lazy monday afternoon...

As I'm always working weekends, I try to give myself Mondays off. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't but somehow, no Monday-off is ever quite like a Sunday-off; a lazy-day to do just as I please.


Today I was supposed to be catching up with the paperwork. We didn't. I'd forgotten to set my alarm and slept for a whole twelve hours. I assume I must have needed it. When I did wake up I had tea in bed and a read of: Answered Prayers. It's rather rude (about everything and everyone) and makes me cackle. The only part I'm not looking forward to is finding out why it's 'unfinished'. 


Eventually I made lunch. A bargain-basement composition from last night's swag-bag of Waitrose reductions (I got tender-stem broccoli, french beans, helda beans and British asparagus: all for 10p a pack. ha.) I lightly burned my reduced muffin, slathered it with butter and topped it with a slice of leftover Milano salami. Steamed some reduced asparagus over my perfectly poached eggs. Slathered the asparagus with more butter (I'm not that fussed by asparagus but being 10p improves it). Took a bite. Took a photo. Le nom. 


Then we watched the next instalment of Battlestar Galactica which is becoming a nightly obsession. Although last night I conked out before the opening credits were done. Then I got round to packing up a couple of orders and made a dash to the Post Office where I was greeted at the door with a smile and a hello. (They must have missed me).


When I got back to the ranch the sun was splitting the sky and I had to stop and take a few photos. The camera on my new-ish phone is no great shakes but the Vignette app has transformed it. I love the toy camera setting, particularly as I miss my old toy camera. 


And I love the pheasant-eye lilies which are nodding demurely at the end of our street. 


And I love lazy days off.

dahlias of york

The other week and at very short notice I paid a visit to the beautiful City of York. I had a wee while to wander before my train home and what wonderful wanderings there were to be had! I came home bearing some much needed buttons, a bargain bag of chutney, a poke of runner beans and sweet perfumed quince and, to cap it all a delightful bunch of dahlias, for the princely sum of one pound!!

Every autumn I plan to treat myself to a bunch but can only ever find them at Morningside prices if you know what I mean - too much to pay for such short lived blooms. The next day they were looking a little weary after their long journey north but I wanted to capture the occasion and got all artsy-fartsy in the process. I love the intensity of their colours and their complex shapes which look to me like folded paper puzzles.

Much more to come about my wanderings ... later. The 'results' have a couple of weeks yet to mature. What shall I get up to in that time? I wonder!

down by the canal

I've lived in Edinburgh for nearly eight years now but in many ways I'm still getting to know the city. After a morning meeting I thought I'd take a slightly different route to my studio last Friday. I knew the canal was nearby and would take me in the right direction although I didn't know where that would lead me...


The Boathouse at Ashley Terrace is home to The Edinburgh Canal Society, one of the partners in the refurbishment of the Union Canal. The Boathouse is so beautiful, full of slightly dilapidated charm and looking  like she's floated in from another world. I think she could be at home in the book I'm loving right now, alongside some little creek re-named Moon River. Anyways, she ain't in Savannah, Georgia but was right under my nose all along. I was delighted to learn you can hire rowboats from within her weather boarded walls on Sunday afternoons: 1 to 5pm, weather permitting.


The canal was so enchanting in the warm summer sun. The banks were overflowing with wildflowers and reeds; full of surprise quacks, scardey-coots* and boats of slightly unaccustomed rowers (*well, they were moorhen chicks actually, if you'll excuse the poetic licence).

 

It was all too glorious to leave, so I deliberately overshot my exit and carried on to Edinburgh Quay, where there were still decorations and a canal-side exhibition on show from the recent Canal Festival. I loved seeing the paintings together with the backdrop of the brewery. After soaking up the colours of the canal boats I sauntered off to my desk, feeling delighted to have met up with my new acquaintance.