Sunday, 31st March 2019 - Fig and Cuckoo Flower

Mum was looking fine on Mother's Day. I am very lucky to have her still to share my life even though most of hers is absorbed with medical conditions. I wouldn't change her for anything.

Fig and Cuckoo Flower
Pen and Watercolour

Saturday, 30th March 2019 - Castle Door

We took a late tour around Sissinghurst Gardens then headed home to watch True Lies - such a great film - with prawn spaghetti.

Castle Door
Pen and Watercolour

Friday, 29th March 2019 - Friday Infusion

Our next-to local pub The Woolpack has reopened. We got a lift from Sarah and Nigel to a jammed packed bar. It was a fine evening of gin, tonic, beer and wine.

Friday Infusion
Pen and Watercolour

Thursday, 28th March 2019 - Chris

Guests come and go like ships in the night. My washing machine has been doing a mighty job this week.

I didn't fancy going out this evening. WOKAS had a demonstration evening. I did go. How thoroughly pleased I dragged my lazy butt out the door.  Juliette Dodd is a portraitraturist. She did three in less than an hour. We had a coffee and biscuit break. Then it was our turn. It was great fun. Her teaching was inspiring and the atmosphere of the members was jolly.

Chris
Charcoal and Chalk

Wednesday, 27th March 2019 - Chicken Carnage

Daily three of our hens escape their electrified enclosure and roam and rummage the garden. Mostly little damage is done. A few upended forget-me-nots I don't mind BUT they were on a search for water yesterday from the plant pot saucers. I have been nurturing, anticipating and awaiting the blooming of some tulips we got at The Great Dixter plant sale last autumn. It has been a long wait. I shouldn't have shrieked at the hen who was in the middle of the pot. She flapped and bolted breaking the tulips and moved onto the pot of Dog's Tooth Violets. Bloody hens.

Chicken Carnage
Pen and Watercolour

Tuesday, 26th March 2019 - Hetty

Hetty and I went to see Mum. It was hard going as she had difficulty hearing us. We delivered her over the counter medication as she takes so much the nursing home has run out. We had an in depth conversation with the carer about ear drops and cotton wool.

Hetty
Watercolour

Monday, 25th March 2019 - Japonica

In the sunshine Herbie and I fed the chickens with the many breakfast leftovers. There was lots of "yum, yum" from Herbie.

The warm weather is making everything blossom.

Be warned. If you get crumbs under your Mac mouse it wont work so well.

Japonica
Watercolour

Sunday, 24th March 2019 - Faster Than Birds Eye

Whilst waiting for an arranged late arriving guest I took to my canvas. Bloody damn stupid damn bloody oil paint has a blood damn will of its infuriating own. What was meant to be a glorious chiaroscuro infused piece of work ended up overworked and brown. Damn it.

The weatherboard on the house is looking stunning. We are wondering if we should paint our cheeks and cills green to match the garage doors? It would break up our large expanse of white and cream. For research we went on a road trip in the MG. Tim mocked me wearing a jumper, coat and scarf. It is March and I was very comfy in my warmth. We peered at some local houses with green windows. Our trip took us to Tony to drop off a multi tool. Good for cutting small precise holes in your house. Very useful if you fancy a cavity. Wendy gave me a bouquet of immediately picked purple sprouting broccoli. So much more practical than flowers. It made a delicious accompaniment to our rabbit.

Faster Than Birds Eye
Pen and Watercolour

Saturday, 23rd March 2019 - Bloom Burst

The basket of hyacinths Alli gave me last week have been growing ready to blossom.  A gift for many senses - thank you they are beautiful.

Tim has been working on the weatherboard on the house while I was refurbishing my WOKAS five foot brush and pencil installation. I know which I prefer to be doing. I hate washing out brushes and found a few neglected stiff specimens in the decorating box from a previous encounter.

Bloom Burst
Pen and Watercolour

Friday, 22nd March 2019 - Composition by Chris

I got the double room ready for guests. Tim went to the opening of The Woodcock whilst I waited at home to read my emails and find the guests are arriving tomorrow. Silly twit. It sounded like the pub was far too busy for me to get a glass of wine from the bar. Damn.

I spent a thoroughly enjoyable evening with my brother and sister. Thank you for making these trying times so much easier.

Composition by Chris
Pen and Watercolour

Thursday, 21st March 2019 - Waiting At The Lights

Mum said she was feeling terrible. She looked the perkiest I have seen her for a long time.

I bought a reduced lemon tart from Waitrose to enjoy with my brother and sister tomorrow evening. It contained egg and cream. My brother is vegan. Tim and I had to eat it.

My sweetpea seeds aren't up yet.

The chickens have done a fine job of scarifying the lawn of moss. I don't like them dust bathing and shredding my tulips.

Waiting At The Lights
Pen and Watercolour

Wednesday, 20th March 2019 - New Blue Vase

I have planted sweetpea seeds and potted on my Golden Rod.

