Is it just the British who have a penchant for pottering around stately homes when the so-called summer weather is typically 'iffy'? Not too far from here is the lovely Longner Hall, who were having a garden open day. So Brian and Jean from next-door, Joe and myself all crammed into one vehicle and bimbled across the lanes to have a little look and admire the topiary.
I do like a nice topiary bird.
But I like even better, sinister green domes who seem to be watching you as the rather grandiose 'big house' looms overhead.
Some people like grand houses.
I am more taken with the ramshackle. Such as this sweet little conservatory nestling between shapely hedges.
Or intriguing secret paths leading to who knows where?
And cunning doors which beckon you to enter...
...revealing the most beautiful Victorian walled garden.
And then the rain descended, as it had been threatening to since we arrived.
We all took shelter, packed like sardines in a funny little theatre shack and I passed round mints some found at the bottom of my bag. Jean found them a little strong and had a slight coughing fit.
Once order was restored and the rain passed, we carried on admiring the neat and orderly rows of vegetables, lined up like soldiers on parade.
One of the old glass houses has been restored.
And already filling up with tidy rows of geraniums.
In the manner of these things, just as we were heading off, the clouds cleared to reveal beautiful Shropshire.
Back along the ever-so-long drive. It's time to return to our own humble but much loved homes, full of grandiose ideas for schemes which may one day come to fruition. Who knows?
posted by Neil
In
January, I was here:
I was given a copy of this.
And I recorded my part here, with Producer
Matt Selman directing me as hard as he could.
And now, eleven months later, here we come... walkin' down the street... we get the funniest looks from... No, that's something else. Anyway, I like this shot because I am wearing a suit and tie.
If you're in the US, then the episode of
The Simpsons with me in it, "The Book Job", goes out tomorrow. 8 pm or 7 Central.
If you're not in the US, then you may have a while to wait until it's on.
No, I haven't seen it yet either. I am hoping to watch it tomorrow with a daughter, her friends, and probably doughnuts.
...
I learned from
Mark Evanier's blog that Les Daniels had passed away. Here's the
New York Times obituary. I had Les's book "COMIX. A HISTORY OF COMIC BOOKS IN AMERICA" as a boy, and loved it and learned from it. I didn't meet Les until I was a guest at NeCon, in Providence, Rhode Island.
I really liked him, I got to thank him for COMIX, and it's good to say thank you. My obsession with Jack Benny really started when Les and I were talking about radio, and I was saying that the best radio comedies were all British, pointing to Hancock's Half Hour and the Goons and Round the Horne and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Les agreed that they mostly were... but then there was the Jack Benny Show. And a few weeks later, he sent me some cassettes, so I could hear for myself. And I was both convinced and hooked. Thank you, Les.
0 Comments on Hey Hey We're, er, on the Simpsons. as of 1/1/1900
posted by Neil
I'm in a corner in Sydney Domestic Airport Terminal 2, trying to stay awake. I've already signed a copy of
The Graveyard Book, for someone who'd figured out where I was from Twitter. My plane takes off for Tasmania in 2 hours. I just have to keep going until then.
I'll be appearing on Saturday Night at the
Mona Foma festival in Hobart, accompanied by the amazing Four Play String Quartet, and MORE paintings by Eddie Campbell, reading The Truth Is A Cave In The Black Mountains. And perhaps other things.
I meant to write a proper blog about the wedding, and I shall.
Until then, a quick recap. I went home. it was cold.
I went to San Diego and spoke to Nancy Pearl in front of an audience of librarians.
I went to LA, and recorded my part in an episode called "The Book Job". It was written by Dan Vebber (and the many Simpsons writers, some of whom I met, and one of whom stage-whispered "So that was Banksy!" as I left) and masterminded by Matt Selman, who is the most nervous person I know. Matt was my director, and was terrific and reassuring (Him: "Can you do an American accent that would sound to Americans like Dick Van Dyke's English accent sounded to you?" Me: "Er...")
Me and Topiary...
The view from the recording studio...
I play myself. I play a very different version of myself to the me I played in Arthur, though. For a start, I do not appear in anyone's falafel. Also, I expect I will be yellow.
Probably this is all I shall be remembered for.
It'll be out in about a year. I still hope to be a head in a jar on Futurama one day.
I did a charity photo project for photographer Allan Amato, that you will find out about one day, said hello to Amber Benson in a coffee place where I was meant to be meeting my agent (but didn't).
