Small delights blog
‘Small Delights’ began as a lockdown project. I was looking every day for something in my surroundings or during our hour’s exercise (remember that?) to break the monotony and bring delight – or even awe – and then to draw it. I soon started to share the drawings with a few comments on this blog for friends to enjoy.
I’ve continued with the project – although no longer daily. I’m inspired to continue with it by reading writer and theologian Richard Rohr’s comments “Your task is to find the good, the true, and the beautiful in everything”.
I love drawing and always find something new in my subject, no matter how familiar I thought it was. Mary Oliver writes “Attention is the beginning of devotion” and drawing certainly makes us pay attention. This is a search to find “that which connects all things and speaks to our souls if only we will stop and look.”(Richard Rohr).
The small delight of the human face
Faces are endlessly fascinating, don’t you agree? Everyone has two eyes, a nose, a mouth and a chin. How can they all be so different? Apparently the likelihood of two people sharing exactly the same facial features is estimated to be less than 1 in 1 trillion!...
The small delight of the sunflower
The sunflower is a beautiful flower. And it can grow impossibly tall. I remember my grandmother ‘accidentally’ growing a hugely tall one (or so it seemed to me then) which she thought must have come from the bird seed she constantly threw on the ground. Latter...
The small delight of the leaf-cutter bee
I was so surprised in France recently to see a small bee fly past me while clutching a leaf. I’d never seen anything like it. It almost looked as though it was riding a little green magic carpet. Then the bee landed on a stone wall and tried to push the leaf into a...
The small delight of the peony
Could anyone not like peonies? Rose-like but more flamboyant, this one is a wonderful fuchsia pink. Definitely a “look at me” flower. The tightly curled central petals are a mass of shapes, interesting to draw, and reminiscent of a shaggy pom-pom. The peony is a...
The small delight of a garden in May
Is there anything better than an English garden in May? At least when the sun is shining! Hiding under some trees I found this lovely weigela bush. This one is a deep pink, although I read they can also be white, red or purple. For anyone travelling north, apparently...
The Small Delight of the Cherry Blossom
Think of spring and we think of daffodils, tulips- and blossom. There is something about blossom which brings joy to us all. The delicate colours, the fragility, and the way it explodes on what were until recently bare branches. Our old cherry tree is now a mass of...
the small delight of the seedhead
This seedhead was one of many lying under a tree in Portugal last month. A plant app identified it as mimosa, but I can’t find a photo online to confirm that. Whatever the tree, the seedhead was intriguing. It’s large - maybe 4cm in diameter- and bowl-shaped, and...
the elegance of the palm tree
Palm trees have long held a fascination for me. The rough trunks, the way the branches sway in the breeze like fans, and the fact that they tend to be found in hot and often exotic places. I have seen a number of palm trees recently, and been struck by how different...
The small delight of the snowdrop
A couple of days ago I looked out of the kitchen window to see snowdrops! It really was a delightful moment. They had not been apparent the previous day. What do snowdrops mean to you? To me they represent strength, resilience...
The small delight of the toxic hellebore
We were recently given a present of a beautiful hellebore. At the moment we are enjoying it as a houseplant, but it will really be happier outdoors, and we’ll plant it outside as soon as the cold snap finishes. Meanwhile I’m enjoying having it indoors, and...
music of the angels?
In the run up to Christmas, you may well have placed a star on your Christmas tree, or somewhere in the house. As you look at it, consider the mind-boggling fact that the stars sing! Nasa’s Elizabeth Landau says, “we can’t hear it with our ears, but the stars in the...
The small delight of a frosted cobweb
Much as I wish I could, I can’t say I like spiders - but I do admire them. A recent frosty morning showed up how industrious they are - the garden was full of cobwebs. I also admire their their artistry. How beautiful the webs looked, the spirals and ladders picked...
The small delight of waiting
This week’s small delight is an Amaryllis. I enjoyed looking at and drawing the curves of the leaves and the layers around the top of the bulb. But there is also delight in the waiting for what is to come. The shoot, only about 4 inches high at the moment, has much...
The small delight of watching water
A little colour this week. There is something fascinating about water. Fascinating, and also calming. Amid the recent rain we have had the odd pocket of sun and blue sky, allowing a brief walk by the river before the next shower. After all the rain, the rivers are...
The Small delight of Wordle
What’s your favourite coffee break puzzle? A crossword? Sudoku? I love Wordle. It’s such a simple game. It doesn’t require a lot of knowledge or time; anyone can play it and it’s rare that the word can’t be found in the 6 goes allowed. I also love the story behind it....
