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"