Getting back online

Well, finally getting back to my blog after about a month´s absence. Have been very busy fixing up things in the house.....now only have to paint one small wall! I have also taken some of my artwork to a shop in Terrassa to see if it sells. The shop is called BE CREATIVE and is in Periodista Grané street. I took my UNDERWATER pictures and also my GLASS PAINTINGS plus some handmade jewellery.You can see these things in my blog for the months of September and October.

Kauri trees

Napier

Hundertwasser´s Toilets in KawaKawa

. Have also been working on my New Zealand journal which had been abandoned when I was working. ( how did I ever get anything done when I had to be away from home a minimum of 12 hours every day!!!) 

Glowworm Caves

Halloween

Bringers of the Fire

Tiffany

Giant Rats

Candela

Ian

Michelle

More Outdoor Games

Indoor games

Outdoor Games

Lucia

Panallets ---  Typical Spanish cakes for 31st October "La Castañada"

Well last night was Halloween and everyone came up in the immediate family although this year only 2 of the children dressed up. We had great fun with the games of Musical Images, Memory, Hunt the witch etc. Even the adults joined in.  The food was a gteat success with Snake, Rats and  Bats´wings on the menu along with loads of other things. Only took a few photos becouse my camera ran out of batteries but I imagine my family will send me their photos .

Fixing the Fireplace.

As always..one works and one observes!

Ian

It´s getting cold and damp now....real Autumn weather so heating is on the agenda . I have a ton of firewood to burn and a broken fireplace so finally a couple of my sons have decided to mend it. The fact that I refuse to celebrate any "fiesta" days for the family if there is no fire may have something to do with the fact that they came up and started to repair the fireplace and chimney! Here they are trying out the new silicone gun. Ian just came along for the ride.

Another Painting

Tropical Flowers 4

Just finished another painting in the Tropical Flowers series. I´m pleased with the result but the photograph hasn´t turned out well.....too much blue and the red isn´t as bright as it could be. i actually took over 30 photos untill I got one without reflexions on it!!!!

Raining at Last

Underwater 2

Today I think that Autumn has really started. It´s finally raining which is really a good thing seeing as how where I live there is always a risk of forest fires. Also with Halloween coming up we´ll light the barbecue which is prohibited from March to October although I have noticed that some people take no notice of the ban.   Didn´t feel like going out in the rain so decided to finish another glass painting.

New Paintings

Well, just finished a couple of new paintings. The acrylic one is no. 3 in a series of tropical flowers and the second one is a larger version of my glass paintings.

Tropical Flowers 3

Underwater.

Also got a belated birthday present from my friend June. She gave me a very nice jumper and a woollen shawl. Very pleased by them both.

Doodling

Been relaxing in the evenings and doodling while watching T.V. Also have finished some glass paintings I started a week ago. They have a 3-D effect which you can´t see in the photos.

First Fair

The stand next to me with beautiful semi-precious stone jewellery.

Another stand specializing in Sculpey jewellery

A Graphic Design stand by Montse Bugatell  and further along
Artesania Carmen with silver and copper jewellery.

Mario Alejandro who helped me (see his blog  "Grasa Bendita)

Part of my stand....felt jewellery and glass painting.

Another view of my stand

Add caption

Setting up a stand

Well yesterday I took part in my very first fair. The weather was great but the park we were in didn´t have many people especially in the morning.There hadn´t been a lot of publicity about it either . However the experience was positive as I met some really nice people like Mario Alexander Jaén who looked after my stand when I needed to get refreshments(from a bar 5 minutes away......nothing nearer).Mario has started a blog on poetry called "Grasa Bendita" It´s very nice. The Fair was for the Youth centre in Sant Vicenç de Castellet. I learned a lot about setting up stands and where to find different references to Fairs. Everyone was very helpful!

Ian my grandson

Ian

Ian and his bike.

The other day I went to the park and my grandson Ian was there. He is 4 years old but very tall for his age.I don´t see him very often but he´s worth being with as he is very funny at times.

Candela´s Birthday

Candela 9 yrs old 25th September

Lucia, Candela´s sister.

Yesterday was my granddaughter Candela´s birthday so went to see her and her sister Lucia. I hadn´t seen them for several weeks as they are staying with their other grandparents at the moment while my beautiful daughter-in-law receives chemotherapy. She´s so brave. Two years ago she had a malignant brain tumour which led her to have surgery  and  radiotherapy. A wonderful doctor literally saved her life. Then about 4 months ago she found out she had breast cancer (not connected to the tumor)  So she was once again operated on and is now undergoing chemotherapy which leaves her exhausted but bravely fighting back. I pray every night that this will be the end of her "bad luck" and that she can carry on as before and raise my lovely grandchildren.  

My beautiful daughter-in-law, Raquel

Raquel, Candela and Lucia

David , my son.

Raining

Thank goodness ....at last  it´s raining. What a relief from the dry summer. I love the rain; it reminds me of Ireland. The dogs of course are disgusted with the weather because........ goodness me.......they might get wet and that is as bad as getting washed!!Although you can´t see the rain in the photos the sound on the leaves is soooooooooo relaxing.

Enjoying Friday Evening

Carmen and Olga

Olga

Carmen

June

June and me.

Went to an Argentinian restaurant last night. The food was good and the price very reasonable. Went with the usual friends to celebrate the beginning of our working year and the fact that June´s operation for cataracts went very well.  Everybody in good form. Sat outside although a little chillier than usual.  Won´t be able to soon when Autumn starts.  

Saturday in Sitges

Went down to Sitges yesterday. Things have changed a lot since June and I worked there.( a lifetime ago)

June with some artist friends

Me with the same friends

Peaceful

On the steps up to the church

Don´t I look relaxed?

View of the church

Sand Art

The beaches are far better now than before but have lost their old charm.

The weather was tremendous and this has to be one of my favourite places especially the area around and behind the San Sebastian beach.Saw quite a lot of statues that weren´t around when we were there. Didn´t have time to visit all the museums but will probably go down quite soon to do so. We used to cook supper on the beach years ago and in the mornings we could see donkeys there being prepared for a day´s work carrying children around for rides. Oh, how times change!