Abbey of SCOTLAND'S LOST QUEEN | Balmerino | Painting Halloween Pumpkins in Watercolour | Ep39
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- čas přidán 27. 08. 2024
- Hello & welcome along on this walk! If you're new here - my name is Sarah and each week I head out on a walk with my faithful companion Jack Spaniels, to explore somewhere in this beautiful country of Scotland and hopefully find something to paint back in my studio at home.
Today we followed our noses to find out what was at the end of a road we have seen sign-posted so many times, but never followed...
We take a woodland stroll along the banks of the Firth of Tay, in the most northern part of Fife, explore the romantic ruins of Balmerino Abbey and discover Fife's oldest tree.
A stop off for coffee and cake took a spooky theme, at Cairnie Fruit Farm's pumpkin patch. I couldn't help but paint one or two of the pumpkins that I found, ahead of Halloween! See how I got on at the end of this video...
If you enjoyed this video and you haven't already, please do hit subscribe and check out my other videos - including the three special Skye episodes, where we explore some incredible Scottish scenery. Join me again next week as we explore somewhere else in Scotland and look for painting inspiration...
SHE WALKS:
Birkhill Woods & Balmerino Abbey
Distance Walked: 6.7m / 10.9km
Oat Milk Latte & Pumpkin Latte Cake: Cairnie Fruit Farm
SHE PAINTS:
Total Painting Time: approx 10 hours
Materials Used:
Arches Watercolour Paper
Windsor& Newton 'Cotman' brushes in sizes 000, 00 & 6
Dyffle Watercolour Pens
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Thanks Sarah, lovely walk. The sights, the sounds, the boots on the path, Jack running, and all the bird song. Love the trolls as well!
Thanks Kristin! I’ll have to see if I can remember any of those troll stories…it was my friend’s uncle who used to tell them to us to keep us entertained on long walks 😊
A lovely walk in the rain and sun and Jack Spaniels perpetual motion tail wags...great pumpkin artistry...you know how to bring out the spirit in your subjects!
Thanks Colleen!!
I love the crisp in the air. It's been gorgeous here
Glad to hear it! It’s been weirdly milks the past few weeks actually - kind of craving some colder weather now (although I’m sure I will regret that once winter hits haha!)
Love your videos nice and relaxing music walks and the painting
I like the way Jack considers that pumpkin beside him---- "A pumpkin sharing my blanket space--- well, ok."
Haha yeah - he is never sure what to make of these things, unless they are obviously food or a toy of course! 😅
I so love the pumpkin patch?
The tranquility in the wood are so peaceful.
Sarah, to quote the line from A Teddy Bears picnic “if you go down to the woods today you are in for a big surprise”; that walk through the woodland was fantastic and so serene. As for the abbey, superb design and workmanship from those stonemasons, must of been something to behold when it was intact. The drone footage was brilliant Willie. The longevity of the chestnut tree is cause for hope in these troubled times.
Thanks! So glad you liked this one. It was a lovely walk 😊
Nice show beautiful walk
Thank you Suzanne! So glad you liked it 😊
Amazing ! Pumpkins appearing before my eyes! Stunning work! Loved your walk with Jack. The history was a lovely bonus.
Thanks Kathleen! So glad you liked it all 😊
Jack is such a furry ball of pure JOY
Haha yes he certainly is! I wish we could bottle his joy and enthusiasm - we’d be millionaires by now 😂
I love trees and 400 years plus definitely does it for me. Amazing! Another great video Sarah 😊
Thanks Lynne! Glad you liked it 😊
I love your walks but I adore to the max your paintings. You have such a talent.
That chestnut tree was amazing! I chose to believe the queen planted it, much more romantic😉.
White pumpkins are orange inside and taste the same as an orange pumpkin. Personally I like a Hubbard type squash for eating and only use the pumpkins for carving. But all varieties have slightly different flavors and textures so you might find them delicious. I have also made doggie biscuits with pumpkin and peanut butter that my dogs loved.
Your pumpkin paintings would be a beautiful addition to anyone's autumnal decor. great job!
