Tuesday, 27th September 2022 - Michael's Ceps

We came home from a Morris trip to Chantilly to find eggs and foraged ceps in our fridge. They made a delicious omelette which was perfect for a pair of weary travellers. 

Michael's Ceps
Watercolour

Wednesday, 21st September 2022 - Rising Sun

Tim cleared some trees at the end of garden a few years ago. At this time of year the sun moves into the perfect position for it to beam its rays through the clearing. There was a pheasant, wheelbarrow full of weeds and the robot lawn mower in the photo I took. I didn't paint them in. You can put them in with your imagination if you like.

I dropped in to see my friend Sarah yesterday following a blood test. She rehydrated me with coffee. I came home with a bag full of russet apples for Tim. I was listening to Michael Mosely's Just One Thing on the radio. He was extolling the amazing health benefits of the flavonoids under the skin of apples. I ate one immediately and feel amazing.

Rising Sun

Watercolour

Tuesday, 20th September 2022 - Garden Pears

We have had a pear tree in the garden for many years. This is the first year our pear tree has born fruit worth eating. Usually they drop off before getting to any edible size. I got to them before the wasps and the canker. They are ripening on our window sill. 

We went for a walk with Tony and Wendy on Sunday. I told them of my desire to make ink from oak galls. We passed many an oak tree that were each thoroughly inspected. I pocketed five galls. We stopped for a drink at The Bull. One of the galls in my pocket had an earwig inside that decided to crawl out and up inside my blouse. Not a terribly pleasant experience. I will take a bag for my foraged galls in future.

Garden Pears

Watercolour

Friday, 16th September 2022 - Strike a Pose

My 2023 diary has arrived. I have started filling it with bed and breakfast bookings for next year already. What organised guests I have.

The summer seems to have ended. Our deckchairs have been denuded of their covers that are washed and packed away. We are entering one of my favourite seasons. I have a new pair of fluffy slipper socks in preparation of the cooling days.

New tablets that will prevent me from bursting have made me 'wooly' as my Mum would have said. I have missed her so much these past few days and would have been grateful for the comfort of her being a great listener to a load of words swirling around my mind. Onwards and upwards.

I collected a pot of bread and brownie trimmings for the hens. I took my sketchbook and sat with them while they feasted. They made excellent models. And....two more eggs today.

Strike a Pose

Thursday, 15th September 2022 - Herbie's Sunflower

Herbie planted a sunflower seed at preschool last term. He doesn't have a big enough garden to grow it in at home so he gave it to his Grandma. I have been tending it through drought, fought of slugs and snails, fed and watered it. It now stands proud near my backdoor where I can admire it and think of my grandson. 

Herbie's Sunflower

Wednesday, 14th September 2022 - Eggs in a Blue Bowl

Our new chickens have now totalled a production of three eggs One for each of my grandchildren. Well done hens. They are in my favourite bowl made by my sister.

Inchie Challenge Day 9 - Innovate

Tuesday, 13th September 2022 - Old Priest's Garden

At 7.30ish I was with my mug of tea checking on the new hens. What a lovely way to start the day. They need to grow some feathers on their pink bottoms. But I still love them. The two brown ones are friendly and very efficient at pecking layers pellets out of your hand. The white one seems aloof. I need to get the grandchildren over to soften her up a bit. No eggs today. I guess it takes a while to settle into a new home and start production.

My art society had arranged an en plein air day in Sandhurst. The weather was not excellent. Clive and I sheltered under a pergola. He painted. I drew. We both chatted a lot. Not one other artist turned up. Such a shame as the garden and house were glorious. The company was fun too.

Old Priest's Garden

Pen

After I had eaten the warm and comforting dhal I made I have been catching up with the Inchie Challenge.

Nesting - Herbie calls these 'Rushing Dolls', a much better name.

Mussel - This was very relaxing drawing concentric ovals 

Moth - The little devils have eaten holes in my clothes

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Monday, 12th September 2022 - Chicken Trio

Last night Si and Lesley came to dinner with three hens which were surplus to their requirements. They were shut in their new home overnight. This morning I took my mug of tea and opened the door the their house. It took a while before one stumbled out, shortly followed by another and one was laying an egg. I love their jolly characters and chatty nature. A great addition to our family. 

