stuck

im stuck for words

im stuck for ideas

8 paintings between now and june 20th for assessment

ideas flit in and out of my head -

G – “why dont you write them down?”

me – “cos i’d be writing constantly and i have to sleep, eat and work sometime!”

i cant seem to turn them into paintings from ideas…

i read something quite beautiful this morning and can picture quite a lovely painting as a result….

BUT…. it all turns to muck when i try to paint it….

its much easier to press the shutter release button….

any ideas?

sigh…

xo

well…. it makes us laugh anyway….

 

its the whistling bit that kills me…

xo

click clack

i knew she was somewhere… just had to find her

she’s helping me to add the finishing touches to my illustration project for school

 

wish all days were this gentle…

xo

inspired…

through my own eyes….

chocolate table decoration at a wedding at max’s – unbelievable…

a trip to the library always inspires!

and through others….

kirsten

tim

pia

and listening to this…. and this…  (in the chaos of changing music listening apparatus and losing various bits and pieces off the new playlists, id forgotten how much i loved these two)

xo

diversional therapy

put the newpapers down, turn off the 24/7 news stations, grab the dog and a tennis ball and head to the nearest dog friendly beach…

im not trying to ignore the current disasters,

just give myself a bit of a break from it all so that i have the energy to keep the good thoughts going where ever they are needed…

xo

and speaking of regular services…

 

imagine my surprise (?) when we students of the “diploma of visual arts” were asked to start a blog to discuss the culture of contemporary arts…

so….. i have done this and keeping in mind that this new blog forms the whole of my “art history” assessment, i’d be more than happy if there is anyone out there in art blog land who is moved/compelled to add a comment relating to the post and or contemporary art theorum.  could be fun! who knows!!!

http://sammenzies.wordpress.com/

minor interruption to regular service

i spent my secondary years loving playing with the school band and orchestra, in the woodwind section

i also spent most of those years avoiding music lessons and/or practice

now, in my 30-somethings, i find that strumming on my funny little $20 mahalo uke is  the best therapy for days when things are just a little bit too hard…

hope you enjoy…. i’m still trying to work out if the dog did….

sorry about the bad bits – its my first “public” performance since final school assembly in year 12!!!!

happy days

xo

 

remember

 

“to live on in the hearts of those she loved is not to die”

you are forever in my heart my dear, dear friend

xo

apple delights one

 

apple and mint chutney

2lb cooking apples; 1 lb onions; 8oz tomatoes; 4 oz stoned raisins; 2 tsp finely chopped mint; 2 tsp salt; 1 tsp dry mustard; 1 tsp cayenne pepper; 8 oz soft brown sugar; 1 pint malt vinegar

first prepare all the ingredients: peel and chop the apples, tomatoes and onions, chop the raisins and mint.  put all these into a preserving pan with half the vinegar and cook slowly until soft.  meanwhile mix the mustard and cayenne pepper with a little of the remaining vinegar and add to the pan.  when all the ingredients are soft, stir in the sugar, salt and the rest of the vinegar, and boil until the chutney is thick.  allow to cool slightly and then pot and cover.  like apple chutney, this will keep well and should be stored for at least 6 months before opening.

from “jams, pickles and chutneys” david and rose mabey

i translated the quantities into today’s language for shopping ease…

anyone got somewhere to hide the finished product for 6 months for me??? ha!

ive also been drawing preliminary sketches for a tafe assignment…

happy sunday

xo

scrumping for beagles and other wonderous things

 

i went out

this afternoon

to collect my husband from work

and came home with a stray beagle

(who has since been identified and is waiting at the local vet for her owners to return home from work)

and approximately

ten kilos of yummy windfall apples

these are destined to become

apple butter

worcestershire sauce

and

apple and mint chutney

and some sort of apple pie arrangement… (there are some very delish looking blackberries not far from here that would make the perfect pie accompaniment)

a generous gift of homegrown tomatoes from various friends has been boiled

and “moulied” into

grandma’s tomato ketchup recipe

and somewhere along the way

a beautiful “rose moon” appeared in the sky

things continue to chug along at sages

and all the while

i continue to serve delicious food at steam restaurant in rye (no website yet…)

hope your days are filled with happiness

and that your journeys, wherever they may be taking you

are gentle…

xo