A Portrait of a Shepherdess & Her Flock

A Portrait of a Shepherdess & her Flock

Today I spent some time with Ruth Hedge - a Norfolk shepherdess. Ruth grew up on a farm in South Norfolk and was given her own sheep at age 13. Now, along with her two daughters, she has a flock of around 400, and from 100 ewes has delivered over 200 lambs of different varieties this Spring.

Here are some photos of Ruth tending her flock, be warned, there are some seriously beautiful lambs in amongst these shots!

Chiffchaff

Wordless Wednesday

A Labour of Love

Hi!

Another beautiful day, very much enjoyed my walk this morning.

After my walk yesterday I decided to go into the church that I had parked near and take some photographs. I'm so glad I did as I got to meet two charming men and hear about their labour of love.

I'd been struck by how well kept St Mary's in Forncett looked and wouldn't have guessed that the church had been retired (not the right word for it I'm sure) some forty years ago and left to decay, gradually becoming enveloped by woodland. To prevent the church from being made into a private dwelling, a man who lived nearby bought it. Locals became interested and gave of their time, experience and money to bring the church back to life.

 I met Harry Barker, an 83 year old retired carpenter and Rod Evans, a 68 year old former bricklayer there. Harry showed such pride in his work and was keen to give me tour. The gentleman told me that church had been an empty shell when they first took it on, the windows and many of the other features broken or removed. Dead birds littered the floor. The renovation has taken several years and still isn't complete, but St Mary's church can be used as a place of worship once again as well as a venue for other community functions - a jazz band will be playing there in May.

 The renovation has provided Harry with a sense of purpose and has helped him to recover from a stroke. He has rebuilt the vestry, the alter, doors and other furniture all out of recycled materials. What a man!

It was lovely to meet these guys yesterday, and kind of them to let me photograph them for this little project.

Back for Wordless Wednesday tomorrow, bye for now. x

Harry Barker

Harry with Rod Evans

St Mary's, Forncett

Trees had engulfed the graveyard.

The Lion

A Portrait of an Allotment Owner

Good afternoon!

I am so enjoying this weather. Everything is bursting back into life with bright, fresh, vibrant greens of all shades and flowers being tended by bees. I love that droning hum in the hedgerows evocative of hot sunny days.

I had an afternoon at my friend Jayne's allotment yesterday and this will be the first in a series of portraits celebrating ordinary people doing their thing.

Jayne is involved on the committee for the Allotment Society and helps run the community allotment as well as her own. Initially sharing an allotment when her two boys were very small, she moved into another space about four years ago now I think, (correct me if I'm wrong Jayne, time flies!) extending her plot further a couple of years ago. I caught up with her yesterday, digging out the footings for a greenhouse that they (she and her husband Matt) are transplanting from another plot. As well as enjoying the the fruits-and veg of course, of her labours, Jayne loves the community aspect of  allotment culture. Many older people have plots there and have proved invaluable for advice, support and practical help to others, benefitting themselves from the company, stimulation and sense of purpose that comes from this community and from growing-their-own.

Its also an immensely exciting place for children. Our's had a lovely game of tag and hide and seek in amongst the trees, sheds and green houses. Allotments really are a place to relax, have fun and learn about the process of growing your own and about nature and where best to start than with the younger generation.

As an artist, I find the place fascinating. I like the feel of 'making-do' that is evident across all the plots. All sorts of household and industrial objects given a new lease of life as plant holders/pots, fences, ponds, markers, bird scarers etc.

Anyway, there are a lot of photographs here, you may like to pop off and get a cuppa and imagine yourself on your own plot!

By chance, I met two extraordinary men this morning who are working on a real labour of love-more to follow tomorrow in the next of my series of ordinary/extraordinary people.

Bye for now, and enjoy the sunshine! x

Jayne on her plot with a beautifully handcrafted gift ( the number 4)  from an older gentleman who has a  plot nearby.

I loved this, home form home!

A baby blackbird hiding in a hedgerow.

The very beautiful Zach, Jayne's border collie.