very own beauty - my Grace

Scots pine make great shadows too

If someone asked me what makes Devon so special? The landscape? The wildlife? The people? The colours? The animals? Actually it's the sky!!!

And it's SO GREEN this time of year (please, no more rain!)

Although the clouds say 'all change'

The cottage needs a bit of white paint!

From the end of the garden

The new bird box - any takers? Watch this space . . .

The first true sign of Spring - tree catkins

And a classic winter sunset

Definitely need to paimt tomorrow!

And now I run to the Brits!

Lots of love,

Emy xxxxx xxxx xxx xx x

I'm As ill As The Weather

Hey, well, I feel just like the weather, cold - shivering a lot, wet - runny nose and night sweats plus constant sneezing, windy - dizzy, swaying around the room, foggy - well, yeah, foggy head and depressed - yes, very, I have a bad cold and that does give you a depression. I've been ill since Saturday and the weather has been ill the 3rd day we got here, hopefully my illness is leaving me although the weather isn't. It just constantly rains and not that it's cold, it's just grim, windy and relentless. Thing is I have to be well by Friday as Andy is coming to stay for a long weekend and ironically he's had a cold too (hope you're feeling better now A). So being ill, so doing no painting and so being bored. Alhtough I've caught up with my reading and also my sleep.

I can't add much more as it's late and my feet are freezing and my head is swimming again. The only slight glimmer of hope is that I've been using some great medication this time, not Lemsip (hate the taste) or Beechams but 'First Defense' by Vicks. Ok, so it doesn't stop the cold dead, it doesn't cure it really but it dulls the symptons. Usually by now I'll be having a hacking cough and would have lost all sense of smell and taste, but this little inhaler defeats that and it's good and I recommend it to anyone. Read the label, follow the instructions and you're away. Touch wood this won't ruin it now, now I've raved on about it, I'll probably feel like shit tomorrow.

Oh and another glimmer of hope, this time over TV programmes. The excellent 'Life on Mars' has returned to the BBC tonight, for unfortunately it's final series, but it's good, it's SO good. It's a detective drama with a twist, starring John Simms, a detective is hit by a car in 2003 and wakes up in 1973 - watch it! You won't be disappointed and take a look at the BBC page about it. Plus I love that car!

Ok folks, I'm beginning to sneeze over my computer screen and that's so not nice!

Goodnight xxxxx xxxx xxx xx x

And One More For The Road:

Your EQ is 127

50 or less: Thanks for answering honestly. Now get yourself a shrink, quick! 51-70: When it comes to understanding human emotions, you'd have better luck understanding Chinese. 71-90: You've got more emotional intelligence than the average frat boy. Barely. 91-110: You're average. It's easy to predict how you'll react to things. But anyone could have guessed that. 111-130: You usually have it going on emotionally, but roadblocks tend to land you on your butt. 131-150: You are remarkable when it comes to relating with others. Only the biggest losers get under your skin. 150+: Two possibilities - you've either out "Dr. Phil-ed" Dr. Phil... or you're a dirty liar.

What's Your EQ (Emotional Intelligence Quotient)?

Oh Well, THAT'S Good To Know!

Your Slanguage Profile

Aussie Slang: 50% Canadian Slang: 50% Southern Slang: 50% British Slang: 25% New England Slang: 25% Prison Slang: 25%

What Slanguage Do You Speak?

Isn't Devon Beautiful? Well, YES!!!!

As always I come to Devon and take a million photos! Well, Devon is beautiful this time of year and I want to capture every second of it!

Good journey down - my Dad drove the first half and I the second, while my Mum came down on the train yesterday as she souldn't fit in the car because of canvas and paint! Already seen my friends at Dunsbeare and their daughter Katie who I haven't seen since last September when she left for Bristol University!

Snow expected for most of England, but not the South West (unless you live on the moors) and I don't find that very fair, as it is cold enough!

Well, enough of all that, let's have some photos:

The start of one amazing sunset on the first night

A glorious red sunset on the first night, taken from the bathroom window

The morning after, a heavy frost - an ivy leaf in the bank

Frost covered snowdrops

The to a fantastic sunny day (Monday)

Went to see everyone at Dunsbeare - Katie, the sheep & Sue

Dunsbeare Farm

Chrissy!

Pippa!

A South Down sheep - could be Cyril

Thomas the sick ram who still lives!

I love this picture - really captures the mood lol

Just seeing what goes on!

My walk back to the cottage in blazing sunshine

The Snowdrops

Exeter Cathedral in the Winter

Wow! I even got the broadband to work, after hours of panic and disgust! As long as no-one touches a thing, ALL WILL BE WELL!

See you all soon, with more pics no doubt!

Emy xxxxx xxxx xxx xx x

And I Shout From The Rooftops . . .

OF COURSE THE HUMAN RACE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR GLOBAL WARMING!!!!!

Well, least we've finally admitted it! But come on now, who the hell else is to blame?!


An interesting news item this week: Mother buys school to give her son a proper education - good on her I say, and my God, if that's the only way then we're all doomed!

Groundhog predicts an early Spring - well he's right. The blossom is budding, the lady birds are whizzing around and the birds are singing their Spring songs. After last years fiasco of a late, late, late Spring . . . Bring it on!!!!

The Queen is scarred that her son Prince Charles is literally turning Green -
Queen's growing (I like that joke) concern over eco warrior Charles - it's causing rifts in the family - well your Majesty, isn't that every day life for you anyway?

And lastly for tonight a questionnaire to spot the fake smile - there are 20 questions in all and my score was 18 out of 20! Beat that!!! And tell me what you got in my comments box.

I am seeing a friend tomorrow at Greenwich and then off to Devon on Sunday, I really, really can't wait - it has been 8 weeks since the last time, 8 weeks of wanting to do paintings! It drives me crazy!

Em xxxx xxx xx x