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Who knew greyhounds made such great landscape gardeners?
We took Albert to our friends garden recently, a safe space where we can let him off lead safely. He loved sniffing around and discovered his love for digging! We’re still not sure if it’s him relieving boredom/anxiety, for pure fun or to dig a cool pit to lie in. Whatever it is he is a very speedy digger and we need to fill in our friend’s garden!
Scroll for a photo of a very happy greyhound!
Another unique thing about many greyhounds is their struggle with stairs. Most greyhounds haven’t seen stairs until they retire from racing, they only know going from kennels to race track via a van/car which is all on one level. They can be very scared of stairs as it’s a new concept and even well practised stair greyhounds can look ungainly!
Albert was certainly no exception the struggle of stairs. Even after 4 months of going up and down 8 stairs to our flat 4 x a day he still needs a LOT of encouragement! The first few weeks were traumatic for him and we didn’t see how he would ever manage to do it. We were armed with plenty of tasty treats that we left on each step and placed his paws step by step and let him lean against us. He was terrified and shaking the whole time. He’s come a long way already but any distractions like a neighbour or postman means that anything else is suddenly way more interesting that getting up/down the stairs to the flat! A treat seems to be a good incentive for the ‘impossible’ task of getting down the stairs….
Ahhh the bliss of a yoga class, dreams of beachside views and calming ocean sounds. Open your eyes, no that’s not a mountain in the distance, that’s not the breeze blowing against your cheek, that’s your greyhound standing over you breathing his I-just-ate-a-fishy-dinner- breath into your face.
(Keep scrolling for #Albertsweek comic.)
I practice yoga with the amazing Isabelle Tara. I’ve been joining her classes every Monday since the beginning of lockdown and in that time she has taught me the crow pose and headstand ( I can hold a shaky 5 second headstand but every week, with practise, it is getting stronger 👊 ). I highly recommend her classes and I love her teaching style, it’s really fun and she explains how each pose should feel and what we are trying to achieve with each movement. Sounds so obvious to me now but when I’ve done yoga in the past I’ve just followed the instructor blindly without really paying attention to how my body was reacting. Get involved with her Zoom yoga classes and find out more about here via her instagram.
The first time Albert started to talk to me I was so confused! I'd never heard anything like it. It wasn't a bark or a whine but like a baby chatting gibberish. I don't even know how to spell it... Kind of like "arooawowoorahroohaah" The second time he did it I ignored him and he followed it with a demanding little foot stamp, it was hilarious. I think the laughing definitely encouraged him and now at about this time of day he lets me know it's time to start getting his dinner prepped by huffing, flouncing, foot stamping, staring and talking.
Whenever I take Albert for a walk and pass someone who says “what a handsome dog!” or “That dog is beautiful” I can’t help but feel so proud!
We’ve been really working on getting his weight up and giving him a good diet which suddenly seems to have taken effect. His coat is healthier and his special dry skin baths have helped with his (terrible) dandruff. Although he has always been a handsome boy the weight gain and shiny coat mean that he is looking extra regal.
He still has baldy thighs, I’ve been adding oats to his breakfast which some greyhound owners have claimed help. There’s a slight fuzz growing back but I’m not holding out much hope for total regrowth, it doesn’t seem to bother him and as long as he is happy that’s the main thing.
This is obviously tongue in cheek! I know the majority of dogs shed and it doesn’t actually bother me because I love him so much. 💖
We gave Albert his first bath recently. We were amazed by how much hair came off him and then how shiny he was when he was dry. He was very reluctant to get into the bath but when he was in he was so well behaved and just stood there while we shampooed him, such a good boy!
A little snippet into Albert’s night time routine starting with him getting restless before his dinner. Check out his morning routine in my previous blog to see how his mornings and evenings compare.
I had intended to make ‘A Day in the life of Albert’ comic but it was going to be too long a strip so I’ve split it into two. The first part chronicles his morning adventures which start at a very unsociable time of 5.30am (note the bed hair and lack of enthusiasm of the human).
