Chicken Feed

Steph is definitely the artist in the family – but although I cannot paint myself, I do enjoy looking at art. A snippet of local news just caught my eye…Here is Belvoir Castle, ancestral home of the Dukes Of Rutland, just a few miles up the road from here.

[not what you’d call a small residence!] Anyway, they are having to sell some of their art to raise money for restorations and renovation, and it is causing a bit of a fuss.

The picture in question is “Ordination”

This is one of a set of “Seven Sacraments” painted by this artist, Nicolas Poussin [born in Normandy in 1594] Here he is

The family have had these paintings for years [since 1785] but carelessly, “Penance” got destroyed in a fire in 1816, and “Baptism” [below] was sold to the National Gallery in Washington DC in 1939. [btw -why is the River Jordan just a feeble little puddle? I’m a much water/full immersion gal myself]

So now they have five pictures left – they nearly sold them all about three years ago, but didn’t ‘for family reasons’ [see here] Now they are auctioning just one of them.

According to Richard Dorment, in the Telegraph today

“Painted in the 1630s, Poussin’s series represents God’s direct intervention in seven stages in the Christian life. In each scene he developed an intimate visual language of gesture and expression to depict the highly emotional responses of each individual to the reception of divine grace. The series is a single work of art. To break it up is to diminish its cumulative impact.”

I first became interested in Poussin about twenty years ago, when I saw James Fox and Prunella Scales in Alan Bennett’s brilliant play “A Question Of Attribution” which was all about Anthony Blunt – who was Surveyor of the Queen’s Pictures, and was revealed in 1979 to be the Fourth Man in the Burgess/Philby/Maclean spy ring.

I think- like HM – I was fascinated by the idea of an artist whose surname meant “chicken”! [there should be a YouTube clip here, but it keeps mysteriously disappearing from the post! try here]

Then in 1998, a Poussin was auctioned – it sold for £4.5 million and was donated by the Rothschild Foundation to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem [The Destruction and Sack of the Temple in Jerusalem]

You can read more about this one here – and the response of Dr Jonathan Sacks to this painting. It had originally been wrongly attributed and sold for a mere £155,000. The previous owner sued Sotheby's for £4.5 million! [there was eventually an out of court settlement]

I believe that great works of art should be accessible to everybody – not shut away in places where only a few can see them. Richard Dorment may be right when he says it will diminish the impact if the set is broken up. I think it is certainly a bad thing for something to disappear into the hands of a private collector where it cannot be enjoyed by more than a handful of people.

I am not sure I shall ever get to Jerusalem to see Poussin’s painting there – but I am greatly relieved it is on public display at last – considering the fact that the man who had it for the second half of the twentieth century kept it hanging in his chicken shed [see here]

And he didn’t even know it was by Monsieur Poussin/Mr Chicken!

Christie’s guide price for “Ordination” is £15-£20 million.

We shan’t be buying it to hang in the lounge at Cornerstones then.

Thirsty Work

I am trying hard to drink more, as I think it would be good for my health. I’m not very good at just plain water, and the current wisdom suggests that almost any liquid will help [other than saline solutions and alcohol] So here are some of my favourite beverages [with some quotations I’ve found along the way]

I like a small glass of orange juice at breakfast – and through the morning, freshly made, fairtrade coffee [not instant!]

“You haven't had enough coffee until you can thread a sewing machine while it's running”

[quote from Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon]

Does this man do a lot of sewing? What’s the point of keeping the machine running if it is not already threaded?

On a hot summer afternoon, I like a long cold [diet] cola

At all points through the day, tea [Sainsbury’s Fairtrade Red Label] and more tea.

“Thank God for Tea!  What would the world do without tea? How did it exist? I am glad I was not born before tea. I always fear that creation will expire before tea-time.”

[quote from Rev. Sydney Smith, 18th Century writer and clergyman]

And last thing at night, a relaxing milky drink to send me to sleep…

 

But I cannot drink things if they are scalding hot – everyone else is ready to leave, and I call out “Hang On! I’m still drinking my coffee!”

