Monday, November 10, 2014

CONVERSATIONS

AUTOMAT 1927 Edward Hopper
I know her. 
I know her story. 
I don't know her name, 
... but ...
I FEEL her story.

She sits on my desk all through the day and the night, alone with her cup of coffee or tea  ...

thinking? waiting? dreaming? 
resting? planning?

just being still ... and ... listening ...



I have coffee with her in the morning. We talk about my day, my plans, my worries, my busyness - 

And she waits patiently through the day while I work at my computer, entering data, writing, catching up on emails, doing research ... answering the phone to help a customer with download issues. She sits and waits, a silent cheerleader sending out positive energy.

"You go Girl!" 
"Believe in yourself." 
"You can do this thing ... this task you've set before us."

At the end of the day, she is there still ... ever faithful with her cup in hand ready to hear me ... 
... ready to help me harvest my day ... 
... ready to help me sort through the struggles and triumphs ...
... and ... 
... ready to lend her thoughts as I sow the seeds for tomorrow ...

Who would ever guess I would find a  muse, a companion, a soul sister 
on a visit to the museum ... the Rockwell Museum ... the Edward Hopper exhibit. 

... the art of connecting ...
... the art resonating ...
... the viewer taking the time to absorb the vibrations ... 



I didn't know I would meet her when I went to the museum by myself that day. Time to putter and stop and gaze for as long as I wanted. No rushing for me from other people I might be with. Time to eavesdrop on conversations swirling around me; Time to people-watch, to think  and wonder about their stories as they hurried from painting, to painting and then off to the gift store for souvenirs ... because there was only so much time at this stop and they were off to the next stop on their tour.

GRATITUDE: so thankful, so very thankful to live where there are amazing art museums to close at hand where I can easily go visit as often as I want ... to be still and listen to the art that resonates.

Monday, November 3, 2014

THE WRAP-UP: WHITE ON BLACK

I DID IT! DONE! DONE! AND DONE! I actually finished the challenge ... saw it through all the way to the end! 31 days of drawing for at least 10 minutes a day right on the heels of a 21 Day habit-developing drawing challenge. I think I'm beginning to get the hang of this with my days feeling empty if I haven't drawn something yet.

Things I learned out myself throughout the challenge:
  • I like drawing and am up to the challenge
  • I see things differently and am more willing to draw WHAT I SEE rather than WHAT I THINK I SEE
  • I like drawing with pencil or pen rather than white gel pens on black paper. (love the look but have to really get myself pumped up yet to be comfortable with the white on black)
  • I love seeing little drawings here and there in my planner, in my morning pages, and in my art journal - the pages have more soul
  • i love the challenge of taking a concept and working out how to represent the idea visually rather than with (or in addition to) words
... and now, for some final peeks from the journal ..

... prompt: out there: ANGELS "out there" all around us ...
... prompt: illuminates: thankful for beautiful Berkshire sunrises and sunsets ...
... prompt: increase: documenting the process of leaf season ...

... prompt: make time: ... for family

... prompt: taught me: this challenge "taught me" to trust the process ...

... prompt: so nice: a pile of books waiting by my bed ...

... prompt: in honor of Halloween AND good advice: DON'T BUMP THE GLUMP ...

This workshop is still available with Tangie Baxter as a self-paced course.
Go HERE to find out more.

... and as a final treat - watch what this street artist has AT THE END OF HIS PAINTBRUSH!


Sunday, November 2, 2014

NOTHING MORE NOTHING LESS 15

... a way to document/share my week ...

... learning to see with my heart 
as well as my mind and my eyes ... 

... practicing practicing practicing ...  
... capturing snippets of everyday life ... 
... memories recorded ... 
... being present each day ... 

... answering the question: what are you noticing ...

... favorite Fall treat - Bartlett's Orchards ...

...longarm quilting ...

... Haven ... tasty breakfast ...

... morning journaling/drawing practice ...

... last warm night-time walk of the season ...

... and what are you noticin' ...

Saturday, November 1, 2014

GOOD COOKIN' 22: SPINACH SALMON PASTA

November is all about the culinary! 

I've been struggling a bit in this department. You know all about finding yourself stuck in a rut when it comes time to fix dinner (or breakfast) ... 

and, when that happens I find that I really am totally uninspired no matter how many cookbooks I thumb through, no matter how many ingredient/recipe match-up searches I do,  no matter how many "good food" photos pop up on my instagram or facebook feed.

I'll blame my Fall culinary creativity slump on my summer "innkeeper" duties. I fix a lot of "brunchy" breakfasts and summer-evening-concert-in-the-park picnic dinners for our guests. I think when September rolls around I'm glad to back off with kitchen duties. At least for now, that's my excuse ...

When we were grocery shopping a few days ago the fish-market manager placed his salmon on sale for $4.99/pound - take it home and cook it or freeze it ... TODAY! Who could pass up a deal like that. So, I've been enjoying my salmon - a little each day, but when I saw this sauce from Cedars, it was all the inspiration I needed. My culinary mojo was back!

I've since discovered several recipes for making your own tzatziki but I do like the convenience of having it in the fridge for me whenever I need.

So ... back to the recipe for Spinach Salmon Pasta:
You need:
  • pasta (cooked to al dente and then tossed with just a bit of butter)
  • spinach (I pinch off the stems, toss in with the hot butter pasta and cover with a lid to do the slightest of slight wilt)

  • cherry tomatoes halved
  • flaked salmon (I baked my salmon at 350 seasoned with a lemon pepper mix for about 20 minutes or until the flesh was flakey)
Arrange the pasta spinach mix on a plate; scattered tomatoes artfully around the edges; add a mound of salmon on top of the mix; and for the final touch, a dollop of tzatziki on the salmon. I did add fresh pepper and a pinch of sea salt.

And as usually happens when I prepare a dish on the fly, off the cuff, improvising as I go ... I have no measurements or amounts. I followed the vision in my head and according to my taste preferences. But to help serve as a guide:
for one serving ...
  • about 1.5 cups of cooked pasta (I used about 2 handfuls into the boiling water)
  • about 1 cup of spinach
  • about 8 cherry tomatoes
  • about 3-4 ounces of salmon
  • about 1 heaping tablespoon of tzatziki
Definitely a keeper and I'll be listening for a special on salmon again and buying and freezing ahead! Let me know if you try this quick healthy dinner and what you think.