Monday, 31st August 2020 - 9am at The Hub

Harriet had an idea. It was a great idea.

We went to The Hub in Bodiam for a 'before going back to school' breakfast. At 9am we were at the door. Tom came with us before heading off the cycle in another county. The food was delicious. We managed to squeeze in a 'Help Out to Eat Out' offer. A very relaxing start to the day watching the children play in the sunshine.

9am at The Hub
Pen, Charcoal and Watercolour

Wednesday, 26th August 2020 - Flowers for Harriet

I found it hard to get my eyes open and body out of bed this morning. I think I must being beginning to get ready to hibernate.

Tim has been teaching me how to use a database for the online art exhibition we are working on. I lasted about half an hour before getting bored. Give me a paintbrush.

Flowers for Harriet
Pen and Watercolour

Tuesday, 25th August 2020 - Little Stonelink

The weather caused us to cancel our plans to 'Eat Out to Help Out' at The White Dog. Eating under a garden umbrella whilst being peppered with rain and whipped by wind was not that appealing.

Wendy dropped off a bunch of flowers. I ordered them for Harriet to tell her how proud I am of her

The large quantities of ice in the freezer was preventing me filling it with ice cream and peas. While the freezer was defrosting we went to see Susan and Roger for a mug of tea. We left with a box of cars for Herbie.

As we limped back into the house we concluded it was the car journey aggravated both our backs.

Little Stonelink
Charcoal and Watercolour

Friday, 21st August 2020 - Swimming

Harriet invited me to go swimming with her and the children at Flackley Ash. It was a wonderful hour in a very warm pool all to ourselves.

Swimming
Charcoal and Watercolour

Thursday, 20th August 2020 - Bodiam

Leelee collected me in her new red beetle to drive me to Bodiam to meet with other Weald of Kent Art Society members for a few hours of painting. I have not been painting en plein air for months. It was inspiring to be like minded souls. We left after four hours with masterpieces completed. Next year we are going painting on Crete.

Yesterday's rain has not loosened the bramble tangle in the woods as much as I hoped. It was a tough and sweaty time I spend in my leather gloves.

Bodiam
Ink Pen

Bodiam
Pastel

Bodiam
Graphik Pen

Wednesday, 19th August 2020 - Susan's Pot

I woke at 5.30am bathed in a hot flush to see that the sun rising turned the sky a very pretty shade of pink and purple in anticipation of the rain to come.

Herbie came to play while Hetty and Bella were having a bit of homeschooling with Harriet. We played trains, read books, coloured in Thomas the Tank Engine with watercolours, coloured in the mat that was protecting the table with watercolours, found a gougere in the freezer that was microwaved for a snack and played 'being' trains with Grandad whilst managing to wee in the potty and not on the floor.

I have booked a collagraph course with Leelee for September. This afternoon I laid on the sofa listening to the rain while reading books in preparation.

I admired this pot when I was at Susan's house last week. I found it on my kitchen table. Thank you for my gift it is beautiful.

Susan's Pot
Watercolour

Tuesday, 18th August 2020 - Tim's Figs

That is better weather for me. I can have my lunch in the garden without getting frazzled.

I had a burst of cleaning. The kitchen is now bacteria free.

When we moved here over twenty years ago we came with a fig tree in a pot. It was temporarily put in the corner of the greenhouse. It grew through its pot and cannot be moved. I am not that keen on figs and keep it vigorously pruned. Tim has been looking after it this year and it has been allowed to rampage around the greenhouse. I must admit it is fruiting gloriously.

Tim's Figs
Watercolour

Monday, 17th August 2020 - Discovery

Tony dropped off a bag of apples from their tree.

This afternoon we had a Weald of Kent Art Society meeting social distancing in Clive's garden. The preparation for our on-line exhibition is going extremely well with major input from Tim my patient husband.

I grumpily cleared a pile of weeds onto the bonfire. I hate clearing up.

I grumpily cleaned out the chickens. I hate cleaning out the chickens.

Discovery
Watercolour and Charcoal.

Wednesday, 12th August 2020 -

My mate Leelee came to borrow our honey spinner. She came with a money plant for my table and courgettes from her glut. I miss seeing and chatting with her at our cancelled art class.

