MAY IS BLOOMING!

No sun this morning, but at least it wasn't raining or as cold as it has been lately! My companion was Miriam, and as time was tight, we kept our walk local. We had a look at Shepton's Friday market, which was just setting up, and I showed Miriam the window I had recently dressed at the One Craft Gallery (see middle, left pic).   

Our walk took us through Collett Park, which was looking lush and green, and past the allotments, which had many signs of planting activity (see photographs above).

May is my favourite month of the year - maybe because it is my birthday month!  It is named after the greek goddess, Maia, who is also identified with the Roman goddess of fertility, Bona Dea.

May is certainly fertile - it is said, that this is the month when plants really start to grow.  On our travels today we saw plenty of evidence of this - clouds of white cow parsley, loads of blossom and gardens full of colourful flowers...

SNOWDROP FESTIVAL HAS STARTED!

I have to confess, that this morning was my first walk for a few weeks!  A combination of not having anyone to walk with, and cold, wet, murky weather has put me off! Today, however, it was fine and there was something in town to walk to and see - the first Shepton Mallet Snowdrop Festival, which began today as part of the Friday market...

At the One Craft Gallery, I and a fellow member, had put together a window in celebration (see above), which was given a special award by the 'snowdrop' committee!  Today it was great to see snowdrops everywhere - I never knew there were so many varieties...

The festival is in celebration of James Allen (1830 - 1906) who lived in Shepton and was the first person to breed snowdrops from wild varieties.  It has been organised by the local Horticultural Society and they have been busy, not only planting snowdrops around the town and in planters, but they have arranged a series of events and competitions. 

Above you can see stalls selling snowdrop varieties, all with different names and features.  Top left, is an example of snowdrops which were stencilled onto to the pavements to show people the way.  You could even have your face painted or photo taken in a snowdrop setting (see above)...   

I had a good look around Snowdrop HQ in Town Street, where they were serving coffee, tea and cakes.  There were also stalls selling artwork and snowdrop inspired wares and displays of the winning photographs and poems. 

The town was teeming with people and colourful displays.  There was even a display by a rhythmic gymnastic group called The City of Bath Snowdrops - see above right! There are events throughout the weekend, including a ceremonial walk to James Allen grave to plant some snowdrops, and a guided snowdrop ramble through Edford Woods, 3 miles north-east of Shepton.  Hopefully, this festival is just the start of a successful  annual event for the town...

A TOWN WALK AND TALK!

Today was a chance for Jenny and I to catch up.  It was pleasant walking conditions and we decided, as time was tight, to stick to roads rather than across countryside. We did a bit of window shopping at Kilver Court, the designer outlet on the outskirts of town.  They always have fantastic plant displays...

We came across the cat shown above who was guarding the recycling with attitude! He didn't move, even when we got close to photograph...

Although it is now September, there were still plenty of beautiful flowers on display, although some were looking a bit past their sell-by-date! 

By the time we arrived at Shepton Market, the setting up was well on its way. People have been taking advantage of the free parking on a Friday - there were few spaces left when I turned up to open up the One Craft Gallery at 10am!  It certainly encourages better attendance at the market which can only be good for the businesses in the town.  Just wish we could have free parking everyday of the week, like other local towns...

I have a thing about doors - I find them intriguing and mysterious - what lies beyond?  What opportunities do they hold? They often appear in my artworks and sometimes, when I do complete abstracts, a doorway manages to creep in!  As Ralph Waldo Emerson said "Be an opener of doors."  In other words say yes to life and happiness will follow...

Here are a selection of doors and their surrounds that I photographed around town this morning...

  

LATE SUMMER SUN!

Today Jenny and I enjoyed good walking weather - we went up to one of our favourite places - Barren Down, and took in the views.  We also had fun playing with our shadows - the sun being low in the sky made them very dramatic!

We ended up by the Market Cross, where Shepton Market was being set up.  I was after some fish for supper, and as the fishmonger had just set up, I had great selection!  I chose some beautiful mackerel (see top right pic), and watched with awe as they were expertly filleted...

Friday has always been the traditional day to eat fish for Christians and Roman Catholics from the days when fish was considered a poor man's food and eaten on fast days instead of meat... Things have changed in our attitude to fish, but Friday being the day to eat fish seems to have stuck!   

In the Market Place, we have a new pop-up shop called 'Ho, Ho, Ho,'!!  Yes, you have guessed it - it sells all things Christmassy!  Not really something I want to think about in September, when I am trying to make the most of the end of Summer!

