Saturday, 28th January 2023 - Gathering at Spring Cottage

Hetty and Herbie came to play this morning. I briefly saw Hetty and Raffy in the car before they adventured off with Brett to Tunbridge Wells to climb. Brett send videos of the girls climbing. They are so agile. I am full of admiration. It terrifies me. I am happy to leave it to the young and flexible members of the family. Herbie is a delight. He has been learning about seahorses at school. He toasted a piece of bread to go with his scrambled eggs. It was a perfect seahorse shape. I learnt that seahorse babies are called 'fry'. I love being educated by my five year old grandson!

This evening we were the first to be invited to a dinner party in June and Barry's new kitchen. What a transformation. With Mike and Pippa, Ray and Linda we did our best with delicious food and copious amounts of wine and port to make it a wonderful inaugural evening of many dinner parties to come.

Gathering at Spring Cottage
Pen and Watercolour

Friday, 27th January 2023 - Yoga Legs

I am typing at my computer. My husband is out. I have a glass of sparkling wine, the wood burner is alight, there is red lentil dhal simmering on the cooker, I love Twiglets, I have eaten a packet while preparing the dhal .... I have a confession .... I am watching The Apprentice!!! What a load of plonkers. I just love it. They are making Bao buns ... never heard of them and they look pretty disgusting. When my husband comes home he will be served an alcohol infused wife serving him a red lentil.

Yoga Legs
Pen and Watercolour

Thursday, 26th January 2023 - Homemade Oven Chips

Dogs, cobras and pigeons joined my on my yoga mat along with a couple of grumpy planks.

I am very happy my phone is working again. A tedious task of making beds is so much easier when I have my daughter to chat to and tell me stories about the grandchildren. 

I was looking for a man's waistcoat. My visit to a fifth charity shop proved fruitful. There was even a choice. I felt very pleased with my achievement.

This afternoon I ate three ginger biscuits during a Weald of Kent Art Society committee meeting. The occasional diversion from the agenda made for a fun couple of hours. The annual exhibition was clarified, an open day being worked out, demonstrations, creative meetings and art challenges discussed. There are a couple of items with my name. The future of the society is looking positive.

We had fish and chips for dinner. Tim made the chips. I microwaved the mushy peas. Not sure the division of jobs was quite even. We watched Nine Perfect Strangers. What a twisted plot. Nicole Kidman gives me the heebie-jeebies. 

I blame my scribbly sketch on being a bit tired. Goodnight.

Homemade Oven Chips
Pen and Watercolour

Wednesday, 25th January 2023 - From Scraps to Eggs

I came down to empty the dishwasher and make a mug of tea. The cat came winding her way through my legs when I opened the fridge to retrieve the milk. I gave her her morning cheese. She didn't eat it. She always eats cheese. I think she was feeling under the weather. This evening she is back to eating her cheese. No trip to the vet needed today.

My water damaged phone has been mended and returned. I am so pleased to have it back. 

The chickens got the cats rejected morning cheese along with some old bread. They are good at recycling.

From Scraps to Eggs

Charcoal and Watercolour

Tuesday, 24th January 2023 - Potted

I harvested and saved the seeds from last years sweetpeas. After soaking on my windowsill I took them down to my potting bench. I have decided on an experiment. Half are in my unheated greenhouse buried in pots of compost. The other half have come into the warmth of the utility room under the comfort of compost. Which are going to be the first to germinate? Which is going to survive the ravages of slugs? Are they going to flower? What an exciting experiment!!!

Potted
Charcoal and Watercolour

Monday, 23rd January 2023 - Knopper Oak Gall

After a long and lazy few weeks I got back on the yoga mat with Adriene. She does a monthly calendar with different exercises each day. I love the variety. I don't think my muscles agree. I am soooo unbendy. 

Back in the autumn I was wondering over the grounds of Benenden School. There was an oak tree heaving with oak galls. They ended up in my pockets. I have a bowl of them waiting in my studio to be ground into ink. My book A Forager's Guide to Natural Inkmaking is off the bookshelf and open with the recipe waiting. I need to find something to grind the galls. I will have a rummage through the kitchen cupboards. I love their spiky appearance and how they cling onto the acorns. They are going to take some prising to get them apart. They make a great subject to drawn and paint.

Knopper Oak Gall
Pen and Watercolour

Sunday, 22nd January 2023 - A Circle of Friends

I am reading a great series of books on my Kindle. Nicci French writes a great murder mystery. They were recommended by a friend. A most worrying thing is that Amazon tells me I bought them in 2014. Even more concerning is my Kindle tells me I have read them. Should I be concerned that I cannot remember?!? Maybe having an ageing brain is not such a bad thing. Think of all that money I have saved.

We have not seen Mike and Pippa for ages. I made fish pie and tart tatin so we could catch up. Tony and Wendy came and made the evening most enjoyable. 

