HAIKU POETRY AND ILLUSTRATIONS

 It has been a while since I have written anything in my Blog.  A tough couple of months lies behind me.  We had only been in rented house for 8 months when the owner decided to give us notice.  He had sold his large house for a lot of money and was living in a luxury apartment. Unfortunately he and his wife did not get on with their new neighbours.  In Germany one has the right, as long as you intend living in the property you are letting, to give your tenants three month's notice.  It was in the middle of the Corona crisis and it was almost impossible to find new premises.  For the first time in my life I had a very severe panic attack.  I could not breathe, my heart was racing and I felt as if I were suffocating. The emergency doctor was called and I was rushed to hospital. 

We must have had a guardian angel because, we eventually found a very nice ground floor apartment with a lovely terrace.  It is situated on the outskirts of our small town and nestles in a gorgeous garden.  Actually, I am a lot happier than I was in the large modern home we had rented. The only thing missing is the sunny studio but a plan will be made. 

My muse totally deserted me and I was in a stagnant place as far as my artwork was concerned.  However, things have settled down and I find myself excited about sketching again.  

We went for a long walk in the snow covered fields and met this little fellow. I had never seen a white stoat before.  He was delightful , scampering and jumping through the snow and every now and again, stopping to have a good look at us. 

I had this idea to write Haiku poetry. This is a Japanese form of non-rhyming short poetry often with a nature theme.  I thought this would be ideal for me as I love so much about the natural environment and the creatures that live there. Illustrating these poems is going to be a joy and this is my first one. I hope to fill a sketch book in 2021. 

OLD TIMER VEHICLES

 Why are old timer cars, buses, motor cycles, and other forms of transport so sought after?   I think it is because they are virtually 'handmade'.  

In today's highly mechanised world robots lift and place large pieces of metal and machinery together transforming them into a vehicle .

When one sees a vintage motor car, one pictures a mechanic dressed in a stained overall.  In his pockets are spanners, screwdrivers and other tools.  He bolts parts together, tightens screws and works on the engine and eventually stands back seeing his work come to life.  Out comes the polishing cloth and he lovingly shines the chrome and lacquer. Before him ready to be sold is a beautiful vehicle.

To me , as a very unmechanical or is it non-mechanical female, my love for old timers lies in their beauty.  I am fascinated by the lovely upholstery, the horn for a hooter, and running boards along the sides.  I love the wood panelling and I once saw a vase for flowers built onto the dashboard.

The beautifully crafted mascots which adorn the bonnets or radiators symbolise  the car company. 

I am no expert and have little idea of the difference between antique, vintage or classic cars.  To me they are simply old timers and they fascinate me.

A Rally took place in our small town of Bad Wörishofen. The owners were dressed in clothing that reflected the the period of the vehicle. Leather suitcases were tied onto the back of some of the cars. 

I spent a fun time with my sketch book. Here are some of my sketches.  Hope you enjoy them.

CHRISTMAS

This will be the strangest and saddest Christmas for many folk. The Covid19 Virus has impacted on family and social life with a huge bang.

In Germany where I live and no doubt in many other countries in our world, Christmas is very much a family get-together time. Attending church services, sharing gifts, and enjoying a special festive meal is an integral part of the festive season.

I will miss the small Christmas Market which takes place each year in our small town. Warm scarves, caps and gloves and cosy jackets are the winter apparel. The delicious smell of roasted almonds, and sizzling grilled sausages make one's mouth water. Meeting friends one hasn't seen for a while and warming our hands around a glass of mulled wine is an absolute joy. My heart goes out to the stall holders who will not be making any money this year. There are normally stalls with homemade jams, biscuits, knitwear and jewellery. I always manage to find special and unusual Christmas gifts for friends.

We are fortunate in that we are able to go for walks in the beautiful farming area and the forests which surround us. This is not the case in several other countries and folk are confined to small apartments. I think especially of the elderly who are so often alone and the young families with small children. There are many folk who are lying in hospital beds attached to tubes and machines as those brave carers and medical staff do their best to help them survive the virus. I think about them especially and wish them well.

I have just had news from a friend in Hamburg , a beautiful city in which we lived when we first came to Germany. She and her husband have both been tested for Covid19 and the results are positive. I wish them  well and may the symptoms be light and recovery speedy.

Despite the sadness, the loss and the fear, Christmas is still a time of giving and thankfulness. I wish all my readers, wherever you are in the world, that you and your families may be spared and that you stay healthy and positive.

I have learned one thing during lockdown and that is; there is always something creative we can do. Whether you are an artist, a writer, musician, crafter, or in fact every one of us,  there are ways we can improve our skills or learn a new one.

May you enjoy PEACE, HEALTH and perhaps discover a new and exciting path in your lives. 

Warm hugs from chilly Bavaria. 

CHAMMI

FROG RESCUE

Today I rescued a frog.  What a way to start the day. At the bottom of the window well in our cellar was a little brown frog.  He had almost lost his identity because he was the same colour as the pebbles.  How he managed to fall into the hole is a mystery.   Being round and tubby makes it somewhat difficult to fall through the bars on the surface.  Oh well, we shall just call him Houdini.

 

My husband called the Rescue Squad which consisted of one person,  'Me'! I lifted the frog gently into my hands.

UNLOCK - NOT LOCKDOWN

LOCKDOWN has to be one of the worst words we are hearing at the moment. It is a tough time for everybody.  One is faced with isolation and little social interaction.  

As an artist, I am used to spending many hours alone in my studio. However, exhibitions are not possible at this present time.  How do we, as artists handle that? 

TIME TO EXPERIMENT

 Over the past few weeks I have been experimenting with acrylic pours and jewellery making.  What a lot of fun it has been. Suddenly , it all made sense and I started producing something that did not look as if it had been painted by a demented elephant.  

I am not sure if the breakthrough was good for me.  The playful attitude and acceptance of less than perfect art slowly disappeared.  My quest for perfection reared its stressful head.

CORONA YOU HAVE NOT KILLED MY MUSE

We spent some time in South Africa this year.  Beautiful Hermanus is always a special place for me.  I avoid going to Cape Town.  Like any other large over-populated city in the world, it is loud, dirty and the traffic is horrendous. We were fortunate enough to board one of the last flights to Germany. Corona hit the world with a bang and life changed overnight.  Restrictions, lockdowns, fear and death chased my painting muse away. There was a sense of complete helplessness in the face of a virus of which I had never heard.  Our small town in Bavaria is a lovely farming district so walks in the fresh air were part of our rather isolated lives.