Ana McKellar
LightNews LightNews
banner
anamca.bsky.social
Ana McKellar
@anamca.bsky.social
650 followers 520 following 2.7K posts
Always curious. On a narrowboat, hoping for a passivhaus one day.
Landscape history, nature and biodiversity.
Partially-sighted. Please use descriptive alt-text to help screen-readers and include all.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Ana McKellar
lbflyawayhome.bsky.social
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar
Window 7
‘Frost’
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
A view over a ploughed field towards an ancient barn topped with snow. There is a hard hoar frost tracing cobwebs and making the going hard for the corvids in the field
December 7, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Reposted by Ana McKellar
allantadams.bsky.social
I discovered that the building on the corner of Petergate has Yorkshire sash windows upstairs drawing this. Saving the doorway on the left for when the light is better. Structurally the archway cut into a jetty makes no sense.

#ArchitecturalIllustration
#pencil #drawing
An incomplete pencil drawing of timber framed buildings. Some of the drawing is lightly worked in outline while other parts are shaded to portray the scene in monochrome tones. An arch at the lower left is interesting because it is built into the structure in a strange way. A pencil and eraser resting on a piece of paper on an incomplete pencil drawing.
December 7, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Reposted by Ana McKellar
annadillon.bsky.social
The Goring Gap from Lardon Chase is a spectacular view of Streatley and Goring on Thames, which are picturesque villages on the borders of Berkshire and Oxfordshire.
The River Thames runs through the valley on its way to London and cuts between the Berkshire Downs and the Chilterns.
Oil on board.
The Goring Gap. Oil on board by Anna Dillo
December 7, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Reposted by Ana McKellar
allantadams.bsky.social
Some research drawings I did in 2022 when I had a commission form reconstruction drawings & other illustrations for a booklet on the Westmorland Dales. 1 of the drawings was a similar building to the 1st pic, a seasonal cottage. The sheep came in handy as well as the stone walls.

#pencil #drawing
Pencil sketch of a two-room cottage on the site of a ruin, with drystone walls & corrugated iron roof covering an earlier turf roof. Pencil sketch of a seasonal herdman's hut made of drystone walls with turf roof. To the right of the doorway a black patch marks a vent for a fireplace instead of a chimney. Pencil sketch of a Wharfedale sheep with other sheep sheltering behind a wall in the background and field barn beyond the wall. In the distance some hills are lightly shaded. Pencil sketch of a flock of sheep entering a sheep fold.
December 7, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Reposted by Ana McKellar
chrisdaleoxford.bsky.social
By the river at sunrise OTD in 2023
An orange sunrise. There is a misty river at left, and a footpath down the middle with a tree beside it. There are frosted green grass and plants at right.
December 6, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Reposted by Ana McKellar
beautysurroundsyou.com
The serrated peaks of Patagonia's Mount Cerro Torre, one of nature's outstanding sculptures, softly emerge from a veil of clouds, as they are touched by the early morning light.

#photography #travel #bluesky #nature #landscape #naturephotography #landscapephotography #mountains
December 6, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Reposted by Ana McKellar
chrisdaleoxford.bsky.social
Meadow cyclist at sunrise OTD in 2023
Cyclist on a frosty field as the sun rises through trees and mist. The sky changes colour from gold at the sun level up to pale blue above.
December 6, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Reposted by Ana McKellar
lbflyawayhome.bsky.social
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar, window 6
‘Lane in Winter’
Artist: Rowland Hilder
The early winter light over snow has created and almost apricot coloured sky. The country Lane is probably in Kent and we see a small farm yard with oast houses
December 6, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Reposted by Ana McKellar
noswpod.bsky.social
#Day6

The day builds with mythic light
And the whispered scent of rain.
Six swans leave their echo
Of wing-song on the air.
The bleat of a sheep
Caught tight among the briar.
The golden rain haze
In the west
Draws closer.

#DailyNature #naturewriting #naturepoetry
December 6, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Reposted by Ana McKellar
orkneylibrary.bsky.social
Behold! The famous Orkney Library & Archive knitted #Christmas tree begins another season of festive cheer in the library! 🎄🧶❤️
A Christmas tree made of knitted squares with knitted and crocheted decorations
December 6, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Reposted by Ana McKellar
wildindigoartisan.bsky.social
We’ve had Black Friday & Cyber Monday, today is #SmallBusinessSaturday.

Maybe if you have Christmas shopping to do or just fancy a treat for yourself maybe consider buying from a small business … makes a real difference to real people 😊

www.wild-indigo.com
December 6, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Reposted by Ana McKellar
charlie-alice-raya.org
PODCAST

Last night, I walked along the sea, finally remembered to open NIGHTTIME ON STILL WATERS, and as I listened a smile settled on my face.

Listening is soothing without being shallow, it’s like meeting thoughts which are old friends and for once come together in a carefree space.

Thank you!
Nighttime on Still Waters
This is the Narrowboat 'Erica' narrowcasting into the night from somewhere on Britain's canals and waterways. A podcast that gently explores life afloat (and on la…
www.noswpod.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Reposted by Ana McKellar
tessmachling.bsky.social
This is not true.

These are the figures for England and Wales (where the 1996 Treasure Act and subsequent amendments apply).

