September 2007 – Africantapestry

Posted on September 29, 2007September 29, 2007 by Myfrenchkitchen · 25 Comments

Endings

Everything comes to an end. And with the end comes a new beginning. We all know that. But I don’t have the beginnings on my mind, I’m in a philosophical mood, so I’m preoccupied with endings. And rightly so. A few things happened to me lately that focused me on how time passes on its own terms and brings all things to an end.

I just ate my last peach of this year. It was actually way past the last….and it set my mood for excogitation. This last peach had the taste of ending. It wasn’t even sweet and juicy and it came from Spain. It didn’t explode in my mouth with the exuberance of summer and suntan lotion. It didn’t take me back to my childhood and my mother, making peach jam and peach chutney. Instead, I mentally experienced the gloomy saying goodbyes after a visit, the reluctant packing up after a glorious holiday, the unsettling sadness of a dry christmas tree.

I didn’t have enough peaches this summer. I should’ve enjoyed it to the full when it was in abundance. This last peach made me once again realize the impact of time on our lives. That we only get one shot at living.

This is a clock my mother left me. I don’t like it, it is plain ugly. But I love it. It carries a beautiful message. Almost a warning. It chimes every 30 minutes and at 12 you litterally have to stop talking to give the clock twelve chimes. Before every chime, there is just the tiniest of warning that it is about to erupt in jubilation; a soft click, so soft you have to be close enough to hear it, you have to almost pay attention. That is just how time is. There are warnings everywhere around us that time is not waiting for us, not giving a second chance, not caring how busy or idle we are. The click is there, we have to pay attention, listen to the 12 chimes; use the silence to think.

Today I’m sad because things end. But I’m also thankful for time. Because time is kind in its cruelty, it is consistent, it doesn’t linger, it can’t be bribed. Because 12 chimes force me to keep quiet and listen and think. About today and about tomorrow. And tomorrow, it forces me to be grateful for new beginnings. Tomorrow it will give me quince instead of peaches.

Both sketches in WC and pen in moleskine

Posted on September 26, 2007October 6, 2007 by Myfrenchkitchen · 25 Comments

Art afternoon with Casey

We had art afternoon yesterday – catching up, drinking coffee, eating “organic” cookies, solving all problems; political and religious, laughing at weird people, laughing harder at ourselves, ending in the kitchen with a cup of rooibosch tea, then Casey took off in her brandnew ecofriendly car and I was just plain lazy. Good news was, I didn’t have to fuss about dinner! Since Hartman went back to SC for the whole month of October, I’m off the hook. I got a good tip from Marta, so I stocked up on cereal this morning. I now have dinner until the end of October.

Some garden drawings and sketches I did yesterday afternoon with Casey…see the wonderful sketches she did…”a la Casey”. (I’m not sure she has posted them yet, but I hope this will push her to put them up, they are so good!)

Fountain…this is my pride in my garden, the gargoyle originates from the 10th century, from the chateau de Chauvigny, and Hartman turned it into a fountain as a birthday gift for me… how lackluster would my life be without him…; WC and pen on Fabriano HP, 23 x 30,5 cm (9 x 12″)

Urn in the herb garden; graphite in moleskine

The last apple on the Espalier; graphite and sepia in moleskine.

Posted on September 24, 2007September 25, 2007 by Myfrenchkitchen · 21 Comments

Some of my joys…

Like all of us, I have many little joys in life. One of them is to put some flowers in a container and marvel at its beauty. One flower, a whole bunch, a leaf or a branch, they all give pleasure.

For the kitchen; The last of the hydrangeas in an old wash basin. Their colours have turned into an old green, speckled with deep red and a dirty pink.

WC on Fabriano HP, 23 x 30,5 cm ( 9 x 12″)

For the living room; A Huge glass vase overflowing with lilies…

WC on Fabriano CP, 23 x 30,5cm (9 x 12″)

On the outside table; White hyacinths in a soapstone pot..

23 x 30,5 cm (9 x 12″)

And last but not least, some twigs and leaves…done at Casey’s

Posted on September 17, 2007September 20, 2007 by Myfrenchkitchen · 11 Comments

Over a coffee with all kinds of people.

Pen and WC in moleskine.

Thank you to these nice and creative artists, Claudia, Lin, Diahn, Bonny and Teri, for the following awards;

…and welcome to the new…!

I welcome you to the new Africantapestry!

I’m looking forward to trying all new things on this blog and I hope you’ll hop on up along for the ride.

My email, as well as my name “Africantapestry” will stay the same. The only thing that will change is my sign-in name, which will be from now on “Myfrenchkitchen”. You’ll probably notice it on the comments I leave…I’ll still be me though! I only have one account now for both my foodblog(myfrenchkitchen) and my artblog(Africantapestry)

So, here I am, busy unpacking my art stuff and starting fresh!

See you soon!

Posted on September 10, 2007September 16, 2007 by Myfrenchkitchen · 2 Comments

Goodbye to the old

A while ago, I went to Sharon’s blog, http://flatsoundofwoodenclogs.blogspot.com/

and saw she had a new blog. And just there I decided I wanted a new one too! A change is always as good as a holiday! And one of my biggest fears in life is that I’ll stagnate or grow stale, become a dusty shelf….Therefore, change is one of the most important words in my vocabulary!

It was a bit of an uphill road getting to this new blog, but I believe it worked(will work soon). Now don’t expect something exotic, it actually looks quite the same as it does now, but who knows, that might change soon too?

So, I’m packing up my art stuff and moving here, where I’ll unpack my bags and stay…for a while.

and with this, I say: “Goodbye to the old…”

Lin said…: WHAT A CREATIVE way to move your blog, Ronell!! I LOVE the symbolism of the open and closed bags — perfectly done, exquisitely executed!!! BUONA FORTUNA!!; September 12, 2007 8:58 PM
Sharon said…: Are you safely home now, Ronell? I look forward to more of your LOVELY (!) paintings and delicious recipes. The new site looks great! Sharon; September 12, 2007 11:39 PM
Anita said…: Oooooh, looking good!; September 13, 2007 1:01 PM
Ujwala said…: Congratulations on your move. the new blog looks good. And here I was considering a move the other way around 😀; September 14, 2007 5:19 PM
mARTa said…: I like change as well. I haven’t been to your new site yet…I think I will wait till tonight when I can take the time to savor it slowly.
I apologize for not commenting in a while…seems forever. But sometimes the balance between work and life gets shifted and sadly…lately the shift has been work.
I am also getting down to the final planning of my month long trip to the continent! I will be emailing you and Casey soon so we can set up a ‘date’
Bon voyage a ta maison! oh, I know I must be ‘butchering’ the language!; September 14, 2007 9:41 PM
Africantapestry said…: Thank you for saying goodbye here!
Ronell