A while ago I received a lovely email from RWP saying it was time I returned! Dear man, thank you for your loyalty, or whatever motivated you. So anyway, here I am again. Back in blogland. For a while, at least.
Here in New Zealand it is late spring. The wisteria that drapes itself over my verandah is almost over its main flush of mauve sweet-scented flowering, and the pin oak, always the last tree in the garden to leaf, is tinged with yellowy-lime uncurling tender tips...
... while the huge old rhodo is in full-throated pinkness behind my studio, and trying to distract me in my painting by thrusting itself in the windows too.
I have a number of commissions on the go. One for CJ, a bunch of cherries, is waiting for cherry season, (as am I! One of my favourite fruits - yum) and two others for GB are going to be completed when I go soon to Ohope Beach next (soon GB!) to do my usual dog-sitting for a Scottish Kiwi couple (who since I have now known for so many years I count as dear friends).
Next year I have another trip to the UK, including the Midlands and, for the first time, Yorkshire, so watch out Ian and YP and Shirley! I am then farm-sitting in Suffolk, so that will be fun! And then it will be off to Sweden to visit my son, daughter-in-law and meet my dear little newest grandchild Ian for the first time.
Afterwards: an adventure! My cousin Thea, daughter Natalie and I are looking for a good 5-day walk in August (in Europe) - all ideas welcomed! Thinking at this stage of the ancient forest in Poland. Anyone know anything about this place? Any other ideas? Not too hot please.
That's enough for today. So, how are you all? What have you been up to? Please tell me in the comments. I will come and visit your blogs when I can. I am just catching up on a few urgent tasks that have been put on the back-burner as I've just been down to Hawkes Bay seeing my Dad...
Bye for now.
Kate x
It has been exactly 11 months since your last post. May I say that finding this new one was like a breath of fresh air. Please don't stay away for so long ever again! I do understand that artists must be faithful to their calling and gifts, but Blogland has missed you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a coincidence. At least I can say it was less than a year Bob! Thanks for your kind words, as always... I will 'come over' and see you soon.
DeleteI neglected to answer your question, "What have you been up to?" -- the short answer is "Not much." I'm 78-1/2, she's 84 now. The last of our six grandchildren entered university in August, where he is in the same marching band at football game halftimes as his older brother. Two others have graduated from university, and two more are also in university. No babies any more. I have lost about 20 pounds in the last year and the Mrs. 35 to date. Summer has left. Winter approaches, or rather late fall is hastening on hereabouts. The houses we couldn't see on the hill behind us because of all the leaves are now plain as day. Gosh, it's good to chat with you.
ReplyDeleteLovely to get your potted news Bob. Congratulations on your and Mrs RWP's weight loss - (any tips?) ah yes, fall for you, spring for us ... do you get nice colours down there in Georgia? And how impressive - five university offspring of offspring!
DeleteI too rarely blog these days and when I do blog no one comments any more. They’ve all moved on though I look at some of the old gang regularly. Nice to catch up with all your news
ReplyDeleteOh Helen, I will be over soon and comment! Lots of people do Facebook I guess. I find it a lot less... in depth. Thanks for calling in and commenting here!
DeleteGood to see you back in Blogland again :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Monica!
DeleteThose pictures brought back so many memories that I spent a bit of breakfast and then lunch and now dinner lost in thoughts of times past: a canoe adventure; almost sleeping with a weta above my head; in your studio gazing at a painting of what I interpreted as my beloved Hawkes Bay hills; meeting wonderfully interesting people at Aftermas; and so, so many more. The penultimate picture is the most poignant. It was on that bench that I had my first proper long conversation with your (and later my) dear friend, Anne. So many, many, memories. Blog on, dear friend.
ReplyDeleteAh, well, aren't we lucky to be able to travel in time and space so effectively? I have a pic of you and Anne somewhere... will email it in case you don't already have it. Thanks for the memories too Geeb! May there be more next year!
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