The New Normal: Journal painting

This is my art journal page for April - I didn't have much time for painting during the month but had a bit of spare time this afternoon to catch up... all these flowers are out in my area now....

Campion and herb Robert look similar but the petals are raggedy on campion and herb Robert has segmented delicate leaves.  

The bluebells are still out in the woods although I haven't been to look often as we have had such heavy rain and winds.  My tomato and cucumbers suffered an unexpected frost, but I have a few left so made a little shelter for them from an old plastic sheet.  Mollie cat continues to mark the lawn and it is dying in places despite reseeeding, netting and garlic granules.  I don't know how to train her away from that area as we have such a small garden but put litter in a bowl behind a tree and try to deter her if I see her in action!

This week I am binge watching two really good series:   

Innocent series 2: Sam Wright killed Matty Taylor, viewers predict (entertainmentdaily.co.uk)

and

BBC One - The Pact

other news is that we have taken our house off the market until  next year - I am sure this has happened before!  we really want to relocate somewhere rural, there isn't anything in our location that has the garden we hope for.  Our oldest son moved out and youngest will too early next year so it will be the right time to move then.  This year we are going to enjoy our lovely home, decorate and repair where necessary and make the best of it.

The UK can now have visitors in homes so we are looking forward to a visit from our older son this weekend :)  We had a new bbq delivered (replacement as ours was wonky) so who knows, if the rain gives itself a break we could be cooking outdoors!

The New Normal: March Journal Page

March journal page:  sticky buds, gorse, hawthorn blossom and wild garlic

Hopefully there will be some colour in the woods in the coming months - I've seen lots of birds whizzing about making nests and squirrels digging up their hoards of hazelnuts from the lawn.  

It's cold and wet in the garden so I have only ventured out to water my potted Christmas tree - the forecast for next week is much better and in two weeks there will be a trip to the garden centre with a friend (distanced of course).

I have mostly been doing indoor gardening, planting up some tomato seeds.

and cooking warming dishes like potato and spinach curry

and sticky chicken (Jamaican seasoning, pan fried)

The only flowers in the woods are these little blossoms but I can see the green shoots of bluebell and lot of buds on the trees.

Here's me wearing some of the lovely jewellery my friend Vix sent  - the choker has copper inserts.  As I was doing some polishing and had the brasso out, I gave the choker a shine too.  The black jewelled earrings are delightfully dangly but not too heavy....

Lockdown hair - the colour I had the day before the current lockdown lasted well but I'm looking forward to a trip for a trim and colour next month.  What are you looking forward to most when lockdown finishes?  Apart from the hairdressers, for me it will be swimming, the pub and charity shops!

as we are approaching the end of the month, I painted a March hare...

(conveniently hiding in long grass so I don't have to paint his feet! not too good on feet :)

The New Normal: Less is More

It's been windy and stormy here, I spent

a lot of time on my walk today looking at fast moving clouds

and searching out blossom, most is tightly in bud but I found this little bit in the woods.

I am trying 'fast painting' with my library book (below)

The idea is to use just a few primary colours in the palette, mix your own colours if you need more;

work fast and not allow any analysing, pondering or perfecting - it encourages you to go out of your 

usual comfortable style and splash it all about a bit ...

Not sure it's my thing but am giving it a go

Mollie dozed with one eye open while the paints were flying....

she's not curling up in a defensive little ball when she sleeps now - she stretches like this.

Some blossom for my March journal page, these were of the slow, ponderingly painted variety....

and then some blossom ... fast painting style!

Think I like the fast style better - what about you?

A huge array of colours to choose from - but in the palette only red blue and yellow, the only colour I needed to mix was blue/yellow for green and added red for the brown - yes! less is more  - for now anyway.

Here's another less is more philosophy.   My new book, which is going to be a fabulous read

 - I had requested from the library (as that way I don't commit to a spend without being sure), but they haven't got it in yet and seven people are waiting in front of me.  

