Moles driving me scatty, doing their best to destroy the cottage garden. Would think it would be easy to find the tunnels of something that makes mounds the size of small hills.

Misty walk in the vineyards. Eerily quiet after the wind of the past few days, an express train hurtling through the trees. My mind churning over ideas for paintings, responses to job requests that I’m not interested in and strategies for applications for those which I am.

At the bottom of the cottage garden, the deck under the pine trees is our haven from the afternoon heat of summer.

The table and chairs blending into the late afternoon light. Secluded, intimate privacy.

Polly content to dig her nest in the garden to create a bed of cool soil, where she can still monitor the comings and goings at the cottage.

I was requested to recommended a days Gallery Walk in Cape Town, which made me realize how long it is since I spent any time in the city. I know the Stellenbosch and Franschhoek gallery’s reasonably well. However, what is going on in Cape Town is a bit of a mystery.

After a sweltering week, the wind chimes are going crazy in the front of the cottage. The barometer bringing us cooler weather, and possibly event a spot of rain. The vineyards were shrouded in mist with a fierce wind cleaning out the remaining spots of red wine. The result of sitting out on a seductive evening, watching the lights across the valley.

For now, the third week of the ‘thirty paintings in thirty days’ has started. I have started to use a slightly larger canvas (20cmx20cm) to give me a bit more freedom, and reduce the contortions of my fingers on the small 15cm square canvas.

I wound the various clocks, a comforting rhythm to life in the cottage. A life that will change as the cottage has been sold and we will start our relocation to the studio in Knysna.