A Circle of Friends
Pen and Watercolour

Saturday, 21st January 2023 - A Commotion of Grandchildren

I have had my first bed and breakfast guests for the year. I was not to be defeated by the challenge of poached eggs. They came out looking perky.

I followed the patches of sun around the garden. Under some ferns I uncovered a carpet of snowdrops. Hello little beauties.

Harriet, Brett, Hetty, Raffy and Herbie had been climbing in Tunbridge Wells. They came for fish fingers on their way home. Hetty snuggled up by the woodburner wrapped in a patchwork quilt that my Mum had made many years ago. Raffy used her cat whisperer skills on our grumpy old cat. Herbie helped his Grandad fix his Grandaunts reading lamp. What a wonderful family they are. 

A glass of Chapel Down Bacchus was waiting for me in the fridge this evening. What a delicious treat.

A Commotion of Grandchildren
Pen and Watercolour

Friday, 20th January 2023 - Holiday Photos

We took a pot of vegetable soup and yummy reduced (I love a bargain and this was 56p) bread from Tescos to share with Brenda. The sun shone through the windows and felt mightily warm cloaking the icy weather outside. Tim talked through our sailing holiday in photos. I feel a little nostalgic. A few jobs achieved at Wendletrap then we headed home.

My car has an orange engine warning light. My concern took me to Jon at Wealden Garages who plugged in his computer and assured me that it was nothing major in fact very minor and I can safely drive My Nissan around. Thank you Jon we owe you a beer.

Holiday Photos
Pen and Watercolor

Thursday, 19th January 2023 - Blue Pottery and Irises, Red Jug and Daffodils

I was in my PJs, dressing gown and wellies, a great look, this morning giving scraps to the hens. They were grateful for their unfrozen water and rewarded me with two eggs. To keep warm I did some deep cleaning of the house. I was showered and dressed by now. I kept warm and the house is sparkling.

This evening we had a still life session with the Weald of Kent Art Society. After the initial chatter it all went very quiet as we concentrated on our subject. It was a lovely evening spent with other enthusiastic artists. 

Blue Pottery and Irises
Watercolour

Red Jug and Daffodils

Watercolour

Wednesday, 18th January 2023 - Keeping Warm

Blimey it's cold. Really cold. There are patches of ice in the garden where the sun could not reach. I only noticed it as I made a very brief visit outside to the bins.

I went to see my sister this afternoon. She made me warming tea and I left feeling comforted by an afternoon by her woodburner. Fritha her Whippet is speedy when there is the scent of a shortbread biscuit. No luck today Fritha as I managed to get the whole biscuit into my mouth in one go.  She did a fine job of feeding our 20 year old grumpy cat while we were away. I wouldn't have been surprised if she had died during our absence being so ancient. The cat not my sister. But no, we returned to find her still here and meowing for cheese every time we open the fridge door. Apparently adult cats only meow at humans and not each other. 

Keeping Warm
Pen and Watercolour

Tuesday, 18th January 2023 - Leaning Apple Tree

After many hours in discussion with EE trying to get my mobile phone to make and take calls I concluded (with the minds of my husband and son) that it was probably water damage that was causing the fault. So, it may have slipped off the bathroom shelf while I was chatting with Harriet a couple of weeks ago and dived into the toilet. Whoops. It is now gone for assessment. I am left with trying to work out how to use Instagram and WhatsApp via my computer. 

Sarah and I had not seen each other since before Christmas. She looks the same. We had coffee in Wendy's so we could catch up on news. Hers was much more interesting than mine. The charity shops are great places to rummage after Christmas. We both came out with bargain treasures.

Tim and I walked, blimey it was chilly, into the village to post my phone for its assessment. Tony and Wendy happened to be free for a couple of drinks in The Bull.

I don't think the stake we used to hold up our apple tree is doing its job any longer. I rather like the eccentric angle it is now at.

Leaning Apple Tree

Winsor and Newton Ink and Watercolour

Monday, 16th January 2023 - Twenty Four Hours Later

It is good to be home. The ground is still swaying when I stand still. What an odd feeling as I didn't notice the movement of the boat when I was on it. I caught up with Tom and his house restoration exploits. I caught up with Harriet and all the many many many happy exploits of the grandchildren. 

The hellebores are not looking so buoyant this evening.

Twenty Four Hours Later

Pen and Watercolour

Sailing Diary Page 1

Sunday, 15th January 2023 - Before the Wilt

I am back on terra firma after a week sailing on the Atlantic Ocean. Wow that sounds impressive.  We were with six friends pottering around the coast of Lanzarote. I will be writing and painting a diary of our adventures. Today I have been pottering around stuffing sea salty washing in the washing machine. 

The garden is squelchy underfoot. There are signs of life with shoots from daffodil bulbs. The hellebores are looking exotic. I picked a bunch to draw which from previous experience I have found need immediate observation before they droop.