New Blue Vase
Watercolour

Tuesday, 19th March 2019 - Herding

We took Hetty and Bella after school to see Si and Lesley's new lambs. After the girls stocked up with biscuits and cake they had a lesson in shepherding. Two ewes were in labour during our visit. Possibly we caused a distraction as four ram lambs were born shortly after we left. Thank you for being so generous with us. We had a great time.

Update on the WOKAS pencils - they have all been found.

Herding
Oil

Monday, 18th March 2019 - Still Life Students

MISSING - The dustbin/paintbin that I made for WOKAS had three of the five foot pencils go missing over the weekend as it stood outside encouraging people to the Open Day. Tenterden folk are on the lookout for them. The last sighting was by the football pitch. I will keep you up to date as to progress.

Herbie helped me feed the chickens. He discovered the eggs made a terrible mess when squeezed with vigour.

In my evening class we are working on still life inspired by an artist we admire. I must be in my dark period.

Still Life Students
Pen and Watercolour

Sunday, 17th March 2019 - Mixed Bouquet

It was a wise decision to cut our walk short with the threatening skies. The forecast was spot on for hail at 5pm.

The aftermath of the dinner party has been cleared and we enjoyed the leftovers whilst watching Cheat.

I am off to bed with Vanessa Arbuthnott. Well her catalogue that came through the post yesterday and I have been saving the joy of a peruse under the duvet.

Thank you Si and Lesley for the gorgeous flowers.

Mixed Bouquet
Pen and Watercolour

Saturday, 16th March 2019 - Posing

The Weald of Kent Art Society had an Open Day in Tenterden. It was a fun few hours with demonstrations in oil, watercolour, acrylic and clay, art paraphernalia for sale and a great atmosphere with coffee and cheese scones. I love a cheese scone. Thank you Jenny.

Tim was master of the kitchen during my absence. June, Barry, Nick, Alli, Si and Lesley joined us from homemade mozzarella. Yes, you should be impressed. I am. Tim made it. I think I may have relaxed into the wine rather well.

Posing
Pen and Watercolour

Friday, 15th March 2019 - Three Leg Brewery

I had my first mammogram in Cranbrook car park. Relatively painless if a little squeezy.

Hawkhurst House has done a great reassessment of Mum's Care Plan. I am very impressed.

On the way home from a drink with Mike and Pippa we bought chips and a bit of fish. We watched Cheat as recommended by Pippa. I am enjoying it more than Tim.

Three Leg Brewery
Pen and Watercolour

Thursday, 14th March 2019 - Welcome Distraction

I had a great jaunt out with Sarah in Cranbrook. We found the bacon roll in Cocolicious particularly delicious. The jolly lady in Stoneydale was not so jolly. I really wasn't trying to get a double discount on my tubes of paint. Wow and the joys of the jewllery shopping the charity shops was a new pleasure. I am very pleased with my earrings. Such a shame you have lost yours already Sarah.

Herbie has a cold, a burst ear drum, (your Uncle Tom suffered too) and a chest infection. You cannot but admire his stoic little soul.

Is 9.15pm too early to go to bed?

Welcome Distraction
Pen and Watercolour

Wednesday, 13th March 2019 - Mixed Trees

There is an influx of illnesses in our family from minor to major. Hopefully with a pot of nappy rash cream and some good health care all will be well.

An afternoon walk took us around and about Tenterden with Tony and Wendy. A horrid wet and windy spell finished with a rainbow. Tim negotiated his way through the closed doors of Holland and Barrett and returned with Hunza apricots. I was told Boots did not stock what I needed any longer. It was near closing time and I am sure they just couldn't be arsed to look. I am going on a quest of retrieval in Cranbrook tomorrow.

Mixed Trees
Watercolour

Tuesday, 12th March 2019 - It's Cold Outside

What a foul weathered day. Mum was not affected in her cocoon and seemed a bit brighter today. She thinks the GP is having secret liasons with us about her health - not really.

I am ready to attempt Module Five of my oil painting course. Strawberries and something metal will be a challenge I am ready for.

We took Bella to see Fairlight. It was a bit of a long road trip for an after school excusion. Bella and I had to keep to the beds or the sharks and crocodiles would attack. It took me back to playing similar games as I child. It finished back home with Go, Dog, Go read whilst eating mint Vienetta. Much easier than Norse Mythology I tackled earlier.

The recipe I had been saving from a Tesco magazine was slightly disappointing but the microwave popcorn was as good as ever.

It's Cold Outside
Pen and Watercolour

Monday, 11th March 2019 - B Turns Six

Happy Birthday to Bella. We loved being able to share your birthday walk into school, presents and cake with you. I look forward to playing shops very soon.

B Turns Six
Pen and Watercolour

Sunday, 10th March 2019 - Viewing House Renovations

The blustery day took Tim, Tom, Hetty and Bella to fly a spiralling kite. Bit too much bluster.

Tom and I visited Mum who is looking frail and translucent. She was so pleased to see Tom is made my heart sting.

We had lunch cooked for us. The frittata was delicious Tom.

