logs and turnips - and the Joy of Food

Debbie has returned to a favourite haunt in the North Yorkshire coast - Runswick Bay - so I've taken the opportunity to catch up on stuff that has been bugging me for a while.... After years of looking out of the kitchen window at our logs thrown up against the side of a barn and covered with woobnly tin, I scavenged together a load of left over 4 by 2 and fenceposts, and built a proper log store. (I use 'proper' in the loosest sense of the word.)

Having cleared out the weeds from the veg plot, I went searching for things that you can plant at this time of year (my veg planting does not get planeed in advance!) - so this winter we'll be eating mainly turnips and spinach. More spinach - it always seems to be time to plant spinach.

And on the topic of food - the gallery is getting a major make-over in time for the next show - the Joy of Food - opening September the 25th. It's going to be a major event in this year's calendar, with a special 'foody' preview...

Open again...

We re-opened the doors of Lund Gallery on June 10th after 6 months of the Gallery being 'dormant'. The date coincided with the North Yorkshire Open Studios event of 2011, which resulted in a cascade of visitors coming to see Debbie's work... it was great to see the place alive with people once more! Debbie also managed to track down Sarah Carrington for some new work - now living in Ireland having moved on from Edinburgh. It's taken some time to get in touch, but it's been well worth the wait... several new pieces now hanging in the gallery.

Debbie has recently bought in some vintage Ercol armchairs which are now sharing the space with the pictures and ceramics... they look great! had them re-upholstered and cleaned up. Great to see such classic design in the space.. and a little bit toooo comfy - at risk of being found napping on a Sunday afternoon!

Feb to May Opening

Saturday night saw the opening of Debbie's show of new work at the Gallery at Ryedale Folk museum - it was also Debbie's birthday AND there was a Folk Festival in Hutton-le-Hole - fantastic!

Our son Finn came along for the evening, which made it very much a family afair... though he quickly tired of the main event preferring instead to wander down to the stream that runs through the middle of the village. His first game of 'Pooh Sticks' under the bridge.

During the evening three middle aged men who should have known better started having a tinker with the old tractor outside the museum, and ended up knocking it off it supporting blocks. They ran away and hid like primary school lads who had pulled a prank... and I even think I saw one blushing (!) but they skulked back and 'fessed up with an offer to reseat the green machine. Hutton-le-Hole was most certainly the place to be last Saturday...

February to May 2011 - Solo show...

Debbie has a solo show at The Gallery - Ryedale Folk Museum opening on the 28th of May... In addition to over 70 smaller works she has been working on several larger pieces in mixed media. With so much ink, paint pastel and water on the move, the best place to work is often on the floor...

Exhibiting in Swaledale - East Windy Hall

Debbie has just returned from beautiful Swaledale after delivering some new paintings and drawings to East Windy Hall Gallery. The work is showing in their Easter Exhibition from the 23rd April to the 8th May. So if you fancy a great day out in the dales, take a trip to Reeth, head north towards Arkengarthdale, and after a mile or so stop off at one of Englands most wonderfully located galleries - East Windy Hall.

A week in Runswick Bay

A week in beautiful holiday cottage in Runswick Bay on the North Yorkshire Coast - sublime. Uninterupted panaromic views out across the bay in glorious sunshine.

First Earlies

There's a different smell around the farm at the moment - I find that Debbie has bought a blow torch and is experimenting with scorching her paintings. The results are amazing! but, since it's all done outside, it's a case of trying to dodge the snow showers...

With best intentions I have a box of first earlies chitting in windowsill half way up the stairs. I have a bag of main crop waiting to be laid out in a second box. Life is so busy at the moment I think I'll be putting most of our raised beds down to one or other type of potato with maybe the odd onion and parsnip - minimal attention required... Good job the three of us are spud fans!

I'm home for the weekend between trips abroad with work. Time to refill the boiler, bring in some logs, wash some shirts, and spend some precious time with family. But most important of all - strut my stuff at Coxwold Village hall at a very dear friend's 40th birthday bash - 70's style. Over the past few weeks I've been growing a goaty beard which today has been trimmed down to a classic porn star / drug dealer / hipster droopy moustache (I don't think it will remain on my face for mare than a day!)

I think our son is stirring after his midday nap - so better be off...