The family have even suggested that when Gabriel blows his Trumpet, I’ll reply “Not yet -  I haven’t finished my tea”

What’s your beverage of choice?

Carving, Cleaning, Crafting, Cooking

We began our day off with a trip into the city – to deliver a huge box of books to the charity bookshop, then to the bank and a few other places. We parked by the Cathedral, and having 20 minutes left on our ticket when we’d finished, we called in to see the exhibition of sculptures, by Fenwick Lawson, an artist from the NE of England.

Both of us liked the “Burning Bush” best

The detail on the carving was wonderful

Back home for lunch and Bob set about cleaning the patio with the Pressure Washer. “Come and take a photo” he said, when he was halfway through the task

The whole area is clean now. Great job, Bob!

Whilst he was washing, I was sewing – making some Christmas presents. Here’s a few ‘teaser’ shots. These are for food-related gifts, but that’s all I am saying!

I used three different machines to embroider, overlock and sew this particular project.

This evening, Bob had a meeting, so I made some cookies. We have our Connexion Group tomorrow night, and we’ve been asked to make a favourite cake and take the recipe along to share. I decided that Steph’s 4am cookies [recipe here] would be a safe bet, so made a batch.

I stacked them in fours, and wrapped them in baking parchment, before tying them securely in polybags with a recipe sheet.

And now they are in an airtight box ready for tomorrow night. As well as the bags of cookies for people to take home, there are also some to eat during the evening – and a tin of leftovers [some mis-shapen, some slightly overbaked] for Bob to enjoy!

A satisfyingly productive day. Now I am stopping, and sleeping!

Science And Religion – Some Quotes

Richard Dawkins says “The theory of evolution by cumulative natural selection is the only theory we know of that is in principle capable of explaining the existence of organized complexity” and also “Science is interesting, and if you don't agree you can f*** off.”

Stephen Hawking says "Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing. Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist. It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going."

The Archbishop of Canterbury says “Belief in God is not about plugging a gap in explaining how one thing relates to another within the Universe. It is the belief that there is an intelligent, living agent on whose activity everything ultimately depends for its existence. Physics on its own will not settle the question of why there is something rather than nothing.”

Dr Jonathan Sacks says “There is more to wisdom than science. It cannot tell us why we are here or how we should live”

Right now, I am with ABC and JS – and finding the attitudes of RD and SH very irritating. I could hardly cook the tea the other night for shouting “Piffle!” at Radio 4 [which amuses Bob greatly “they can’t actually hear you” he says patiently]

Please don’t think that this simple minded Essex girl is dismissing as intellectual claptrap the words of all the men with the brilliant scientific minds who studied physics at Oxford [after all I did marry such a man!] but when I am marvelling in the beauty of a rainbow, or the glory of a sunset, I am also enjoying a real relationship with The One who created it. Dawkins and Hawking may think I am deluded – but they can’t take that inner peace away from me

John’s Gospel Chapter One says…

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

Maybe SH doesn’t believe he needs God to set the universe going – but I [and millions of others throughout history] believe I need God to keep me going

Reality Shows

It was really exciting at church today [well, actually, I say that most Sundays, we are so blessed here] as our new youth worker has actually arrived. In fact we had a banner outside

And here she is, Hayley Gask, who has come to join us

She’s from the Leicestershire based “Reality Youth Project”

Next Sunday we are having a Family Service and Welcome Lunch – so please do drop in for a jacket potato if you are in the neighbourhood.

Like A Bear With A Sore Head

Yesterday I woke up with a migraine headache

Bob encouraged me to snuggle back under the duvet, whilst he prepared breakfast [so kind of him, I thought] Half an hour or so later, he came and woke me – but for some inexplicable reason he had chosen to wear this shirt

So I went downstairs to breakfast wearing sunglasses!