I got a text from Tom on his safe arrival home. He tackled hailstorms and snow!!! Yes, I was surprised too.

We have found a brilliant, so far, series to watch called Traitors. Excellent so far.

Viewing House Renovations
Pen and Watercolour

Saturday, 9th March 2019 - The Return of Tom

It was a surprisingly fine day to do a bit of weeding. So I did. Tim has exposed the wonderful colours of our patio stones with the pressure washer.

We came home from a drink with Mike and Pippa at The Three Chimneys, such a great pub for an earlier evening wine or two, well tthree, to find gorgeous Tom had come home. We ate steak, chips, drank a little bit more wine and watched to more appalling sci-fi film ever.

The Return of Tom
Pen and Watercolour

Friday, 8th March 2019 - The Kings Head

Christine is taking over ALL the social media for WOKAS. I no longer have to infrequently Tweet, intermittently Facebook or swear trying to get the website updated.

Four canvases have been prepared with a grey/blue ground. I now need four subjects to paint in oils.

We had jolly good fish, chips and salad with LeeLee and Richard in Grafty Green. The publican is 80 and the decor looks just as old. Oh and I had a slice of treacle tart. It was a fun evening. Thank you for the invite.

The Kings Head
Pen and Watercolour

Thursday, 7th March 2019 - WOKAS University Challenge

It was a good turnout at our seascapes themed painting evening considering the disgusting weather.

WOKAS University Challenge
Pen and Watercolour

Wednesday, 6th March 2019 - Sums Before Le Burger

Today I showed a second tree man my overgrown garden. He didn't seem shaken by the extensive amount of work needed and gave very similar answers to Mark. I look forward to receiving his quote.

Hetty and I went into Tenterden. We stopped at Tesco for a pretzel and water. Blimey. I took a look in the mirror. The wind and rain had turned me into the wild woman of borneo. It is an exuberant look that I am not too keen to replicate. We were birthday shopping for Bella. When it came to wrapping the presents up Hetty was so pleased that we had six gifts and how surprised and pleased Bella would be. In Waterstones Hetty found Billy and the Minpins to add to her Roald Dahl collection. I delight in my granddaughters company.

Sums Before Le Burger
Pen and Watercolour

Tuesday, 5th March 2019 - Herbie and Mum

Harriet and Herbie bravely came with me to see Mum. She had phoned in need of tablets so I was delivering her three packets of over-the-counter medicine. It is hard to tell whether Mum is getting confused or it could be that she hasn't got her hearing aids in and can't hear and so makes up what she thinks could be the answer to what you have asked. She didn't sound that good chestwise. Apparently she was better later.

Whoohoo I have finished my oil painting coursework. I ended up rather close to the canvas. I found Robbie Williams on a CD who helped loosen me up. I haven't named it yet.

I must thank Sarah properly for the delivery of four dead pheasant. They would be perfect in a curry. Thank you Sarah the next coffee and bacon roll with chilli jam is on me. And probably the next one too.

I used a bit of artistic licence to protect my mother's modesty and for you too.

Herbie and Mum
Pen and Watercolour

Monday, 4th March 2019 - Only One Apology

I had an idea that I would rather enjoy continuing updating the WOKAS website. After a frustrating hour with WIX I think it would be a kinder to let Christine do it. Delegation is the way forward. The tea and cake at Weald of Kent Art Society meeting at Clive's was a good way to break the afternoon. I wanted to disband voting at exhibitions. We are going to simplify the slips instead.

I wasn't going to attend my art class this evening as we were transcribing another artists work - not my favourite activity - but I got FOMO. It was much more enjoyable than I anticipated. There were some wine gums in my glove compartment for me to enjoy on the way home.

Only One Apology
Pen and Watercolour

Sunday, 3rd March 2019 - The First Periwinkles

I have been back in my studio with my oils in my studio doing my homework. I got to this stage....

....then we had to go out. Another chance at an evening out. Tonight it was the turn of the pizza van outside the Bell and Jorrocks. We were joined by Alan, blimey he was full of beans and off to another pub to listen to music, Tony and Wendy.

The First Periwinkles
Pen and Watercolour

Saturday, 2nd March 2019 - Seafood Supper

I do enjoy going out for dinner. It is glorious not having to think about what to cook. Gay and Hudd (who is really Robert) invited us for dinner. Being just the four of us meant we could catch up with all the ins, outs, ups, downs and mostly the delights of families. Thank you for a wonderful evening. I think I drank quite a lot of wine.

We had storm Freya behind us on the way home.

Seafood Supper
Pen and Watercolour

Friday, 1st March 2019 - Lion Shoes

Well I was wrong. The slippery alien didn't disturb my nights sleep.

Mum is feeling breathless. She thinks she might need oxygen. I was stumped as to what to say so I asked her about her symptoms....!!!!

Herbie has found the joy of pen and paper. I love the look of admiration when he critics his work.

Tim took me for a walk. It was late enough in the day to stop at The Bull for a cider.

Lion Shoes
Pen and Watercolour