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

good afternoon all :)

was 4.3 yesterday and 4.3 today

after spending the morning yesterday out with the weedkiller spray bottle trying to deter some of the the sea buckthorn seedlings we decided that, since it was apparently the dryest day in prospect for the week, we'd go off to mum's and cut some grass ;)

Mum has told us that our cousin and his wife may be coming to visit her for a couple of days shortly (all being well ;) ). So, we turned up whilst mum was having an afternoon nap and set to. Mr gee strimmed down the drive edges and I got going with the mower.

Then mum got up and manouvered mr gee into weediing along under the windows outside the sitting room, which she felt took precedence :sorry: she's crafty, she sets to with a will at a rate she can't possibly keep up, she knows he'll step in to help, then she goes off to make a cup of tea

We had intended to get as much done as we could in a couple of hours and should have been able to get most of the grass cut between us but, with the added weeding, it took us almost three hours. Both of us overdid it in the heat then ended up trying to eat too late in the day so we had an early night and are having a quiet day today ;)

Hope your day is treating you well :)

@gennepher - an interesting couple of paintings, I'm glad the second one made the transition safely, I like it very much with it's subdued but rich palette :)

@Alien Aspie - nice take on the muses, always interesting to take a look into another cultural tradition. :)

@dunelm -great landscapes with very good texture and scale, I especially like the tree in the first and the 'old man of Hoy' is impressive :)
That's an interesting article on 'diet' and it's not too far from the way my own ideas have settled. I've come to think that enough protein is important for me together with keeping carbs at a level I can hopefully tolerate, I suffered from not getting enough protein when I was first losing weight and my stomach and hair/nails objected ;)

@Muddy Cyclist - I liked the studies, number three particularly for it's strong detailing. The finished painting is very fine and has impressive perspective :joyful:
Mrs MC has beaten everyone to the punch with the muses :hilarious: it's a great beginning and nice to add another artist to the panoply :)
Wednesday's child you say - me too :D

art bit -

didn't do much art yesterday but here's a quick pencil sketch of some crocosmia's done in the garden during tea break
upload_2020-8-25_14-42-27.jpeg

and
another John Blockley's style inspired (sorry @lindisfel ) the masking fluid got an especially tenacious hold for some reason.

upload_2020-8-25_14-36-36.jpeg
 
My muse Melpomene done and dusted, not my style but I have to admit to enjoying doing it. MRs MC thinks she is a bit too busty :) but all classic artists include such features. HIgh belt as it was a symbol for tragic actors, boots, why not, sword because that's a symbol, mask because it's easier than doing eyes and of course the Tragic Mask escaping from her clutches. So A4 about 90 minutes....
IMG_3732.JPG
 
geefull said:
good afternoon all :)

was 4.3 yesterday and 4.3 today

after spending the morning yesterday out with the weedkiller spray bottle trying to deter some of the the sea buckthorn seedlings we decided that, since it was apparently the dryest day in prospect for the week, we'd go off to mum's and cut some grass ;)

Mum has told us that our cousin and his wife may be coming to visit her for a couple of days shortly (all being well ;) ). So, we turned up whilst mum was having an afternoon nap and set to. Mr gee strimmed down the drive edges and I got going with the mower.

Then mum got up and manouvered mr gee into weediing along under the windows outside the sitting room, which she felt took precedence :sorry: she's crafty, she sets to with a will at a rate she can't possibly keep up, she knows he'll step in to help, then she goes off to make a cup of tea

We had intended to get as much done as we could in a couple of hours and should have been able to get most of the grass cut between us but, with the added weeding, it took us almost three hours. Both of us overdid it in the heat then ended up trying to eat too late in the day so we had an early night and are having a quiet day today ;)

Hope your day is treating you well :)

@gennepher - an interesting couple of paintings, I'm glad the second one made the transition safely, I like it very much with it's subdued but rich palette :)

@Alien Aspie - nice take on the muses, always interesting to take a look into another cultural tradition. :)

@dunelm -great landscapes with very good texture and scale, I especially like the tree in the first and the 'old man of Hoy' is impressive :)
That's an interesting article on 'diet' and it's not too far from the way my own ideas have settled. I've come to think that enough protein is important for me together with keeping carbs at a level I can hopefully tolerate, I suffered from not getting enough protein when I was first losing weight and my stomach and hair/nails objected ;)

@Muddy Cyclist - I liked the studies, number three particularly for it's strong detailing. The finished painting is very fine and has impressive perspective :joyful:
Mrs MC has beaten everyone to the punch with the muses :hilarious: it's a great beginning and nice to add another artist to the panoply :)
Wednesday's child you say - me too :D

art bit -

didn't do much art yesterday but here's a quick pencil sketch of some crocosmia's done in the garden during tea break
View attachment 43537

and
another John Blockley's style inspired (sorry @lindisfel ) the masking fluid got an especially tenacious hold for some reason.

View attachment 43536
Click to expand...
Both of your art pieces today are fabulous, a nice pencil sketch to depict that delicate flower on the crocosmia and I love that watercolour and the effect of the over zealous masking fluid, really well painted picture.