A carpet of cyclamen
I find it impossible to keep cyclamen as a houseplant. But to my delight in this garden we have a carpet of cyclamen under the trees and bushes; a wash of pinks from almost white to lilac. For some reason I found these pretty little flowers difficult to...
The small delight of a handful of nuts
I love nuts. Not salted, not peeled, not mixed with dried fruit. Just shelled. Nuts, nutritionally, are powerhouses of healthy fats, protein and minerals and a small handful is said to be a healthy daily snack. They are also delicious - enjoyable for their crunch as...
the small delight of finding beauty in decay
I don't think I'm alone in enjoying watching flowers fade. Cut tulips, in particular, turn into wonderful structural shapes as they die. These hydrangeas are not changing shape - but they are changing colour. Their youthful pink of earlier in the summer seems...
the small delight of globe artichokes: a treat for eye and table
I love the combination of purple and green, so these globe artichokes on the market stall immediately caught my attention. They appeared freshly cut, the ‘leaves’ (technically bracts) a wonderful rich purple, a little green showing between, and a line of orange/gold...
The small delight of the coconut
The coconut is an amazing fruit. In England, the main delight of a whole coconut is usually the delight of winning, as it is often the prize at the village fete, rather than the coconut itself. In India, the coconut provides a delightful drink. Coconuts are...
Fruit or veg? The small delight of the avocado
Avocados are one of my favourite fruits. Mashed with a little olive oil, a few chilli flakes and some seasoning and served on toast, they certainly rival scrambled eggs for me. Although we eat avocado as a vegetable, my local shop is correct in listing it on the till...
the small delight of a pot of basil
After a miserable July, we finally have some sunshine here in the UK. A warm evening calls for a salad, with, if we are lucky, some flavourful tomatoes. And tomatoes just cry out for basil. The combination of tomatoes and basil is not just a feast for the tastebuds,...
The small delight of a jar of cosmos
Cosmos is such a pretty summer flower, suggesting cottage gardens. They are members of the daisy family, which doesn’t surprise me at all, although I have only just read that the daisy family is the largest plant family in the world. I tend to think of cosmos as...
The small delight of a glass of bubbles
When did prosecco become ubiquitous in the UK? Champagne has always had the name for the drink of celebration. Clever marketing and a strict use of the name has lead to its exclusivity. But as a less expensive alternative, Italian prosecco within the last 15...
The small delight of catching up with a friend
Drawing of two friends at a cafe What could be nicer than an hour or so catching up with a friend? Especially over a coffee. Talking things over usually helps us put them in perspective. Taking time out of the day to meet a friend seems such a simple and natural...
Small delight: Star Jasmine
Back to nature for the latest small delight, and the beautiful white Star Jasmine which covers the wall by our front door. The flowers do indeed look like little stars - or to my eyes like the windmills on sticks we had as children. I love the way these...
The small delight of an empty box
I love boxes. Wooden boxes, metal boxes, empty chocolate boxes, boxes with little drawers. Recently my husband was given a lovely present of wine and chocolates in a wonderful wooden box - which he of course gave to me! This was a very special box, with a divider down...
The small delight of watching the clouds
The image for this week’s Small Delight may take a little work from you - you have to see it from my perspective.The delight is watching the clouds. As children we love to watch the clouds, and see shapes in them. But how many of us still do that regularly? I'm...
Small delights – a simple pleasure?
Today’s small delight is that most simple of pleasures - a glass of water. But what could be more refreshing on a hot day? Nothing quenches the thirst quite like water. A simple pleasure - yet perhaps not quite so simple. Earth is the only known planet with a stable...
The small delight of doing nothing
These people were sitting in the sunshine doing nothing. And why not? I was sitting in the sunshine doing nothing but draw them. And why not? There is something about a bit of sunshine and blue sky that makes us want to sit still and enjoy it. Cold days are for...
Small delights: Tinker, Tailor…
A saucer of ripe cherries brings many delights for the eye. The variety of reds; the so-shiny skins reflecting the light; a pair of ‘twins’ joined together; one even has a fresh leaf remaining. I could look at them for hours! The different lines of the stalks;...
Cherry Pie
This ubiquitous wild flower seems to grow with little or no soil. This large specimen is growing out of an old wall. Although I think of it by my childhood name of ‘Cherry Pie’, it is actually ‘Red Valerian’ (although surely more pink than red). ...