Then my friend Vix blogged about this book at the weekend, she did a great review, I was transfixed - couldn't wait - didn't need to, had a voucher waiting to be used, got it! good old Amazon!

Thought I would introduce you to some blogging friends I follow that are very good at 'less is more' in one way or another...

Vix: an expert in finding amazing vintage and ethnic clothing and wearing it in original and fun ways. Her whole home is full of interesting things that have been given, found or charity shopped and remade or transformed in some way to suit her home (patchwork curtains come to mind).

Julie who makes beautiful things for the home using preloved furniture (paints/embelishes), vintage china (filled with her fragrant candles), old lace and haberdashery (made into ornaments, wall hangings, toys).

Anne who squirrels away yarn and regularly scouts charity shops for pretty things and makes very lovely crochet and knitwear from her stash.

Hazel who has made a stylish capsule wardrobe every year from pre-loved clothing within a pre-set annual budget.

Know any 'less is more' bloggers you would like to introduce?

The New Normal: Bye Bye February

I had a lot of fun painting my February page.  There's not a lot going on this time of the year so I used Google to help me find subjects.  The devils coach beetle I have encountered often but didn't know it had a nasty bite or that it could squirt nasty liquid when disturbed - it curls its tail like a scorpion when cornered.  I didn't know also that frog spawn is in clusters whereas toad spawn is in strings.  Stay tuned for more fascinating facts next month folks!

Today I was very pleasaed with the arrival of my Denby dessert bowls - recently we used all our Tesco clubcard vouchers up to buy a new dinner set but one bowl arrived smashed - Denby have been brilliant and replaced all four so I would have a set that had not been bashed around.   Nearly all the dinner set I bought was  in their 'seconds' (slightly marked or damaged pattern/glaze) category but all looks good as new to me!  I also got a tea set with a proper tea pot! 

I took a walk into town to pick up from the library and came back with a little rosemarybush - mine died two Summers ago of some strange disease - I'm going to grow this one in a tub.

I sorted through my seeds and found some pots and trays ready for planting later in the week.

These flower seeds were from my blogging friend, Anne.

and the rest I have been squirrelling away for some time :)

I mowed the lawn - it looks so much nicer now, and

my tubs of daffodils really brighten up the patio.

Here's me, in my 28 year old fake fur coat that no longer has any of those big old hooks to do it up - but I still wear it (sometimes with another coat underneath lol!    and the vintage indian block print skirt I got from EBay in 2019, worn with thermal long sleeve vest and my new shiny Jones boots which 

are a birthday pressie from hubby.

Hair looking a bit faded but not bad for a lockdown (last coloured 16 December) but good news! my hairdresser rang today and they are open and ready for me 12th April - can't wait

not just for the hair do either - the chat as well :)

Library book of the week:- but will I have the patience to actually read it? I do have trouble sitting still long enough to read even one chapter! What is wrong with me?

 

oops more seeds - have I overdone it on the tomatoes? hope I can squeeze them all into pots somehow!

Good news - I get my Covid jab on Monday - Yay!!! - can't wait (never thought I would be saying that about a vaccine, did you?!

The New Normal: Nature Journal

Forgot I started a nature journal, this is the page from my sketchbook for January.

We had a lot of blue tits in the garden on the apple tree, probably eating small insects.  Snowdrops were out in small clumps in the lanes around the fields on our daily walks and catkins, still out in abundance in the woods behind our house.

Today we did a two hour walk and I noticed bluebell and wood anemone foliage is carpeting some areas.  Can't wait for the flowers but they are some way ahead yet.  Also the birds are noisy but no sign of nesting so I don't think Spring is here just yet.

We walked up to a smallholding near us that sells garden plants and vegetables.  He was able to tell us which tomatoes he is planting up for April sales and confirmed he will be doing hanging baskets, we can choose and reserve ours for late April collection.  We like buying from him so we can support a small business.  We will grow some veg from seeds ourselves too but he has things we don't have room to nurture :)  

Today I am moving my tubs round so I can see the daffodils from my kitchen window as they unfurl.  How's your garden growing ?

