I thought I'd share a 'day in the life' today as it has been varied and pleasurable.
The day always feels so much more promising when the sun is shining and the weather forecast suggests it's going to be good all day.First stop was Gosforth and District Art Society. We meet once a week in Seascale Methodist Church. It's a lively group of mostly retired people and a mix of professional and amateur artists and enthusiasts. I arrive to a busy room, oils, watercolours, pastels and acrylics are all being used to create a colourful collection of artworks. We share our passion for art, supporting each other as we prepare pieces for our annual art show at the end of August.
The chat this week is about the aftermath of Eskdale Art Show where a number of the group have successfully sold paintings.
I'm working this morning on a commission. I'm doing the drawing part of Ewanrigg Junior School.
I don't quite get it finished because I get involved in a few chats, encouraging others to enter different exhibitions.
I've a drop-off of Meanders leaflets to Nanette Madan in Gosforth and she invites me in for lunch. A light lunch of cheese, crackers and salad in the garden on a sunny terrace was very enjoyable. The hum of the tractor in the field behind us was a suitable backdrop to our picnic as we chatted about our upcoming Open Studio event with Rachel Metcalfe in September at Florence Arts.
A ride up Eskdale valley with the windows down and a pleasant cooling breeze had me heading to St Bega's School to deliver a couple of pictures. The narrow lanes were quite busy with cars and campers as the dappled sunlight danced on the road surface on the route through Parkgate and Irton woods.
The route out of the valley took me through Irton, to Holmrook and onto the A595 to Ravenglass. Parking outside Jenny McLaren's house, she was eagerly waiting for me to arrive; handmade Ravenglass ice cream was on our agenda. We strolled down to the parlour. Unfortunately it was closed but the honesty shed was open. So many choices, but we opted for Honey and Walnut and Turkish Delight flavours and sat on the benches to eat them. Others were enjoying the Black ginger and Honeycomb, Lemon, and Blackcurrants and cream.
A stroll over to Saltcoats had me mesmerised with the enormous Jellyfish. Big globs of stranded Jellyfish were decomposing in the sun. Others were being swept up the Estuary under the railway bridge.
Ox-eye daisies swayed in the gentle breeze and a carpet of sea thrift covered the edge of the incoming tide that sparkled with the late day sun. Black-headed gulls and oystercatchers were dotted across the mud-flats.
We just had time to grab a latte and cappuccino and sit under the canopy of the station at Ravenglass to see the final la'al Ratty of the day steam in.
Returning along the A595 after the Sellafield rush was over was a bonus.
The Western Lakes and coast today has been superb in the sun, the scenery a joy and the company a delight.