miss marie's miscellany

Sunset

There've been some beautiful skies in the evenings lately

This was on Sunday evening........one of those times when you're glad you had your camera with you :-)

July 2011

July was a pretty good month, and even if the weather was a little variable, there've been a lot of sunny, hot days; I'm not a great sun lover but even a pale person like me needs some brightness and warmth!. I had time to chill out and do some thinking about what happens next, there were quite a few birthdays of family and friends, and I visited my hometown of Liverpool, which is where I took this month's photo, down at the Pier Head where there were celebrations for the centenary of the famous Liver Buildings. It was a beautiful evening and the sky looked amazing, as you can see.  Happy times :-)

  

Super arty Liverpool

3 years ago when Liverpool was the European City of Culture, one of the art installations I really loved were the Super Lamb Banananas, strangely named and beautifully decorated sculptures which looked like lambs with banana shaped backs and tails. They were dotted around the city and brought a vibrant touch of colour and texture to the street. There was even a SLB trail which you could follow all over Liverpoool and view all 125 sculptures.. When I visited last week, I ran into a few of them which seem to have re-appeared.........here's a Klimt-inspired one near to the Liver Building

Next to the river

The next 2 are outside the new Museum of Liverpool

 This is the Heroes SLB.....looks lovely with the poppies 

And this mosaic patterned one is inside the museum, it's the Mandala SLB.

I think they're beautiful and fun, and they really do put a smile on your face!

 

 

Dreaming

At the weekend, I took my dad out for a spin to visit an interesting piece of art in St Helens.  When we arrived, we entered the gates and very shortly after, saw 2 deer running around ahead of us......definitely a good omen! We walked through grassy meadows with a gentle ascent

till we turned a corner and saw this

It's called 'Dream'

This sculpture by Spanish artist Jaume Piensa, is on the site of the Sutton Manor colliery, which closed in 1991. It's there as a tribute to the mining tradition of the area, as a landmark and to mark a place of natural beauty and peace.

It's visible from the M62 motorway, apparently seen by 100.00 motorists a day.

It's 20 metres high; very imposing, but also beautiful and hypnotic, in my opinion. I like the way it is totally accessible to visitors; you can go right up to it and touch it if you want.

The statue really gives what is already a natural and peaceful area,  a tangible feeling of rest and stillness.

A lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

 

 

 

Daily snapshot:2

On Sunday, I spent the day by the shores of Loch Tay in Perthshire at my friend Jane's house. This is the spectacular view from her back garden; lucky her, being able to look at this every day!

 

Daily snapshot:1

I thought this week I'd post a picture which I've taken each day, a daily snapshot of what I've been doing or seeing. I'll start with yesterday (Saturday) when I was playing at a wedding at Glasgow University Chapel. This is the scene before the guests arrived.

Very imposing! A beautiful setting for a joyful occasion.

 

June 2011

Things have been hectic for a while in these parts. You've probably noticed a slight lack of posts recently, for which I'm sorry, real life has taken over for a bit; lots of worries about money and work, which I don't want to bring here. I'm trying to keep positive and this blog is one of my escapes from the austere times in which we are living. Just so you know, if I'm a bit absent for a bit, there'll be stuff happening; but I won't be gone for long!

June has been quite a good month in the end, and I've had some good times. And lots of cake! I think the cake kept me sane..........as they say, Keep Calm and Eat Cake. The photo was taken in Belfast overlooking the river, where I stayed in a very smart apartment, complete with its own gin & tonic balcony!

 

 

Snapshot from this week

I whizzed down to London on Monday; travel delays meant it was a whistle stop trip; just enought time to catch up with my lovely friends G&G for dinner, wine and gossip, then it was time to set my head on the pillow for some much needed sleep before Tuesday dawned. Business matters took up the morning, and before I caught the train back, I made sure I had time to pop into here.

I struggle a bit with London's crazy busyness, all those people, all that traffic, it can be overwhelming. So I really do love this wonderful shop, it's a haven of calm and elegance, with lots of gorgeous stuff to smell and touch and wow at. I had a peaceful and de-stressing wander around, and felt much better!  I must say a special thank you to the lovely kind lady in the bath department who was so friendly and helpful, and who chatted to me for ages!

I did make a small purchase, it required huge restraint not to go completely bonkers and buy, buy buy! Do you want to see inside the bag?

Something pretty to put my face in!

 

Beach walk

A blustery Sunday afternoon walk

enjoying the sky light

the shadowy silhouette of the Isle of Arran

and the sun trying to break throught the cloud

Looking forward to spring

The good old British weather; just a week ago, there was more snow here in Glasgow, and it was bitter.   Happily, since then, the temperature has gone up quite a few notches, Saturday afternoon so warm that no jacket was required, and finally the garden is showing signs of moving towards a new season..

and some welcome colour

It doesn't seem to have cheered this fella up much

But it has made me feel very happy, it's always good to see the garden springing back into life after winter's icy grip

The azalea is a harbinger of spring for me; once it has these delicate pink buds, I know there will be many more lovely flowers to look forward to. Soon as possible, please!

A small piece of news and exciting for me: this afternoon I am going to teach a group of 14 ladies how to crochet! I hope I can inspire them, wish me luck!