Tuesday, 29th September 2026 - Happy Anniversary Tim

I am up to date with bed and breakfast 'stuff'. I can now get on with getting the garden charming when it is dry and very much looking forward to playing in my studio when it rains. I love our unpredictable weather. It makes planning an impossible conundrum. Tim went to Rye this morning. We both like it very much. It has so much to offer and is so pretty. I might have a quick rummage on the internet for a small house with a picturesque garden where we can wander into the town. 

I went to my GP about HRT this afternoon. Maybe I will start blog called 'Let's talk about HRT'. There is so much to learn especially about testosterone. Really interesting research into how much it can help women just as much as men.

We went with Tony and Wendy to my favourite pub. The Ewe an Lamb in Rolvenden Layne. I love Elsie the landlady. She has made the atmosphere just perfect. 

We are watching Marble Hall Murders. I want to be Susan Ryeland - I love her character, I love her clothes. I need to concentrate so I will be back with you tomorrow.

Day29 #stradaeasel

Here is a sketch of our anniversary gifts to each other. I think I have come off better. Tim won't drink the cocktails or sweets he gave me but I will happily have some of the Tony's chocolate I gave him. We have been together for 42 years but we only got married 9 years ago in the lighthouse at Dungeness, partly due to financial reasons, but of course mainly for love. 

Happy Anniversary Tim
Pen and Watercolour

Monday, 28th September 2026 - Simple Flowers

Tescos delivered various lamb parts as requested by Herbie. I took them to him after a morning digging and planting in the garden. I had a circuitous drive to Wickhambreaux. The road I needed to travel was closed...again. I thought I could remember the diverted route from last week. I stopped to activate Google maps just to be sure. Unfortunately, there was no signal on my phone. I carried on. I must have missed the turning I needed and ended up on a roundabout. I went round but none of the exits were where I wanted to go. So I went round again. I told you I had a circuitous route. On the third trip round I took an exit that turned out to be in the right direction. I had a lovely afternoon with Harriet. We managed to catch up while Herbie was reading about Mario characters. Herbie and I ate chips and battled with lego characters. He has a very infectious giggle. Hetty and Raffy came home and joined in our battle. They give the best hugs. A rainy drive home meant I didn't need to do any watering of plants when I got home.

We had fish fingers in rolls for dinner. Sometimes the simplest of meals can be the best.

Day 28 #stradaeasel

A quick watercolour for today's challenge. I didn't have to search very far. A vase of flowers on the table where I paint made a good subject for my tired mind and body.

Simple Flowers
Watercolour

Sunday, 27th September 2026 - Another One

My bed and breakfast guests have left. By the afternoon I had the room cleaned, washing in the machine, bed remade and ready for the next guests. I have a few days off and looking forward to morning pottering in my PJ's. Tim has been decorating the fascia board. I admire his energy. I had a doze this afternoon.

I am posting early today. We are off to Si and Lesleys for pizza with Nick and Alli for a bit of holiday planning. I am getting a bit, actually a big bit excited about our train trip around the Basque region. 

Day 27 #stradaeasel

I had an urge to be experimental for today's challenge. The paper is handmade with a lovely rough texture. Paint sits in the little hollows. A box of soft pastels and a palette of gouache paint made me a bit nervous. I had no idea what the outcome would be. Here it is. Another one of Elizabeth's squash captured for eternity.

Another One
Paper, pastel and gouache

Saturday, 26th September 2026 - Sunflowers

I cooked badly behaved fried eggs for my guests' breakfast. They spat at me! The scrambled eggs were much better behaved. I made a bit extra for Fable. He hadn't eaten since Tom left him.  Today was a better day. I put meat on his biscuits. He snaffled the meat and left the biscuits before I got a fork to mix them. A playdate with Fritha, the whippet, in her garden seems to have restored his appetite. There is nothing left in his bowl this evening. 

We came home to a sunny afternoon in the garden weeding, planting geums and dozing. I wasn't the one dozing.

Day 26 #stradaeasel

A vase of sunflowers is having a brief stay on my kitchen table. They are a gift for a friend. I am enjoying them until tomorrow. They were the only choice for today's challenge. 'Kissing the edge' is not a good painting technique. After an Aperol I had forgotten this advice and gone for a full-on snog. 

Sunflowers
Oil on board

Friday, 25th September 2026 - Fable at my Feet

Tom has gone to Budapest for the weekend. Fable is coping very well with his absence. He has acute hearing. Any external noise and he is on his feet expecting Tom to come through the door. He kept me company at my potting bench. I have potted up many pansies and polyanthus to brighten our pots and baskets, along with a heap of salvias. When grown on they will keep black spot from my roses. We have more work to do tomorrow. It is good to have a furry companion.

Bread and chocolate brownie was baked for new bed and breakfast guests. It made the house smell gorgeous.

Day 25 #stradaeasel

I was drinking a mug of tea in the garden. Fable was dozing at my feet. I managed a quick sketch before he moved.

Fable at my Feet
Pen

Thursday, 24th September 2026 - Life Painting

Today has been a pottering one. Nothing of much note but lots of things crossed off my list.

I came home from art this evening and was greeted by a waggy tailed Fable. Tom is off on holiday for the weekend and we are Fable sitting. I hope Fritha is around for a playdate. Tom wants to sleep in his tent on top of his car tonight. I did offer him a bed. I know which one I would have chosen.

Day 24 #stradaeasel

I had the perfect strada easel challenge for today. It was a life drawing/painting session with WOKAS this evening. Chris, our model did four 10 minutes poses (really difficult), one 20 minute pose ( I was feeling more relaxed), then a coffee break followed by an hour pose (I moved from a exp
osed position and did two works in watercolour). What a challenge! I haven't done any life drawing for a long time. It doesn't matter when painting a landscape if a tree is out of place. It does matter when painting a person if a limb is in the wrong place.

Life Painting
Pencil and watercolour

Wednesday, 23rd September 2026 - A Gift for Grandad

Before Tim left me to go to London he did a bit more roofing while I was still pottering in my PJ's. I have been hankering after a plant I saw on an Instagram post. Perovskia has a pretty blue flower in late summer. I found one at the garden centre a few days ago but it was a poor specimen. I voiced my desire to Tim as he was ordering polyanthus from Thompson and Morgan. The Perovskia we found were expensive. This morning a box arrived with three very healthy plants. Two are now in the garden and one growing on in the greenhouse. What a thoughtful husband I have.

My plan chest has become a nesting delight for mice. The tissue paper I use when inking up collagraphs was obviously a very desirable bedding. Today I cleared and washed it out. 

While eating a very wholesome vegetable stew we watched The Great British Bake Off. Nigella Lawson was surprisingly good. I thought she was going to irritate me. They baked my favourite cake, coffee and walnut. I now have a need to make one. Walnuts and instant coffee are on my shopping list.

Day 23 #stradaeasel

Yesterday, as Harriet, Herbie and I walked across Wickhambreaux village green Herbie picked up an acorn. It was a wonderful specimen. He asked me to take it home and give it to Grandad. I am not sure what the reason was but the fact that he was thinking of his Grandad was enough to make it a very special gift. I have made a tiny print for today's challenge. I lazily used an inkpad for the ink. I quite like the unevenness.

A Gift for Grandad
Linocut