FRIDAY CATCH-UP!

We seem unable to do three walks a week at the moment - you would think that in the summer months it would be easier, but in fact life is busier, with early starts, and other opportunities, such as swimming, for exercise!  However, today was a good opportunity to catch up with all the latest news...

We did a bit of window shopping at Kilver Court (see above).  They have some fantastic ferns - When I pictured Jenny amongst them, it reminded me of the enormous feathers of carnival outfits!  I expect we will be seeing a few such costumes tonight at the Rio Olympic Games opening ceremony...

We were walking along a quiet road when my boot must have caught something and I tripped and overbalanced -  I almost saved myself, but no, I landed on the ground! Luckily, apart from a few bruises and a grazed hand (I think that happened when I was desperately trying to stop the camera getting smashed),  I escaped with wounded pride, and a most peculiar out of focus photograph, taken by the camera, on my way down!

It did, however, make me think - something like that can happen in an instant, especially when you are older, and have devastating consequences, particularly if you land on your face.  One outcome of my fall was I discovered Spray Plaster!  It stings and is antiseptic when you first put it on, but then it forms a protective, transparent and waterproof layer when it dries - so much easier than conventional plasters, which never stay on when you get them wet! 

We finished up at Shepton Market, as we often do on a Friday, and stopped to admire the fabulous flowers, mostly perennials - I was intrigued by the small pots of miniature roses (see top left).  They would make a great inexpensive present...

FRIDAY IS FISH DAY!

Today was lovely walking weather - pleasantly warm.  Jenny and I did some window shopping and looked at other people's gardens - something we never tire of!  We went in a big circle walking to Bowlish and ended back at Shepton Market by the Market Cross.  It looked a bit bare today as the plant man was missing - too hot for his flowers - someone suggested!  The Bell pub (see below), was looking pristine - the scaffolding has come off the front so we can now see the improvements... 

However, it was fish that we were after.  The fishmonger has a new ice machine so he can keep his fish cool in the summer heat!  We both bought some fresh mackerel, which is particularly good at the moment, and in the news, as it is a good source of Vitamin D!  Something the health arbiters are telling us, at the moment, that we should all get more of...

There were wonderful flower displays and lush greenery everywhere - even an empty house, where the garden had gone wild with bindweed (see above left), looked impressive!

A WET START!

Only one walk this week as Jenny is still working on her life/work balance!  At the start the weather was against us... What started out as gentle rain came down, heavier and heavier, so we got rather wet!

Needless to say we didn't venture up to the fields but kept to the roads!  Being a Friday and market day, we drifted up towards the Market Cross.  The market was being set up slowly in the rain... One stall that is always early is the fishmonger, so we bought some fish!  

As Harold Wilson once said 'A week is a long time in politics.'  But at the moment a day, or even an hour, is a long time with our political landscape constantly changing!  What a difference a week makes...  I just wish that, now our referendum has been decided, everyone would be positive, instead of wringing their hands and telling us we have made the biggest mistake of our lives!

What I do find unforgivable is the abuse targeted at the EU citizens living here.  In Shepton we have a large Polish community - there are two food stores and a cafe in the centre of town who cater specifically for them.  All the EU immigrants I have met are hardworking and lovely, especially the owner of Anna's Attic.  This delightful shop in Town Street always has us window shopping every time we pass it - see Jenny peering in above right!  Anna is so creative and has some great window dressing ideas...

Today is the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 100 years ago, and there are many vigils and services to remember the sacrifice of  thousands and thousands of World War One soldiers.  We went to the Shepton Mallet Cenotaph this morning, after the wreaths had been laid.  I was interested in the flowers as my friend Dawn, who has set up a new flower business, had provided them - more about this in a future post. There were some beautiful blue cornflowers which had come from her garden.

Jenny spent some time reading the names on the monument, something she had never done before.  The amazing thing was that she recognised many of the names, as they were the surnames of children she had been to school with in Shepton!

On a more cheerful note, as we walked back through Collett Park, it brightened up and the sun started coming out.  The park looked very green and glistening...

INDEPENDENCE DAY!

What a morning ! Where to start...Today, history was made - Independence Day for the UK as, for better or worst, we are divorcing the E.U.  A lot to think about...  Although Helen and I voted to leave, we didn't really believe it would happen!

Today was a return to our walks and a lovely fine morning it was.  The ones we missed, for various commitments, happened to be very wet, so we weren't sorry! 

There has been so much going on with the Brexit, the European Football and our own Glastonbury Festival, I felt quite overwhelmed!  But a chat put everything into perspective...

