What was your fasting blood glucose? (full on chat)

[Muddy Cyclist]

@alf_Josiah and @dunelm your machines look great fun, like them, enjoy your outings. More pics of your adventures please.

 

[dunelm]

Wonderful view to start the day. Quick sketch maybe but perfectly pleasing to the eye. Enjoy the day.

Thank you - just back from Whitby with Mrs Miggins who treated me to a lunch of half a lobster cooked with king prawns and garlic.

Picture taken from West Cliff. Whitby Abbey behind the 12th C Christ of St Mary on opposite cliff top.

 

[dunelm]

As it was pointed out to me yesterday's frog was a toad, I decided that I should give a frog a go today, to redress the balance.

Hokusai again.

I made a pig's ear of it. I made my pale grey preliminary sketch. That was okay, you could see the way the frog shifted its shape, and adjusted to fit the page. I do this anyway with a real pencil sketch, and I don't rub out the previous pencil marks. I leave them. I was going to do the same with this.

But at the end of me doing this, and all was well, I did something. What? I have no idea what I did. And I made all the light grey marks very dark grey. My painting was ruined. The undo button had no effect.

I am not wasting 2hours work. So I ending up exploring different paints strokes to eradicate these dark grey lines. Half hour later I finished.

And it looked better than before!
View attachment 43054

A prince amongst frogs.

He slurs and burps in Marshy Fronds,
A Bandolier, all night long.
His alto Voce may be a croak,
He seems to be a happy Bloke.

 

[Muddy Cyclist]

Went cloudy outside so slipped into my Art Room as Mrs MC now calls it after the big furniture move around, suits me. Made a start in my next watercolour which is of some Willow Trees in a swampy area of a valley on the heathland we walk and ride our bikes in, there is a ford crossing at this point, did some sketches no took some photos which I am now working from. The light was strong whilst the willows were dark cooling the area, here it is so far. Now music making calls as I'm out of practice on my Bass Recorder and like @alf_Josiah practicing his plinky plonk I'm off to practice my huffing and puffing.

Will finish it later or Monday, will go much darker in the middle ground.

 

[Muddy Cyclist]

Thank you - just back from Whitby with Mrs Miggins who treated me to a lunch of half a lobster cooked with king prawns and garlic.

Picture taken from West Cliff. Whitby Abbey behind the 12th C Christ of St Mary on opposite cliff top.

View attachment 43056

A spoilt man. Note how empty that beach is, long may it last, great photo.

 

[dunelm]

That's some machine you have, Dunelm!
D.

Thanks, it’s my little (well, I say little) BMW 800 - nice and light for my aged limbs, nippy for our northern narrow twisty roads and a very capable touring machine. Now into it’s 11th year although I didn’t buy it new.

 

[dunelm]

Good Afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen and all who are making the most of today. Late on parade again, more about why later.

A 6.5 on the meter of mystery and misbehaving this morning.

Yesterday Mrs J gave me permission to go out on the bike again today, so fresh faced I did 40 minutes plinky plonky practice then got into my bike gear heading west , first stop was the old market town of Wantage with the statue of Alfred the Great and an open early Costa koffy. Then cross country to Hungerford another old market town, then home to Tilehurst Towers via yet another market town Newbury total distance 70.5 miles. The bike is now sleeping soundly in the garage.
Well fellow posters and painters make the most of what's left of today, Mrs J will now keep me occupied for the rest of today.

Sounds like a great day out. Wonderful to be out and about again after all that lock down Agent of Shield stuff - nice Tracer, looks new.

 

[Muddy Cyclist]

A prince amongst frogs.

Ref @gennepher frog art today. On a more somber and macabre note I often sing When a Froggy Goes a Courting to my Grandaughters and as lovely as they are they always love the two verses which have the big black cat eating Missy Mouse and Uncle Rat then again when Mr Frog jumps in the lake and is swallowed by a big black snake.

 

[alf_Josiah]

Absolutely brilliant @alf_Josiah
Love your bike!

Thankyou

 

[alf_Josiah]

Sounds like a great day out. Wonderful to be out and about again after all that lock down Agent of Shield stuff - nice Tracer, looks new.

Newish but needs a clean.

 

[gennepher]

I do.like your frog very much.

Thank you very much @Krystyna23040

 

[gennepher]

A prince amongst frogs.

He slurs and burps in Marshy Fronds,
A Bandolier, all night long.
His alto Voce may be a croak,
He seems to be a happy Bloke.

Thank you @dunelm

 

[jjraak]

A fairly bland 6.3
And temp 36.1

Nothing to really add, expect whoop whoop to two fellow bikers.
Lovely bikes, all brushed off and warmed up, ready for those ride outs.

And if shielding, what a great way to get back out to the great outdoors, and become accustomed to the new normal.

Liking the Alfred pic @alf_Josiah ..on a bit of a history kick at the moment so interesting stuff

And @dunelm loving the "aerial" view.

That sort of view struck me, the first time on a Lads holiday gran can, and we went up mountain, and we looked down on clouds rolling across such a plain, below us.

No plane window view has come close to that moment for me.

Glad you both got out and felt that wind in your face
Now plenty of time to refresh those road skills so you can enjoy the most that summer 2020 has to offer..

 

[jjraak]

good afternoon all

4.7 today

I seem to run a couple of points higher when it's hot.

Nice slightly cooler and fresher day today which suits me fine

picked some more pink gooseberries this morning, never had such a good crop off the bush before, I wonder if it's because we got so many rainy days

Yesterday was quite weird in one way, you would have expected the sky and sea to be bright and super saturated colour wise but, perhaps because of heat haze, everything seemed curiously subdued, the sunset began with a pale apricot wash of colour in the sky.

