But..is it art?


One day I would love to have a large formal garden
With herbaceous borders and neat lawns
And in it I would love a piece of art
Just the one.
I adore this living piece of art
It's The Whirling Dervish at Shambelie House 
In New Abby, Scotland.
It's strangely mystic, beautiful and totally adorable
It's just one thing on my fantasy wish list

The others?
Well....I want
An Outbuilding.....a house with a set of out buildings
An Airedale terrier
An aga ( and lessons to use it)
A jersey cow with gentle eyes ,
To be an extra in an important film,
I would like to go to the opening ceremony of an Olympic Games 




51 comments:

  1. Yes I love that. Very gracious.

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  2. It is art. Very beautiful art.
    If it weren't for the inevitable pecking you could have it in the middle of the Ukranian village square.

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  3. Yes, yes, that's art!!!

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  4. It flows beautifully Mr. Gray, alive in more ways than one.

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  5. Well as a Bucket List that all seems fairly doable......Not sure about the movie extra.....but i say Go For It!!

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  6. What else would you like to do, I wonder. The Olympics and an extra in a movie--those are some good aspirations.

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  7. It is graceful, flowing... and most certainly art.

    I think I shall add a little something to my bucket list: To get to see you in a role in Walking Dead, working directly with Mr. Reedus of course.

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  8. Yes, it is so whirling dervish I can feel it. I like Airedales and Agas and Jerseys and outbuildings and instead of the last two I would go and live in Morocco for a while.

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  9. Anonymous10:53 pm

    Of course it's art...it's glorious.

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  10. Oh yes, an Airedale. They are lovely dogs but tend to be big and boisterous. Could be interesting inside a small cottage with other dogs. There is a lovely reclining lady living sculpture at the Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall. I'd never seen this type of art before seeing this. Love your list.

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  11. This link might do the trick !!

    http://www.visitcornwall.com/sites/default/files/styles/product_image/public/Heligan%2520-%2520MudMaid_JulianStephensCHeliganGardensLtd.jpg?itok=IkI5p2fh

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  12. Beautiful piece of art, definitely!

    As my mother would say...
    "Why just wish for a loaf of bread when you can wish for the grocery store?"

    and then there is wishing in one hand and sh*tting in the other :)

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  14. I like it but it would haunt me if it was in my backyard. And what do I want? Well, a snicker doodle would be good right now.

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  15. I cannot spell this evening....

    Another gem - If wishes were horses then beggars would ride.

    Couldn't help it - Love Ya! :)

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  16. I'd say that's an attainable bucket list. Wonder where the outbuildings will go.

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  17. That is a unique list and quite endearing. A jersey cow with gentle eyes, indeed. Your writing is lovely to read.

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  18. I would love that in my yard. beautiful !
    Wonderful list. Jersey Cows are lovely.

    cheers, parsnip

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  19. Others have attended to whether it's art or not, I suppose I vote yes, reminds me of Lord Voldemort in some scenes.
    The AGA, I assume you're referring to the cooking thing?
    If so, it's properties and usefulness are determined by the material: cast iron. You can duplicate it to some extent by using a Dutch Oven, and charcoal. Not that difficult, I've made some excellent meals from a 17" one I have, and a total of 16 charcoal briquettes.

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    1. Oh, as to the opening ceremony....get chicken rearing raised to an olympic sport.....there you'll be, leading one of your brood out around the track.

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  20. It looks as if it's spiraled right up out of the Earth. LOVE IT!

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  21. All very do-able Mr Gray. I suspect you are also a fan of Andy Goldsworthy.

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  22. Love the whirling dervish. And yes, I would categorise it as art.
    And would really like to have to sort of garden which would showcase it.

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  23. Forget the cows and agas, just get yourself an Airedale. They are wonderful dogs. (And the whirling dervish is magnificent.)

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  24. You make think about the dreams I forgot to dream lately. I like dreams.
    I must start dreaming again.

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  25. Wonderful piece indeed.

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  26. I Love your list. I joined a choir in Sydney too late to be part of the opening ceremony at the Olympics - even better to have been part of the performance! So sad about the poor dogs in your last post, I do hope the survivors all find kind loving homes.

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  27. I love the whirling dervish, it catches the energy beautifully. My mum used to call me a whirling dervish when I was little. I didn't have a clue what she was talking about, I thought it was something she made up. It wasn't until years later I learned there was such a thing.

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  28. If you want an Aga lesson call round here anytime, I'll show you how to make an Aga fry up :-)

    .... I can't really help with the others sorry ;-)

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    1. Do you want a pair of Muscovy ducks sue?

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    2. Absolutely NOT .... I'm not listening to you ... I will not be swayed ... fingers in ears lala lala lala lala.

      Sorry no I don't. ;-)

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  29. I'd like the Aga also. And a cow... but I want a miniature highland! There is a spirit in the dervish......

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  30. The cow will enjoy the garden.

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  31. I adore your "fantasy wish list"...and I'm wishing that you have all your wishes come true. The living piece of art definitely grabs me emotionally and years ago my family had a Golden Guernsey with gentle eyes, she was my friend and I still miss her.

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  32. Oh yes, a Jersey cow, Aga, outbuildings, everything and the finances to maintain them! Can just see you churning the butter....

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  33. That is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen John- thanks for sharing her! She looks a green goddess captured out of time.

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  34. Anonymous1:30 pm

    That living art is very cool.

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  35. I know you will be expecting something like this from me, but am so fed up with woven wicker sculptures now, that I find it hard to see the merit in any of them. At least they set fire to the Wicker Man.

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    1. Tut tut.....I thought it was undeniably beautiful

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    2. 'Did you mean'... "arguably"? If they put Isadora Duncan in it and set fire to it, then it would have been undeniably useful.

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    3. Also, Dervishes always have one arm up, the other one down and their heads to one side. (What an irritating bastard I am, before you mention it).

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  36. I saw a brilliant quote the other day, it said 'I don't have a Bucket List but my Fucket List is getting longer'! Love it. x

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  37. I love that. It's definitely art.

    Love,
    Janie

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  38. It's wild and I love Nana' comment too.

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  39. It is definitely an interesting piece of lawn art. Wow.

    Thanks for sharing it with us, John.
    Good luck with the lottery. :-)

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  40. I gardened professionally for 35 years and thought I'd mastered topiary until I saw your dervish. I have danced with the Sufis and never connected the two activities. Had I done, I could call myself an artist --because that's art.

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  41. What a lovely and largely achievable wish list. The secret of happiness me thinks. Mind you I'm not sure I can picture you anywhere but in a Welsh cottage opposite the church with a Ukranian village fully populated with a large number of orphanand abandoned fowl.

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  42. Really stunning...love it to bits

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