Traveling, I Hope

The weather forecast for tomorrow is "Winter Storm" with 100% possibility of snow or rain. The temperature? The weather people are saying 38 degrees. The snow wasn't supposed to begin until afternoon but now the forecast says morning. UGH!

But until I hear different from Orbitz, I'm just going to keep thinking I'm traveling tomorrow.

I made the Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake for G's evening desserts while I'm away. It smells and looks lovely. I fiddled a bit with the recipe, which reminds me, I should made notes on the recipe card. I also turned the remainder of the No Knead Loaf into croutons for salads. Waste not. Tonight G is having Sausage, Mushroom and Onion Pizza again because he liked it so much the last time. And there will be extra to have with soup or salad one night this week.

This coming Sunday, a group of foodies is having a "No Shopping Week". They are going to try and make all the week's meals out of the freezer and pantry. You know, all that food we buy and then just store. Until it goes bad. I am so bummed about being gone for this. Sounds like good fun. Inventive meals. Everyone will be making suggestions of recipes for the odd assortment of things we have available to cook. Especially as they get closer to Saturday. I may have to do it when I get back home. No stockpiling. Just roll with it. And, yes, you can go get milk or eggs if you really MUST in order to make something. But no cart of groceries.

My walking buddy is back here in Maine for a few days (been away 6 weeks) and she is eating anything that is open in her cupboard. Crackers, cereal, stuff like that. She did purchase some milk and eggs but nothing else. She will be trying to fly back to Florida tomorrow.

G has arrived home to joyous doggie greetings. The pizza was another success and my re heated soup and two large salads was very filling. The croutons so much better than store bought.

I had a very bad time today, trying on clothes and finding that most of last spring's wardrobe is way too tight. Mostly in the waist and hips. I am happy that I tried things on instead of just packing and thinking they would fit. So now I have to chose and pack.

Clothes for gardening. Clothes for going places. Clothes for cutting and piecing a baby quilt......... I selected, ironed, cut and stacked fabric for my applique circles. The 8.5 squares were WAY too big so I went with 5.5 inch squares and an appliqued 4 inch circle in the center. I also chose thread to go with the fabrics and have needles and clippers. I even packed some freezer paper in case K doesn't stock any in her quilt room. I have a journal, pens and a glue stick for the daily updates.

Now I guess I need to go stuff things in the carry on and be ready to go. Tomorrow I have to have the dog walked before my daughter picks me up to drive to Portland. So dog walk followed by shower and a quick check to see if I have everything.

I need to smear peanut butter on the Kong and stick it into the freezer overnight so Riley will have something to do when I leave. Before he falls asleep. Monday, Riley goes to the kennel for 11 days. He'll be exhausted and dirty when we pick him up. And "So Happy" to see his nice cushy beds and toys. He'll be "roughing" it at the kennel.

Now to pack. And then set the TiVo to record things that I might miss seeing. So much to do. I will NEED a vacation after all this stress! Cheers!

Not Over Until the Fat Lady Sings

We have a preview of Spring with swelling buds on the forsythia but they have been that way for several weeks now.

Last night and this morning we had heavy wet snowfall. Heart Attack Snow. G and I worked together to clear off the long driveway and garage apron. And the huge pile the plow heaps up at the bottom of the driveway. That's the heart attack part. We are wet, tired and later today, we'll be sore. Best part. While G is in the shower, after shoveling, the power goes out. I had to go in and light the bathroom candle (no windows). Nothing as exciting as a shower in complete darkness. When the town plow comes back he will certainly plow all the shoveled snow right back into the drive. It's what they do for laughs.

I have two estimates for my leaking chimney. One for $6600 to take down the 24 year old chimney and replace it with a properly built (ahem) new chimney. And one for $5600 to take down the chimney and replace the roof shingles and put up cedar clapboard, fascia etc. I have one more estimate to get. Take down chimney and replace with windows.

The brick faced hearth inside the house was built with proper bricks and is in good condition. And the hearth is a design element of the great room. So removal will change the look and character of my home. I wonder how great the importance of this brick is to the house's value? If I leave the hearth, I can eventually get a gas fired wood stove to replace the wood burning stove that I detest. No need for a chimney with a gas "wood" stove. And once we have opened Pandora's box (propane service), then I can have a gas stove and gas logs in the living room fire place. Of course, there is installation of gas lines and tank etc. $$$$.

I am certainly spending money (or thinking of spending money) like a sailor on shore leave. I can hear that fat lady warming up in the wings. I wonder if G and I could take down the chimney ourselves. A little do it yourself project. I don't like paying $75 an hour for someone to do something I could do for free. I can't build a chimney, but I can haul bricks in a wheelbarrow. It might take me 4 months to finish but I could still do it.

Lunch at 111 Maine today after we do errands. We need to visit the post office, bank, Petco (Riley's food for his kennel vacation) and Home Depot. I need to revisit the grocery store for some Graham crackers, cream cheese, eggs and a lemon. I'm making Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake for G's desserts next week (while I'm gone). I think I added cream cheese last time I made this. I wish I could buy three eggs, not six.

Pot Roast tomorrow in the crock pot. With mashed potatoes, green peas and cole slaw. My all time favorite meal. What's not to love about a good pot roast, huh?

Tuesday

I made it through Monday. I got all four of my items on the list accomplished. Today the sun is shining and I have an appointment to get my hair cut. But first, walking the dog.

I wanted to talk about this. On Sunday evening, the dog decided NOT to lay on his dog bed in front of the couch where G and I watch evening television. We tried to coax him but he just stood there. And then he did the most amazing and perplexing thing. He began to make "sounds" while making eye contact. He was trying to communicate. To explain why he couldn't lay on the bed. And when it was obvious to him that we didn't understand, he sighed and lay down on the wood floor.