@Alien Aspie - I like how you've balanced the detail and colour of the hummingbird against the strength and slight starkness of the portrait

@dunelm - very effective quick sketch with good depth using the varied tone

@gennepher - I really like your toad, such a strong sense of liveliness and thank you for the interesting information about 'Infinite Painter', I have a couple of apps already but I may download this one and have a go

@Muddy Cyclist - I liked the abstract beginning but I also think you've transitioned this one really well. the 'fireweed' is everywhere at the moment Lovely story of the day too very joyful.
Imprinting - interesting, does it play a part in 'Game of Thrones' (never seen it but I know it involves dragons as well as many dodgy humans ).
My own reference that popped up in my head was Anne McCaffrey's dragonrider series of books but then I'm old

Art bit
Back to my usual

View attachment 43045

A most impressive painting

Might be your best to date.
Liked muchly

 

[jjraak]

OK, it's finished (because I have to stop somewhere)

Sorry I posted so many versions

View attachment 43042



I use the watercolour brushes for my basic layout before resorting to the technical pencils. It's not the equipment, it's my mindset, my brain just won't go there

Just perfect

 

[geefull]

good evening all

4.6 this morning

Sunday again and the village was full for most of the day, the campsite full of tents and mobile homes, the car parks full, lots of kids paddling and a couple of noisy jetskis faffing about at great speed round the bay

Such is life

Chicken and veggie bake for lunch over at mum's and then a quick dash to mow the remaining half of a patch of grass before the showers arrived.
Did we make it before the rain started?.. we did not it was a close call though and the mowing got done before the rain got too heavy

Looks like some splendid freedom rides today Good for you for making the most of what offers

Hope your day is treating you well

@ianpspurs - words of wisdom

@dunelm - handsome sketch, you really have a good eye for balance in a composition

@Alien Aspie - hope your venture into watercolour brings you joy, mine has (mostly )

@gennepher - yep, we tend to stay indoor out of the way too if there are lots of people about.
a lovely, lively frog you've given us today, just like one we saw earlier in the week, same pose too

@Muddy Cyclist - sounds like a good meal and a good time was had

My hands are quite small so I never progressed beyong fairly easy stuff on the tenor recorder, my dad bought a set of three when my sister began playing the treble at school, my brother played the alto and we never really progressed beyond simple group stuff but it was fun

Sound beginning there for what looks like an interesting picture to come, I'm only gradually beginning to realise that it's ok to walk away from a part complete picture and come back to it again, but then I tend to work on a smaller scale than you do

art bit - sketch in inktense pencils again and a touch of white gel pen on the stamens, these pencils produce very saturated colour when you wet them.

 

[gennepher]

Went cloudy outside so slipped into my Art Room as Mrs MC now calls it after the big furniture move around, suits me. Made a start in my next watercolour which is of some Willow Trees in a swampy area of a valley on the heathland we walk and ride our bikes in, there is a ford crossing at this point, did some sketches no took some photos which I am now working from. The light was strong whilst the willows were dark cooling the area, here it is so far. Now music making calls as I'm out of practice on my Bass Recorder and like @alf_Josiah practicing his plinky plonk I'm off to practice my huffing and puffing.

View attachment 43057

Will finish it later or Monday, will go much darker in the middle ground.

It looks very promising @Muddy Cyclist
I like this.

 

[gennepher]

good evening all

4.6 this morning

Sunday again and the village was full for most of the day, the campsite full of tents and mobile homes, the car parks full, lots of kids paddling and a couple of noisy jetskis faffing about at great speed round the bay

Such is life

Chicken and veggie bake for lunch over at mum's and then a quick dash to mow the remaining half of a patch of grass before the showers arrived.
Did we make it before the rain started?.. we did not it was a close call though and the mowing got done before the rain got too heavy

Looks like some splendid freedom rides today Good for you for making the most of what offers

Hope your day is treating you well

@ianpspurs - words of wisdom

@dunelm - handsome sketch, you really have a good eye for balance in a composition

@Alien Aspie - hope your venture into watercolour brings you joy, mine has (mostly )

@gennepher - yep, we tend to stay indoor out of the way too if there are lots of people about.
a lovely, lively frog you've given us today, just like one we saw earlier in the week, same pose too

@Muddy Cyclist - sounds like a good meal and a good time was had

My hands are quite small so I never progressed beyong fairly easy stuff on the tenor recorder, my dad bought a set of three when my sister began playing the treble at school, my brother played the alto and we never really progressed beyond simple group stuff but it was fun

Sound beginning there for what looks like an interesting picture to come, I'm only gradually beginning to realise that it's ok to walk away from a part complete picture and come back to it again, but then I tend to work on a smaller scale than you do

art bit - sketch in inktense pencils again and a touch of white gel pen on the stamens, these pencils produce very saturated colour when you wet them.

View attachment 43059

Thank you @geefull

This poppy is stunning, very vibrant. I love it!

 

[Muddy Cyclist]

art bit - sketch in inktense pencils again and a touch of white gel pen on the stamens, these pencils produce very saturated colour when you wet them.

Thank you for your comments re my new watercolour. Re recorders Mrs MC does have small hands and she plays all the recorders, there are now many recorder makers designing high quality instruments for smaller hands. MRs MC plays All the recorders except Bass which is just too much of a stretch, we managed to get a set made from European Boxwood, lovely sound.

Like the Poppy art work you have a talent for nature and of course your signature landscapes.colour in the Poppy looks very natural and the seed heads are well depicted, good stuff.

Regarding busy beach, my kids are all off to the sea this week, they asked us to go in our VW camper but we decided it would be far too busy so are staying home until September when we will venture out with some caution.

 

[Muddy Cyclist]

It looks very promising @Muddy Cyclist
I like this.

Thankyou, fingers crossed.