Thanks Karen! Pumpkin & peanut butter biscuits sound amazing - I’m sure Jack would love those. I usually prefer butternut squash to pumpkin for eating but I’m sure I can make some nice soup from these two 😊
Loved the video Sarah. Brilliant painting at the end. Keep 'em coming, love John.
Thank you John!!
What an amazing place. You're shout of Blue Sky reminded me of my Dad when we kids he always said if there was enough blue sky to make an elephant's waistcoat then we can go.😀
Ahh amazing! My great granny apparently used to say a similar phrase - if there was enough blue sky to latch a sailor’s trousers then it would clear up 😂 But, yes - I always point out blue sky with excitement in Scotland haha!
As always that is a wonderful and awesome watercolour ❤
Another lovely walk, and your painting is incredible. Jack is so fun, his tail is like a propeller ♡ that!
Loved this hike, Sarah. And, of course your painting is superb, so realistic! Also, It's nice to hear about influential women from medieval times! I loved the Abbey and Chestnut tree! Cheers from PA, USA🎃🍁
Thank you Larisa! So glad you liked it 😊
A beautiful place and professional editing, it is very pleasant to watch❣❣Thank you for making a good video.
Thank you so much!!
A lot of Americans paint on the white pumpkins instead of carving. All the different pumpkin varieties make for some of my favorite things to grow on our farm. They are a fun, bright, last-harvest hurrah before everything goes grey.
Yes! Such a wonderful pop of colour at this time of year 😊
what great pumpkins lovely job
Thanks!
Thanks for the info about pumpkins! Yes, definitely much easier to carve than turnips.
To quote Willie, another belter of a video, Sarah. Beautiful job on the pumpkin paintings. Happy Halloween 🎃!
Thanks Steven!!
Hi Sarah, I don’t celebrate Halloween but was interested in the Lost Queen history, so I thought I’d watch the video anyway. What a beautiful walk! Jack is the cutest. Just makes my day to see him and you are an AMAZING artist! Seriously, though, watercolor paints are very difficult to control, but you make it look easy- the sketching as well. 😊 Really love Willie’s drone footage and his pretty guitar picking. Thank you for including the narration and history on the edibles! I love mushrooms. Love and well wishes to you all!❤
Aww thanks for this Kellie! It’s so easy to think of women in Scottish history and only get to Mary Queen of Scots. There are so many others who have been lost to history that we don’t hear about. Hopefully I can shine some more light on these historical figures 😊
Spiced pumpkin latte cake - yum!
It was lovely! Much prefer that to a pumpkin spiced latte drink 😊👍
Thank you.
Thanks for watching!! 😊
Your paintings are always incredible, but these pumpkins just look so real and physical. Well done and a nice walk!
Thanks Richard! I really enjoyed doing them 😊
It is mind-boggling to me that people live their normal lives right next to ancient history. The Abbey tour was awesome! I also watch for the credits to see Jack Spaniels' description. I had a particularly good chuckle over "Part Troll." Always enjoy your walk and artwork.
Thanks Karen! You find that a lot here - amazingly old historic sites and flats/houses or even caravan sites are right next door!
☀️ I think I would have turned around at the sight of that dark cloud, but I doubt you could have outrun it. 🏃♀️🐕🦺🏃🏻 🌧
I am amazed at the variety of pumpkins now…no more of looking for the right shape…it’s colour and texture to decide on, too. You did a wonderful job on both art pieces!
Thanks!! Unfortunately by the time that cloud appeared, we were pretty much at the half way point anyway haha 😂 But no such thing as bad weather on Scotland - just bad clothing choices!
Great job on the pumpkins! The chestnut tree was incredible!
Thanks Sherry!
Love the walks and paintings.
Thanks Margaret! So glad you liked it 😊
Beautiful work Sarah
Thanks Ivan!
Hi, another delightful walk with you and Jack (plus Willie as wildlife photographer!) Your aced it again with the pumpkins 🎃 🎃 xx
Thanks Kate! Willie does a great job a very well trained 😜
The walk through the forest was beautiful. I always love seeing an old ruin, the stonework in the Abbey was stunning. Happy Halloween 🎃👻
Thanks Penny!! Such beautiful ruins - how amazing must it have looked when it was fully built?!
the pumpkin paintings are stunning! you really captured them well
Thanks so much!!
