Monday, 31st January 2022 - One Bed Three Ways

We are being taught to consider colour and light at our art class. The sun shone through the window falling onto the bed providing my reference. One I had done in grey tints a week or so ago. Tonight I did a colour version and another with my homemade ink made from eucalyptus leaves, willow and eucalyptus bark.  Great fun. We now have a two week break to recharge our paintbrush skills.

One Bed Three Ways 

Sunday, 30th January 2022 - The Droop of the Hellebore

It has been a lovely weekend. Saturday we cooked dinner for friends. Sunday I pottered. I am very grateful for the use of WhatsApp. I was able to chat with my children and grandchildren who are not very far away but too far for a cup of tea.

The Droop of the Hellebore
Pen and Watercolour

Thursday, 27th January 2022 - Threatening Snow

 It is 22.35pm at the time of typing. I have just come back from a book group meeting at the pub. At long last I have satiated a yearning in my soul for liver and crispy bacon.

My mate Sarah suggested a Radio 4 programme. I put in my ear buds, opened BBC Sounds and spent the next hour or so crying as I made up the bed and breakfast rooms. You could have told me it was going to be heart ripping. Be warned if you do listen to Goodbye to All This you will need a box of tissues. Really well written. The music is good too. Also maybe read the description before just in case you're not feeling strong enough to handle the story.

I was potting up my bargain dahlias that I purchased yesterday while watching the sky darken from the north east. It very much looked a snow ladened cloud was heading my way but it passed without incident.

Threatening Snow

Watercolour

Wednesday, 26th January 2022 - Guys at the Garage

Happy happy birthday to gorgeous Pippa. I hope you have a glorious day my darling.

There was a jumper I desired at Christmas but I refused to buy it at such an exorbitant price. Today I found it was on sale and half the price. It went into my basket along with two shirts with collars for Herbie. He likes a collar. Such a smart grandson.

I am still making brown ink. The latest batch has a tinge of green.

Tomorrow I am decaptating my wilted daffodils. I am expecting yellow ink.

Our Peugeot has had an MOT and a repaired puncture. We hope for another year on the road.

Guys at the Garage
Homemade Willow Charcoal and Watercolour 

Tuesday, 25th January 2022 - Strike-A-Pose

My kitchen is full of saucepans, bowls and bottles of brown ink in various degrees of processing. Thankfully I have a very tolerant husband. My quest for something other than brown continues. 

We took Tim's Mum to The Bale House for a sandwich lunch. The day was so grey there was no definition between land and sea. The views can be stunning. My sister-in-law walked from Fairlight to join us. I should have joined her but couldn't be arsed. She has just done a course on botanical fabric dyeing. I have tips on how to make green. I just need some nettles. I confessed to another artist about my 'obsession' she called it a 'passion'. I have a lot of passion in my life.

We have begun watching The Responder. Martin Freeman plays a tortured character. I have twisted feelings about it.

Strike-A-Pose

Pen and Watercolour

Monday, 24th January 2022 - Let's Face it Lesson

My evening plans changed. I spent it following a portrait tutorial by Angela Kennedy. Totally out of my comfort zone. 

Let's Face It Lesson
Charcoal and Watercolour

Sunday, 23rd January 2022 - Preparing for Flowers

I braved a cold garden today. It helped with a bit of a woozily head after last night. I have planted French beans and broad beans that are nestled in pots. On good advice I found out that sweet peas need a warmer environment than the greenhouse to germinate. They are now in the house with us.

There is eucalyptus bark steeping on the cooker. I wont need to buy any ink soon. The sofa enticed me this afternoon where I sat and read Wild Inkt who is a dutch artist. She gives advice on ink making on her website. She told me that avocado stones make a pink ink. If you have any please save them for me.

My home grown vegetables have never been very successful. I am ok at beans. Anything else is a dismal failure. So I am turning one of the beds into a flower cutting garden. Tim has emptied a compost bin ready to enhance the soil. I follow Anya Lautenbach on Instagram. She is going to guide me step by step. I am looking forward to this project.

Preparing for Flowers
Pen and Watercolour

Saturday, 22nd January 2022 - Delia's Marmalade

I wasn't going to make marmalade this year as my stocks are quite high. Then a friend told me of a super easy method using a food processor and I was too tempted not to try. The house smells of glorious Seville oranges.

I am typing a little blurry eyed and drinking mint tea after a meal at The Swan in Tenterden. We were celebrating Pippa's birthday, The food was just so delicious, as of course was the company. I would not/could not have cooked anything like we ate at home. Do you want to know what I chose? ...  to start, ham hock, smoked eel and apple terrine, tomato kasundi, pancetta crisp and brioche toast - I love all the little tasty bits. Next was lamb shoulder, lamb rump, burnt hispi cabbage and smoked celeriac - wow - I would never ever attempt to replicate this at home. I managed to have griottine cherry parfait, chocolate delce and sesame tuile - the most amazing flavours. Happy birthday to my dear friend Pippa.

