Thursday, July 30, 2026

What is it? #87 Kelly's Cloud


Welcome to 'What is it?' the interpretative blog challenge!  You see an image I post and you tell me what you think you see or what it represents, beyond the literal!

This week, my lovely blog friend Kelly has provided the image for consideration. It is a beautiful cloud. 

Kelly asked me what I saw in this clouds ape and I said I'd share it in a post. 

So, it's now your turn. Leave a comment saying what you think you see in this cloud beyond the literal. I'll also share what I think and then I'll ask Kelly to reveal what she saw it as when she spotted this cloud! 

Do join in and leave your suggestion. Specific or vague, man or beast, man made or natural, all suggestions welcomed! 



Do leave a comment telling me what you see. I LOVE to read everyone's interpretations!

What about last time?

Last time, for What is it? I asked you to say what you thought this piece of art was depicting and then I'd reveal what the real title for it is, rather than my usual of telling you what I saw something as.

This piece was entitled "Dancer" so I am guessing the work was supposed to perhaps look like a ballet dance or some sort of contemporary dancer.  I personally saw it as some angelic being!

What did my lovely commenters and participants see it as?

6 comments:

  1. Grandma stretching after a long evening of knitting

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  2. I think it is someone reaching up for help, or maybe to help someone

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  3. Sounds like you've been incredibly busy!
    The sculpture looks like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon.

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  4. I think it's a stretching kitty. Perhaps a mummified kitty, at that!

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  5. It looks like a horse knitting while a giant cuddles it from the side 🤣 (I'm guessing nowhere close to what it's actually meant to represent!)

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  6. To me the sculpture looks like a human being carrying something....two longs objects I cannot identify perhaps tools of some kind.


I LOVE all the interpretations of this. Perhaps more than I actually like the original title!

Thank your for the fun!

Now, do have a look at what you think this week's one represents!


xx

ddsdsds

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Style imitating Art: Vogue by the sea

 It's been an absolute age since I have taken part in Style Imitating Art but I saw Salazar's post today and realise what I was wearing could sort of be an interpretation of this poster.

It's an image by illustrator, Helen Dryden for Vogue from July the 1st, 1919.




Anywhere, here's my outfit:


As it's a little loose an interpretation, let me talk you through it.

A nod to the turban is my white floral headband which I tucked my hair into to emulate the turban.


The pink Rene Derhy silk scarf with its pretty florals is a nod to the scarf held by the woman.
My Tatty Devine necklace is the same colours as the shell on the beach. 
Although my top is black and white stripes, it's the same colors as the lady in the picture.


My cute Hokusai inspired earrings, which were a present from my one of my favourite families from school at the end of the year (part of an adorable set of 6!) are a nod to the sea

But so are my sandals from Moshulu (which were deliberately chosen for the photo!) as they emulate the different blues of the waves.


My parasol is a vintage one bought from Vintage-on-Sea for our school production of Treasure Island but it got pretty shredded in the production and I'm not sure if it can be mended or not as it's broken in several places!
Finally, there's my skirt which is the same shade as the sky.  Pity it's not ironed but it's too hot for that!

Head over to 14 Shades of Grey tomorrow to see how everyone else interpreted it!

We've just returned from a week in Northumberland but we only got back last night at midnight as our car had a severe oil issue on the A1 at Newark so we had to call out the AA.  We were towed to Cambridge services within an hour but then had to wait another 4 hours for our next tow home (they operate within areas!).  Very tired, have a headache but glad to be home!

Hope you are well!


xx

Friday, July 24, 2026

Foraged Fluff in Allendale!

Today I suggested we do a walk in Allendale. I've been wanting to do the 36 mile Isaac's Tea Trail which is a circular walk that visits Alston, Allendale, Nenthead and other villages in Northumberland/Cumbria.  It follows the journey of the legendary tea seller, Isaac Golden. You can read more on https://isaacs-tea-trail.co.uk/

I discovered you could get a two hourly bus from my MiL's home to Allen Heads, a pretty village. It was a beautifully scenic bus route. 

We decided to do a stretch from Allen Heads to Allendale as my MiL had an appointment in Allendale at 3.30pm. We arrived at 12.05pm. 

The walk was a bit confusing as we didn't really have a proper OS map and had to join Isaac's trail later in the journey. 

This post is in reverse order. 
At the end, we paid our respects to the Allendaleks and the TARDIS. 


CBC loves Tweedy and Fluff, a cute little animation and we had an idea we could make a little Fluff from foraged items on our walk for Fan Art Friday. 


He is made out of Sheep's wool (found snagged on wire), Thistle flowers, a Dandelion, some stones and a stalk from a plant. 

The walk did get a bit confusing in places but did have some lovely moments. 


We saw some wild orchids. 
And some lovely art work. 

Sadly, no red squirrels. 

