Thursday, 29th August 2019 - Fig Harvest

Tim did my woodmans breakfast for me. I had the most glorious time in bed sleeping.

I had to listen to Jeremy Vine to find out what 'proroguing' was and how to pronounce it. It didn't help much.

We have a ripe fig from the garden. Tim offered to share it with me but I know his passion and let him have the whole thing.

I am going to bed to read my book in the cool of the evening.

Fig Harvest
Pen and Watercolour
Khadi Paper

Wednesday, 28th August 2019 - Lobster and Chips

We have been flattening out the piles of woodchippings from our tree felling earlier in the year. Herbie has a tiny green wheelbarrow and fork and spent ages helping us.

This evening we went out for lobster and chips at The Star and Eagle. Thank you Nick and Suzy for organising a splendid evening accompanied by Nick, Alli, Si and Lesley. Si and I both have a crush on Faith. We stayed on as a few of the Morris were having a beer and nuts holding up the bar. I was rewarded with a very pretty glass of Aperol for my patience.

Lobster and Chips
Pen and Watercolour
Khadi Paper

Tuesday, 27th August 2019 - Hot Hot Hot

It has been too too too hot today. The advantage of getting up at 5.15 am is that I got my room changed over before it reached 30 degrees.

I am delighted that the Great British Bake Off is back. I love them all.

Hot Hot Hot
Watercolour

Wednesday, 21st August 2019 - Outside Office

The garden has been getting a lot of attention.

Remember the hydrangea cuttings I took last year? One was big enough to plant in the garden. Good luck little chap.

Outside Office
Pen and Watercolour

Tuesday, 20th August 2019 - Tall Bulbs

I am having to get up before sunrise (look it up) for the next 12 mornings to look after my workmen. I maybe a little zombie like on the days that I am unable to take a daytime nap. Be gentle with me. Is 7.45pm too early to go to bed?

We have got bags of daffodil bulbs from B&Q to plant around our fruit trees. Tim has started to rather arduous planting task. Herbie and I were there to give encouragement and tea.

Some don't turn the television on until after 6pm. I don't open the wine until the 6pm.

Tall Bulbs
Pen and Watercolour

Monday, 19th August 2019 - Not Predicted

Well that was not what Chris Fawkes told me the weather was going to do AND he wasn't wearing a checked shirt when presenting the forecast on Countryfile last night. It has been raining in irritating short heavy spells making the probability of getting a soaking unfortunately high.

Not Predicted
Watercolour

Sunday, 18th August 2019 - Fairlight Cove

As I served my guests breakfast I informed them that their choice of spending the day visiting gardens was a good one due to the weather forecast being glorious. Ten minutes after they left the house we had torrential rain. Whoops.

We took Tim's Mum and Uncle Bill to The Coastguards cafe for lunch. An interesting experience with an octogenarian and a nonagenarian.

Back home I felt stuffed and irritable so we went or a walk and viewed the many planning applications in Benenden.

Fairlight Cove
Watercolour

Saturday, 17th August 2019 - Dollhouse

Hetty and Bella spent hours tidying up the dollhouse. Herbie played with the cars and buttons on the dishwasher. Harriet and I drank tea.

Returning guests ate chocolate cake that needed cream to counteract its slight dry quality. On the plus side it was warm enough to sit in the garden.

Dollhouse
Pen and Watercolour

Thursday, 15th August 2019 - No Quite Full

I have finished reading The Keeper of Lost Things. Lovely book for an easy read with a few tears thrown in.

Driving home from the pub I admired the moon. What a glorious astronomical body that is a natural satellite - so the internet tells me. I thought it was a star or planet.

No Quite Full
Watercolour

Wednesday, 14th August 2019 - Millinophilia

I cannot get rid of my ruddy cough.

It was the last Weald of Kent Morris stand at The Elephants Head. They provided beer, I had rose x3, and burgers. We had already eaten burgers at home. They were quorn ones which I wouldn't recommend but I ate it. The salt and pepper chips at the pub were very tasty.

Millinophilia
Pen

Tuesday, 13th August 2019 - Oxalis corniculata

We have been watching Keeping in Faith. I have a bit of a crush on Faith. I have a bit of a crush on the music too. I went onto Amazon to buy a CD but it is only on MP3. I want a CD to put in my player.....!!!! BUT I have found that Alexa will play it for me. Now I can weep on demand. I had never heard of Amy Wadge the artist. She is glorious.

This weed has been making its way to the bonfire. Tenacious little bugger.

Oxalis corniculata
Pen and Watercolour

Friday, 9th August 2019 - Tom's House

Tom made a loaf of bread. He was working so was absent to inform of us its ingredients. We had it toasted for breakfast and found the chilli and turmeric additions surprisingly good.

I have a height restriction that prevents me from getting the pans down from Tom's cupboards.

It is warm and windy but fortunately no power outages. The two power stations that went down simultaneously? Cyber attack or freak weather?!?

I have worked on Tom's garden weeding out the weeds. The boys have been sorting out the windows.