It's a complete mess.

#Archaeology 🏺 #Detecting #Treasure
less than 5-10% of detectorists are reporting their finds, Treasure case numbers are rising by at least 10% a year, numbers of non-Treasure finds are rising by thousands each year, only c.4% of detected Treasure finds are donated to museums, c.50% of Treasure finds are disclaimed, only c.25% of Treasure finds are being bought by museums, Treasure is costing us £7 million a year, c.6% of Treasure finds are being exported, c.80,000 non-Treasure finds a year are being handed back to finders and landowners to do with as they wish, 30% of finds are being exported overseas each year.
December 6, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Reposted by Ana McKellar
helenbennett.bsky.social
A #HolidayRobin to brighten up the timelines and to wish you all a good weekend. 📷 🪶

#Birds #Photography #UKWildlife #ArtAdventCalendar
#EastCoastKin #Nature
A photograph of a European Robin that is facing forward showing off his bright orange chest. His head is turned to the right as viewed as he clings on to a thin branch. The background is festive that shows blurry shadows of surrounding fir tree branches and light snow falling.
December 6, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Reposted by Ana McKellar
allantadams.bsky.social
Slow progress but the Indian sculpture is in place, repaired after a delivery van hit him, a common occurrence in York. The sort of detail that sometimes gets lost in the bigger picture. Pencil is an 0.3mm Pentel GraphGear 1000 + Tombow Mono Zero eraser.

#ArchitecturalIllustration
#pencil #drawing
Work in progress on a pencil drawing of old buildings. In the centre is a three-storey building with the upper floors overhanging the lower ones. Between two windows on the centre storey is a carved figure that used to be used to advertise tobacco products.
December 6, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Reposted by Ana McKellar
michaelburchert.bsky.social
See how they do it in denmark:
reductionroadmap.dk
Reduction Roadmap
Danish science-based carbon reduction targets for the building industry.
reductionroadmap.dk
December 5, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Reposted by Ana McKellar
jurajmikurcik.bsky.social
Colours of winter sunrise
Orangey blue winter sunrise
December 5, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Reposted by Ana McKellar
bearlypolitics.co.uk
I go abroad for a week and return to wall-to-wall melodrama, pearl clutching and fainting sofa flop-downs about a surcharge affecting 1% of homes.

Britain's capacity for uncontrolled panic about nonsense remains totally undefeated.

I missed you, chaos island.
Collectivising Surrey: A Tragedy in One Act
The mansion tax isn’t a revolution - but judging by the screaming, you’d think Rachel Reeves had just seized the Home Counties and nationalised the Cotswolds.
www.bearlypolitics.co.uk
December 6, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Reposted by Ana McKellar
nicklangley.bsky.social
"London’s councils are now structurally dependent on private consultancies for core functions, and that should worry us all. Rebuilding public capability, rather than buying it at a premium, is the only sustainable route to resilient, democratic local government."
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
London councils have a ‘sustained reliance’ on private firms as report shows £500m spend
Exclusive: Research prompts warning that authorities rely on companies to carry out basic functions
www.theguardian.com
December 6, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Reposted by Ana McKellar
sophiecarr.bsky.social
That mountain again :)

Lómagnúpur, #Iceland Nov 2025
A large flat-topped mountain with a steep skirt is reflected perfectly in a small pond which is framed by winter grasses and a touch of frost on the water. The sky is very blue, the landscape place brown.
December 5, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Reposted by Ana McKellar
iandunt.bsky.social
Thank God for Bluesky: A little love letter to the people who would not compromise with Nazis iandunt.substack.com/p/thank-god-...
Thank God for Bluesky
Yes, it's eager. Yes, it's censorious. But it has the very considerable advantage of not being fascist.
iandunt.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Reposted by Ana McKellar
shieldaig.bsky.social
Sunrises may be very late on December mornings this far north, but they certainly have their moments.
Sunrise over still water.
December 6, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Reposted by Ana McKellar
grovedigger.bsky.social
Found some time to write a post at last. It's been too long, so don't all rush at once, you'll crash the site*

(*you won't)
therestlessforge.ghost.io/on-being-a-d...
On being a Drafts Man
It's a pun, not a typo; you can put the knives away. I'm quite embarrassed really, looking at all the drafts in my unpublished folder. It's once again been too long, and I'm astonished to see how man...
therestlessforge.ghost.io
December 4, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Reposted by Ana McKellar
shadowedeyes.bsky.social
Wrangling over tolls between the Oxford and Coventry Canals meant the two originally ran parallel just a few feet apart for nearly a mile before meeting, until this new junction at Hawkesbury eliminated duplication 1803.
#boatlife
#ukcanals #canal #narrowboat
#KeepCanalsAlive #FundBritainsWaterways
Photo of Hawkesbury Junction in the fading light of a rainy winter day. The Coventry Canal can be glimpsed through the cast-iron footbridge to the left, whilst the Oxford Canal runs from the far end of the basin, past the former lock-keeper's cottage, through a stop lock and under another cast-iron footbridge in the distance. To the right, the warm lights of the Greyhound Inn have been welcoming boaters for nearly two centuries.
December 5, 2025 at 7:15 PM