Square Foot Cookies: Daily Watercolor Practice
Couch Talk
What a crazy few weeks it has been! This morning they started re-plumbing our entire house and it was not at all what I expected. We had to move most of our children’s bedrooms around so they could cut holes in all the ceilings. They were supposed to clean their rooms over the weekend, knowing that this would happen, but of course their “cleaning” has a different definition than my “cleaning.” They tend to think more surface level and I am all about, well, actual cleaning. So this week should be interesting. Besides schooling, Dr. Appointments, standard testing and construction noises, we will see how sane I am at the end of it all.
Before I forget, I wanted to share my garden. Planting was this weekend and my hubby finished up the fence. Isn’t he amazing? He completed all of this in just 4 Saturday’s. All we have left is weed cloth and mulch in the walkways. I mentioned before that I am using the Square Foot method of gardening this year. It took me a while to hammer nails and to string off square foot sections before planting but it certainly made it easier to know where everything went. If you recall, I didn’t plant a lot of vegetables in the previous years due to pests but I am hoping the chicken wire beneath the dirt takes care of it.
Here is a list of plantings:
Red Raspberry
Blackberry
Blueberry
Sweet potato
Onion
Green Pepper
Jalapeno Pepper
Cherry Tomato
Roma Tomato
Broccoli
Cabbage
Romaine Lettuce
Buttercrunch Lettuce
Rosemary
English Thyme
Thai Basil
Pineapple Mint
Peppermint
Chamomile
Horseradish
Fennel
Calendula
Zinnia
Some of plants you don’t see because they ended up in pots on my deck. I will try to take a picture and post it next week.
I have never attempted seeds before but I really wanted green beans and the greenhouse only sold seeds. There are 5 spots in the far right bed where I planted the seeds. We will see if it is successful.
Baking
I didn’t get to do a lot of baking this past week so this morning I quickly whipped up a batch of cookies in between schooling, talking on the phone with a nurse recruiter and moving rooms around. (I may have burned a few batches) I figured I better get it in as it may be my only baking this week due to the water shut off’s.
PaperArtsy Guest Post
I was over at the PaperArtsy blog this weekend sharing an album that I made for the topic Find Your Vibe. Here is a sneak Peek of my project. To see it, click HERE. Be advised, there are a lot of pictures so bring a cuppa tea.
Daily Watercolor Practice
My daily watercolor practice for this week includes the following:
A photograph of a restaurant
The stork with flowers came about as I was watching the new “Wanda Vision” series on Disney Plus. I like to have background noise while I work. Anyway, there is an episode where Wanda has a stork in her house and she is trying to hide it from the neighbors. So, I decided to draw a stork (although my bill is a bit short) with flowers coming out of its head.
Just a few fish from my imagination
A photograph of a bookshop somewhere in New York. I loved how it was tucked into a corner and the brick exterior. The angles were tricky and I didn’t get them correct but hey, it’s just practice.
The Joy of Watercolor Lessons
I am going through these lessons at a snails pace but her are a few that I recently completed from The Joy of Watercolor: 40 Happy Lessons for Painting the World Around You.
Tea Day
I am joining the Tea Day ladies over at Elizabeth and Bleubeard‘s. My tea today is brought to you by my hubby. He purchased this Teapigs Liquorice & Peppermint for my birthday. I love that this tea has a strong licorice taste. It is quite delicious and soothing for any upset stomach. I learned about this tea brand while reading The Tea Book: All Things Tea. The author created the Tea Pigs brand and talks about how her business came about as well as tea types and etiquette in her book. It is a very informative read if you ever need a book about Tea.
What inspires your art?
Happy Tea Day,
Kate
That’s an incredible list of crops! Good luck with growing all those good foods and flowers.
Best… mae
Hi Kate, thanks for your inspiration I am linking up again.
Your garden sounds wonderful-will you be freezing and canning? I used to do all that, and really enjoyed the process. ugh sounds like allot of construction happening with the plumbing.
I love your watercolors Kate-I ordered the Chinese watercolor book you shared last week. I still want to explore watercolors and get better with it. I am not really an artist in that way but I still want to try.