Delia's Marmalade

Kate's Willow Ink and Watercolour

Friday, 21st January 2022 - Indian Runners and a Mallard

This afternoon my sister took me for a muddy walk and talk through the magic woods and by a raft of ducks. They expectantly got out of the water for bread that we didn't have. Next time ducks. We collected catkins from what we guessed was a beech tree. On an internet search I think they are more likely to be hazel. They are in a saucepan steeping ready for ink. I cannot find a suitable subject to use for the willow ink I have made.

A box of oranges from Seville is waiting to be made into marmalade. A suggestion on the side recommends them for use with duck!!! 

Indian Runners and a Mallard

Pen and Watercolour

Thursday, 20th January 2022 - Shadow and Light

Sarah and I went to Wendy's in Cranbrook. We celebrated her birthday, a little belated, with coffee and bacon rolls with chilli jam. I am not sure about the plastic plant decor they have installed. Sarah had a Cortado which was a new one on me. Like a flat white (which is my choice) with less milk.

I have 60ml of amazing looking willow ink and added gum arabic to make it flow and a clove bud to prevent mould. 

I have been doing some homework for my Monday night art class. 

Shadow and Light
Watercolour

Wednesday, 19th January 2022 - Coffee at Blossom Home

Today has been overcast but the sun shone.

I got coffee filters from the supermarket then met Pippa, Linda and Chris in Blossom Home. Two of them have the most glorious houses in France. I think a house with dark green shutters would be lovely. The coffee, carrot cake, Portuguese tarts and almond cake were delicious. 

Back home I filtered ink. Found it was too pale. Reduced it down. Now I am waiting for a delivery of gum arabic to finish. What shall I draw? I have been doing research into how to make blue and green and red. They seem a bit more of a challenge. I need some rose hips for red. Copper coins for blue. I forget what I can make green from.

It took me an age to get a room ready for a bed and breakfast guest. It looked charming by the time I had finished faffing about. Well worth the faff.

Coffee at Blossom Home
Pen and Watercolour

Tuesday, 18th January 2022 - Gentle Mist

For the last few mornings before I leave my bed I can hear a woodpecker nearby. It is calling by knocking on wood. I have interpreted the message. The bird feeder has been without peanuts. Today it has been refilled. 

Willow ink is cooling on the cooker ready for filtering tomorrow.

I was arranging a book group meeting. It has been months since we met. Lesley mentioned that oak gall ink was spoken about on Radio 4. I listened to Moving Pictures. You can see The Sherborne Missal on the internet as they discuss it. I had half an hour of immersion into a 15th century manuscript. I love a gruesome Woodwose.

We have just watched After Life with Ricky Gervais - who I have previously found irritating. If we had listened to the reviews we wouldn't have watched it. I have not cried and laughed so much at a television programme in a long time.

The landscape was enveloped in fog. It felt gentle.

Gentle Mist
Watercolour

Monday, 17th January 2022 - Colours of White

There is a saucepan of peeled and chopped willow steeping on the cooker. I put a tin of willow in the woodburner for an hour. Both in preparation for ink. I like a bit of alchemy.

I have an ache in my heart knowing that I am no longer nearby to support my daughter when times are tough. I admit that occasionally I am over enthusiastic with my advice. All meant in good faith. I miss our coffee and chats on the step in the sun very much.

There was silence in the classroom this evening as we concentrated on our white chair and white table against a white wall. Second week in and I understand not to see a table but a shape. It still doesn't make it much easier to draw.

Colours of White
Watercolour 

Sunday, 16th January 2022 - Rejected

Sarah Raven advised me to remove the leaves from my hellebores to prevent disease. The sun accompanied me on my task. 

I need a few additives before I can make willow ink. So I dipped back into Jason Logan's book. He has a recipe for Oak Gall Ink. This ink has been used for thousands of years. The galls are rich in tannin making a luscious ink that darkens with age. Add a bit of iron and it turns green. I merrily searched the oak tree in front of our house for galls. Proudly I weighed my harvest. I have gathered 8g. I need 55g. My search will have to go further afield. 

Tim and I have eaten our way to the bottom the tub of sweets. Neither of us like Milky Ways.

Rejected 
Pen and Watercolour

Saturday, 15th January 2022 -

I thank glorious Michael for my willow. I am reading the chapter in Make Ink on how to turn it into ink. Looks like a slow and patient process.

Willow
Charcoal and Watercolour

Saturday is a good day to go for a 6pm beer/or wine with friends at The Cellarhead Brewery. 