Another day another trip to Aldi and Iceland to get seafood that Tom and I turned into lasagna.

Tom's House
Pen and Watercolour

Thursday, 8th August 2019 - 78 Derngate

We packed our bags and set off for Northampton to spend a few days with Tom.

On our way we popped into the home of Mr Bassett-Lowke whom I had never heard of. He had Mackintosh design some features of his home. I love a bit of Mackintosh.

We waited outside Tom's house until he arrived home from work. How lovely for him after a hard day at work to find your parents. Tim and I left Tom to his devices and took to Aldi to purchase dinner and drinks.

78 Derngate
Pen and Watercolour

Wednesday, 7th August 2019 - Ploughed Field

I went to the chemist to get Golden Eye drops for my new eye infection. Whilst there I asked for something for my irritating cough and sore throat. I settled upon Tyrozets and was transported back forty odd years. They are just the same in a small plastic tube, have the same disgusting taste and tongue numbing properties. Just what I need.

I am watching The Widower as I type. Malcolm is revolting in an intriguing way.

Ploughed Field
Watercolour

Tuesday, 6th August 2019 - Gone to Seed

There is a grass/reed plant that is rampant in the garden. I dislike it intensely. A great thicket has grown by the French doors. Its removal revealed a nest of chicken eggs which are probably a few months old. The hen who laid them has since departed. I have left them for the creatures of the night to feast on.

Gone to Seed
Pen and Watercolour

Monday, 5th August 2019 - Reclaimed Phlox

A cough and sore throat has made me cancel friends coming over for pizza tonight. I really wanted to see them.

I have been resting on the sofa and reading. "Without motive you will wabble about" - I just love this quote from Robert Henri. He is referring to painting but I think it refers to everything.

Tim gave me some flowers he found outside the Catholic Church.

Reclaimed Phlox
Pen and Watercolour

Sunday, 4th August 2019 - Noisy Cake Making

The demise of my ovaries means that some of my shirts have tight arms.

I was making butterscotch skanky (as in old) banana cake. It was Wild Horses that got my emotions today. Herbie came and gave me a hand with the mixing and measuring.

I don't think I will ever not worry about my children.

Noisy Cake Making
Pen and Watercolour

Saturday, 3rd August 2019 - Conserve or Jam?

It has been a bit of a weird day.

I have been making blackcurrant jam listening to Alexa playing the greatest love songs. Romeo and Juliet by Dire Straits was playing - always gets me that one. I am sure a little salt in the jam with be delicious and unnoticeable.

While having a bacon sandwich with plum chutney I was reading the Tesco magazine. I was interested to read 'Satan' peaches are in season. Never tried those. Ah, I didn't have my glasses on. 'Saturn' peaches - you know those little flat ones. How disappointing.

Conserve or Jam?
Pen and Watercolour

Friday, 2nd August 2019 - Everlasting Pink Peas

I have a full functioning Indesit dishwasher. We had to go out to buy it salt and got some tiny chocolate eclairs to eat at Mike and Pippa's. They were there to make us tea.

I should have made blackcurrant jam today but I couldn't be arsed. Tomorrow. I'll do it tomorrow.

I have been listening to Magic Lessons Podcasts. Elizabeth Gilbert gives advice about how to become more creative. She suggests no lists. What!!!! That goes against my Frog lessons. How confusing.

I missed Mum today.

Everlasting Pink Peas
Pen and Watercolur

Thursday, 1st August 2019 - A Bit of Wild

No bnb guests = not having to get up to an alarm. Then feeling guilty that it is 8am.

I have a lovely tray of Hallwood blackcurrants. Now I need to get some sugar. Thank you Sarah. Bruff Sarah's puppy was doing a great job of pruning while we were drinking coffee. I may borrow him for our garden. We have that awful invasive grass that is getting everywhere. I hate it. Bruff would be a great removal tool.

I have caught up with Beeham House and Poldark but still had piles of ironing so started watching The Widower. I am finding it disturbing but can't stop watching it.

A Bit of Wild
Watercolour

Monday, 29th July 2019 - From Richard and Mike's Seed

A Short Story
A few weeks ago I rang to cancel the ever increasing insurance policy on the dishwasher. I had quite a lengthy conversation about new for old, repairs, how much a new one would cost, but I stuck to my guns and cancelled it. We have had ever increasing power trips and located the source to be the dishwasher being faulty. The insurance policy finished five days ago. Bugger.

I picked our first crop of beans from the garden. Many many many more to come. I like beans. Good thing as we will be having them every day for the next few weeks.

We had a beer tasting session with our dutch guests. Ine and I drank wine.

From Richard and Mike's Seed
Watercolour

Sunday, 28th July 2019 - End of July

Tom fitted some replacement seats into his little black Peugeot. After soup with his nieces and nephew he headed back up north. It was good to have him around.

Tim and I took a stroll into the village and viewed the newly built, nearly finished primary school. It is a great bit of architecture with a friendly green roof.

End of July
Watercolour