Tuesday, 1st September 2026 - Dingleden Apples

The temptation of winning an easel has encouraged me to get out my paints. Every day in September I will be painting from life. At the end my name goes into a draw and I win a Strada easel. 

The rain has softened the garden enough for a bit of weeding.

We collected Tony and Wendy then headed to Seddlecombe for a stroll. 15,000 ish steps across the most beautiful landscape. A huge oak tree in the middle of one with a herd of deer was charming. And I saw and learnt about Dragon's Teeth that were constructed in the 2WW designed to stop tanks. Very impressive. We finished with a couple of drinks at  The Queens Head. Getting up after our backs and legs were a little achy from so many steps. 

Day 1 #stradaeasel

Today's painting is watercolour and inspired by the apples Wendy grew. I think they will be good with a chunk of chedder.

Here is a thank you card I painted for Michael. He hosted a party on Saturday. The cauldrons of food, garlic laced flatbreads cooked on his home made oven, ferret racing and much homemade cider made for a delightful evening.

Monday, 9th February 2026 - Roses and Stocks

Tim and I have been doing some DIY. Our dining room has become cluttered. The removal of a bookcase and shelves have improved it greatly. One of the bedrooms had bees painted on the ceiling from when our grandchildren slept in it. It was sad to see them disappearing under many layers of block out paint. The memories are still with me.

The garden is boggy. The chickens paddling in muddy puddles. But the daffodils are rising above the rain drenched soil. I have a glorious bunch of flowers adorning my kitchen table. Today I had the artistic energy to paint them. Gorgeous aren't they?

Roses and Stocks
Oil on board
40cm x 30cm

Sunday, 1st February 2026 - January Roundup

 The January push up challenge for Cancer Research is complete. I reached my goal of raising £150 - thank you to everyone who donated. You can add to my donations here

The Strada Easel challenge was a great challenge. Here are all the paintings. All are for sale unless marked sold. Email me here if you wish to buy a painting

A Lemon for Healing and Vitality

Botanical Tulip

Daffodil for Hope and Joy

Custard Tart

Sold - Fruit Salad

Snowdrops for Hope

Susans Vase

Tiny Carnations

Tiny Red Onion

Viburnum for New Beginnings

A Pink Rose for Friendship

Camillia for Affection

Daffodils for Resilience

A Touch of Snow

Bramley

Coxs Orange Pippin

Hellebore

Himalayan Strawberry Tree

Jam Jar Posy

Kintsugi

Last of a Bunch

Marmalade

Mollys White

One and a half

Primrose for Renewal

Radish for a salad

September Wonder

Tiny Tomato

Tiny Onion

Tulips in a Green Vase

Saturday, 31st January 2026 = Tiny Red Onion

I am posting early today. We are going to friends for dinner so I have to leave you. We haven't seen them for at least a year and longer for the other dinner party guests. I look forward to hearing what they have all been up to. I love a story and an adventure.

After I had made another mountain of marmalade and Tim had put another coat of paint on the bedroom we went for a walk. I was very wise and wore wellies. Tim was less wise and wore walking boots that got very wet and muddy. 

Day 31 #stradaeasel

It is the last day of the paint from life every day in January. My last contribution is a red onion. I have quite a collection of tiny oil paintings. I have learnt a lot from painting so small. Small brushes and not too much paint.

Tiny Red Onion
Oil on board
2" x 2"

30th January 2026 - Viburnum for New Beginnings

It was a lovely late start to our Friday. A couple of mugs of tea later and I was feeling awake enough to roll out my yoga mat. I had to pause Adriene during a warrior 2 due to drinking so much liquid. I was very pleased to have found a yoga video that I don't have to stick my leg in the air during downward dog. It is a weird, unnatural and impossible pose. And pushups were included to add to my daily tally that I must confess has not no where near my target of 100 a day!

While Tim was decorating one of our bedrooms I was drinking coffee and eating an orange in front of Lindsey's woodburner. We both had a good afternoon and celebrated with omelettes with eggs from our chickens.

