me and a pencil or two ...

I haven't drawn in a long time. When I was at school, I drew a lot, for pleasure as well as for lessons. I loved it. But somewhere along the way in life, I stopped drawing, always meaning to start again but never quite getting around to it. And then when I did get around to it, I'd reached the stage where it felt like I just couldn't do it anymore.

I took a few classes, drew a little, painted a little less. But I've still not found my groove again. I've still not got the love and ease of drawing back yet, despite a set of pencils, some cheap paints, and a couple of notebooks. I've yet to lose myself in it the way I used to.

Having said that, I found this sweet tutorial and took the advice of the creator of it - do it!

And I did it.

My drawing, without duck

Thank you, Isabelle, for inspiring me to do it!

fab freebies - ii

 Another little round up of some sweet and nice goodies I've found around the web these last few weeks. A few printables for Valentine's day, some wonderful sets of free fonts, a brilliant free ebook about body image, a calendar, a desktop for February, and a video which will hopefully raise a smile.

Very sweet (and unhealthy!) clip art.

I love puns but my other half really doesn't, so I will, with regret, not be using these free printables for Valentine's day from Jenn & Tonic, via My Owl Barn. (Do explore this site further and you'll also find free printables here, here, here and here. If you like owls and printables, you'll love this site.)

Free romantic fonts here and here. Better than a bunch of flowers. And no obligation to use them in any romantic way at all - they're just great fonts.

Check out the free download of The Body Stories on this page. Wonderful reading from inspiring women. The Bear Manifesto is very good too.

Still not sorted a calendar for the year out?  Ahem ... Then take a look at this template. All you need are your photos of choice.

Ladies - we all forgot to check. Check out this video and consider downloading the free reminder app. (Don't forget to watch the credits at the end!)

Casting around for an inspiring desktop for February? Check this one out. I adore it, and found it via this great site.

Quirky, even geeky Valentine's printables.

Some free romantic printables to say you love someone ...

Fed up with traditional Valentine's cards? Or just fed up with Valentine's day? Take a look at this selection of cards and feelings from the heart ...

Hope you find something that makes you smile this weekend - have a good one :)

my first smoothie - with spinach

Today was it, then. Today was the made I made my first smoothie. Those who read this earlier post will know I was going to make it this week. With spinach.

It wasn't an unqualified success but it also, surprisingly, wasn't a disaster. Fruits, and spinach, were blended together and then they were drunk.

Okay, back to the beginning. Here's what I used. A handful of mixed frozen berries, a whole bag of spinach (!), a (very slightly) out of date tin of satsuma pieces in their own juice. And that was it. I didn't add any extra banana as the berry mix said it had some in. I didn't see it, I must admit, but why would they lie ...

First in, a few berries and some spinach. Then the discovery that I was using the wrong blade on the blender. This is what happens when someone tries to hold a conversation with you about train times at the same time as you're making your very first smoothie. So I swapped blades (more washing up) and smoothed the fruit and spinach.

It worked, but it was quite thick.

So I opened the tin and checked the satsumas (it was only a month out of date. That just cannot make a difference), and added some segments and some juice.

Ah, that's better.

Then I added more spinach, more juice and satsuma. Then I tasted.

Hmm.

Quite thick in texture. Quite textured in texture too. I mean, it was pourable, but a little lumpy. The fact I remember the texture more than the taste tells you something. So I added the rest of the satsumas, the rest of the spinach and blended again until it was more pourable.

And the verdict? A little on the non-sweet side, with the tang of satsuma and raspberry being pretty strong. It needed straining as it had way too many raspberry pips in for anyone to enjoy.

And the spinach? Despite a whole bag being pulverised, I can report that I tasted none ...

It looked kind of berry-coloured if the light was right. A little on the shade of sludge if the light wasn't so favourable ... (I did take some photos but they were not good. No, no, no.)

Will I do it again? Yes.

Often? Hmm. I think it needs refining somewhat. But the underlying principle is pretty simple, and the results must be super healthy.

And I have half a glass left in the fridge for later ...unless someone else drinks it first ...