The mornings are very quiet, there are a few joggers out but not many dogs which is good for Albert at the moment as we are trying to slowly socialise him. He has only ever had interactions with other greyhounds so doesn’t recognise other types as dogs… especially not the small fluffy ones.
30 minutes after his walk he gets his breakfast which he wolfs down followed by a few burps and then settles back down into a deep sleep! This leaves me with a lot of time in the morning, I’ve started to use this time efficiently by creating illustrations or animations, working out and taking long baths.
The second part of Albert’s day will be here next Friday, spoiler: he sleeps a lot.
Take care, Bryony x
Banana bread has been getting some seriously bad press on instagram recently. I know there’s a lot of people people making it and there are probably too many tutorials and stories. But there is a very simple reason; It’s so easy to make and it’s really delicious even if you’re not a banana lover or you’re a greyhound. Which brings me to my very own banana-drama. Yes, I made banana bread I’m so sorry! In my defence it’s my go-to bake and I had a freezer full of over ripe bananas.
I thought it would be fun to make a little comic of the disaster:
So, on Wednesday afternoon I cut myself a very generous slice of freshly baked banana loaf and spread a little veg spread on (this is the ultimate banana bread experience). The dog was blowing zzz’s, his eyes rolling in the back of his head, completely out of it. I set my coffee and plate down in the living (I know, I know) and took my boyfriend’s to him in the office (AKA the bedroom). It’s a short commute, maybe 5 steps max and I came back into the living room to find Albert frantically chewing something on his bed. He sees me, puts on his guilty face, throws the banana bread up in the air and sends it straight into his gullet like a panicking pelican. The only way to get it back was to straddle him like a horse, pull his jaws apart and grab the disappearing cake! Trying to wrestle a fairly hefty slab of cake out of the neck of a 35kg dog is not easy or fun. I managed to recover 95% which is a good outcome, his mistake was to try and swallow it whole. Bryony 1 Albert 0
I obviously cut myself a new slice.
I’m still learning the greyhound ways, I now know that food in reachable places is a no-no. Stay tuned for more Albert comics and lockdown illustrations.
Take care,
Bryony x
PS. I know you’re curious, the recipe I use is: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/vegan-banana-bread I add toasted pecans and apricots. It’s Albert approved 🦡✔️
Not a lot tbh…
It’s been a tough week hasn’t it? Lives and livelihoods have been lost. We’re in the depths of a global pandemic, which no-one knows how long will last. Lockdown is our new normal. But the NHS is doing an incredible job and if like me you feel useless here are a few ways to help:
Stay. At. Home.
Donate meals to NHS workers ; www.mealsforthenhs.com
If you can, volunteer for the NHS www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-the-nhs/get-involved-in-the-nhs
Let’s not forget to thank all of the delivery drivers, the shopkeepers, the internet people (!), the waste services and all those who are exposing themselves to uncertainty each day and continue to do so with a smile!
While I’m getting to grips with the UK lockdown (admittedly it’s not too dissimilar to my usual lifestyle) I’ve been mentally making a list of things that I want to do with my spare time.
I’m taking this time to:
Make a dress, I picked up a pattern from Merchant and Mill’s on my visit to Rye earlier in the year. (A good place for deadstock fabric is www.amothreads.com)
Pay some attention to the houseplants, give them a little trim, maybe repot them. They’ve had a burst in energy after this sunny week.
DO SWEET F.A. (maybe just for a day though, that’s a slippery slope)
Train my dog, Albert is an ex racing greyhound so he’s still learning how to be a pet!
Dust off the pasta machine in the cupboard and get tangled up in some tagliatelle
Get back into gouache painting and develop my animation skills
What I’m going to avoid doing:
Attempting to cut my own hair (but I can’t promise this)
Beating myself up about the things out of my control (and for not achieving all of the above plans)
Staying in my pyjamas
Blitzing through Disney + (y’know for animation research *ahem*)
Coming into close contact with other humans
Spontaneous napping
My online shop is still open (I have removed any larger items for sale) so if it fits in a postbox I will send it! I will be posting orders whilst on my dog walk so I won’t be making any unnecessary trips and I will be regularly washing my hands and avoiding contact with others. Follow me on Instagram to see my latest drawings and animations.
