Bert is back!

Finally after six months Bert has had the confidence to get back on his chair! Not that I'd trust Rocky very far!

From behind Hardraw towards Abbotside Common and Lovely Seat

Swaledale

Have just returned from picking Molly up from Swaledale and Hardraw after completing her Gold D of  E hike.

We set off yesterday morning and went up Great Shunner Fell - good views across the dales in all directions - remarkably chilly on top! The sun came out though as we came down to Thwaite - lots of lovely barns and walls. 

Heading for Hardraw we stopped off at the Buttertubs - where the limestone has been eroded
down to the sandstone beneath. Reputedly named because they were used as
refrigeration for locally produced butter.

We camped at the Green Dragon - well recommended for both its food and camp site...not to mention the waterfall. 

...and finally Rocky who enjoyed his first night camping and was remarkably
well behaved given it was his first night under canvas!

Drumburgh cottongrass

Nobody will probably recognise what this painting is about as the reserve really looked like it was covered in snow when the cotton grass was at its best.

Cottongrass on Drumburgh  (20" x 8" - oil).....photos are back on the June blog under Drumburgh cottongrass.

Willowherb seeds

A good walk this morning - lovely decorative willowherb seeds - reminded us of sea gooseberries!

Leave a basket out and you'll  find Bert!

Willowherb seeds.

Wedholme Flow oil

A very wet morning - stewarding the Carlisle and Cumbria Artists Exhibition in Carlisle - a good exhibition again. Back home to walk the dog - wet again, and then an oil painting.

Across Wedholme Flow towards Skiddaw (20"x 20")

Storm over Criffel

Two quick pics of Criffel -

Oil (20" X 8")

Oil  (7" x 5")

Greater bur-reed lino cut

A rather damp morning so played around with a lino cut and a painting as well.

The original black print (4" x 5")

Flood filled

Harrison Stickle and Pavey Ark  - from earlier in the week  (20" x 20" oil)