Good day - mostly

[venetia_sassy]

BLOODY SUMMER. STUPID HOT WEATHER.

I have sunburn. For the first time in ages. We went out today and I was wearing a long, sleeveless dress with an long-sleeved, collared cotton overshirt. We weren't outside that much and when we were, it was mostly in shade. Yes, the sun was strong but that's why I dressed the way I did (and usually do.) But it seems that at some point, I let the overshirt slip from my shoulder a bit and this must have been while I was in the direct sunlight as I now have a large sore patch of red on the back of my shoulder. And my shoulders overall feel dry and sore.

Bah.

So I guess it's time to start wearing sunscreen every time I go out, no matter how slight the sun exposure is supposed to be.

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The other party of the day were far more agreeable however. Mum, Dee and I went to several places on a local 'artist's trail', a weekend of combined studio exhibits. There was some fairly ordinary stuff but some was quite wonderful, especially the third place we went to, the studio of a metal sculptor. There was the most amazing pelican, huge with wings outstretched, a fish caught in its beak. It was splendid and if I could have afforded it (and had room for it) I would have bought it right then and there.

It was $7000. Yeah. No. Ah well.

There was also a wonderful sulphur-crested cockatoo coming into land, amazing grass trees, a lyrebird with a delightful tail, a very creepy octopus and some thylacines that I would not want anywhere near my home for fear that they would come alive and shred the flesh from my bones. (Check out the teeth!) Sadly, there are no pics on the website of the current pelican but I did love this nautilus sculpture as well.

That was the most dramatic exhibit and the third we visited. I had no intention of buying anything at the shows though I did vaguely think I might find another picture for my bedroom.

Well, that's not what I found. At the first studio (which was set in a glorious garden, so many trees and cool greenness. Walking along the path to the house felt like being in a secret) one of the exhibitors was a potter who makes saggar fired pottery. It was so lovely and interesting. There was one vase with pinks and browns and white that made me think of an alien landscape. The smaller ornamental vase I ended up buying is a warm white with shades of blues and browns. It makes me think of a stormy sky over a rocky coastline.

At the fourth place we went to, we sat on a long, cool, shaded verandah - the sort Australian houses should have! - and had Devonshire tea. Mmm. Then we looked at some gorgeous and unusual jewellery, some paintings and some more pottery of quite a different kind. But I found another piece I love. A matte-finish bowl in shades of soft green, swirling around the bowl. If the vase is stormy skies and rocky coast, this bowl is a rockpool. Not a still one but one where the water is swirling and moving.

I love what I bought. Can you tell?

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I saw a few minutes of Coraline tonight and I think I want to read the book. With fewer creepy doll visuals.

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I made a double batch of lemon curd last night. The next double batch can wait until tomorrow night. I need to rest before Yum Cha with the girls tomorrow!