Birds

It's Sunday, the skies are grey and there is a sleety hailstone downpour going on outside, inside it's warm and cosy and an ideal opportunity to have the paints out....

There are no birds today, they are hiding in the trees.  No morning cup of tea in the garden whilst Ambercat watches with me while the birds swoop in for bread and nuts .. too wet today... so here's a little robin and a blue tit to fill the emptiness while we wait for the weather to improve.... I think the robin needs a bit more work, he looks a bit angry.

There is a small nest box in the garden which teenage boy made years ago, a couple of blue tits have been investigating, with all the cats around it's unlikely they will stay - but it's fun watching them, and hoping...

This week I will try to paint every day that I am home, just a little at a time... I'm rusty and get bored quickly you see.

By the way my most favourite author and self taught artist, Susan Branch, took a peek in here and gave me some really kind advice about painting in reply to a comment I left on her blog.  She suggested using online tutorials from Youtube .  This is where the watercolour birds have originated from - tutorials, anyone can have a go and it's very helpful if, like me, you don't know which bits to fill in first or where shadow needs to go.

This is what I want the woods to look like - full of celandine and wood amenone, hints of bluebells - too early yet but it's nice to be reminded.... can't wait to walk through woods ankle deep in bluebells and smell their lovely perfume - is there such a thing bottled? I wish.... plenty of these at the moment - catkins, nodding away just behind my fence... buds on branches too.

Have you been out looking for signs of Spring?  It's muddy in the woods here and very little to see - although I was surprised by some snowdrops growing under the silver birch trees...

My birthday was good, having had a great day out in Brighton with my youngest brother, I went back and did it all again later that week with teenage boy who treated me to another lunch at Leon - I love their food.

I had lots of pressies, one of the best is these pretty knitting needles and soft merino wool in my favourite colour from my blogging buddy Nana this wool is all the way from New Zealand and has 15% possum fluff!  I think it will be just enough for a hat.  There was also lots of Irn Bru Crumble and Coconut Ice but it was swooped upon so I can't show you... I had wine and flowers, beautiful white orchids, a night out at an Indian restuarant... I was very spoilt and felt much loved and appreciated.

Do you bid or sell on EBay?  I do infrequently, I won an EBay bid for 'Along Came Betty' (Tesco/discontinued) and won the toiletries bag and contents (all sealed and brand new) for £6.50 including the postage.

source: Google

The contents were a bonus, it was the bag I wanted, for holiday packing... later this year we are going on a tropical holiday, I will have to tell you all about it nearer the time, but there will be a trip to the Cloud Forest, volcano, hot springs, lots of exciting stuff... and a girl needs a decent waterproof travel bag for her things - so this is it :D


 I will be back later in the month - hope you have time to leave a comment so I know you passed this way, tell me a bit about where you live, the landscape, the wildflowers, the trees.  Make a cup of tea, help yourself to a biscuit and stay awhile.

Ferns

Just stopping by to tell you that my night scented garden has begun!  Today the fence went up :( and the woods are not quite so visible but  I have a lovely big wooden canvas now to cover and today planted honeysuckle, lilac and mock orange. 

things are happening in the potting shed too

For ground cover I planted three types of thyme (hope the slugs don't eat them all! ... please tell  me they won't?), in the conservatory sweet peas are climbing merrily up pea sticks all by themselves.

Whilst waiting for everything to grow I have been painting.  I saw a pretty fern print in Ikea and wondered if I could paint one similar, first few attempts weren't quite right but then I tried my never before used super thin brushes (having read on Susan Branch's blog that she uses fine brushes) and things got better :D

So here I am with a cup of tea listening to the birds.  This morning was incredibly noisy and as I sat for a very long time the grey squirrel and then the birds all forgot I was there; three young starlings came and pulled out worms within a few feet of me, the robin whizzed past checking his hedge nest (bad news, somebody stole the eggs - the squirrel perhaps?) and I listened to blue tits, coal tits, blackbird, wood pigeon - you name it they were all joining in today, it was superb...(reality check we are also about 2 miles from the airport so every 3 minutes or so we get the noise of a take off interrupting, but we are very used to it - so much we don't notice and you can't have it all - the birdsong makes up for the plane noise!).

