Thanks to everyone that responded to my request for your views of what to paint on the pink canvas. Your ideas have given me hints for potential paintings..🙂👍

It started out like this:

I finally decided to paint a tree. It’s free hand with no stretching. I only used three colours..black, raw sienna and green. I just let the brush go wild and do whatever happens. Trees in the environment don’t have measured trunks, branches and leaves, they are free form unless trimmed into shapes. I reckon it’s a tad Rastafarian which I like. To be honest it was meant to be a Weeping Willow. Knowing me I will now leave for a couple of days and if I think it needs more attention I will add to it. The trunk is a bit thin but it’s a strong one 😂.

My next project is going to be a little country cottage with a thatched roof.

This morning I made Soda Bread for the first time. Inspired by Jamie Oliver. I couldn’t buy any plain flour but did manage to get some Barley Flour which I had never previously used.The ingredients I used were a cup of plain flour, cup of barley flour, 2 teaspoons of Baking Soda, 1 teaspoon each of salt and sugar. Handful of rolled oats. 1 cup of Almond Milk (use any milk you like).Mix altogether, the dough is a tad wet..it’s meant to be. Knead lightly place on a baking tray, mark top with a knife then sprinkle on rolled oats. You can also drizzle over some olive oil but not too much….I forgot to do that. Bake in a preheated oven at 200 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Jamie’s recipe uses a cup of plain flour and a cup of wholemeal flour, he also used buttermilk.

Mine tastes pretty good but could have done with a little bit more sweetener.

Courtesy of Gardening Australia that was posted on Facebook this morning.

28th March ….11 years today since my darling Mother passed away. Ena May is peacefully resting in peace.

Here in self isolation I have plenty of spare time to do whatever I like. I have enough art and craft stuff to last me a lifetime.I painted over this old stretched canvas with gesso and pink aryclic paint, was just mucking around. I now need to add a subject. I have been thinking of flowers with butterflies, or birds on a branch, or maybe a lovely frog. Can anyone visualize what might look good ? Your thoughts wil be much appreciated.

A few weeks ago I set myself a challenge to do an aryclic painting of my special place

The Church of The Good Shepherd Lake Tekapo in New Zealand

To recap I will include photos of the progress as the challenge eventuated.

The Original Photo

The beginning of my challenge

A few days later

The finished painting with my own personal touches to it.

I am a novice artist. Its not perfect but I like it. I am happy with my painting and now it needs a frame.

All framed and looks pretty good on my wall.

Hi folks I hope you are all staying safe and keeping well during this Coronavirus Crisis. I was tested because I had some of the symptoms and also have a low immune system, lucky for me the result was Corvid-19 NEGATIVE.

The supermarket shelves are looking empty. I did manage to buy a Silverside/Corned Beef which I plan to slow cook tomorrow.

Today I fancied a meal of Lasagne. I couldn’t buy any beef mince at the shops. I remembered I had a small amount of beef pieces in the freezer for a stew so I minced them up.

I got out the large electric fry pan, browned the mince in a small drizzle of oil. I then added the following;

Chopped up leeks and celery Grated carrots and sweet potato A tin each of diced tomatoes and Mexican three Bean mix 2 cups of cooked lentils. I also added some powdered corriander, turmeric and roasted cumin. I am not keen on too much spice or chilies. I then added enough water to cover and then simmered it for 45 minutes.

After it was cooked I tried a small bowl of it……yummy. I then made a white sauce, added tasty cheese and nutmeg and then layered it into a dish ready for the lasagne. I had the oven preheated at 180 degrees and then cooked it for 30 minutes.

While the lasagne was cooking I put the remaining mince mixture into one person serve freezer bags.

The lasagne is ready and smells delicious.

I can assure you it was lovely, I had two helpings 😋😋👍🙂 and there’s plenty left for tomorrow or to freeze .

Supermarket shelves are empty. I managed to buy Lentils, Chickpeas, Rice and some spices at the local Indian Shop….I am feeling blessed 🙂

I have never cooked Dhal, it’s been on my bucket list to do and now I finally have the basic ingredient.

I am now researching recipes for making dhal that are too complicated.

A dear little aged Indian lady customer said to cook rice with the Dahl.

I made mention in the final part of my holiday blogs about a house with paua shells on the walls.

Paua is the Maori name given to three species of large edible sea snails,marine gastropod molluscs which belong to the family Haliotade, known in the United States and Australia as Abalone and in the United Kingdom as Ormer Shells…Wikipedia.

I have fond memories of eating Paua Fritters when I lived in New Zealand. Sadly I didnt find a Fish and Chip shop near my brother’s place that had them on the menu.