June, Si and Lesley

Pen and Watercolour

Friday, 14th January 2022 - Herbie's Daffodils

A new packet of sweet pea seeds have been planted and covered with glass to stop mouse damage.

I had bed linen to iron. I found a new series of The Apprentice to watch. What a load of twats. I love it.

My grandson, Herbie gave me a bunch of daffodil buds on Tuesday. They are now fully open. I have a little bit of spring in my kitchen.

A book on how to make inks from plants arrived today. Make Ink by Jason Logan was recommended by a friend who has delved into natural inkmaking. I have asked a foraging friend to gather some willow twigs for my first ink cooking session.

Herbie's Daffodils
Watercolour 

Thursday, 13th January 2022 - Mist and Sunset Over Pett Level

I have been researching how to increase iron into my diet. Apricots, spinach and vitamin C to help absorption seem to be the plan. I will let you know if this helps.

Tim and I were in Fairlight with his Mum today. The potato and onion soup I made was a bit on the salty side. Apparently as you age your taste buds lose their sensitivity so this was not a problem. It did make me feel very much in need of a glass or two of water. She was very perky by the time we left.

The sun was setting as we drove along Pett Level and the mist was caught in between the land and the sky. We stopped in a layby so I could take photos. Just stunning.

I have ordered a book as recommended to me. It will tell me how to make ink out of foraged 'things'.

Mist and Sunset Over Pett Level
Watercolour

Wednesday, 12th January 2022 - Betwixt Iden Green and Benenden

I woke up feeling full of grumpiness but after a troll through Instagram (who says that social media is bad for self esteem?) I was inspired by a post to go foraging and make inks. I love a new idea. I need to do a bit of research. Alongside my portrait drawing which is going ok and Monday evening art class that feeds my inspiration I am nearly at the fulfillment of my art capacity .... but not quite.

Today was a of day of adjustments to plans. I had a walk and talk with my sister in the sun. We miss our Mum. It is so good to have someone who remembers who her.

I have got another recommendation for evening entertainment. Stay Close. It is a series of 8. We are on the last one. It has got a great cast. James Nesbitt with his amazing eyebrows is one of many. 

Betwixt Iden Green and Benenden

Indian Ink and Watercolour

Tuesday, 11th January 2022 - Playing Snap

What a shock having the alarm to wake me. I was up before the sun making breakfast for my first bed and breakfast guest of the year. I am hoping to welcome many more. But not just yet as I am enjoying some downtime.

By 10.30am I had cleaned the bathroom and changed the bedlinen (no need to do yoga with all that bending and stretching), Tim had had a haircut and Harriet and Herbie were on the doorstep ready to play and have pizza. Tim was pleased to have a willing helper to pump up the tyres on the cars. I do miss having my daughter next door. 

I was about the layabout on the sofa with my Kindle when Tim bounced into the kitchen suggesting a walk. There was very slippery glorious mud along most of the paths we ventured along. I got to lounge when we got back.

Playing Snap
Pen and Watercolour

Monday, 10th January 2022 - 7.44 Sunrise

I was back in the classroom this evening with my artty fellows. Our tutor had us painting a white chair, table with a white cloth against a white wall. The perspective of the table got every one of us grumbling under our breath. Caroline gently suggested where corrections needed to be made but you have to come to the conclusion yourself. She doesn't make it easy by telling you. I got totally engrossed in my drawing. You can't see it yet as it is not finished.

The sky was glorious this morning. What a great way to start the week. I requested on Instagram with of three photos I took should I paint. This is a tiny watercolour of the most popular.

7.44 Sunrise 

Charcoal and Watercolour

Sunday, 9th January 2022 - Sunday Stroll

What a delight to have some sun. And no hangover. Woohoo. I conclude that if the quality of the wine is good my head doesn't suffer. After clearing up from last nights dinner party I envisioned a day ahead of lounging about eating leftovers. It was fortuitous that Tony and Wendy suggested a walk and prevented me from deteriorating into a lumox. Great walk too. We started at The Ewe and Lamb in Rolvenden Layne. Being circular we finished in the bar by an open fire drinking cider and eating peanuts.

This evening we watched Four Lives - whilst eating leftovers. I knew I would fit them at some point today. What a fantastic programme. I have just stopped crying enough to write my blog. It made me want to gather my children and grandchildren close.

Sunday Stroll

Pen and Watercolour

Saturday, 8th January 2022 - Oil and Wax in Progress

We had friends over this evening. I am enjoying these smaller dinner parties. We get to talk and exchange stories. Many more and I miss out on what is happening at the other end of the dinner table.

I escaped to my studio with a bunch of hellebores from the garden. My palette was a mis of oil and wax. It is a very luxurious mix and new to me. I will look at it with fresh, albeit it a little hungover eyes. tomorrow.

