Tuesday, 25th May 2021 - Time to Turn Back

I woke up thinking I may have the onset of flu. My neck and shoulders were aching like anything. When the drowsiness of sleep had left me I realised it was the exertions of wielding an emulsion brush overhead for the past two days.

I was in my studio painting people and animals this afternoon. 

Tony and Wendy collected us for a walk. We headed out in the direction of Cranbrook. There was a very handy map stuck to a tree which showed us we were either going to have to keep walking for the rest of the day or retrace our steps. We got back to refreshments in the kitchen just as the rain descended....again.

Time to Turn Back

Pen and Watercolour

Monday, 24th May 2021 - 'Return to Happiness'

Another day with a paint brush in my hand. 

We took a wine break at June and Barry's to celebrate June's birthday. I left with a pot of Lily of the Valley. They smell wonderful on my kitchen table. I am hoping that when introduced to the glories of our garden they will happily spread.

'Return to Happiness'

Watercolour

Sunday, 23rd May 2021 - The Great Gig in the Sky

We spent the majority of the day painting walls and ceiling. 

What a joy not to have to cook this evening. Si and Lesley invited us for dinner. We ate asparagus and the prettiest pale pink rhubarb from their garden. I didn't realise how much I have missed seeing people. 

The Great Gig in the Sky

Pen and Watercolour

Saturday, 22nd May 2021 - Buttercups and Blossom

I took my sourdough starter out the fridge last night to warm up. This morning it had a layer of purple liquid on top. I thought it had died. BUT a search on google told me the liquid is naturally occuring hooch and meant my starter was hungry!!! I was instructed to poor this off and feed it. I have and it is bubbling away nicely. I wonder if I should have saved the hooch and had it with tonic this evening?

Buttercups and Blossom

Watercolour

Friday, 21st May 2021 - Metallic Iris

Our household is now fully vaccinated. We celebrated by a trip to Aldi stocking up with anti bac supplies in preparation for opening up the bed and breakfast next month. I am not sure I can remember how to cook a full english breakfast. Maybe they would like cereal and a nice bowl of fruit.

I have some gorgeous Arches hot pressed watercolour paper. I am very grateful to the person who saved it from being ruined with rain by Hermes. I have a challenging subject to paint. Last autumn a friend who is an expert in the gardening field advised I planted some irises. They have been lovingly tended through autumn, winter and spring. The first one has flowered. I am delighted that the wait was worthwhile. 

Metallic Iris

Watercolour

Thursday, 20th May 2021 - Exuberance of Youth

Tim and I visited our daughter and grandchildren in Wickhambreaux. The journey is about an hour. Like going for a walk, being in the car is a good time to talk. You are not face to face. What a glorious day we had. Herbie entertained Tim while Harriet and I did a yoga session with blocks and balls. After Harriet had fed us lunch we walked into Littleborne to meet Hetty and Raffy. There were swings and slides and scraped knees at the park. We walked back through fields and alongside the river bobbing with Moorhens and a chick back to The Mill. It was wonderful to see how happy they all are. I miss them terribly but as my Mum used to say 'it was like sticking a plaster on a wound' finding them so settled.

Exuberance of Youth

Pen and Watercolour

Wednesday, 19th May 2021 - Storm over Wendletrap

Today was a struggle to wake. My husband bounced into the day. I wish I had his exuberance for mornings.

I have a story from yesterday which amused me. Our lovely tenant requested some bamboo. It is prolific in the garden. I looked forward to seeing what was going to be crafted. How naive of me. It was foraged and eaten. I should learn not to presume.

Tim and I had a wonderful afternoon with his mum. She is inspirational. I adore where she lives right on the edge of the cliffs. The weather went from sunny and warm enough for a wander through her garden to thunder, hail and lightning. 

Storm over Wendletrap

Watercolour

Tuesday, 18th May 2021 - Incoming Rain

Tim and I planned to get into the garden this morning. The weather forecast was for a spot of rain this afternoon. Both of us got side tracked with other things. Great intentions. We only managed an hour or so outside before the clouds gathered. It poured on and off for the rest of the afternoon.  I bet a few poor souls got caught out. I got out my sewing machine.

Incoming Rain

Watercolour

Monday, 17th May 2021 - Preening

I braved the dentist this afternoon. My last visit was two years ago. All was fine until the hygienist got at me with her pokey implement. I recuperated at Sarah's with a pot of tea.

I was meant to be zooming at my art class this evening. The computer gremlins aided by the internet devils were out in force. It has been postponed until next week. I watched television and shared a can or cider with Tim instead. 

Preening

Pen and Watercolour

Saturday, 15th May 2021 - Climbing

The only time I left the house was to put out the recycling and pick some clematis.

Climbing

Pen and Watercolour

Friday, 14th May 2021 - Outside The Old Dairy Brewery

Mike and Pippa invited us with June and Barry for an early evening drink. We sat outside as government rules insist. Great to hear everyones stories. 

Outside The Old Dairy Brewery

Pen and Watercolour

Thursday, 13th May 2021 - Apple Blossom

Yoga with Adriene this morning was speedier than normal. It took a lot of concentration to breath while vinyasering between asanas. It did get me ready for an afternoon in the studio. I needed a break from my paints and was just about to suggest a walk when Tim handed me a glass of wine. We took our wine for a potter around the garden.

Something is eating our chicken eggs from the nesting boxes. The wildlife camera is going to be set up tomorrow to find the culprit. I guess it is not the deer our lodger filmed in the garden early one morning.

I have a pack of the most glorious paper. Each sheet is different with petals, leaves and bits of plant matter embedded into it. I decided upon one with leaf parts in it. It is very thin and likes to be handled with great care. 