As I type I am waiting in anticipation of 'The Thunder Storm'. There is the flicker of lightening in the distance. I love a good lashing of rain, thunder and lightning.

My sunflowers were gifted to me. They have survived the ravages of slugs and snails and are now opening their heads. Dad always grew sunflowers. I am not sure if he enjoyed growing them or Mum told him he did. I miss you Mum and Dad.

Sunflowers

Tuesday, 11th August 2020 - Collagraph Plates

In the night a mosquito, either a very hungry one or it came with a friend, feasted on me exposed limbs. They are going to itch with avengence later.

I sweated my way through yoga with Adriene. We did 'Greet The Day'. I enjoyed most of it.

Tony, Wendy, Tim and I went for the 'Eat Out to Help Out' scheme today at The Star in Rolvenden. It was typical 'pub grub'.

I have been experimenting with collagraph methods. These will be inked up and put through the press tomorrow.

Collagraph Plates

Monday, 10th August 2020 - Medicinal Echinacea

Ready for a grumble? - I find little enjoyment when the temperature hits 33°C. Tomasz give me the late teens. It makes me sweaty, sticky and slippery. A yoga move instructed by Zoe was just not achievable. Having the oven on this morning to cook sour dough was not wise. I had to reduce my movements to sedate. There was gorgeous comfort in my studio with a fan. I could hear the delight of the grandchildren playing in the paddling pool.

We are still watching the glorious Spooks. Each one is like a mini James Bond film.

Medicinal Echinacea
Pen and Watercolour

Saturday, 8th August 2020 - 7.44pm, 27°C

I had an MRI scan this morning. The room is air conditioned and a lovely place to be when the temperatures decide to soar to 33°C.

I came home to find my kitchen busy with Herbie and Tim shaping bread rolls for lunch and Bella working her way through our collection of children's books. Herbie and I played in the paddling pool while the fish fingers were cooking.

7.44pm, 27°C No I
Watercolour

7.44pm, 27°C No II
Watercolour

Wednesday, 5th August 2020 - Come Over To My House

We were just heading off to bed when Surviving The Virus: My Brother and Me started to play. We watched it until the end. Covid is still not understood. Fascinating and worrying watching.

I turned off my fears by reading my book The Authenticity Project.

When you have not had a nap having a book read to you by Mummy is an excellent way to rest and restore.

Come Over To My House
Pen and Watercolour

Tuesday, 4th August 2020 - Kilndown Wood

After being a scorpion, a triangle, a plank and a mountain I went to see Sarah. We had a walk planned. She hasn't been well so said it would  be a short one. She must have got better very quickly as we ended up doing 9,000 steps. Thank you for my Hibiscus tonic.

I thought it was Tim being tetchy. It was tough when I realised it was me. Hormones huh!!!

Kilndown Wood
Charcoal and Watercolour

Monday, 3rd August 2020 - Brambly Woods

Apart from slicing a bit of my finger whilst cutting paper in my studio - only bad enough to warrant a plaster - it has been a peaceful day.

I broke from painting and collagraphing and plugged my ear buds in and tackled the brambles in the woods late afternoon.

We had a melange of weekend leftovers while watching the last episode of White Lines. There was a long list of warnings so I wouldn't be offended by the language, frightened by the violence and educated by the numerous sex scenes. Nuno Lopes is gorgeous. Damn stupid ending to the series.

The chick is growing into a fine looking hen. She briefly baffled us by roosting in the trees above the run.

Brambly Woods
Pen and Watercolour

Sunday, 2nd August 2020 - Walking with Tony and Wendy

A walk with Tony and Wendy ended up with watching Tony light a fire pit in their woods. He cooked us sweetcorn and mackerel. I love being cooked for.

Walking with Tony and Wendy
Watercolour
Gesso Board

Saturday, 1st August 2020 - Grandad and Grandson

While Hetty was climbing and being accompanied by one responsible adult that being Harriet, Bella and Herbie spent the morning with us. We made bread hedgehogs to go with sausages for lunch.

This evening Mike, Pippa and Ray came and shared hummus and pizza in the garden. An improvement on a Zoom night. It is marvellous when Tim does the cooking. I just had to drink wine and wash some strawberries.

Grandad and Grandson
Pen and Watercolour