I struggled on for a bit, then decided I needed to go back to a darkened room and my bed. But my neighbours were having major garden work done – and the chainsaws and industrial shredder were going full speed/full volume right opposite the bedroom window. Here’s a picture of the tree fellers [yes, there are three fellas – the third is out of shot!]

So very grateful for this

and these

and these

and a spare bedroom at the back of the house.

Even more grateful that the migraine eased up as the day went on!

Forever Friends

Looking for projects to finish, I found one not even started! Nestling in a crumpled little plastic bag was this Forever Friends kit

So I sat and stitched the design – then wondered what to do with it. Yesterday inspiration struck when I was with my friend Debbie. She’s a very accomplished cross-stitcher, who makes lots of lavender bags. So I bartered with her - ¼pint of milk for a small bag of lavender. On Wednesday I covered a coathanger, and made the stitching into a bag. This is to be a present for someone special in my family who has a birthday in a few week’s time – so I also cross stitched her name, and sewed that onto the back of the hanger.

Reading Mags blog, I notice that on Monday her son calculated that there are 117 sleeps till Christmas! Now that I [and my sewing machines] have returned from holiday, I am already into full-on sewing-stuff-for-gifts mode!

And Sew On And Sew On…

Mags commented that she was taken aback by my remark recently about “two of my machines going off for service” and asked “how many do you have?”

Well, I have to admit, I have four

Number One  - the Frister Rossman Beaver, which Bob bought for me in 1979 just after our honeymoon [because till that point I’d been borrowing Mum’s machine and she wanted it back]

It’s a fairly basic machine –but for nearly 30 years it was constantly in use making clothes, curtains, costumes, cuddly toys, car seat covers – and a million other things [not all beginning with ‘C’]

Number Two Then about 11 years ago,  Rachel’s Mum, Jenny, let me try out her overlocker – and I ended up getting myself a Toyota SL

This was my first machine from Bambers in Manchester. I learned about all the different, useful techniques which this little beauty can perform – not least sewing a seam,trimming the allowance and finishing the edges all in one go. Brilliant for doing big quantities quickly when speed and ease is more important than meticulous detail and durability [eg 100 cotton waistcoats for a holiday club craft, and yards of red, white and blue patriotic bunting for a VE Day commemoration event] It is also useful for sewing knit and stretch fabrics – I have lost count of the repairs done to friends’ tee shirts, and school sweatshirts.

Number Three In 2004 I went back to Bambers for a Janome Memorycraft 300E Embroidery machine

This one really comes into its own for personalising things. It has three built-in fonts so it is easy to stitch names on facecloths, bibs, shoebags etc. It is great fun to take it to coffee mornings and craft fairs and use it to raise money for good causes. Children [and adults] love being invited to type their name onto the screen and then watch the machine sewing the letters. The machine has over 50 built in ‘motifs’ so I can add a giraffe or a little car or some flowers to the design. Furthermore, there is an SD card – so I am able to download designs from the internet [this is my favourite website] or prepare my own artwork using the software which came with the machine – then I take the card out of the PC, put it in the machine and Bob’s your uncle.

Number Four In 2005, I decided I wanted a newer basic machine, as things had moved on a lot since I got my FR back in ‘79. So when we were up in the North West, we popped over to Bambers and I got this

It is a Janome MS2522.  This one does 21 different stitches including buttonholes, and I love it! Like the embroidery machine, it uses drop in plastic bobbins. IMPORTANT TIP – Bambers advised me to buy a packet of spare bobbins and I said “I’ve got loads of compatible metal ones at home” – but they said that even though metal ones fit, they should never be used with the newer electronic ‘drop-in’ machines. Apparently they can cause problems! So I have put all my metal bobbins safely out of the way! This is a mid-price machine, and popular with secondary schools and colleges because of its range and solid construction.

Initially, the FR went down to Steph in Stoke Newington, but she never really got round to using it, and when she moved, I brought it back for Sewing Club. Then I moved the FR to Cornerstones – where it has hemmed curtains, sewn quilts and done other practical stuff.