 We arrived in Allendale, thankful for our peaceful walk. It wasn't too difficult but I did have some toe blisters! 

We enjoyed some tea and chips in the King's Head pub.
Allendale is a beautiful town and well worth a visit. 

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

This I know to be true: Natural remedy

 For me, relief and consolation have ALWAYS come from time spent in solitude in God's creation.




My poem for the week's Toy Press word of the week, Cheer, which was a while back, emphasizes this.

CBC's reaction to this was "You should stitch this and put it in a toilet" and "Your poem is saying everything is lovely when it's not. Perhaps it is a bit saccharine.  However, I think he's missing the point. The point I'm making is, it doesn't make everything lovely. But somehow, things don't seem quite as desperate after... What do you think?






Natural remedy

When my heart is troubled and heavy

And my soul needs a cheer.

I raise my eyes outwards

To behold what is near.

Sunshine, green leaves, stout trees

And birds melodiously singing,

Then my heart fills with gladness

From the blessings nature’s bringing.

Breathing deeply from an hour,

Spent strolling in fresh air.       

Then the anxieties of life seem less final

And much easier to bear.





Saturday, July 18, 2026

Bee V Flea

 This week's Toy Press poem prompt was 'Victory'. 

I decided to make a little play on words but didn't know where I was going with it. 

This is where I ended up! 


Bee v. Flea

 

Victor-Bee and Victor-Flea

Decide to fly a race. 

They set off buzzing, full of zeal

Zooming at full pace. 

Assured by his greater size, 

Victor Bee's full of Glee. 

Looks snootily behind him, 

Sneering at the trailing flea. 

But Victor Bee then stubs his knee

On a passing wren. 

He veers off in a gust of wind,

Ne'er gains the lead again. 

And therefore it came to be 

That arrogant Victor Bee, 

Lost the race and Victor Flea, 

Was renamed Victory.



dfdfd


Tuesday, July 14, 2026

A post from the archives.. 10 cakes i do not like.

 I occasionally like to visit my own blog archive to have a peruse. Today only happened because a new post suddenly made its way into my 'popular posts's sidebar and then I went down a rabbit hole.

Here's post from 10 years ago where  showed what a complete fuss pot I am regarding cake!

Enjoy!

10 Cakes I do not like

Karen O'Reilly, Karen O'Reilly
I do like this one. Even though I didn't get to try it.
Ha, we often put things we like in blog posts but I thought I'd do the reverse.  My penpal blog-friend Katie asked me in the last but one letter, what cakes I liked and didn't like so I listed them (the dislikes outweighed the likes).  She almost unfriended me. Quote:
"....because otherwise, I'd have to seriously reconsider our friendship Young lady- what on eath is going on with your cake preferences?!  He he I feel like you need a Cakervention (like an intervention involving cake)..."

So, I thought it would be mildly amusing to share the cakes that caused such consternation!  (From what I can remember. I find decisions hard. Annoyingly, one of my boys at school has noticed this and he delights in asking what my favourite blah blah is, to which I say, "Oooh, that's a difficult question," to which he replies, "Is that because you're indecisive, Miss?".  Swine!)

In the interests of balance, I should probably post Cakes I do like on another day. Or maybe not, less entertaining than a rant.

1.  Eccles cake- my Grandpa always used to have these at his house. Uhrgh,these things are seriously rank! Horrid filling, nasty pastry, I'm not sure there's anything nice about them.
2. Coffee and walnut. Coffee is gross- period!
3.  Simnal cake- I loathe the taste of cinammon in cakes and what's more, I really don't like dried fruit. And what's with those large balls on top??? Yes, not keen on marzipan, especially generous-sized balls of it!
4. What the heck, all fruit cakes- wedding, Christmas, birthday...
4.  Carrot cake. Ok, in this case, I will tolerate it. I will eat it, but I don't really like it. That off-white icing on top is always a bit sour, the cake reminds me too much of fruit cake.
5.  Bakewell tarts- in one word- almonds and cherries combined. Shudder. Any cake with GLACE cherries in has my disapproval!
6. Danish pastries- too sickly, too sticky to eat, falls apart as you eat, weird eruptions of jammy/gooey inards....
7.  Banana bread- ahgh, the flavour- mouldy banana- just tastes like socks!!!! Banana-flavoured anything really!!!! I like my bananas yellow with a generous helping of green.You need to use brown bananas for this type of thing so it's inevitable I would not be a fan.
8. Date and walnut cake - dates are nasty!!!!! Need I say more?
9. Gingerbread - to be fair, I think I have a mild allergic reaction to anything with ginger as I get pins and needles in my tongue when I eat anything with ginger in. I like it in savoury-food if I can tolerate the pins and needles, but in sweet- no, no, no...
10.  Coconut cake- never been a fan of coconut- always disliked Bounties. I like coconut milk in savoury foods but not sweet.
I could continue (Baklava, I'm looking at you!) but I am aware how terrible I come across in this!
You can guarantee if it has spices or dried fruit in it, I would rather politely decline.  I apologise profusely if I offend you with my overt shaming of cakes I would rather not share a plate with. It is meant in jest, even if I genuinely wouldn't want to eat these.