Apple Blossom

Pen and Watercolour

Wednesday, 12th May 2021 - Siblings

My pots of tulips and daffodils are beginning to fade. The irises are budding with promise. I am rather oddly excited. The alliums are beginning to bloom. They are onions disguised by a high price. Next time I am going to buy them from Tescos vegetable aisle. 

I had a brief spell of procrastination. It caused me to tidy my studio. Then I got into full swing doing commissions in between spells of gardening. They are challenging. I love a challenge.

Elizabeth came and strolled through our woods that are sprinkled with bluebells. It was so hot while we were drinking tea I had to take my jumper off.

Siblings

Pen and Watercolour
 

Tuesday, 11th May 2021 - When is a Flower a Weed?

I miss seeing my grandchildren and children very much. I love my video calls. Herbie needed to check I still had legs today. 

I have painted yet another door. Enough for now.

This afternoon the weather was sneaky. It looked much warmer than it was. The garden has exploded after the rain. I removed weeds that were snuggling amongst my plants. The chickens got shouted at for upending newly planted hollyhocks. A bit of culling had to be done to the forget-me-nots. They are still looking lovely but creeping buttercups are hiding underneath ready for an invasion and needed to be exposed and removed.

I cannot identify this plant. It is growing prolifically in my flower bed. I did not plant it. So is it a weed if not invited? I put some in a vase. It dropped petals. They are tiny shaped hearts. A poet would write something meaningful here.

When is a Flower a Weed?

Pen and Watercolour

Monday, 10th May 2021 - Beginnings

My art tutor Caroline was tough on her students again. Our brief was white flowers, in a white vase on a white background. My progress is slow but satisfying.

Beginnings

Watercolour

Sunday, 9th May 2021 - Happy Birthday Chris

My sweetpeas have survived the greenhouse bugs. I have now planted them out to bravely battle against the slugs and snails. Good luck guys.

Chris and Ewen dropped by. We had tea and cake in the garden under darkening rain skies. 

Happy Birthday Chris

Pen and Watercolour

Saturday, 8th May 2021 - Out with the Boys

Tim made pheasant ragu inbetween spells of computer work. I painted some doors in between thinking about commissions that I really should be painting instead of doors. Procrastination has descended upon me.

The girls had other engagements. I had this gorgeous bunch of men to entertain me at The Halfway House this evening. We bathed in the first warm evening in May.

Out with the Boys

Pen and Watercolour

Thursday, 6th May 2021 - Coffee Companions

I feel cleansed after dropping bags at the charity shop. I nearly returned with a sofa.

Silcocks Farm does lovely coffee. Linda, June and Pippa joined me. The cheese scones are big enough to share. 

Tim and I happened upon Casino Royale. I love a Bond film and a 007. If it wasn't a Thursday night we would have been drinking Vesper martinis. Excellent way to end the day.

Coffee Companions

Pen and Watercolour

Wednesday, 5th May 2021 - Vaccine View

I extracted my mount cutter from under my plan chest. The cutting process is an exercise for my brain trying to work out the maths and exercise for my hand strength holding the blade. It is very pleasing to put a mount around a piece of work. 

My runner bean seeds have been planted after a soaking overnight. It is damn chilly so I don't think there will be any germination for a while.

I had my second Pfizer vaccine today. This was the view while we were put in the 'waiting for adverse reactions' compound. 

Vaccine View

Watercolour

Tuesday, 4th May 2021 - Elizabeth's Pot

On a walk this afternoon Tim and I had our annual discussion about whether the sprig of flowers I had picked was Blackthorn or Hawthorn. Neither of us could remember. Google confirmed it to be Hawthorn as it has leaves and flowers at the same time. I will test my memory in a year's time.

The patch where I grow my runner beans needs weeding. I don't think they are meant to go in the same spot each year but I continue to break the rule. One year I expect they will fail but until then they will continue in the same place. Fortunately, I gathered seed from last year's marvellous plants. Unfortunately I have forgotten to plant them. BUT I am hopeful that as the seasons seem to be about a month delayed that planting them tomorrow will perfect and produce a glorious harvest.

Elizabeth's Pot

Watercolour

Monday, 3rd May 2021 - Pippa and Bertie

What a glorious start to today. It was nearly warm as Tim and I wandered into the woods. The bluebells are beautiful. Then the wind got up, the temperature plummeted and it started to rain. Quite revolting. I lit the fire and read my book while Tim made vegetable pasties.

This afternoon we caught up with Mike and Pippa.

I have a couple of commissions that I am very thrilled to have been asked to do. They are in the planning stage in my head. Thumbnails next.

Pippa and Bertie

Pen and Watercolour

Sunday, 2nd May 2021 - Cuckoo Flower in Oil

We have been clearing the garage. There are boxes I have kept full of stuff from my Mum's house. Time to tackle the emotions. We found a letter that Dad had written to her. I wonder what the present was?

Here is another painting I have in the WOKAS on-line exhibition. I hope you have visited.

https://www.wealdofkentartsociety.co.uk/exhibition-2021

Cuckoo Flower

Oil on canvas

Saturday, 1st May 2021 - Bluebell in Oil

Our day started at 5.32 am zooming in the garden with a side of the Weald of Kent Morris. Happy Mayday to you all and to many fruitful times ahead.

The Halfway House has a marvellously socially distanced set up in their vast gardens. I am not used to conversing, I came home exhausted.

My art society has a glorious on-line exhibition running. This has been expertly put together by my very patient husband.

Take a look.....
https://www.wealdofkentartsociety.co.uk/exhibition-2021

I have entered four works that were thoroughly enjoyable to paint. Here is one. 

Bluebell

Oil on canvas