Lemon a day

SOLD   size 6 in x 4.5 in 15cm x 12cm watercolour on heavy weight rag paper

Today’s painting is nice and cool in colour, I seem to have managed to stay fairly cool today despite the heat outside. There has been some breeze and I didn’t find it as humid as some days. However mother in London was complaining bitterly about humidity there. Actually it must have got to me as I woke up with a major attack of cramp in my calf muscles this morning, vile.

I spent some time today rearranging jams; checking what is left from last year and deciding to chuck some crab apple jelly flavoured with cardamom and rose petals which just didn’t taste nice. I have to store my strawberry jam and redcurrant jelly made in the last fortnight. I found a jar of peach chutney and another of damson cheese which should really have been in the condiments cupboard.

I used the recipe for the redcurrant jelly that Elizabeth David gives in Summer Cooking, she and Eliza Acton say that in France they get a better set on their jelly because the weather is better. They say that in a dry summer here you should get a halfway decent set. Mine isn’t exactly heading into wine gum territory but it is set. Looks like they are right, it could also explain why last summer’s strawberry jam did not set very well – I was relying on my redcurrant juice to set it.

The giant paddling pool is now functional and I have chlorinated the water so we won’t have to change it.

I even got in myself and waded round and round to get a whirlpool which would concentrate the bits that fall in so they can be scooped out. It wasn’t that cold but very refreshing. Skinny ribs No1 son still gets goose bumps in there though; he suddenly saw that there were some advantages to being a bit heavier.

Husband decided to turn off the power for an important reason as I was finishing the meal tonight, then proceeded to explain the technical details to me over the meal…..they don’t really get it do they? to quote a good friend.

#95 a painting a day by Alison Warner on her lemon a day art blog