In my research of trying to remember which cakes I don't like, I found this very helpful Wikipedia list of cakes with pictures which helped me. Have a look-there's some odd ones there!

In the words of CBC in that I am "incredibly fussy!" about cake- the good thing is, I really will only eat cake I love, thus meaning I won't waste calories on cakes I 'quite like' as I'd rather not eat them, thus it is better for my health.   Thus, I can gorge on chocolate cake whenever I wish, since I have renounced cake on so many other occasions. Hmmm, maybe not?

Over to you, what's your cake hit or miss list?  Better still, post about it and share the link!!
xx



20 comments:

  1. A truly original and fun post! How much I have learned from a psychological point of you based on your cake hates. I adore gingerbread but most people I know do not. More for me I say. And not a fan of carrot cake? You know who likes carrots, right? Furry creatures that romp willy nilly through the woods? Of course I refer to vegetarians.

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  2. You are so funny! And I would say your cake tastes are mostly weird, but I have to agree with you on Eccles cakes, coconut cake, Bakewell tarts and American fruit cakes - yuck. British fruit cake is palatable compared to the American version. I can't believe you don't like cinnamon in cake! Sacrilege! It's a shame you have a bad reaction to ginger, because a good Parkin is just lovely.

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  3. I too am fussy about cake, I can take it or leave it in general to be honest, with exception of gingerbread...that I can't refuse! x

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  4. I'm with you (almost) all the way in your choices of nasty cakes. The only one I have to take exception to is the banana cake as I do make a beautiful banana and sultana cake myself which is is moist and yummy.
    Anna x
    Anna's Island Style

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  5. What's your stand on Chocolate Banana cake, then? Oooh, that's a difficult question!!
    I LOVE Eccles cakes ( Mr FD brought me a pack of 4 back from the UK) but not so keen on chocolate cake. Victoria sponge with blackcurrant jam and a fairly thin cream filling is good. I quite like carrot cake in small quantities and over-iced-and-topped cupcakes are the work of the Devil. They look so lovely, but somehow turn to dust.

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  6. I'm not a fan of cake with dried fruit in either.

    I don't like cakes where the filling to sponge ratio is all out - over topped cupcakes, more icing than necessary etc. What are they trying to hide? Style over substance in my view.

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  7. Hate coffee cake, coffee chocolates, coffee in general. I'm allergic to coconut so don't go near anything with coconut it anyway. I eat dried fruit straight out of the packet.
    Julie xxxxxx

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  8. I can't get enough coffee, so I'm a fan of coffee cake. I also like carrot cake although my last attempt to make one was a disaster.

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  9. Oh my word, at last I have fund someone who has a pure hatred towards fruit cakes, I cannot stand them even the smell makes me want to be sick. I also hate glace cherries. I do however like Bakewell tarts, I just pick the cherry off.
    I love coffee cake but hate walnuts and carrot cake oh my word, possibly my favourite but without any dried fruit in it. I hate dried fruit x x x

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  10. I was reading this wondering if there could possibly be a cake you hadn't mentioned. But, yes ,chocolate cake. For that I forgive you your hatred of all others ;)
    This made me realise just how much I like cake. All of them (but not coffee) (and, ok, maybe eccles too).

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  11. I looove the icing on carrot cake! It's cream cheese icing by the way. Yummmmyy!

    Hmm, I wonder whether you would like my Toblerone cake? That's made with cream cheese as well... but also melted Toblerone.

    I don't like wedding/Christmas cake either, but I do like Christmas pudding... which is made with the EXACT same ingredients. Yep, I'm weird.

    My favourite cake is Yorkshire Parkin, made to my grandma's recipe. It's a ginger cake, so you would hate it ;-)

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  12. OH Kezzie.... Apart from all the calories those cakes are as sweet as music, I LOVE every one of the cakes you mentioned. I think you need a palate adjustment because... just because. Oh well, just think of all the bad sugar you're not tempted to eat. Maybe we should all hate those cakes too. Sugar is bad for us anyway. Waite a minute, there's sugar in chocolate cake too. hehe.