Scotlands weather is like our weather here in the US. We have a saying in the state of Florida about the weather. It says “If you don’t like the weather just wait five minutes “.
Disappointed you didn't go into the darkness at the end there! Lovely paintings as always Sarah! Love the idea of the pumpkin markings looking like Matrix code - I was thinking more Rorschach test as you were doing them
Haha yeah well you can come with us next time and I’ll push you inside to investigate! I actually got super spooked - I hate not being able to see anything in the darkness and kept thinking a face would pop out at me! Willie shone his torch down there and apparently it was just full of water..🤷♀️
Jack is the waggiest dog! The only time I ever saw him with a still tail was watching the tree being felled! I wonder if he objected? Thanks for your lovely wonderful videos!
Aww thanks Carol! Jack’s tail is very seldom still - usually if he is very focused or surprised by something! Or asleep haha!
I never thought much about Halloween being celebrated in different countries. Here in Southwestern part of the United States we celebrate October 31 as Halloween then on November 2nd our Hispanic heritage is celebrated with costumes and parades in what is called The day of the dead or "Día de los Muertos" which is all saints day in Mexico. It is great fun with lots of special candy and food treats and great costumes of skeletons decorated by lights. Here in Tucson Arizona we have a parade in which anyone can join at any time. It is amazing how people really get into the makeup, costumes and even lights on their costumes for the parade is held at night and goes on until midnight . Thousands of people travel here for the festivities. 🌻🐕🥰🇺🇸
That sounds like so much fun Guadalupe! I was once in New York over Halloween, but managed to miss most of the parade there 🤦♀️ Halloween has got bigger here in recent years, but even when I was a kid we used to get dressed up and go trick or treating 😊
Pretty pumpkins. And I don't like dark room either. Hope all are well.
Beautiful.
Thank you Carol!
Lovely walk as always Sarah and the abbey was incredible, such a shame more didn’t survive but still beautiful none the less. The tree was fascinating too, if only it could talk! I never knew that there were so many different varieties of pumpkin either. Your paintings were gorgeous also.❤️
Thanks Jane! So glad you enjoyed it 😊
Fabulous Sarah they look like you could pick them up. I've ordered my calendar and can't wait to see it 🤗 😍 great video kind regards Alex xx
Thanks Alexandrea! I can’t wait to start sending them out soon 😊
Sarah, I’ve noticed we rarely see others walking the same paths you do. (Though, you could be editing others out.) The colorful pumpkins are worthy subjects for painting, and as expected, yours are beautiful. Thanks for another pleasant Sunday evening! The wonky chestnut tree could have made a spooky Halloween painting.
Thanks Kathy! We do try and get out at quiet times (such as early in the morning and during the week), so we get places to ourselves as much as possible. I think it’s nicer for you all watching and I don’t want to get in anyones way or film them without their permission 😊
I live in Illinois, US. We grow most of the pumpkins in the US, and have pumpkin patches all over. I loved your walk today. Especially the Spanish Chestnut. What a beauty! Your pumpkins are beautiful!
Thank you Shari! So glad you liked it 😊
Wonderful walk out there. Love that pretty white tree you came across. Such beautiful views out there. Interesting mushrooms out there. Oh no on the rain. 😮 Glad it cleared up. Love seeing the old Abbey ruins, great stone architecture. Nice pumpkins pick! Your watercolors always turns out great. Happy Halloween 🎃.
Thanks Sally! Glad you enjoyed it 😊
❤️
Those abbey ruins were gorgeous, I loved the arches, it must have been a stunning building.
The Spanish chestnut tree was very impressive, so old it needs a cane to stand!
I loved your history bits as well, the story of the queen, and a bit on the history of Halloween, I love hearing those type of stories.
Your pumpkins were gorgeous, there are so many varieties now, I like the wee munchkin ones 😂 ....but pumpkins or turnips weren't really a thing when I was wee, it was all about the dressing up and 'doing a turn' for some sweeties, either singing or jokes. I think I was in my 20's before I saw a pumpkin in real life 🤣
Thank you for another beautiful video. 🤗
Edit - I said 'sweeties'....but in fact, in the 80's, your bag would be full of monkey nuts and apples mainly, if people were giving out actual sweets, the word spread, and you had to be fast!
