English breakfast

Posted on July 21, 2023 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Breakfast, Food, full English breakfast, Penkhull, penkhull sandwich shop, Tasty2 Comments

We had to go out early this morning so we popped in a cafe at Penkhull for breakfast. It was nice to sit down and eat in although there was only one table inside, (there are more outside but it was raining).

I don’t normally take photos of food, but this struck me as an image that explains what a full English breakfast is. Hiding under the tomatoes were two slices of bacon. It also came with toast and a cup of tea. Additionally you could have mushrooms and black pudding, but this was too much! I was defeated and left some toast and beans.

I’ve never been sure about hash browns though? Are they part of a traditional full English breakfast? I don’t know.

I love cooking

Posted on July 20, 2023 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Butter, Cherries, cherry pie, Cherry tree, Cookery, dailyprompt, dailyprompt-2003, Flour, Gale, pastry, Water2 Comments

What foods would you like to make?

The answer would be cherry pie!

I’m a reasonable cook and food is fun to make. I can make a good trifle, roast chicken dinner, pizza, curry, paella, and many other things including cakes and bread. But I’ve never made a homemade cherry pie.

I could probably make the pastry, I’ve made apple pies and tarts before. But I don’t know what to do with the cherries? Do you de-stone them then put them in raw? Or do you cook them first with sweetner and a dash of alcohol like cherry brandy?

We only got a few cherries this year as the majority blew off our tree in a gale. They were pecked by the birds so I left them on the ground for our hedgehogs too.

So does anyone have a recipe they can share please? I will have to get fresh cherries from the shop. I don’t want to use a tin of pie filling which would be full of sugar. So if you can help I would appreciate it. Thanks x

Idea for a semi abstract painting based on rain.

Posted on July 20, 2023 Posted in Sketching, UncategorizedTagged Abstract, Art, ArtRage app, Commission, Design, digital finger painting, Drawing, Fun, Sketching2 Comments

I have a small commission and I need to create something gentle based on the idea of rain. I’ve used the theme of raindrops and water running down glass as an idea. This was drawn in my Artrage app and it’s a digital finger painting. I will try and do the painting in metallic acrylic paint.

Fruit

Posted on July 20, 2023 Posted in Sketching, UncategorizedTagged #bandofsketchers, Art, Colour, Drawing, Felt pens, Fruit, gin, Lemon, limes, SketchingLeave a comment

Today’s #bandofsketchers prompt was fruit. Lemon and limes sitting in a bowl for gin and tonics, but I haven’t had any gin in for weeks! Felt pen drawing, as usual. But I tried to use a minimal amount of black and not use much outlining, so it’s more solid colour.

Le Tour

Posted on July 20, 2023July 20, 2023 Posted in Sketching, UncategorizedTagged Bicycle, Cycling, Exciting, France, Sketch, The tour de France, tour, Yellow Jersey3 Comments

I’m really enjoying the Tour de France this year. I don’t have all the names of the Cyclists, but it’s impressive to see the work they put in and the speeds they move at.

Today a breakaway of four riders stayed away until the end of the stage. There are three more days to go, with the final stage on Sunday when the current yellow jersey holder expected to win the overall three week tour.

Up and down mountains in blistering heat and massive rainstorms, this years tour has not been without incident. Motorbikes and cars in the way, crashes into barriers on fast, technical descents. The steepest stage (yesterday), for several years caused the rider who was second in the race to loose precious time during an individual time trial.

If you can see it. Watch it! It’s fantastic.

What’s in a name?

Posted on July 20, 2023 Posted in Sketching, UncategorizedTagged Art, Death, Hurt, Life, Lost, Memory, Name, Poem, Poetry, reminded, Sadness, TimeLeave a comment

I keep meeting her name

I see someone

They have her name

Each one a gut wrench

Bullet to my heart

Didn’t know how many

People I know

Had her name.

She’s gone,

But I’m reminded

Constantly

Surge of sadness

Bumps into my mind

Almost daily.

Goodbye forever

Twin.

Don’t forget Ukraine!

Posted on July 19, 2023 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Attack, Crimean, Food, grain, Hunger, Oddessa, Putin, Russia, Thinking, Ukraine, War4 Comments

Ukrainian grain silos and stores came under fire in Oddessa yesterday after President Putin of Russia stopped allowing ships transporting grain to leave the port and travel in safety.

By doing this Russia is not only attacking the country of Ukraine and it’s Crimean cities, but also the countries that they supply with food.

Before the war started Ukraine exported food around the world. They helped feed hungry people. Now with all the war and vile behaviour the Russia has enacted on the country they are not able to continue. So the behaviour of one man is impacting on people in many countries.

I don’t know what the outcome will be, but the war and destruction, killing of innocent men women and children, and the threats against their infrastructure must stop.

Cats!

Posted on July 19, 2023 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Black and white cat, Cat, dailyprompt, dailyprompt-2002, Dog, Life, Love, Memory, special cat, Thinking, Time, Tuxedo cat7 Comments

Dogs or cats?

Sorry, I’ve always loved cats, I’ve had cats since I was a child. We never had room for a dog, I don’t think my parents had the time to walk one while they were looking after all of us children.

Cats always seem aloof, but once you get one, and start to understand it they can be very loving. I used to whistle a little tune to get our cats to come home. I’d do it when they were due to be fed, or at bed time, and I suppose they understood the reason behind the whistle so they would come. So cats can be trained. I had one which would jump from one gate post to another when I tapped the post and whistled. She was very special and liked climbing up on my shoulder and having a little ride around the house or garden.

Don’t get me wrong though, I do like dogs, it’s just that when you go out to work all day it seems cruel to leave them shut in the house or tied up in a garden. At least cats can use cat flaps and enjoy independence. And I know you can get dogflaps but they look like a burglar could get in through them…

Also, thinking about cats, I think they are not as expensive to look after, although when you have multiple cats it’s not cheap. Maybe one day if we suddenly have lots of money I might get a dog.

Apologies to dog lovers. X

Chequer board

Posted on July 19, 2023 Posted in UncategorizedTagged 1960's, Art, chequer board, Collage, hanging scenery, Life, Music, Photos, set dressing, Time2 Comments

A collaged image of a draughts board and chequers. I thought it had a slight look of a 1960’s pop music set. With this image hanging down as scenery behind a band like the new seekers, or Freddie and the Dreamers. I could imagine it on a black and white TV with microphone stands, guitars and a drumkit just waiting to be played.

Little poppy

Posted on July 19, 2023 Posted in Fine Art, UncategorizedTagged Acrylic on canvas, Art, Bud, dew, Fine Art, Gardening, Life, Painting, Poppy, Rain, Water2 Comments

I had a lovely afternoon out so I gave my friend this small painting to say thank you. It’s only about three inches square. We had gone to a garden center so I felt it would be nice to give her something floral. Poppies are my favourite flower, vibrant and silken looking. This is a simple painting in acrylic. Drops of dew or rain sit on the petals and shimmer in the light. A bud ready to burst sits next to the flower with it’s promise of further beauty.

Mallaband-Brown

Author: artbychristinemallabandbrown