I highly recommend The Good Doctor on Netflix. Lots of medical procedures. I have to keep a handful of tissues nearby. .

Day 30 #stradaeasel

A penultimate oil painting of the Strada Easel challenge. I will let you know if I win and easel. A viburnum is flowering in the garden. I secateured a couple of bits off to paint. It is poignant that the symbolism is for new beginnings are we have a new family member due in July. 

Viburnum for New Beginnings
Oil on board
20cm x 30 cm

Thursday, 29th January 2026 - Camillia for Affection

The £2.50 roses I got a few days ago have now been planted. I had to dig deep deep holes for their long long roots. I think they will be glorious.

Tony and Wendy came to collect us at 6.30 this evening. We went to The Duck Inn in Bodiam. It used to be The Curlew and now has new owners. The company was excellent. The food was tasty but nothing exceptional. It needs my interior design buddies Pippa, Linda and June to give it a makeover. It was a merry Thursday evening. I feel garlic infused.

Day 29 #stradaeasel

I was wellie squelching around the garden looking for a subject for today's painting. How lovely to find a flower on the camillia amongst many buds. Symbolism for Camillia's is affection. We all need a bit of that. My favourite affection are hugs from my family - they are the best.

Camillia for Affection
Oil on board

Wednesday, 28th January 2026 - A Pink Rose for Friendship

A bonus of doing yoga today was a mountain stretch meant I removed the cobwebs from the ceiling.

Leelee and I had a treat today. We met in Amy's Pantry in Tenterden and shared a bagel with avocado and lots of yummy bits. It was very tasty. I was pleased we shared it. I had to check my receipt but it was correct. £12 for a bagel - that's a lot. We pottered off down the high street into Fatface. The boots were reduced from £79 to £20. They looked great on Leelee. Unfortunately I could not squeeze my wide feet into a pair. Damn it.

Day 28 #stradaeasel

Today's tiny oil painting is of a pink rose. They symbolic meaning is friendship. A appropriate painting after being with my mate Leelee.

A Pink Rose for Friendship
Oil on board
3" x 3"

Tuesday, 27th January 2026 - Daffodils for Resilience

Storm Chandra has caused chaos in many parts of the country. We are very fortunate that it has only filled our garden with puddles and overflowed a pond into the flower beds. So much rain. Harriet came over with Herbie. I warned her of the potholes disguised as puddles. Their long journey to us avoided potholes but the road closures and diversions nearly caused them many times to turn around and go home. Thank you for battling on through. The storm didn't stop Herbie and I from having a lovely couple of hours playing in the garden. I cherish these precious days that turn into memories.

Day 27 #stradaeasel

A bunch of daffodils comes with resilience that I share with you today.

Daffodils for Resilience
Oil on board
20cm x 30cm

Monday, 26th January 2026 - A Lemon for Healing and Vitality

Our chickens are in full lay at long last. The magpie deterrent of flapping plastic across the door to the hen house works a treat. A post on instagram told me that eggs are an excellent source of nourishment - I have a bowl of soft boiled in the fridge ready to satiate any mid meal hunger pangs and keeping me fully nourished.

I met with Gay at Taywell in Goudhurst. The cafe is now Birchwood. I think they used to be in Flimwell. I asked for a cheese scone and Gay wanted a poached egg. They could provide neither. The company more than made up for our disappointment at the menu.

Back home I made a vegetable and lentil soup. You never quite know what scale of taste a new soup recipe will provide. This one was delicious.

Nigella Lawson + The Great British Bakeoff = excellent entertainment. I can't wait.

Day 26 #stradaeasel

I was stuck yet again for an idea of what to paint. I had a rummage through the fridge. This lemon looked like a good candidate. After a visit to the GP today and I read that the symbolism for lemons is for healing and vitality. Very appropriate for my tiny oil painting.

A Lemon for Healing and Vitality
Oil on board
3" x 2"

Sunday, 25th January 2026 - Snowdrops for Hope

I did a great yoga session before having to tie myself to the kitchen table for do my figures for a tax return. Tim was in his study doing something very similar. We took a much needed walk and wondered at the huge number of potholes.

