nuthatch

a pair of nuthatches have taken residence in the garden. These entertaining birds spend much of their time upside down (see below). They look like drab kingfishers, and behave like blue woodpeckers.

St Ives 4

the beach at St Ives just below the Tate gallery, unfortunately the Tate was closed for rehanging, very frustrating.

St Ives 3

Barbara Hepworth's workshop and studio, and a sculpture in her garden. Her house is fascinating (for more see this link). It feels as if she has just left for a few minutes and will be back soon.

St Ives 2

the narrow cobbled streets lend a sense of timelessness to the otherwise bustling town. The beautiful hanging baskets make it feel like somewhere in Provence.

St Ives 1

we spent a pleasant day in St Ives, the light has a beautiful, clear quality, laying bare the cluttered, hemmed in streets leading down to and surrounding the harbour. Below is a little pastel of St Ives by Bryan Pearce. One can begin to understand his unusual use of perspective when one sees the gentle curve of the rows of houses as they run towards the harbour (this is not the best example of this effect in his work but it is very characteristic of his idiosyncratic style. For more see link).


or in celebration of our transatlantic links, this painting by Effie Fortune in 1923 (see link and comment)

goldfinch flock

a flock of goldfinches. These little birds tend to flock together in autumn and winter. We also saw a grass snake (distinctive yellow collar on a grey green body, see link) on the river bank. They are good swimmers. Unfortunately, we were too slow to photograph it as it sped off into the undergrowth to escape canine attentions.