We met. We were extremely serious, and planned a prison break and world domination together. (See photo for proof.)
As I bring the kids to camp each day, I pass by some odd topiaries. They caught my eye each and every day, so I was inspired to play with them a bit. I have no patience for maintaining actual topiary plants, but their form and shape are fun to play with in pencil. I may continue this, maybe paint a few. I'm even inspired to make a repeat pattern with them. We'll see.
When life gives you lemons....
This is a very old illustration I did for a greeting card design. Hopefully, I'll find time in my crazy day to get to the studio to paint something new!
Have a happy and safe holiday weekend!
acrylic paint/colored pencil on bristol board
Um... would it be breaking any blog rules to re-post a piece of art that I had posted early on in my blogging endeavor? (It was only my fourth post, ever...) I just thought it was appropriate for today. Peace, love and chocolate to all!
(And here's a handy guide to choosing just the right kind-- scroll down to see my favorite-- the two poet truffles... "With every batch of six truffles, you also get a homemade poem.")
Nice work! Love blue and yellow together! Thanks for stopping by too.
Have you seen whales?
Knowing your inspirational trend towards the positive, how about finishing your line, "When life gives you lemons, turn them into lemonade"? About working fast: that's the challenge I set each week; part of the fun. Today from Tarland! :)
Yes, I would like to have a lemon tree on an orange pot. I like, I like.
Very nice. I also like yellow and blue together. My kitchen used to be that color scheme.
Vickie
Dear, dear Laurel,
you bring tears to my eyes.
Thank you so much for your lovely comments "When I am Big" on Amazon.
And what a beautiful surprise to hear that up-beat tune with this lovely lemon tree illustration! Tremendous potential for the licensing market..
big hug,
Suana
nice greeting card, i like your lemontrees! BTW thank you so much for your beautiful comment, i conjured up that to my drawing.
lovely lemon trees....they are so fresh and bright.
Love the lemons! What wonderfully productive trees... and I adore your pink flamingoes for hoard... I was working on a pirate's treasure map but didn't finish it...
Such happy looking lemons. How about some happy lemon pie now :)
Such happy looking lemons. How about some happy lemon pie now :)
happy july 4th to you too. thanks for the e mail, will be sending the 'giggles' soon. hugs xxx
you gave some inspiration to paint again. i'll try soon again and hey. i am singing lemon tree, very pretty....
have a nice weekend.
Mmmmmmm, lemons.... :-)
I've been drinking lemonade a lot over the past month or so. I suppose I need a few trees like these. :)
I have been missing painting too; shall we get together and work on some? have you ever done plein air?
You are right! Who doesn't get a few lemons!!
But that lemonade sure is sweet! Love the song!
These are some mighty sweet little sour lemons. I hope you get a chance to create some new stuff too, but it sure is nice to see your older work. There is such a wealth of wonderful Lolo creations out there!
Have a wonderful, wonderful 4th of July weekend!
Hey Laurel- love the colors and composition and textures!!! Life-lemonade- I had same thought- though a dif. twist- and much rather look at your painting as usual- especially this post!!!
Peace to you and yours.
oh i ADORE your fruity pieces! and this terra-cotta color, with the blue, and the perky lemons...just wonderful, vallie! :)
Your colors always pop off the screen! I also would love to have lemon trees and lovely sunshine everyday! Beautiful colors!
www.indigeneartforms.blogspot.com
Aaaah, this makes me think of Italy for some reason. Not that I've ever been there. Such beautiful colors. You certainly did make something sweet out of lemons!
All's well- sorry to worry- thanks friend.
Hi Lo lo a go go! Great illo. Nice textures. Thanks for the comment on my blog. I opened up to that page with my parrot on my shoulder, and it gave her a bit of a jolt too. Tweet tweet.
I absolutely love this illustration!
old or not, it's very nice! Now i want lemonade!
Like 'Isay' says, the Trini Lopez song came to mind immediately. Very nice lemons, trees and pots!
great painting! i can just imagine it as a card!
great brushwork and colors in this, very cheery for such a sour topic.
Love this, my favourite colours.
yikes, everyone's a critic. my sleeping puppy didn't like your music, ouch, now he's awake and chewing my arm off.
oh, wonderful painting by the way. makes me miss our lemon tree which is back east with friends, it always smelled so good, thanks for the memories.