    Hugs,
    JB


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    Replies
    1. I'm totally with you, Julia*. Seriously, Kezzie- that cakervention is happening STAT :p I even have Eccles cakes for breakfast sometimes :p xxx

      *Or at least for the first part. I did the sight equivalent of covering my ears and singing "la la la" for the sentences about sugar being bad for people :p

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  13. I can beat your list, I don't like sweet things. I can't remember the last time I ate a cake, I usually accept a slice out of politeness and slip it on to Jon's plate when nobody is looking. Chips, crisps and nuts all the way! x

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  14. Ok at the start I was thinking how could anyone DISlike cake, but then I read your list and right enough there's some there I also don't like. I don't think I've ever had eccles cake. I like both carrot and ginger, but not more than a plain sponge. I'm fussy with Christmas cake, some are too alcoholic tasting or 'hard' for me. Coffee gross, not keen on walnuts, LOVE a good fruit loaf/tea loaf though. I love raisins or sultanas or whichever they are (my Mum always makes fun of me for not knowing the difference). Bananas I'm funny with, I eat them, but don't love them and I really am not keen on banana flavoured things. I'd have them BROWN though, hate green or yellow. We have 2 bunches of green here, waiting impatiently for them to turn!!

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  15. You crack me up, Kezzie! I actually studied pastry and cake making and I'm still not mad at you. My very very least favorite cake is chocolate with chocolate icing. blech.

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  16. Well, I think all you cake-haters are very odd. There are some here that I like more than others but I'd never turn a cake away! X

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  17. Wonderful post which made me laugh. T loves bakewells the most and so would be quite happy to help you out with those if you ever needed it!
    I agree with the fruit cake, Simnel and the coconut cakes but coffee and walnut is the best!!
    Lisa x

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  18. how interesting! For once we disagree, because I love all of the mentioned. I adore cakes with coffee, banana, carrot, cinemmon and coconut!

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  19. Anonymous1:37 pm

    Coffee cake - no.
    Fruit cake - no.
    Ginger cake - no.
    Carrot cake - meh.

    Now chocolate cake, yum! As long as it's veggie with free range eggs or vegan xxx

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Haha, how fussy am I?!!


Saturday, July 11, 2026

What is it? #86 Woollen sculpture at Snape Maltings

Hello there!
It's been 10 days since my last confession
It's been a very busy couple of weeks. I have had 4 performances at school this week as well as rehearsals for those. 
Monday morning started with 3 back to back rehearsals in the playground with years 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 respectively for their South Asian festival performances.  Then I spent the rest of the day rehearsing choir, recorder club, orchestra, drumming club and solos with the concert featuring 100 children at 6pm. 
The concert went fairly well but it was disgustingly hot. 
Then, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were the South Asian festival-style performances in the playground at 9.30am each morning.  As a school we have been having a focus celebrating South Asian countries' culture so I have had a term of researching, transcribing and learning songs from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan. It has been a real intellectual challenge but the feedback I have had from staff, children and parents has been really amazing, especially from those from Bangladesh.  The kids did a really good job singing their songs.  In year 1-2, they learnt Anile Anile (Sri Lanka), Ghum Parani (Bangladesh), Aap So rahe Hain (Pakistan), Aakad Bakkad (India and Pakistan), Ali Baba (Afghanistan). In year 3-4, they learnt Mou machi (Bangladesh), Khamma Marra Nanderji lal (India), Mage Podi Thara (Sri Lanka), Alef Baa (Afghanistan) and then they presented my poem, An A-z of musical instruments.  In year 5-6, they learnt Jai Ho (India), Eso Eso (Bangladesh), Alef Ba (Afghanistan) and then they presented my poem Dhol Drums (which is soon to be published by Little Thoughts Press).  

 

Today, I awoke at 6.45pm, despite being very tired and ate breakfast, then cycled 2 miles to the swimming pool for an 8am swim which was lovely, then I cycle to church for a prayer connections hour then home for bacon baguette for breakfast, then I did 3 days worth of washing up (yes, it was awful!) and washing and sorted out some stuff. CBC got home from Duke of Edinburgh expedition by about 3.30pm so that was nice and then we went for Thai dinner which was gorgeous as always!

Anyway, onto the main event... this week for What is it, we have something slightly different.
A couple of weeks ago, CBC and I went to Snape Maltings to watch the BBC National orchestra of Wales perform at the Aldeburgh festival and there was an exhibition called Slung mugs by Ffiona Lewis.
As we were queuing to get into the concert hall, we found ourselves looking at the sculptures and wondering what they depicted. We then saw the list of titles later. This week, for What is it? I would like you to say what you believe this sculpture is depicting and then next time, I will reveal what the title of the piece is! So, leave a comment, saying what you think!! Please join in!!

Here's a photo from the concert...






Well, last time, I saw this  as a penguin looking down from his ice-berg block into the water.  He has his right wing bent in front of his tummy.

What did my 3 valued commenters see?

3 comments:

  1. Oh, I can see a monkey scratching its head.

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  2. Usually something jumps righty out at me, but I'm struggling this time. It's between a pirate ship and big foot! (I know, two entirely different things!)

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  3. It's a baby chick sitting in a big nest.

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Three different images  which are great but Bev did see a bird there!

So, do have a join in if you can!
xx