Aww thank you - so glad you liked it 😊 I know my mum didn’t really do trick or treating, but it was definitely a thing when I was a kid. We had one neighbour who would give us fruit and we didn’t like that haha 😂
We to here in NorthTexas can have all 4 seasons in a day. If you watch the weather in the morning on the tv and they say low chance of rain it will most likely be a high chance of rain or it was tell this year. We went 78 days with out rain and then got 8 inches of rain in just a few hours. The Abbey was beautiful and the big tree was cool to see. I bought the biggest pumpkin I could find and carved it with a cat sitting under an old dead tree. I do love your pumpkin painting and the rest that I have seen. I hope y'all have a Happy Helloween too.
Thanks Ralynda! Sounds like a great pumpkin carving 😊
The weather forecasters are just as accurate here in Australia 🙄 A very informative and enjoyable walk thank you, and I of course loved the tour through the Abbey
Thanks Brett!
😂😂when doesn’t Jack find water. Beautiful walk and loved your paintings. Happy Halloween to you too. Take care and thank you for sharing 👍👏❤️
If there is water around, it is physically impossible for Jack to not find it 😂
Another beautiful yet ruined abbey, Henry V111 has a lot to answer for! Also, I remember carving Swedes (the vegetable lol) as a child, it was painful on the hands and wrists so I can understand why people prefer Pumpkins today. 🎃 Your paintings are, as always, stunning and I love the outtakes at the end so thank you for showing them. Happy Halloween! 👻☠🎃 x
Thanks Amanda! So glad you like the wee bloopers - I always have fun editing them 😂
I imagine Henry VIII is just the name they have used throughout history to blame for things decided by other people. Who knows, but maybe one day we will know.
Yes, it’s unlikely that Henry VIII was directly responsible for the destruction of abbeys and monasteries like this in Scotland, as he wasn’t King of Scotland. However, I’m sure that the Protestant Reformation in Scotland took a lot of cues from the English approach when it did happen.
@@shewalksshepaints You are absolutely right, I really need to think more before I comment! 🤦😂💗 x
Interesting video. Ermengarde's parents were Richard, Viscount de Beaumont and Lucie d'Aigle. Ermengarde's grandmother was an illegitimate daughter of Henry I of England
Thanks Brit! I loved learning about Ermengarde 😊
weather forecast in Nebraska usa are the same
Greetings from Vancouver Island, I was wondering if Jack has a disability making him unable to walk slowly. LOL
One happy dog!
Ahaha yeah - or maybe it’s too much ability..?!
Sarah,
Poor Jack, calling him a troll😒
It's always the final touches that are the most difficult,eh?
Woman are the binder to any relationship, I was a letter carrier at one time, and delivered mail
to poor communities where welfare checks were common.
The wives would sometimes ask me to give them the cheeks rather than put them in the mail boxes.
Why?,
Because they knew that their husbands would be in a bar or gambling and spend most of the money before the wives and children were fed.
Not every man was like that or every wife as concerned, but enough to make me realize who was the responsible person.
There have and always will be extraordinary Woman like Ermengarde, but HIStory often disregards them.
Cheers,
Rik
Thanks Rik! Jack is one of the cuter trolls don’t worry - he just does spend a lot of time going underneath bridges instead of walking over them haha!
Why mention something you aren't going to talk about? I'd rather have a pleasant surprise at the end.🎉
Sorry William - I don’t quite understand!
Pedant warning! "Scottish" is an adjective, not the name of a language. That's "Scots".
Haha thanks Janet! I do know about the Scots language, but a lot of people don’t, so I find it easier to describe these words as Scottish words, instead of Scots 😊
PS, i’m wxcited that you’ve put a link in the description to join your other channel (I’m already subbing to Dirty Secrets of Scotland), the one about yreasure hunting. Sounds fun! Take care. 👋😊🍁
Thanks Kellie! So glad to have you on board 😊
This was a fascinating walk. You're right that it is too bad there isn't more known about her. Love the pumpkins!