Day 25 #stradaeasel

The previous owners of our house planted snowdrops in the garden. We have been here over 25 years. They are still flowering every January. How amazing and what a joy to see. They could be classed as antique. So they are my subject for day 25 of my painting challenge.

Snowdrops for Hope
Oil on board
2" x 3"

Saturday, 24th January 2026 - Susan's Vase

Day 24 #stradaeasel

Pretty carnations in my sister-in-laws vase.

Susans Vase
Oil on board
30cm x 30cm

Friday, 23rd January 2026 - Daffodil for Hope and Joy

A yoga session with Adriene this morning was full of dogs, cats, cows, pigeons and cow legs, triangles, warriors and the best bit lying flat on my back with my eyes shut. A good stretchy way to start the day when things feel a bit tense.

I was multitasking this morning. Whilst chatting with Leelee via video, we like show each other our latest art achievements, I made soup for us to have this evening after we have returned from the pub. Great use of time. The soup has butternut squash, sweet potato and orange - it smells lovely and looks very orange. I hope it tastes delicious too.

This afternoon I went for a walk with Lindsey and Fritha - a very muddy, puddly one. After we sat by Lindsey's woodburner. So many things to chat about over a mug of tea and eating blood oranges

I am back from The Halfway House. We had a couple of drinks with Nick and Alli, they had some good stories, before coming home for soup - that was warming and tasty.

Day 23 #stradaeasel

A daffodil that Harriet gave me made a lovely tiny oil painting subject for day 23 of the Strada Easel Challenge. There are just over 900 in the battle for an easel.

Daffodil for Hope and Joy
Oil on board
2" x 3"

Thursday, 22nd January 2026 - Fruit Salad

This morning I went to the doctors for a blood test for a general overhaul. The phlebotomist was very gentle. Great job title! What a job!I like comparing the results on my NHS App. Nothing changes much but I do like a bar chart.

Sarah came over and I unearthed my mount cutter. I cut a perfect mount at the first attempt. We had tea while Tim was filling in holes in the utility room floor and wall to keep the mice out. I sort of would like a cat but only part time. I have paintings all over the house. Some are stacked up drying in the kitchen. Sarah said they would good altogether and used like wallpaper. Might be an option if I can't sell them.

I will be putting them altogether at the end of the month when I have finished my push up challenge. You can choose one to buy and the money will go to cancer research. 

Day 22 #stradaeasel

Tonight I am at a WOKAS evening. It is my task to set up a simple still life. I have a carrier bag full of fruit, table cloths, a couple of cake stands, some plates, a peeler and a knife. I am looking forward to showing you my fabulous work of art later. Ooooooh the anticipation is thrilling!

I hope I come home with an intact bumper.

I am home and dropped into Tescos. We are now the proud owners of three roses - one a climber, one that goes from pink to yellow and one called Tom Tom that I had to buy just because of the name.

Fruit Salad
Oil on board
30xm x 30cm

Wednesday, 21st January 2026 - Tiny Carnations

 I was chatting with Tom. He had an idea about my push ups that has really worked. So now I do sets that I can manage and stop before it gets too hard. This makes me willing and able to continue doing more during the day. BIG CONFESSION - I have not made it to 100 a day .....yet ..... I still have ten more days to go.

Tim and I had an afternoon in Canterbury. We got sardines, a washing up bowl for the chickens and soap from Morrisons. We had coffee in The Ivy Barn. Herbie joined us after school for crips and cake and more coffee. It is always lovely to see Hetty and Raffy. They give the best hugs. 

Day 21 #stradaeasel

I couldn't make my mind up on a subject to paint this evening. Another apple? Another pear? An orange? While ladling out soup into bowls the carnations right in front of me on the window cill were perfect. A tiny 2" x 3" oil painting was the result. Great fun painting so small.