Chicken Trio

Watercolour

Saturday, 10th September 2022 - Yard of Ale

I love an open studio. The Coastal Currents open studios are on. We coordinated a lunch with Tim's mum at The Bale House. The hummus, falafel and beetroot sandwich I had was delicious. I had a wander down to Annie Soudain's studio at her Coastguards cottage. I now have a lovely selection of cards. After tea at Wendletrap we dropped by Anna Wilson-Patterson's studio in Fairlight. More cards were added to our collection. We took a visit to Aldi to stocked up our cupboards and wine rack. A road closure on the way home diverted us through Three Oaks where we popped into the pub for a gin and tonic. I thought I might like to move here. We had a wander about. Before getting home we met Tony and Wendy at a pop-up pub in Northiam. What a great event. The sun shone on my pint of Hairy pig cider.

I have done three landscape Inches inspired by the word 'simple' of my trip to the seaside today.

Friday, 9th September 2022 - The Entertainers

Adriene had me doing pigeons on my yoga mat this morning. I really did try my best but I think there must be something anatomically wrong with me. I cannot go from downward dog to a lunge without hoiking my hand around my ankle to guide it.

I gathered together my weeding bucket, secateurs, fork, put on my gardening gloves and headed out into the garden to sort out the wayward Bear's Breeches. A torrential downpour sent me back inside. I made a sourdough loaf instead.

This afternoon Leelee, Fani and I met at Wendy's house for tea and many varieties of cake. We curated Wendy's paintings for an upcoming exhibition in Tenterden. Sometimes a few hours of talking about and around many subjects is just what is needed. Some of it was serious and some of it was rubbish. It was a therapeutic afternoon of chat.

The Entertainers
Watercolour and graphite

'Splatter' is the prompt for today's inchies. A messy one.

Thursday, 8th September 2022 - Goodbye Your Majesty, Thank you Ma'am

Such sad news today that our Queen has died. What a strange feeling. She has always been there throughout my life and probably yours. I knew no other Queen. I will miss her and her hats.

Goodbye Your Majesty, Thank you Ma'am

Watercolour

Day 3 of Inchies. The prompt was 'ocean'. I cut up some failed homemade ink studies and covered them with little oceans.

Wednesday, 7th September 2022 - Jed and his Red Kohlrabi

 'Stretch' was the theme of Adriene's yoga today. I was naive to believe it would be an easy session. I was assured that side planks and warriors would make me strong. My core is killing me.

Leelee and I had coffee and shared a cinnamon bun at Water Lane. The chef was harvesting vegetables to prepare for lunch service. He was very proud of his produce. I must admit I was impressed by the quality of his kohlrabi. 

Jed and his Red Kohlrabi 

Waitrose sent me a clutch of vouchers. Spend £40 and get £8 off. Using the gun meant no errant maths was needed. I got great satisfaction in totalling £41.36. And I got some reductions in my basket too.

Steve and Ivy came for tea accompanied by cream cakes before heading off a Morris practice.

I spent the remainder of the evening making Inchies with the prompt of Twist. Great fun.

Inchies with a Twist

Tuesday, 6th September 2022 - First Days for The Mill Children

My grandchildren went back to school yesterday. I still can remember those butterflies after the long summer holidays. Two first days. Herbie started primary school and Hetty secondary school. Of course we wanted to meet them after their first days. Herbie came home very happy sporting a large plaster on his knee. Raffy's fears were allayed and she had a great day. Hetty looked shattered but had thoroughly enjoyed her new school. I am so very proud of them. 

I have dusted off my yoga mat and started 30 days with Adriene called 'Move'. Blimey I have stretched bits that I forgot I had. 

I wandered into my studio. Admired my washing line of collagraphs. Came out again as I have got stuck as to where to go next.

First Days for The Mill Children
Pen, Ink and Watercolour

Friday, 2nd September 2022 - Setting the Stage

A bit of a fuzzy head confirmed that I had had a good evening last night wining and dining friends around our kitchen table. Rick Stein's salted cod recipe proved to be a bit on the over salty side. Thank goodness for the politeness of our guests. 

There was a bevy of brocante being set up at King Johns Nursery in readiness for their Potting Shed Brocante sale tomorrow. Linda and I gave Pippa and June a hand unloading their treasures. 

Setting the Stage
Pen and Watercolour

For any enquiries contact Kate by email:- kate@theholt.org