Meredith shows me a Breugel 16th century winter scene reminiscent of the world outside our windows at the moment–except for the skating.
It leads her into thinking of other artists’ depiction of winter.
“Who was that painter we liked at the Metropolitan after we saw that Matisse exhibit a few years back? Industrial landscapes and the boxers. Remember?”
“B-B-B-Be…”
I use my hands to mime the thing that fans a fire into life.
“Be-Be-Bel-Bello-BELLOWS!”
“George Bellows–brilliant realist painter–died too young–42, he was. Painted winter–town and country.”
“Wow!” says Meredith. “Nothing wrong with your memory!”
Next day this article appeared in the newspaper–explaining why…!
Apparently the antioxidant, resveratrol, found in the skin of red grapes, some berries and peanuts, has a positive effect on the hippocampus–the part of the brain vital to memory, learning and mood.
Cheers! Santé! Good health! Chin chin! Salud! Prost!
Now what did I say was for supper…?!
Robin Ellis 
I’d pour another glass of wine to celebrate, but I’ve forgotten where the corkscrew is.
Rings a bell, Joan!
Thank you! Love George Bellows — especially the country winter scene here, those shadows, and I want to be in that house, drinking some red wine!
We’ll join you there!
Thank you for that Robin…I needed a reason to open a bottle of red and now I have one…I’m in training for Mastermind !
What is your subject, Julie? God luck.
Haven’t actually applied yet Robin but after a friend got through to the quarter finals I am plucking up the courage..subject would be either the Poldark novels or Harry Potter !
Now Robin, you are hitting me in the right places; Art & good wine are Doug & I’s fave daily pass time. You & Meredith keep these coming. I miss living in London (11 yrs) & our weekly visit to the National & other galleries. In France we have had many a good feast on the countries fine arts & still enjoying the grapes. I am an amateur painter & finished my degree in art a few years ago. Now I am enjoying my degree in fine wines 🙂 Fine wine’s, art & your recipes, forget Poldark, it’s ‘Robin Ellis’ for me. Do you paint ?
🍀Shawdiane
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Sadly for me, no.
PS: no snow here in Isle of Wight, sunshine for last couple of days.
🍀Shawdiane
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We have over four feet of snow on the ground here in New England, and it’s coming down like gangbusters as I write this–we may get two feet before it’s all over. I’ll take my wine mulled!
Hi Robin, Thanks for the George Bellows art-his former home and studio are next door to me in Woodstock. A very strange house, built on many small levels. Sadly, I don’t think any undiscovered pieces of his art were found when they sold it. Cheers, Michael Veitch
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Good to hear from you Michael. Bellows was a revelation to me.
Brilliant! Not that I NEED another reason to drink
red grapes”, but I’ll take it nonetheless. Alas, my next response whenever I have a tremendous memory recall is “Now where are my glasses?” the very glasses that are at that very moment straddling my head.
Wonderful pictures too! “Every picture tells a story” as my mother used to say.
Cheers from sunny California!
Cheers, Maureen!
Interesting to hear you remembered his name because of the association with the physical object! I never knew about Bellows, although I’ve seen the painting of the boxers many times, and the winter landscape could be our little house in upstate New York! I’ll have to look him up next time I’m at the Met. (And as for red wine–well, you’re in France! What could be better!!)
Thanks for this,
Nancy N
Cheers Meredith and Robin what better way to spend a cold winters day, than talking about lovely works of art and raising a glass, knowing it is doing you a world of good. I knew I get those grapes for a reason, here’s to the noble vine.
Had another 14 inches of snow over the weekend; perhaps another 6 coming on Thursday…. No more winter landscapes for me–give me someplace tropical, please!! Any drink will do! 😉