Take care and stay safe,
Bryony x
Introducing Ray of Sunshine, my range of printed paper goods and gifts for 2020, inspired by cheery marigolds from Indian winters, juicy oranges from Portuguese summers and mid century inspired smiley sunshines. I wanted to create a range that was positive and sunny, sometimes we forget to appreciate the small things that make us happy and I wanted to share with you a few of the things that have made me happy.
I had a lot of fun creating the new illustrations which started as gouache paintings. I am in love with the Dutch floral paintings of the Tulip Mania era, a few years ago I visited an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery and they’ve not left my mind (and heart) since! The richness of the colour, the depth of paintings plus the intricate details are astounding. To think they weren’t paintings of real bouquets due to the seasonality of the flowers is a novel thought for us now, if I need a reference for a summer flower in Winter I can make a quick web search or look in a book. These flamboyant paintings were to be enjoyed throughout the entire year, despite the season, much like my latest collection.
This is the first time I have created a gift box, so I’m excited for you to see the Little Box of Sunshine.
The Little Box of Sunshine is perfect to send to a best friend, as a care package for somebody going through a hard time or simply to keep for yourself. The box can be posted through the letterbox so you’ll not get the dreaded “Sorry, you weren’t in” card left on your door mat. Everything apart from the sticker set can be bought separately, the total of which is £23.50 but as a box set they are only £18. Choose from cute Suns or cheeky Oranges, To see the box in all its glory visit here.
All products and packaging are recyclable and biodegradable and are FSC approved using responsibly sourced wood. Printed in small batches in the UK
I’ve enjoyed making this small collection so much and I hope you love it as much as I do!
So keep on rollin’ on lil orange, keep on rollin’.
This year I’ve taken part in Inktober, a daily drawing challenge started by Jake Parker (though I’m not following the ‘official’ prompts). I’ve been posting updates over on my instagram page (@bryonymoss_illustration). My aim is to create a double page of illustrations every day so that by the end of October I have a completed sketchbook, like this one I finished last month:
It’s a good challenge for me to draw even if I don’t feel like drawing that day. Some of the elements that I have been drawing will be used within other projects that I have been working on so it also acts as a journal for me.
I would say my favourite drawing from the week is the majestic pigeon from day 2, it was a fun one to draw and a character developed from one of my embroideries.
My least favourite is Day 5, it didn’t really turn out the way I expected to however there are elements of it that I like eg. the background leaves and the clover.
I am starting to think that a daily double page spread was a little ambitious! Especially as last week was one of my busiest weeks of the year ( but more about that later). I’m enjoying inktober so far but I'm finding it tricky without prompts, if you have any suggestions for what you’d like to see me draw, please get in touch!
I've been using a Kaweco fountain pen (from Papersmiths, Shoreditch) and a PH Hightide Japan notebook ( from iyouall, East Dulwich) 📓🖋
Follow my progess over on instagram.
I'm finally accepting the fact that no one likes January, I've tried not to be offended for my birthday month too much. I've decided the best way to deal with this is to escape from the country so I took a much need trip to Copenhagen with my boyfriend. Travelling in January is the best thing to do, even if its to somewhere colder and windier than the UK. I was seriously in need of a bit of inspiration for the new year.
Three things strike me about Copenhagen, the first is that the people are the most friendly and helpful I've met. Secondly, the colours! The buildings are some of the prettiest I've seen, it really helps cancel out the winter grey. And finally, it's bloody expensive but I am sure you've heard that before.
We spent the first day getting our bearings, essentially circling the inner city starting from Amager, through Christiania, Østerbro, Nørrebro and Vestebro. It involved a bit of cycling and a lot of walking, it's always the best way to figure out a new place. Explore off the beaten track, go down random streets and get a bit lost (but make sure you have plenty of snacks)!
