Dbee Robinson Artist - The Fat Struggling Menopausal Artist

No title - Any ideas comment below - Mixed media It’s been a pretty gutty few months but I actually feel that I am back in control of my life and my feelings. Things had built up and like a contained pressure cooker, it exploded taking casualties. Now I must admit I wasn't the one to blow up, but I am certainly one of the casualties who almost melted into oblivion. When I was younger I would sit on Hayling Island beach and look at the waves, staring at their shapes, size and colour, (Yes, they have colours). They have a hypnotic, rhythmic almost cleansing sensation to me. The sounds of each wave crashing on the shore, cleaning the sand and my soul, it just calms me. It's what I listen to at night via an APP called CALM when I can't sleep, or my body is dog tired but cannot keep up with my racing cat alert mind which just wants to play all night. Sometimes when things go bad for us, we just want to cut our losses and run to save ourselves from further stres...

So I continue to diet, exercise, paint and prepare for my upcoming exhibitions in March and May as well as my first Craft Market event in February. This painting is watercolour on rice paper titled 'Peaceful Poppies'. Whilst I do enjoy sharing my paintings etc. I do feel a little vulnerable and exposed. I have also updated my SAA profile and must add some more paintings to the gallery. click here to view. Again putting my heart and soul on show for all to comment on. Got to be brave when you are an artist..... I still find it hard calling myself that, but after selling paintings and doing commission work for strangers, I think I have the right to call myself that.... but it is still weird. I do have something fun to look forward to this week other than the thought of scary comments on my new profile page. A Burns Night of Dancing, Haggis and Whisky. Sadly I only like one of this things but I am sure it will be fun and its always a good excuse to dress up. Something I mu...

Hurrah!! After spending 2 hours looking for the recipe through my own On line recipe files, all my cook books (the pic is just a few of them) and of course On line itself,  I finally found the recipe I used for some great breakfast muffins. Thank goodness you can track your google history!! I knew the rough date as I was making them special for the guys at Daron Ford  garage on Hayling Island. I usually make them some cakes when on Hayling as they are simply the best, but as it was getting close to mince pie and sweetie over indulgence season I thought something savoury would hit the spot. They seemed to be a hit with them all too.    FYI - You don't just buy a car there you buy quality service from a great team. Thanks guys! Anyway.... I knew there was no courgette in them so dismissed any recipes with courgette, but stupidly I had forgotten I had swapped the courgette for apple. So now I can share these absolutely delicious breakfast muffins with you. ...

So now I have this FitBit I am very conscious about what I eat and how much I move, (or don't move some days.) I'm even monitoring my sleep pattens to see if what I eat, how much I exercise I do or even when I go to bed affects my quality of sleep. To get a good rounded experiment it will take quite a few weeks but its been interesting so far. I am hoping it will help me understand how to get a good nights sleep so my body can recharge my immune system and fight off winter bugs! My Husband is mainly focusing on the amount of steps he takes and is constantly annoyed I am beating him with how many I take. Its not difficult considering he works at a desk, and even though I sit when I am painting etc, I am also doing housework, cooking and doing other little jobs around the house while he sits in his chair in the evening looking at photos he has taken, waiting for his food to arrive like a little bird in his nest waiting for the next juicy worm! When ever I was pass his chair...

According to some sources, the Full Moon for November is named after beavers because this is the time they become particularly active building their winter dams in preparation for the cold season. Other names for the November Full Moon are Frost Moon, Trading Moon, and Snow Moon or Oak Moon. Traditionally, the last Full Moon before the winter solstice has also been named Mourning Moon. What ever its name is, my Husband insisted it was called the Beaver moon and decided we would each get a present to celebrate this special event. In order to help my quest on loosing Fat and Pounds he surprised me with a Fitbit. I’m currently enjoying logging all I eat and drink and stepping my way to a healthier me…… well thats the idea. Watch this space and see, dbee x

Sitting painting doesn’t really burn the calories does it? It just helps spread the ….well, middle aged spread I guess. So having the grand kids is such a bonus. Not only are they great kids who are fun to be with, but the things they do or say can be hilarious. Running round after them burns quite a few calories, however I always fancy a drink after they’ve gone so any calories burned are soon added to. lol Anyone else feel like that? dbee x

Like many people I have a few struggles in life. Not only am I a struggling artist, but I’m also a struggling fatty. Some unwelcome fat seems to have attached itself to my lower half since the Menopause came visiting. So in order to help focus my attention on the two I thought I would keep a daily journal….. …..I say Daily in a loose sense of the word as I have never been very good at keeping a diary. But Hey Ho, one can but try! Feel free to join me on my journey of Paint, Plumpness and Perspiration. Love and Light dbee x