Sunday, 1st February 2026 - January Roundup

 The January push up challenge for Cancer Research is complete. I reached my goal of raising £150 - thank you to everyone who donated. You can add to my donations here

The Strada Easel challenge was a great challenge. Here are all the paintings. All are for sale unless marked sold. Email me here if you wish to buy a painting

A Lemon for Healing and Vitality

Botanical Tulip

Daffodil for Hope and Joy

Custard Tart

Sold - Fruit Salad

Snowdrops for Hope

Susans Vase

Tiny Carnations

Tiny Red Onion

Viburnum for New Beginnings

A Pink Rose for Friendship

Camillia for Affection

Daffodils for Resilience

A Touch of Snow

Bramley

Coxs Orange Pippin

Hellebore

Himalayan Strawberry Tree

Jam Jar Posy

Kintsugi

Last of a Bunch

Marmalade

Mollys White

One and a half

Primrose for Renewal

Radish for a salad

September Wonder

Tiny Tomato

Tiny Onion

Tulips in a Green Vase

Saturday, 31st January 2026 = Tiny Red Onion

I am posting early today. We are going to friends for dinner so I have to leave you. We haven't seen them for at least a year and longer for the other dinner party guests. I look forward to hearing what they have all been up to. I love a story and an adventure.

After I had made another mountain of marmalade and Tim had put another coat of paint on the bedroom we went for a walk. I was very wise and wore wellies. Tim was less wise and wore walking boots that got very wet and muddy. 

Day 31 #stradaeasel

It is the last day of the paint from life every day in January. My last contribution is a red onion. I have quite a collection of tiny oil paintings. I have learnt a lot from painting so small. Small brushes and not too much paint.

Tiny Red Onion
Oil on board
2" x 2"

30th January 2026 - Viburnum for New Beginnings

It was a lovely late start to our Friday. A couple of mugs of tea later and I was feeling awake enough to roll out my yoga mat. I had to pause Adriene during a warrior 2 due to drinking so much liquid. I was very pleased to have found a yoga video that I don't have to stick my leg in the air during downward dog. It is a weird, unnatural and impossible pose. And pushups were included to add to my daily tally that I must confess has not no where near my target of 100 a day!

While Tim was decorating one of our bedrooms I was drinking coffee and eating an orange in front of Lindsey's woodburner. We both had a good afternoon and celebrated with omelettes with eggs from our chickens.

I highly recommend The Good Doctor on Netflix. Lots of medical procedures. I have to keep a handful of tissues nearby. .

Day 30 #stradaeasel

A penultimate oil painting of the Strada Easel challenge. I will let you know if I win and easel. A viburnum is flowering in the garden. I secateured a couple of bits off to paint. It is poignant that the symbolism is for new beginnings are we have a new family member due in July. 

Viburnum for New Beginnings
Oil on board
20cm x 30 cm

Thursday, 29th January 2026 - Camillia for Affection

The £2.50 roses I got a few days ago have now been planted. I had to dig deep deep holes for their long long roots. I think they will be glorious.

Tony and Wendy came to collect us at 6.30 this evening. We went to The Duck Inn in Bodiam. It used to be The Curlew and now has new owners. The company was excellent. The food was tasty but nothing exceptional. It needs my interior design buddies Pippa, Linda and June to give it a makeover. It was a merry Thursday evening. I feel garlic infused.

Day 29 #stradaeasel

I was wellie squelching around the garden looking for a subject for today's painting. How lovely to find a flower on the camillia amongst many buds. Symbolism for Camillia's is affection. We all need a bit of that. My favourite affection are hugs from my family - they are the best.

Camillia for Affection
Oil on board

Wednesday, 28th January 2026 - A Pink Rose for Friendship

A bonus of doing yoga today was a mountain stretch meant I removed the cobwebs from the ceiling.

Leelee and I had a treat today. We met in Amy's Pantry in Tenterden and shared a bagel with avocado and lots of yummy bits. It was very tasty. I was pleased we shared it. I had to check my receipt but it was correct. £12 for a bagel - that's a lot. We pottered off down the high street into Fatface. The boots were reduced from £79 to £20. They looked great on Leelee. Unfortunately I could not squeeze my wide feet into a pair. Damn it.

Day 28 #stradaeasel

Today's tiny oil painting is of a pink rose. They symbolic meaning is friendship. A appropriate painting after being with my mate Leelee.

A Pink Rose for Friendship
Oil on board
3" x 3"

Tuesday, 27th January 2026 - Daffodils for Resilience

Storm Chandra has caused chaos in many parts of the country. We are very fortunate that it has only filled our garden with puddles and overflowed a pond into the flower beds. So much rain. Harriet came over with Herbie. I warned her of the potholes disguised as puddles. Their long journey to us avoided potholes but the road closures and diversions nearly caused them many times to turn around and go home. Thank you for battling on through. The storm didn't stop Herbie and I from having a lovely couple of hours playing in the garden. I cherish these precious days that turn into memories.

Day 27 #stradaeasel

A bunch of daffodils comes with resilience that I share with you today.

Daffodils for Resilience
Oil on board
20cm x 30cm

Monday, 26th January 2026 - A Lemon for Healing and Vitality

Our chickens are in full lay at long last. The magpie deterrent of flapping plastic across the door to the hen house works a treat. A post on instagram told me that eggs are an excellent source of nourishment - I have a bowl of soft boiled in the fridge ready to satiate any mid meal hunger pangs and keeping me fully nourished.

I met with Gay at Taywell in Goudhurst. The cafe is now Birchwood. I think they used to be in Flimwell. I asked for a cheese scone and Gay wanted a poached egg. They could provide neither. The company more than made up for our disappointment at the menu.

Back home I made a vegetable and lentil soup. You never quite know what scale of taste a new soup recipe will provide. This one was delicious.

Nigella Lawson + The Great British Bakeoff = excellent entertainment. I can't wait.

Day 26 #stradaeasel

I was stuck yet again for an idea of what to paint. I had a rummage through the fridge. This lemon looked like a good candidate. After a visit to the GP today and I read that the symbolism for lemons is for healing and vitality. Very appropriate for my tiny oil painting.

A Lemon for Healing and Vitality
Oil on board
3" x 2"