I don’t always know where a blog will take me, in the same way a dog walk can be an entirely different outcome from the one I imagined. So off we go with illustrations that were already chosen but a blog that will wander off a bit.

I chose sunflowers because today’s blog was going to be about thermal underwear. Because the sun is really making a sterling effort turn up, bright and joyful in the sky. The temperature outside however is bone chillingly cold. Springlike clothes seem appropriate but layering is essential. The Covid years have given me a supply of thermal underwear that will outlast my lifetime.

I chose sunflowers because thermal underwear is not exciting  and because one of my all time favourite photographs turned up on a time hop.

This simple bunch of sunflowers were laid on an altar in Havana 10 years ago. I was attracted to them for many reasons. At first glance they look a little like a sleeping person. Something that was all too obvious in the back streets of Havana, but also because their wrapping was simple newspaper still bearing the crumpled hand print of whoever had laid them.

 

Sunflowers although not flowers of Spring somehow represent creativity to me because they are robust and vivid and Springtime seems to be the time to reset a creative phase. There is nothing fragile or whimsical about a Sunflower.

This one photo never fails to spark my creativity which is where I go off on a tangent.

While walking the dog in my Springlike clothes with thermal underwear underneath I met a friend who is a composer. Unlike me she has spent the winter months being creative writing music and lyrics on a theme of Witches. Spring for her has seen the culmination of her creativity. I was quite put to shame by her productivity. She offered to make me a coffee and then shared two of her compositions. Singing to me as we sat in her light filled room.

I was immediately inspired to come home and get back on the creative borse.

This earlier Green Woman painting was inspired by her Green Man Song Cycle.

I am now quite excited to discover what her Witch Song Cycle will inspire.

So many lovely thoughts from a sunny dog walk in thermal underwear.