Thank you for your comments regarding my Heather Hen Cloud painting and of course Mrs MCs creation. Mrs MC specialises in flowers and plant drawings but stylistic very Art Nouveau Style .
 
Muddy Cyclist said:
So A4 about 90 minutes....
Click to expand...

You 'avin a laff?

Lovely picture and a nice move from your usual fair :)

I am stuck on the last hurdle, everything is done but I can't 'see' my lady's face. Tried 7 now and nothing is sitting right so I'm going slowly nuts. Just downloaded 80 free colour palettes for Procreate to see if I can find a trigger. My muse wants a classical Daoist white face that I associate wrongly with geisha so I'm not happy with it. Hopefully, I can finish soon :banghead:
 
Muddy Cyclist said:
My muse Melpomene done and dusted, not my style but I have to admit to enjoying doing it. MRs MC thinks she is a bit too busty :) but all classic artists include such features. HIgh belt as it was a symbol for tragic actors, boots, why not, sword because that's a symbol, mask because it's easier than doing eyes and of course the Tragic Mask escaping from her clutches. So A4 about 90 minutes....
View attachment 43538
Click to expand...

It is definitely quicker to do a 'real' painting than a digital one @Muddy Cyclist
:)

Brilliant !!!
 
Alien Aspie said:
You 'avin a laff?

Lovely picture and a nice move from your usual fair :)

I am stuck on the last hurdle, everything is done but I can't 'see' my lady's face. Tried 7 now and nothing is sitting right so I'm going slowly nuts. Just downloaded 80 free colour palettes for Procreate to see if I can find a trigger. My muse wants a classical Daoist white face that I associate wrongly with geisha so I'm not happy with it. Hopefully, I can finish soon :banghead:
Click to expand...

Sorry, but you got me choking with laughter... @Alien Aspie saying 'Tried 7 now and nothing is sitting right so I'm going slowly nuts. Just downloaded 80 free colour palettes for Procreate to see if I can find a trigger.'

I know it's not funny....
 
geefull said:
@gennepher - an interesting couple of paintings, I'm glad the second one made the transition safely, I like it very much with it's subdued but rich palette :)
Click to expand...

Thank you @geefull


geefull said:
art bit -

didn't do much art yesterday but here's a quick pencil sketch of some crocosmia's done in the garden during tea break
upload_2020-8-25_14-42-27-jpeg.43537


and
another John Blockley's style inspired (sorry @lindisfel ) the masking fluid got an especially tenacious hold for some reason.

upload_2020-8-25_14-36-36-jpeg.43536
Click to expand...


I love your pencil sketch of one of my favourite flowers.

The painting is amazing with all those textures. Really good.
 
I have no idea how to do/paint a muse.
But it wouldn't be one of the 9 muses. So what could I do...
 
Alien Aspie said:
Anyway, after faffing about trying to put her makeup on here is my muse.

This is He Xiangu, one of the Eight Roaming Immortals and the only female in the 'company'. She represents virtue amongst other things and is often portrayed playing a Sheng (pipe instrument). I had no desire to paint her playing the pipes so they are at rest leaning against the table by her feet. Her symbol, the lotus, I have shown as a hairpin decoration and the sacred peach forms the symbols on her clothing.

The Eight Immortals are not gods, they are beings that have found enlightenment and chosen to not die but to become teachers. As such they are not worshipped, simply held in esteem.

Enjoy

View attachment 43540
Click to expand...
This is absolutely amazing @Alien Aspie
Beautiful.
She is gorgeous...
 
Alien Aspie said:
Anyway, after faffing about trying to put her makeup on here is my muse.

This is He Xiangu, one of the Eight Roaming Immortals and the only female in the 'company'. She represents virtue amongst other things and is often portrayed playing a Sheng (pipe instrument). I had no desire to paint her playing the pipes so they are at rest leaning against the table by her feet. Her symbol, the lotus, I have shown as a hairpin decoration and the sacred peach forms the symbols on her clothing.

The Eight Immortals are not gods, they are beings that have found enlightenment and chosen to not die but to become teachers. As such they are not worshipped, simply held in esteem.

Enjoy

View attachment 43540
Click to expand...
That is so good! A real skill you have with this digital art but just as skilful at getting emotion and finding a connection with your subject and viewer, brilliant, more please.
 
Alien Aspie said:
Anyway, after faffing about trying to put her makeup on here is my muse.

This is He Xiangu, one of the Eight Roaming Immortals and the only female in the 'company'. She represents virtue amongst other things and is often portrayed playing a Sheng (pipe instrument). I had no desire to paint her playing the pipes so they are at rest leaning against the table by her feet. Her symbol, the lotus, I have shown as a hairpin decoration and the sacred peach forms the symbols on her clothing.

The Eight Immortals are not gods, they are beings that have found enlightenment and chosen to not die but to become teachers. As such they are not worshipped, simply held in esteem.

Enjoy

View attachment 43540
Click to expand...
Stunning
 
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