PHOTO-A-DAY CHALLENGE

Cherries, a Hawk, and Dogs’ Eyes

Also, a thatched roof, and not-the-Malvern-Hills

There are quite a few fruit trees around the neighbourhood. I like the look of the cherry — above — with all the different colours of fruit on show at the same time.

Of course, when the fruits are ripe everyone tries not to park their car underneath because the birds sit in the trees eating the fruit and, uh, dispose of the end results onto any cars unfortunate enough to have parked beneath.

Pre-pandemic quite a few of these ‘book swaps’ or ‘little libraries’ sprang up around the neighbourhood — what a fab idea they were. It’s sad to see so many have met an early demise due to covid19. This one — above — is very closed. Hopefully, they will soon prove to be a sign of a plague in retreat, and start to open up again. It’s nice to see public things that work only on trust.

Acanthus! I love seeing these around the neighbourhood. They’re also known as Bear’s breeches. Of course, they are (?)

I like the wild fuchsia sneaking into the picture, too.

I spotted, over a garden wall, while I was looking for somewhere I could take a pic of the Malvern Hills (which I never managed to do), this girl and hawk statuette. I think it’s a hawk because of the shape of the bill. There are no representations of the leather straps, or jesses, used to tether such a bird in falconry, so it’s nice to think that they’re simply friends having a quiet moment together.

I was trying to get a pic of the Malvern Hills — you can just see a tiny bit of Hill behind these houses — that’s all I managed — I was too close to them and, before I could get into a good position to take a photo, I had to hurry off.

But I suddenly realised this was a thatched house. It looks to have been done quite recently, too. Thatched houses always look like they really do belong in the countryside. They are also often associated with fleas in the roof, mould, and, of course, fire-risk. But, don’t let that put you off — they do look fab — detail below.

Look at that amazing detail — different patterns and styles tend to be regional. Some thatched roofs are finished off with straw pheasants or foxes. I have seen some of these but only heard of some finished with pigs, dogs, snakes and a ship’s wheel.

Straw figures are a centuries-old tradition, tracing back to the dollies placed on hayricks. They were to keep evil spirits and witches away.

In the 21st century, their descendants have ended up decorating some thatched roofs.

I was in Malvern to visit a nursing home. I’d had a restless night the previous night and consequently drank too much coffee in the morning — there is nothing quite like driving for an hour and a half down the motorway through thick traffic, and then dying for the use of a convenience, but being unable to because — pandemic — and then having to have one’s visit outside because — pandemic — whilst sitting alongside a pond with a tinkling fountain going full blast the whole time. Eek!

I’ve been trying to get my next ‘How to Draw’ session down on paper — this time, it’s how to draw dogs’ eyes. I keep rewriting it — there’s too much to say so I need to cut out some facets and make them separate subjects. I don’t want it to be too long or too stodgy.

The eyes are the most important part of a dog drawing, and I want to get it exactly right.

I’ve said it before, but, gosh — it’s so much easier to demonstrate a technique, whilst waffling about it than it is to get down on paper!

The Photo-A-Day Challenge is really interesting to do — it makes you look around more than you otherwise might as you go about your usual life. And then, too, it’s fascinating to see what other people see as they go about their lives all around the world.

Dennett started it, and I’m so glad she did.

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