Bluebells are still out so I hope to get another walk amongst them this weekend.  Today has been hot and sunny and just right for gardening and drying laundry in the breeze and tomorrow - well rain tomorrow but that will be great for my plants!

Something else wonderful this week - our Queen is 90 ... she was looking great on the news this morning wearing fuschia pink.  I do hope she is still around at 100+

How's your garden growing?

ta da! framed (annoying blotches are on camera lens)

Daffodils

 Easter was peaceful and renewing in an unexpected way for me as I spent most of it recovering from a nasy flu bug.  First few days up were spent in the garden in a warm coat watching two robins build a nest in the ivy on my fence.  I thought the cats would be a problem but the robins just seem to plan their day around any interruptions.

Oh and as storm Katie finished off the fence, we have  a new uninterrupted view of the woods; squirrels scampering up and down the pine trees, doves and wood pigeons, crows, blue tits all coming and going in full view as I positioned my chair by the gap.  I saw two bullfinch today with their black heads and deep red chests, that's the reward for sitting quietly in the garden.  I will make the most of the new view as it will be repaired soon.

As soon as my new Susan Branch book (The Fairytale Girl) arrived in the post I rushed through it like an elephant  and just could not put it down it was so wonderful.  Now I am bookless!  Is there anything to top SB books? (apart from her next which I have already pre-ordered).

 The second series of Homefires started last night in the UK.  Are you watching too? I think there's something about wartime programmes that brings out the best intentions in us all (make do and mend, home made meals, grow your own).  I love the ladies fashions on this programme, I suspect in real wartime clothing would have been a little threadbear and less rich in colour, but it makes great viewing.

Also The Durrells started last night which is fabulous.  What an unusual and carefree childhood he had.  It's very funny too.  I love the film set of the house they have moved to on Corfu and the colourful characters that are coming into their lives.

I have lots of grape hyacinth and miniature daffodils in my garden for painting inspiration at the moment and this weekend a nice fat brown package arrived stuffed with bulbs for the Summer, I do hope we get a dry weekend soon to plant them - have you made any plans for your Summer garden?  I am still thinking of the night scented garden idea - planning is almost more fun than actually doing (and less hard work!).

Today I saw a sprinking of early bluebells - the first this year - so next time I pop in I think it will be a post all about bluebells. I think the short period when bluebells are in the woods is my most favourite time of the year.

Thanks for stopping by, leave a comment if you have a moment to spare.  Bye for now.....

Easter

I made a few of these little birds nests for friends.  The eggs are quail and are empty (I checked as did not want to use anything rare or precious).  The moss, twigs, leaves are from the woods.

In yesterday's post was a wonderful box of treats from **Helen Phillips** who offered a giveaway which I won.  Inside was a dear little bunny, hand made by Helen with beautiful detail - tiny buttons on her little cardi and skirt. Just the right size for a windowsill or corner of my cabinet (or my pillow even!).

pretty gifts from Helen's giveaway

Also enclosed was this pretty Peter Rabbit mug from Helen's visit to the Lake District and some pretty buttons and threads to get creative with.    Thank you very much Helen for your generous goodies, I am feeling very lucky.

This week I visited Ardingly.  It's well known for the showground (horsey events, antique and car boot sales, featured on Kirsty Allsops craft programmes as a great source for thrifted goodies).  The village itself is well worth a visit.  College boy is training to be a bricklayer so of particular interest were some very lovely basketwork brick houses.  The old fashioned shops that have the most delightful window displays, including one for hot cross buns!

yum, hot cross buns window display at the Ardingly bakery

Thank you for stopping to read my ramblings.  Wishing you a very happy Easter.  Here in the UK it's very wet and grey so we will be tucked up indoors eating our chocolate bunnies.  Betty x

Here are some tulips to brighten things up a bit

come back soon......