Oil and Wax in Progress

Oil and Wax on Canvas

Friday, 7th January 2022 - Nearly Fairlight Cove

Adriene - sorry, sorry I missed my yoga session today. I promise to do my best plank tomorrow.

My mother-in-law is a lady I marvel at. We had a great day with her eating fish pie and apple crumble. She had a full diary today with two trips as well as our visit. She does more than Tim and I. The sea was looking glorious.

Why is it when you cook for yourself a marvelous creation emerges from the oven. Try cooking for friends and my loaf could do a good impersonation of a pancake. 

I am off to bed to read a series of detective novels I downloaded onto my Kindle for 99p. No concentration is needed which is perfect for the end of the day to quieten my mind.

Nearly Fairlight Cove

Watercolour

Thursday, 6th January 2022 - Blossom Tea

Have you made any exercise related resolutions? I recommend Adriene, my yoga guru. She has tempted me with a month of yoga called Move. Each day she sends me an email with the days session. Today it was 28 minutes of Stretch. I had forgotten how fulfilling a session on the mat can be. 

I ventured into Blossom Home this afternoon. It is a glorious new coffee shop in Tenterden filled with home wares and vintage furniture. You can buy the chair you are seated upon. I met with June and Pippa for tea. I had a Portuguese tart. My time was running out in the carpark so I didn't have time to visit the upstairs which is filled with 'curated items'. Next time. 

It was damn cold when I got home. I lit the woodburner and caused our air quality meter to flash red. It could have been a downdraft or a chilly stovepipe. We now smell like we have been smoked.

Blossom Tea

Pen and Watercolour

Wednesday, 5th January 2022 - A Coppice of Rhododendron

Do you plant sweet peas in the winter or wait until spring? 

After a twenty four hour soak I planted some Matucana sweet pea seeds. There diminutive size is made up for by the 'enthralling fragrance' - that is is the woodlice don't decapitate them and the slugs deter from chewing their stems. It was damn chilly outside.

My first bed and breakfast guests of 2022 are due in a few days. I have been trying to get the rooms back into some form of order. I am exhausted.

A Coppice of Rhododendron

Charcoal and Watercolour 

Tuesday, 4th January 2022 - The Heroic Poinsettia

We had a few very large snowflakes. I now am obsessed with my weather App in anticipation of more. 

My £3 poinsettia seemed the perfect model for painting this evening. I am thrilled that it still alive after so many weeks in my not so tender care. I have signed up to do Let's Face It 2022. It is a portrait class on-line. You get to do a different one with a different tutor each week. The first tutor is a demon with her 4H pencil. I have started. It is slow going as the just the tutorial is over two hours. I have a nose and eyes so far.

I was texting my mate Sarah. We decided this morning that we would support each other to lose the pounds we have gathered over Christmas. Both of us had failed in our quest by mid afternoon. We decided that we would start again tomorrow.

The Heroic Poinsettia

Indian Ink and Watercolour

Monday, 3rd January 2022 - Weald of Kent Morris

I tagged along with the Morris today. Last year we were locked down and the annual New Year Morris tour was cancelled. I didn't realise quite how much I had missed the pubs, the people and the port and lemon. My grandchildren turned up at The Peacock. What a delightful surprise. After the dancing was done Steve, Ivy and Alan played and sung in the corner of the pub. So beautiful to listen to.

I wore a skirt that was complimented upon. I put it on because my jeans have shrunk over Christmas and cannot cope with my chocolate thighs. Tim and I did a stoic attempt at reducing the remaining chocolate orange this evening.

Weald of Kent Morris

Pen and Watercolour

Sunday, 2nd January 2022 - Walking the Whippet

How is the weather with you? The sun and rain were battling their presence on a walk this morning but did not hinder our progress over the muddy footpaths.

I have stripped the house of Christmas foliage. It is with mixed feelings that it was chucked onto the bonfire. I do enjoy rolling the ribbons and packing the baubles away ready for next year.

Did I tell you about my Christmas present? Tim gave me a preloved Gerstaecker printing press. It is a thing of beauty and my mind is a whirl with what to make. Drypoints or collagraphs? Definitely both.

Walking the Whippet
Watercolour

Saturday, 1st January 2022 - A Glimpse of Sun

Mike and Pippa joined us for a 12809 step walk, we found the Benenden pig and came back home to crack open the icing on the Christmas cake.

Tim and I settled down with pheasant curry to watch a film. So many, too many, irritating adverts for cruises, male dysfunction, female dysfunction interrupted our viewing.  We watched an entertaining enough for tired bodies advert free BBC2 film, The Aftermath.

I need to head to bed now to catch the golden hour between 10 and 11pm. Research says going to bed at this time reduces the risk of heart attacks. I am not sure it took into account what you did in bed. I will be reading my book.

A Glimpse of Sun
Watercolour