So, Mags, I have got FOUR sewing machines, but all of them are used regularly and bring me enormous pleasure, and I believe they are useful to others too. They each have different uses, and between them, I am able to tackle a variety of sewing tasks efficiently.

Fortunately, Bob understands my fascination with the machines, appreciates what they produce, and doesn’t begrudge the money I have spent. After all, he is the man who wears this tee shirt!

The Importance Of Being Authentic

We are all used to seeing logos like this

This week I heard of a friend who has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. My thought and prayers are with her, and her family.

Then on the same day, a collection bag came through the letterbox, bearing the pink ribbon, and saying it is to help prevent breast cancer in Lithuania. But there was no UK registered charity number. I did not recognise the name of the organisation. I checked it out online. THIS came up. This outfit has nothing to do with authentic breast cancer charities such as THIS one.

It saddens me to think that some organisations are making profits out of the generosity of others, who believe they are genuinely helping. I could so easily have been ‘caught out’ by this one, and I suspect many others will be.

My current pile of ‘stuff for charity’ will just have to stay here a few more days, until I can get into Leicester to a bona fide charity shop.

The Ginger Group

Let’s hear it for ginger – the wonderful food in all its various forms

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[root ginger for grating into savoury stuff, ground ginger for sprinkling into cakes, stem ginger for eating straight from the syrupy jar with a teaspoon…]

…and ginger cats in books [Beatrix Potter’s Ginger- with Pickles, Orlando, Bendigo Bung-Eye etc]

ginger haired children [many related to me!]

…and of course, the very talented Ginger Rogers

When we were down in London with Liz, she served up some delicious ginger cake [accompanied by low fat crème fraiche] and said it was a Nigel Slater recipe. She later emailed me the recipe

Double ginger cake

NS says “I am rather proud of this cake. Lightly crisp on top and with a good, open texture, it is light, moist and delicately gingery. It will keep for a day or two wrapped in paper and foil.” Serves 8.

250g self-raising flour
2 level tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 level tsp bicarbonate of soda
a pinch of salt
200g golden syrup
2 tbsp syrup from the ginger jar
125g butter
3 lumps of stem ginger in syrup (about 55g)
2 heaped tbsp sultanas
125g dark muscovado sugar
2 large eggs
240ml milk

You will need a square cake tin measuring approximately 20-22cm, lined on the bottom with baking or greaseproof paper. Set the oven at 180°C/gas mark 3. Sieve the flour with the ginger, cinnamon, bicarbonate of soda and the salt. Put the golden and ginger syrups and the butter into a small saucepan, and warm over a low heat. Dice the ginger finely then add it to the pan with the sultanas and sugar. Let the mixture bubble gently for a minute, giving it the occasional stir to stop the fruit sticking to the bottom. Break the eggs into a bowl, pour in the milk and beat gently to break up the egg and mix it into the milk. Remove the butter and sugar mixture from the heat and pour into the flour, stirring smoothly and firmly with a large metal spoon. Mix in the milk and eggs. The mixture should be sloppy, with no trace of flour. Scoop the mixture into the non-stick or lined cake tin and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a skewer, inserted into the centre of the cake, comes out clean. Unless you are serving it warm, leave the cake in its tin to cool, then tip out on to a sheet of greaseproof paper. Wrap it up again in foil and leave to mature for a day or two before eating.

So whilst Bob was watching the Belgian Grand Prix at the weekend[Well done Lewis, tough luck, Jensen!] I made my own…

It tasted very moist and gingery – although I admit it did sink a little in the middle, and on cutting it, we discovered [unlike Liz’s superior version] that much of the ginger had settled to the bottom. But it did look good in the tin! As we are only two persons and not eight, I have put half into the freezer for another time!

never forget – Ginger Rogers did the same dances as Fred Astaire – but most of the time, she did them going backwards in high heels!!