Art in Isolation

As you have probably realised by now John's painting projects go in fits and starts often with months in between. Furthermore they go in phases. Last year he had the glue and wood phase. We had a number of works created using paint mixed with glue (so that it runs) and then embellished with natural pieces of wood. They may sound a bit weird but I like them. As you can imagine he soon gets to know if I don't like a particular piece. Well the enforced isolation has given him great creative inspiration and he is in the "sheet" phase. Yes the type you would normally put on the bed.

You may recall that last year I spray painted some pipes to make a "sculpture" for the back garden. After I had finished the dust sheet that I used to protect the ground from paint looked quite interesting and John has been pondering ever since  how he could use it. This is the final result....

Amazon Future

It would seem that this delving in the dust sheet bag has now become a habit, so much so that he is in full production of sheet art works. I am never given a preview just presented with the finished article, although I have been known to make the odd suggestion for improvement! This is the scenario with all my "Renaissance Man's" projects, of which there are countless.

Death of the Nomads

Fortunately we like to change our pictures in the salon about every six months so they don't become like wallpaper and are no longer noticed.

Prices on Application. Worldwide shipping available!!!!!!!

And now a word from the artist :-
I am not inspired to paint much during the winter as it is too cold.  So I write.  But now that Spring is here I have been moved to paint again ... especially in response to the grave situation in the world and of the world.  Hopefully life will become happier again soon.

Gaia

A mother loves

unreservedly

unconditionally

yet comes the day

of disappointment

of sadness

at the unfulfilled potential

the wilful actions

the idle neglect

I can no longer bleed for you

Gaia is ill

Also a piece of 'found' art

I can no longer bleed for you

Weather

I have been on this earth 73 years (yes I am a fully paid up member of that group that needs looking after, just don't feel like it) and I am still amazed by the weather. I left you yesterday with the thought that we were in for very cold icy winds. The weather forecast predicted rain with a few snow flakes at 2am this morning continuing for a couple of hours. Well it was raining (good rain) at 10pm last night and started to snow at 9am this morning.... and it's laying. No wind and the temperature is around 3 degrees.

I just can't get my head round ten days of temperatures into the twenties immediately followed by this........

Even the Thallias look a bit sad

Feed The Birds

..........and the mice! We buy a large sack of sunflower seeds (they don't like mixed seeds) for the birds and empty it into a plastic dustbin for security. However it is no longer secure. A couple of days ago I went to fill up the bird feeders and thought I saw something move in the bin. It was Mickey who had chewed a hole in the lid. We tipped him out after giving him a talking to. Today however, when I went to fill the feeders I found not only Mickey but Minny as well. They had chewed an even bigger hole in the lid. But don't they look cute.

The hole has been taped up but the pickings are so good that we expect them to find a way around our security measures.

The garden is just beginning to show a bit of colour but a blast of Siberian weather is scheduled for tomorrow. Originally it was forecast for a week but has now been reduced to one day.....we hope.

Lockdown ...

... what lockdown?  We're too busy to notice what's going on in the outside world!

So, work has continued on the revamped beds alongside the prairie/allium beds.  And we're nearly there, or I should say Sue is.  I've merely helped dig up plants destined for the project.  One side is done and the other just needs about 50 clumps of Asters!

We have been sleeping well at night ... Sue says that there are 130 plants in each bed.  Hopefully, we have planted things that the deer won't eat!

Whilst I was taking the photos and, as it has been a lovely day, I took more photos around the garden, although Sue isn't happy with some of them as there is nothing in the beds or it is too early in the season.  Never mind, I will leave it up to your imagination to colour the photos!

Is this peak Spring garden?  The forecast is for some frost to come by the end of the week1  C'est la vie, say the old folks (that shows my age!!!)

Plan B ...

... but first I'd better explain Plan A.
Sue has developed a new design for the 2 beds flanking the Prairie/Allium beds.  Last year she tried Rudbeckias in them, with limited success. So this year will be a layout (influenced by Piet Oudolf) with Rudbeckias, Kniphofias, Solidagos, Pennisetums and Asters.  To control the weeds we bought horticultural membrane.
First we lifted any existing, growing Rudbeckias ...

 ... which we stored temporarily in the shade.

Next we laid out the membrane, which is where it all went wrong.