I really enjoyed walking through quaint Nyhavn, the colourful military houses of Nyboder and inside the Kastellet. We walked past several palaces including Christiansborg, Amalienborg and Amalienborg all very impressive and charming.
A few people recommended that we visit the Rundetaarn or the Round Tower, a 17th observatory that has a spiral cobbled walkway (wide enough for the king's carriage). We went as the dusk was creeping in so the light inside was beautiful. You're rewarded with a pretty stunning view at the top, if a tad windy. Don't miss looking down the centre of the tower, just before you get to the stairs at the top there's a small archway with a glass platform. You can see right through the centre of the tower at 25m high, not for the faint hearted!
I didn't actually visit the little mermaid because i thought it would be a similar experience to seeing Brussells most famous attraction: Manneken Pis. Which was a tiny bronze statue of a little boy weeing surrounded by 100+ tourists snapping away. Pretty disappointing and would cut into our precious beer drinking/chair viewing time.
The food is delicious and beautiful to look at. I'm a big fan of Smørrebrød, the special Danish open top rye bread sandwich. Usually covered in some sort of radish salad and pickle situation.
We visited the Meatpacking district in Vesterbro at night an odd mix of clinical and creepy meat processing businesses and cool hygge bars, restaurants and galleries. We enjoyed a couple of great Mikeller beers at War Pigs beer bar. I highly recommend you try the deep fried pickles with radish sauce!
The absolute highlight of my trip was celebrating my birthday in a greenhouse of a rooftop farm nestled above a fairly nondescript street in østebro. You have to climb a spiral staircase above a busy gym to get to it. Øster Gro is a community based scheme that grow seasonal vegetables, supported by farms in the Amager area. Photos don't do justice to how magical and special the atmosphere was, all helped by the wood burning fire, cosy candles and hanging kokedama. We had three vegetarian courses prepared for us and before each plate the host/chef explained where each of the components of the dish came from, for example the mushrooms were grown by Coffee Collective who use their coffee grounds to grow mushrooms and supply to Øster Gro.
For the best pastry you're ever going to taste, visit The Corner a wine and coffee bar just south of the river from Nyhavn. Follow it with a walk across the canals and bridges nearby, you can't beat walking alongside water on a sunny day!
Surrounding yourself with plants is always going to be a good thing, when I visit a new city I always try and go to the nearest botanical garden. In January it's one of the best places to go, you can immerse yourself in a tropical haven. Standing under the giant palms in the warm glasshouses was a welcome shelter from the cold and wind outside and had the added bonus of being free!
A trip to Copenhagen wouldn't be complete without a trip to the Hay House! Why is it that on holiday all you want to buy to take home are very precious and delicate pieces? We managed to keep cool and only picked up a few small things, surprisingly no stationery!
I was recommended by friends to visit a great street full of gorgeous independent shops. It really reminded me of Calvert Avenue and Redchurch Street in Shoreditch, I suppose the same story; a once poor and undesirable area turned cool. My favourite shops were- Craft sisters, My favourite things and P.A.R store starting with a coffee at Coffee Collectives.
I had several recommendations to visit the Louisana museum of modern art in humlebaek which is about 35 minutes north of central Copenhagen. I would recommend getting tickets from DSB from Copenhagen central station that combine entrance fee to the gallery and train tickets, it will you save about 100dkk.
I would have enjoyed visiting just for the building itself, set on the cliffs and overlooking the sea towards Sweden(not that we could see it that day). We saved this trip for the rainiest day of our visit, it took a us a good few hours to walk our way through the different exhibitions and regularly stopping to appreciate the incredible views of the sea and the grounds scattered with sculptures by Alexander Calder, Henry Moore and Joan Miro. This place is an absolute gem.
I really feel like we explored so much of Copenhagen in the short space of time we had but I would love to go back in summer. I'd spend more time cycling around the city, sitting in the parks eating smorrebrod and drinking beer. I'd also like to visit Tivoli as it reopened the day after we got home and to see Christiania in the height of summer. Starting it all off again with another pastry from The Corner, of course.
Let me know if I missed anything that's worth seeing the next time I go, I'd love to hear more recommendations!