Tiny Carnations
Oil on board
2" x 3"

Tuesday, 20th January 2026 - Custard Tart

I went into Tenterden. It was a sad day. Bayliss & Co have been selling my paintings for the past few years. Today I collected them. They are closing. I came home to find our electricity restored and Tim had done an excellent job mending my bumper. The day got better.

My sweetpea test of using the netting from oranges to deter mice failed. I went to check this morning. They had carefully widened the gaps in the netting. I was pleased to see the seeds still there. Ah..... but no. I was fooled. It was just the skins. The seeds were gone. I bought yet more seeds from Webbs and have planted them. This time I am trying cling film. I will be checking tomorrow and let you know how my next trial goes.

Day 20 #stradaeasel

I found some reduced custard tarts in Tescos. We had them after soup this evening. They were soft and wibbly - perfect. We had four. Ate two. One became my subject for a tiny oil painting.

Custard Tart
Oil on board
2" x 2"

 

Monday, 19th January 2026 - Watercolour Tulips

As I was driving Tim to the station, he was going to a get together in London, we were discussing whether we really needed two cars. With mine out of action until Tim has reforged my bumper we realised how difficult it would be without a car. We are keeping two for now until the cost of repairs if more than the value of the car. They are both old and a bit battered. I don't think it will be many more years.

This afternoon I was at a Vicar of Dibley committee meeting. What an eclectic bunch. I love them all.

Day 19 #stradaeasel

Sitting at my kitchen table I was reading emails as the petals from the vase of tulips were falling. I have captured them in pen and watercolour for day 19 of the strada easel January challenge before they meet the compost bin.

Watercolour Tulips

Sunday, 18th January 2026 - Radish for a salad

My car bumper debacle yesterday weighs heavily on my shoulders. Tim has spent many hours mending my 'accident'. I am now off the road for a few days. So cross with myself.

I carried more guilt on my shoulder ( I have heavy shoulders today) The flowers on the beautiful plant that Tom's girlfriend Caroline had given us for Christmas have died. After chatting with Wendy who is my gardening guro, she said they are very difficult to keep. It is in my studio hoping for revival.

A positive point in my day was the weather and chatting to my son Tom while tidying the greenhouse and planting sweetpea seeds. Each and every year the seeds get dug up but I have a plan. The nets that hold the oranges I have repurposed into mice deterrents. 

This afternoon we picked up Tony and Wendy for a long muddy walk around Northiam replenishing our liquids in the Rose and Crown.

Day 18 #stradaeasel

A good way to end the day with pizzas made by my husband and accompanied by a salad I made from the bits in the salad drawer, I do love a radish.

Radish for a salad
Oil on board
2cm x 2cm

Saturday, 17th January 2026 - Botanical Tulip

Day 17 #stradaeasel

My daytime was spent with Amber Halsal doing a workshop with other WOKAS members. I was totally out of my comfort zone doing very detailed work. Amber taught us how to use a layered technique in watercolour. It took lots of concentration and was thoroughly enjoyable. So....it had to be my picture for today. I think I was the only one who painted the tape we used to hold our tulips in place. 

I came home and spent the rest of the day with Raffy who we were minding for the day. She watched Wednesday and I taught her how to play patience. It was lovely to spend time with her. She is a total delight.

An excellent day apart from reversing into a wall and breaking half my bumper - damn it!

Botanical Tulip
Watercolour
30 x 40 cm

Friday, 16th January 2026 - Marmalade

I decided it would be a good day to clear. We have inherited things from my parents that I couldn't bear to give away and now we are full of clutter. I have ended up with more piles, mess and confusion than I started with. What to keep? Do I really need so many teapots - no, no I don't but some of them are very pretty. There are two decanters sitting on the kitchen counter that I have no idea what to do with!

I am looking forward to going to the pub to meet up with the Benenden people who are involved in producing the Benenden Magazine. I feel I am a bit of an add on and very happy to be one.

Day 16 #stradaeasel

I am proud of my marmalade. It is looking glorious in its jars. A wonderful if very difficult subject for today's painting. 

Marmalade
Oil on board 
30cm x 21cm