Toni Truesdale Artist in residence The Steeple Newburgh North Fife

For the past month Toni Truesdale has been Artist in residence at The Steeple Newburgh North Fife. Quickly gained the tag, "Toni that paints" Gave talks of her works and motivations. Toni states " History and Mythology need to include the unrestricted stories of all women. The female perspective should be reflected in aesthetics, values, spirituality and morality.
I develop imagery that shows the natural beauty and intelligence in aspects of the multicultural life of  Sisters, mothers, daughters, aunts, nieces, grandmothers all"
I'm feeling left out here.

Toni Truesdale alongside a print of her work entitled "Grandma Dreams of Dancing"

 

 Mama Wata

Women of the waters

 

From the top, Cailleath and Nephthys.

 Untitled, arising from a visit to Mugdrum Estate Newburgh and an avenue of ancient Yew trees.Also to look at at....

Mugdrum Cross stone. The early Celtic carvings having in time largely eroded away.

Morning Star, one of many artworks available as prints.

 Peace Woman

Harvest.

Water Spirit.

For more of Toni Truedale's work and contact...ttruesdale@gmail.com  ToniTruesdale.com   Truesdaleart.com

Badgers North Fife

What a shame, this poor badger is the second I've come across this year. Lying at the roadside dead, I was taken by the fantastic hair and how many shaving brushes they might make. Occasionally I come across Roe deer that have suffered the same fate, a different story, we enjoy to eat venison. Och well, maybe the next time I'll have some clippers and even try the meat.

Coincidentally, This publication,

Badgerlands: The Twilight World of Britain's Most Enigmatic Animal 

is to be published on October 3rd

Britain is the home of the badger - there are more badgers per square kilometre in this country than in any other. And yet many of us have never seen one. They are nocturnal creatures, who vanish into their labyrinthine underground setts at the first hint of a human. Accompanied by the eccentrics and scientists who feed and study badgers, Barkham explores Badgerland; a nocturnal world in which sounds and scents are amplified, and Britain seems a much stranger place, one in which these low slung, snuffling, distinctively striped creatures gambol and dig, and live out their complex social lives. Patrick Barkham's grandmother won their trust enough to feed and nurse them, and was responsible for a Parliamentary bill that prohibited their slaughter. Today, over 40 years later, the badger is once again set to be culled. Barkham delves into the fascinating natural and rich cultural history of the animal - from their prehistoric arrival in Britain, to their savage persecution over the centuries, to their change of fortunes in the 20th century, when Kenneth Grahame's Badger spurred a growing fondness for them. Barkham's affection for the stubborn, striped-nose creatures is infectious and Badgerlands will cement his reputation as one of our most vivid, witty and curious nature writers.
Badgers both loved and hated according to temperament are now being thrust back into public awareness.
Click below for the best price.
Badgerlands: The Twilight World of Britain's Most Enigmatic Animal

Newburgh Walking the Marches 2013

The throng gathers at what was the George Hotel corner of Tay Street  for 1-00 pm start. The walking of the marches is now a tri-annual event asserting rights of way and marking the boundary of the Burgh of Newburgh. White paint is reapplied on marker posts along the way, typical of Newburgh the person assigned the task was called Picasso. The walk is about 8 miles, up and down, across fields,undergrowth, twice under the railway and this year because of the state of the tide, for the piper and Picasso a gurgle and swim in the River Tay.

Away down Tay Street at just past 1-00pm.

 

Onwards down Coach Road to the river and turning East passing the Yacht Club then inland emerging at Parkhill Steadings skirting Lindores Abbey Ruins.

Approaching the A913 at 1-29 pm.

Skittish Jacobs Sheep unused to such intrusion.

 

What's going on?

 Emerging onto the A913 at 1-34pm

Rounding Cemetery corner....

Another gate to climb.

All over it by 13-41pm

This was 1-43pm and for me it was out of site until 5-13 pm when the more spread out walkers began to arrive for the welcome foods and beverages.in a barn off Woodriffe Road. Only another mile to the end.

After all those fences, gates, ups and downs, the assortment of pies, filled rolls, drinks beckoned.

 

The last being piped in for a wee bevy.

 

In line for that welcome replenishment.

Of the walkers were these three year youngsters, Lewis Roper 3 & 10 months and Blair Hain with Sam Green.

Traditionally the youngest and oldest receive a reward,

 

Jim Davidson aged 79 with the wee ones. A half bottle for Jim and a large box of sweeties for the boys.

 

Refreshed and off again.

 It was all down hill to the railway tunnel and onto the A913.... thence the top park skirting Mugdrum Estate.

A steady line.

A slow descent to the river Tay.

It's amazing how overgrowth can develop in 3 years. The majority bypassed this obstacle.

At this stage of marking of the boundary the wall is marked and a white stick is thrown into the River Tay as far as possible. The tide happened to be high and the piper readied himself for the plunge. Up to his neck he piped away. I did video it in HD, all is needed is the right software for me to publish when done. It has the makings of being  classic. lol.

In the middle "Picasso" shakes the water off.

It's 6-27pm and a stroll back to Coach Road completing the circuit.