I always enjoy your tea shares Happy Yea and new week Kathy
Wow, you have lots of different plants between your garden and pots. Your garden looks great. it will be great to see what it looks like in a few weeks. And hopefully it will be really productive . I really love your imaginative paintings. too. I know that particular show on Wanda Vision. I really enjoyed that series. Sounds like you have a busy week so I hope you get a little break here and there. Happy T day Kate. Hugs-Erika
You have been incredibly busy, I’m impressed with your garden. I looked for Thai basil this week, but no one had any, or even seeds. Your watercolors are looking good and your cookies are making me hungry. thanks for sharing your new garden, your cookies, your incredible watercolor paintings, your Paper Artsy project, and of course, that lovely Teapigs Licorice & Peppermint Tea with us for T this Tuesday, Kate.
Oh, have fun with the noise there… And now I really wish I had a garden, this sounds so good!
And your album, awww.
Wow to your watercolors, too. I don´t even dare to start…! Better enjoy yours. That restaurant is … wow, and the stork´s eye…. I could never draw from imaginartion. I still can only read the book as the stores are still closed. Yay for licorice tea, love it, too.
Hm. Having lost my job and not finding a good one, does that count as inspiration? No…
Anyhows, a happy T-Day to you 🙂
You have been very busy. Love the gardening you have done, it looks very professional. Hope the plumbing activities go well. Wonderful watercolours and baked goodies again. Happy T Day, Valerie
Wow, your garden is looking amazing! You have a wonderful array of plants growing too 😀. Your watercolour paintings are stunning, this are so professional, have you thought about illustrating stories in books – the detail and colour pallette that you use are so beautiful! Happy T Day wishes! Hugs, Jo x
Love your garden. I will have to check out that book. Your watercolors are fun and pretty. Have a good week.
Wow Kate! This is a fabulous post. I love your garden! I have read about square foot gardening and would like to try this, however, I rent so it will be container gardening for me. I look forward to seeing how your garden grows. Ohhh new plumbing, when it is over you will be happy with it and not even remember the noise and dust. Cookies, they look amazing. Last but not least your art is just amazing and I envy you the commitment to painting everyday. Have a great day today.
Oh yes, I remember those days of cleaning and trying to inspire my kids to clean (especially one in particular- now that same girl is a super clean freak and tries to get her kids to clean- ah, the circle of life continues, LOL). I have that same Square Foot Gardening book and love it! It’s so awesome that your family pitches in to help with it- great family project! Love your watercolor paintings- they are really improving from week to week! What inspires me to paint? Work stress! It takes my mind away from the everyday stresses and focuses them on just that painting. By the way, Lissie is a major tea connoisseur like yourself- a true kindred spirit- I think you may have rubbed off on her when you babysat years ago- haha!
Re-plumbing your entire house?! Wow! Your garden looks like it’ll provide many a happy hour and many a happy meal 🙂 Happy T Tuesday!
You have had an impressive and busy week. I like your watercolors, especially the bookstore. It is charming. I hope all the plumbing gets done in a timely fashion. Over the years we have remodeled both a kitchen and a bathroom so I am crossing my fingers for you.
I am so impressed with everything in your post – the garden, rewriting, cookies, journal, and water coloring! I especially like the garden and your bookstore drawing. Very fun post. The tea sounds fabulous too. Great post and happy T-Day!
Your garden looks wonderful, just like a little farm. I hope the critters stay away. Had to laugh about the comment of children cleaning. I remember those days. I enjoyed your watercolors, too. Happy T Day
Re-plumb the whole house? I bet that resulted from you having your bathroom done. A lot of mess, a lot of noise and a lot of expense. Poor you! I feel for you.
Nurse recruiter? Are you going back to work?
Your garden looks great! Three cheers for your husband! He has done an awesome job. I am impressed by how many different things you have been able to plant. Interesting to see what goes well and what doesn’t.
Your water color painting is coming on very well. I enjoy looking at the things you paint.
Licorice tea is very nice indeed. I love it myself, and buy it wherever I find it. I have heard of tea pigs. They have become quite popular in the UK.
I hope your week goes well. Don’t get too stressed.
A belated happy T-Day,
Hugs,
Lisca