A knitted delight
What a delight to see this splendid knitted crown on top of a postbox near Salisbury Cathedral. Drawing it made me realise what a lot of work had gone into its creation, and all done anonymously. I’ve been aware of these knitted and crocheted postbox...
A profusion of cowslips
It’s a delight to find a profusion of cowslips in our lawn this year (even if it does make it difficult to mow). I loved cowslips as a child, but for many years hardly saw one, as they seemed to become rarer with the general decline in wildflowers in the UK. It’s good...
To the river!
River! that in silence windest Through the meadows, bright and free, Till at length thy rest thou findest In the bosom of the sea Henry Wadsworth Longfellow To the river We had a morning of sunshine last week! I grabbed my sketchbook and pens and headed for the river...
A delightful find
I was so pleased to find a small patch of snake’s head fritillaries growing in our garden. I’ve long loved these flowers. The texture of the petals really does look like snakeskin, but I also love the shape. Most shapes in nature are circles and curves, but...
Hoping for plums
I do love blossom - looking at it and drawing it. Our little plum tree is covered in white flowers at the moment. Why do we talk about ‘blossom’ rather than flowers? According to the Woodland Trust website, blossom refers to the flowers of stone fruit...
The miracle of resurrection
Spring is such a wonderful time of year. New life is all around us. The dead looking, gnarled, lichen-covered apple tree is full of new tips and buds just waiting to burst into blossom. Happy Easter, everyone!
Such a pretty primula
Friends kindly gave me this unusual primula, with beautiful dark patches on both sides of each petal. It has a similar shape to a cowslip, and the wonderful curly leaves of cowslips and primroses. This one is called silver/ gold lace, and there is a look of broderie...
A liking for lichen
I picked this twig up recently on a walk with a friend. It is so completely covered in lichen that it almost looks like a large hairy caterpillar. The twig itself is only apparent at either end, like a skeleton providing a structure for the lichen, with just an...
Gilding the Lily
The Lily ... even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these’. [Matthew 6:28,29] Some friends gave me a large bunch of these beautiful flowers last week. At the time they were all in bud, the tapered forms of which had a beauty of their own. Over the...
Christmas greetings – and a pine cone
Pine cones have a feeling of Christmas for me. We have some gold-sprayed cones on the Christmas tree, and others in a bowl. I’ve always loved the shape of pine cones, and the way they close up tight and open up to release their seeds. Pine cones are fun to...
Forbidden fruit?
A friend kindly gave me these quinces from her Japonica to draw. I’ve been studying their knobbly apple shape, and decided to draw them in liquid charcoal with a bit of pen outline and in artificial light, to make the most of their interesting angles and planes. The...
Small delights: the gift of a plant
Today I finally got round to drawing our beautiful orchid; a lovely gift from friends several months ago. I must admit to struggling to care for orchids in the past, but this one has flowered non-stop, and given us much delight. The beautiful shape of the flowers, and...
Small delights: more people watching
in the cafe People are endlessly fascinating. I love sitting in cafes surreptitiously drawing them, and seeing how few lines are needed to get the essence of them. Snatches of overheard conversations are another delight- but I can’t listen and draw at the same...
Small delights: Old Man’s Beard
Old Man's Beard I always think of Hallowe'en when I see Old Man’s beard in the hedgerow. It makes a good stand-in for thick cobwebs for children’s parties. Other names for Old Man’s Beard include Traveller’s Joy, and it is part of the clematis genus. According to the...
Small delight: Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness
Cow Parley seed head Autumn is officially here. While the days are still warm, the mornings and evenings are definitely cooler, and night comes earlier. On a weekend walk, the fields edges and verges were full of the mellow fruitfulness of dried seed heads. I...
Small delights: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth
Many of us will perhaps have been surprised how upset we felt at the news of the Queen’s death. I felt a strong urge to draw the Queen yesterday, and spent the morning in the attempt. The Queen was a small woman - and seemed to delight and charm all who...
Small delights: the decorative sword
A gladiolus This beautiful gladiolus, deep red, was a pleasure to draw. The one flower yet out swirls like a matador’s cape. I’m always intrigued by the repetition of patterns in nature, and the shape of the buds on the stem reminds me of an ear of barley. I will...
Admiring the orchid
A friend very kindly brought me a lovely orchid. I’ve been admiring the beautiful flowers, but when I came to draw it today I found that my interest was caught equally by the leaves as the flowers. The leaves are large and bendy and suddenly looked like green...