Early this morning
sparrows so dominated the seed feeder that
one of their own needed to wait its turn while perched in the winter flowering cherry.
A long tailed tit joined
blue tits tucking into the suet balls.
Soon after 11 we left Aaron to his work in the garden and drove to The First Gallery in Bitterne where Margery and Paul were hosting their 45th Christmas Show.
Margery herself exhibited a number of paintings including this Barn Bird II, its dynamic composition perhaps suggestive of Piet Mondrian.
Here is Billiard Players by one of her favourites, Eric Meadus;
and Cockerel by Joanna Williams.
Crafts of various natures share space with the paintings.
Ingenious automata,
welded ironwork, like the impressively elegant ‘The Violinist’,
and inviting handmade knitwear are specific examples.
Here Jackie takes delight in discovering
the watercolour ‘In Jackie’s Garden’ by John Jones who has produced a fine composition from various elements depicted during his sessions in our garden. Naturally we bought it – at a generous discount.
This evening we dined on medium rare fillet steaks; duchess potatoes; sautéed chestnut mushrooms and red peppers; and al dente green beans, with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Merlot.