Sixty!

Spent Monday night painting with my group as usual in the studio. We had a fabulous model who has posed for us in the past but sadly doesn't want to anymore. She has a fabulous body, very powerful for a woman with terrific muscle tone.

As it was my birthday, I bought two bottles of Blanquette de Limoux for our break and baked an apple nut cake, but I didn't have enough eggs so softened the batter with a little cream and ended up with a soupy mess. But the group had caught wind of the event and surprised me with a delicious homemade chocolate cake and two bottles of champagne-the real thing. Can't beat the French for style.

A perfect birthday in spite of grey sky and drizzle. Merci mes amis!

 

 

Spontaneous and a bit of a scruffy birthday bash

Rounded up a few locals into my studio for a dinner to help ease me into my sixth decade...sheesh. Couldn't bring myself to getting much of a meal together- too much stressing about the bloody driving exams... so made a big pot of fish and mussel chowder supplemented with foie gras, good champagne, cheeses and a green salad, and followed by creme caramel and fruit salad. Think I got away with it: merriment spilled into the wee hours.

Babe magnet X 2!

After MUCH uming and awing and backing and forthing, Ron took the plunge, and PADDY home yesterday afternoon. It was love at first sight.

WELCOME TO DARNIS, PADDY!

Autumn harvest

Not sure how many of these pumpkins and squashes from my garden are edible, but they're rather beautiful none the less.