Our walk took us all over Shepton, ending up at the market being set up.  We couldn't resist taking pics of the fabulous flowers on the regular flower stall (see above).  Helen showed me the latest window dressing for the One Craft Gallery.  She has used the Festival and butterflies for inspiration (see below).
   

The blooms of all varieties and the abundance of growth in the gardens, all over the place, were just so beautiful - forgive us for being click happy with the old camera...

FLOWERS PROVIDE COLOUR!

This morning was another grey day threatening rain, although flowers provided welcome colour.  We visited the Friday market - the flower stall is always set up early with lovely displays (see top right pic).  I bought some white and pink geraniums, to be collected later and fresh fish for supper!
  

Pictured above is one road, Garston Street, where the houses don't have front gardens, so everybody seemed to have made an effort with window boxes, hanging baskets and pots outside their homes...

We walked quite a distance today but it was all around Shepton!  We called into the Leisure Centre as Jenny was interested in what was on offer.  We picked up some literature and quizzed an enthusiastic young man on reception.  We had a look inside the gym and discovered that it opened at 6.30 am!  Jenny is looking at all options for additional exercise to strengthen her upper body...

Our walk also took us to Kilver Court, which didn't have many flowers outside but lots of lush greenery, including some huge ferns...

BARREN DOWN BECKONS!

Still grey and quite chilly this morning, but at least it was dry!  We went up to Barren Down to see what it was like now, as we haven't been there for a few weeks. We saw that everything had grown like mad and there was an abundance of wild flowers and grasses.  There was wonderful stillness up there, as usual, and it seemed to have its own little microclimate as it was warmer...

When we walk on familiar territory, it is great to see changes as the seasons progress.  This is particularly true of people's front gardens, which really are quite public spaces and some are beautifully cared for.  We have our favourites - some shown below - which are full of quirky items and beautiful flowers.  So many front gardens these days have been given over to car parking, and in some areas this has become a real problem, as there is little earth to absorb rain, so it runs off and can contribute to flooding!

Our route took us past Shepton market, which was being set up. We were out too early to see much, so I went back later in the morning and took the photos below.  It was looking very festive with bunting and more and more stall holders joining.  My friend, Dawn, owner of Custard Pudding (art gallery and tea room), has added extra colour by selling cut flowers (see top left pic below), which mostly came from her own garden.  She is in the process of setting up a flower growing and selling business.  I am doing some artwork for a sign and will tell you more in future posts. It is encouraging that new businesses are opening up in Shepton...   

VAPE ABOUT TO OPEN!

We didn't get a walk today, as Jenny had an early start for a weekend away. However, later in the morning, I went into Shepton to hang some new artworks in the One Craft Gallery, and buy some fish in the Friday market!  It is great to see that the market is getting busier - the free parking on a Friday is certainly helping and gradually new stalls are being added...

It is also good to see a new business opening up.  Behind that row of stalls (bottom, right), is VAPE, which is just about to open.  As you can see they have the sign up! The refit has been done and now they are filling it with stock..

You may well ask, as I did, what are they going to sell?  Apparently, it is all to do with e-cigarettes.  Something, as a non-smoker, I know nothing about except they are meant to be more healthy than cigarettes!  It is said that they can help to cure the addiction by offering an alternative or a way in to giving up completely.  As the electronic device vaporises a liquid which contains nicotine, it can satisfy the cravings of a smoker.  I think the jury is out as to the long term health risks, but anything that helps people kick such an unhealthy habit as smoking, must surely be encouraged... 

Anyway, any business that brings people into Shepton is a good thing for all the shops and cafes struggling to survive in the High Street and by the Market Cross. We hope they do well!

   

FLOWERS ON A FRIDAY!

It was a grey start today, but it soon cleared...  I was keen to get the walk done and dusted as it was another early start for me!  First client was due at 8.45 - the start of a long day ahead of me...

We did a good circular walk, ending up at the market, which was just setting up.  We admired the 'plantman's' perennials and couldn't resist a photo shoot...

Helen needed to pop into the One Craft Gallery and when it came to locking up, let's say, we had an incident!  After setting the alarm and locking up, we could still hear the alarm, getting louder and louder - very embarrassing but all sorted eventually!...

Today, between clients,  I am busy finishing my post course study questions for the Microblading Course I took in January.  I am really looking forward to getting that up and running as I am certain it will take off... 

We loved this display of cacti we saw in the window of Jo Lucksted's ceramics studio.  So simple, but effective...