Firstly, we realised we hadn't bought enough ... we somehow had miss measured and we don't know if, in this time of 'curfew', going out to buy more membrane would be classed as essential!  Then, after discussion, we came to the conclusion that the membrane is good for shrubs but not so good for plants that want to expand or self-seed.  So the membrane came up again!

Plan B has swung into action and we are going to rely on the plants, which Sue is organising for the bed, to become large enough to suppress most weeds, whilst 'we' will have to carry out judicious hoeing.

Do you know anyone who wants 30 metres of membrane?

In the meantime we have a lovely Spring garden.  The 2000 Thalia bulbs which we planted in the Autumn are providing a wonderful picture.

Also 3 or 4 years ago (time and memory going) we planted 1000 Anemone Blanda bulbs down the alley.  The first year was poor but this year, finally, they are beginning to make a

show.  I think we have about 500 and some are appearing in places where we certainly didn't plant them (they are also called Wind Flowers).

Splendid Isolation

In many ways the 'lock-down' in France hasn't changed our life as fortunately we are both comfortable doing our own things in our own space.  Sue continues to work in the garden ... and this time of year, when everything is growing rapidly, it is a constant battle to keep on top of it.  Certainly, as under-gardener, we are entering the time for mowing at least twice a week!

Meantime, the spring bulbs are flowering ...

... and the 3,600 Alliums which we planted are beginning to wake up.

When I'm not being an under-gardener I find I've been writing a lot but now that the fine weather has come, I am inspired to do some painting.

So, as you can see, we are not scratching our heads wondering what to do!!!!

Sue had been due to go to Cahors Hospital tomorrow for a consultation with her specialist but this has been cancelled and all Cancer treatments are postponed for at least 2 weeks so that patients have the best immune system possible to fight any infection.

Oh, well .. back out into the sunshine ... 23 degrees this afternoon.

The Virus

You've probably heard enough about Covid 19 by now but I am still going to tell you a few ways it has affected us here. As you will know we are in "lock down" but actually as far as I am concerned we have been in virtual isolation for the last fortnight. Guy Skyped us from Taiwan on Friday as he had read that the effects and consequent life changes had escalated over night and he was worried about us. However John soon allayed his fears when he said "your mother has been paranoid for the last fortnight, following every precaution recommended". I never thought I would hear Guy say "I'm delighted you're paranoid, mother".

Although schools and shops (other than food shops) are closed the municipal elections went ahead yesterday, with copious quantities of hand gel available. As John joked that this would be our outing for the month we took the opportunity to go to the small supermarket in the next village. Normally when we call in there is one other customer at most in the shop, yesterday the queue stretched from one end of the shop to the other. I particularly noticed that I was the only person in the queue who was trying to observe the 2 metre distance between people, but it was difficult without losing your place. We stocked up on peanuts and toilet rolls, which may sound a little bizarre but we had to laugh at other peoples priorities. The lady in front of us bought a large bottle of whisky, and she nearly forgot the cokes, "n" packets of cigarettes and several large tubs of roll you're own tobacco!!

We are fine at present and hope that our friends world wide are too. However the rumours that we may be in isolation for 4 months are not encouraging.

A Happy Gardener

Yes, Spring is definitely beginning ... and we have a happy gardener!
This year's plug plants have arrived from England (Petunias) ...

... and the cold frame is ready to take whatever needs hardening-off or protecting.

Some people find pleasure in simple things.

Not Much Happening

As we live in deepest rural France you may think that that is the norm, but even less is happening than normal. Although JJ and Nadine have lent us their car we only feel comfortable using it very occasionally. However our enforced isolation has a bright side we have been able to keep away from people who may be carrying The Virus. In reality the situation is about the same as in the UK, level 2 here. We were due to go with friends to the local Chasse (Hunters) meal this evening but that was cancelled over a week ago. We were surprised, but pleased, that no one kissed or shook hands at the Bridge Club on Wednesday, a sign that life as we know it will never be the same again!

In all seriousness I am really worried about us catching the virus as John is in the highest level of vulnerability and my new cancer treatment severely lowers my immune system. Never mind we are taking sensible precautions, regular/copious quantities of alcohol and I did my panic buying last Monday.

I expect you think at least she can get on with her garden, but no, it never stops raining!

There are signs we may get our car back the middle of next week.