Before the Wilt
Watercolour

Friday, 6th January 2023 - Three Boys

I have cleaned out the hens, potted up 80 enthusiastically sprouting daffodil bulbs and returned a large pile of clothing that was the wrong size, colour and just not me back to the shop. The shop assistant was most charming about my returns and bad purchasing choices.

I am ready for my holiday ..... nearly. I always have that slight niggle that something very necessary has been left out of my packing. I have packed, unpacked  and packed my art materials. There should be plenty of drawing and painting moments on and off the high seas. My main concern is that I am going to get seasick which would be a waste of holiday. The first party of the crew have arrived and sent pictures of palm trees and beautiful skies. I now have high hopes of glorious weather.

I have a friend with a poorly foot. I dropped in to see her with some flowers and digestive biscuits to eat with her antibiotics. It looked really painful. I wish her a speedy recovery.

I did a sketch of my boys after we had eaten vegetable stew and dumplings.

Three Boys
Pen 

Thursday, 5th January 2023 - Paint Along with Graham

It was an eventful start to my day. I had my phone balanced on a shelf above the toilet. My daughter and I were chatting about very important news. My phone slipped off the shelf into the open toilet. Bugger. Call ended. I snatched it out the toilet and it has been in a tub of rice all day. And And And .... it is still working. Thank goodness for waterproof technology.

This afternoon I spent an immersing couple of hours with The Weald of Kent Art Society. Our president talked us through a landscape using two yellows, two reds and two blues. I was totally engrossed and forget the outside world for the afternoon. Thank you my fellow artists for taking me to a place of artistic learning.

We have not seen Tony and Wendy for weeks. They gave us a lift to the Bell and Jorrocks for a couple of rounds of chat. They now have in their possession a very belated Christmas card and present. Next time we might indulge in peanuts. Sooo good to see them.

Our bed is covered with our packing for our sailing holiday. I am quietly at my computer hoping my husband will sort it all out. I love a holiday but knowing what to take?!? Sketch pads, brushes, watercolour paints, pencil and a sharpener - that's imperative. 

Paint Along with Graham

Watercolour

Wednesday, 4th January 2023 - From Five Flights Up

 Tom checked the intermittent rattle on my car. He was confident my concern over the exhaust dropping off mid drive was unfounded. Just a loose heat guard. I happily drove my rattling car to see my daughter and grandchildren. I wont be able to see them for a while. Their steps of growth are rapid and pass so quickly.  Harriet and I de-baubled their Christmas tree and drank coffee. They were all delighted to see me. This always gets me in my heart that they find me a joy. 

From Five Flights Up

Indian Ink and Watercolour

Tuesday, 3rd January 2023 - Successful Sea Defences

Tom, Fable and I took a roadtrip to Fairlight for coffee and mince pies with Brenda. Tom's Grandma was delighted to see her grandson and photos of her great grandchildren. She is an inspiration. The sea was grey and full of turmoil. Returning home I suggested a bacon sandwich at The Bosun's Bite. We drove down to Rye Harbour. It was shut. Such a disappointment. My guilt was assuaged by Tim making the most delicious stilton and brussel quiche for our evening meal.

I spent a happy hour or so rummaging through my art books. I need to clear some space in my studio. So far I need them all. Maybe more bookshelves would be the answer. Great way to inspire my artist creativity. I have a busy 2023 ahead of me in the studio.

Successful Sea Defences 
Watercolour

Monday, 2nd January 2023 - From Grey to Blue

The morning started grey. My mood and the weather. Then the sky turned blue. I put on my woolly bobble hat and gardening gloves and spent a therapeutic few hours diminishing the bamboo. The sky was forever changing. I spent a few delicious moments watching the light 

Jack Ryan has been making my pulse quicken in the evenings. The series we are watching if full of drama. I rather like him too.

I have a new art book delivered to me today. I had forgotten I had ordered it and very much look forward to pondering over the pages with a coffee tomorrow.

From Grey to Blue

Watercolour

Sunday, 1st January 2023 - Hyacinths from June

I enter 2023 with a little uncertainty as to where it will take me. No resolutions for me this New Year. I don't want to self induced guilt of breaking them. It feels good too.

The Christmas greenery has been cleared from drooping over the pictures, unwound from winding around the bannisters, undraped from the mantle piece where they had crisped up from the heat of the woodburner and dumped on our ever growing bonfire mound. That feels so much better. 

I popped into a friends house yesterday. Wow, June and Barry have done an amazing transformation of their cottage. So clever. It was lovely sitting in their new kitchen drinking coffee eating stollen - I do like stollen and this was all the better for having almonds. Barry opened a bottle of Chapel Down sparkling wine. We had a just the one or maybe two ..... and it was New Years Eve ...... and delicious ...... and I knew I wasn't going anywhere that evening.

Hyacinths from June

Indian Ink and Watercolour