Last night I removed all the bedding and replaced the cover with one of his favorite beach towels and he lay right down and fell asleep. So something isn't "right" about the bedding. It could be the Febreze. All the bedding will be washed, again today and hopefully whatever "smell" it had, will be washed off. And I guess the Febreze can be used to keep him away from things we don't want him sleeping on.

The soups I made yesterday were (are) delicious. I enjoyed the cutting and chopping. "habit is more powerful than will". I almost made 1200 calories yesterday but went over. As I wrote in my journal. I can only try each day. The next day is another chance. Today I begin with oatmeal and coffee. And I have no idea where they day will take me.

When I go to work outside the home, the "habit" of employment takes over. The list of things to get done each morning starting with washing your face and ending with packing your tote and getting into the car. It all falls into place (unless something goes wrong) and each morning is the same as the one before. The evenings follow a pattern or "habit" also. Arrival, dog greetings, dog walk, change clothes, prepare the meal, eat, news, cleanup (laundry) and settle into the couch to fall asleep. Working outdoors, I fall asleep by 9 pm, which is very unusual for me.

So, in order to get any art done around here, I need the "habit" of art making. I need to begin in some small way to include art making in the pattern of my day. Mornings are spent eating breakfast in front of this keyboard. Reading blogs, sending comments and reading the newspaper on line. Then I dress for the day and walk the dog. Errands are done after the walk and the dog's lunch. (he still eats three meals a day) Afternoons are frittered away and this is where I can make the new habit fit into my day. Today. Not too much. Just a start.

My plans for the day. Get Dressed. Walk Dog. Return Book To Borders. Get Hair Cut. Groceries (return tomato paste in a tube/ buy G yogurt, juice, noodles). Throw dog stuff into washer/dryer. Make some small bit of fabric art or paint. Make Dinner.

Wish me luck.

Another Monday

I was reading a post on grief over at the Voodoo Cafe, and got to thinking that maybe that's what's wrong with me these days. Some type of cellular grief. It maybe the reason I am dragging my feet re: settling my dad's estate. This is not depression with all the usual attachments of sleeping all day, wearing pajamas all day (only half the day) and eating a number of grilled cheese sandwiches while reading and re reading the same book over and over. That kind of depression isn't depicted on the television advertisements.

So here I am, in my pajamas, trying to avoid walking the dog. Once I'm dressed and outdoors, it's good. I'm just not that interested until I am outside the house. And, while it isn't as cold, it is very gray and icy outside.

I made a lovely Valentine's Day dinner. Steaks, baked potatoes, asparagus and wild baby green greens in a salad with homemade croutons. Dessert (for G) was a nice deep chocolate brownie. Dessert for me was finishing the bottle of merlot. Yes, I did.

Yesterday, spent out shopping thrifts with my daughter, I threw together a pasta with fried onion, bacon and mushrooms with Parmesan cheese for G. I had some toast with peanut butter.

The diet isn't going all that well. I just don't care. I'm not motivated. I look old and flabby and lumpy and my skin is still hanging in wrinkles like a deflated old balloon from the last diet. There isn't even any food that would "comfort" me. There isn't any book I want to read or reread. I have trouble falling asleep so sleeping all day isn't even possible. I have things I could be doing but it's like I'm dragging a 1000 pound weight around with me called procrastination.

So small steps today. Get Dressed. Walk Dog. Make Soup. Clean Sheets On Bed.

The Art Rule for Today: Number 8. Use Intuition/ Master Technology. Did you notice the link? I think intuition requires a "leap of faith" and so does technology. Every time I press the publish button--- I wonder.

Une Balance

I had forgotten how complete the concentration was with the 1200 calories a day. Deciding what to eat, when. If I have this now, can I have that, later. It is day four. I have been hungry only in the deprived "I want that" sense. I want bread.

I went back and read my food diaries from the 365 days. The first diary had the best food choices. An actual breakfast of toast and an egg. An actual lunch of soup or a sandwich-- with bread. Dinner was usually a large salad. Later diaries had a slice of cheese and 15 almonds as lunch. For the same calorie count I could have had a few ounces of good bread and an ounce of 50% reduced cheese. Or an apple. In the first diary, I always had an apple with me, in case. so I have packed up all the other diaries and have the first one sitting next to my journal. These next few weeks will be noted in the regular journal. As I won't be thinking of anything else anyway.

I bought my plane ticket and will be visiting K in Atlanta later this month. Riley will go to the kennel to run with the "big dogs" and G will get to come home from work and sleep on the couch after eating restaurant meals. In other words, we all get to do what we enjoy.

I will be returning to work after I get back from my vacation. I miss working. It adds stability to my days. Purpose. And I get everything else done in the time after work.

I am now considering what sort of project to take with me on my vacation. I usually bring some sort of applique. I have a French inspired quilt top I have wanted to make. All I need to do to get ready is cut out squares (need to decide on the perfect size square) and cut out freezer paper circles (that fit on the chosen square). Then iron the freezer paper circles onto more squares. I'll hand stitch a circle onto each square and when they are all finished, sew all the squares together. Simple. The fabric is the star. And since I truly, deeply, adore fabric, this seems like a good small project. I can make 5 or 6 each evening while watching television.

When I made my chicken quilt, I stitched a chicken head each evening for 12 evenings. My dad would watch me work and I always gave him the finished work to look over. He would run his hands over the surface, concentrating on the design and technique. I loved sharing my work with him. And in the afternoons he would come by the front bedroom in his house (I had made it my workspace) and watch me cut and select the applique pieces for that evening's chicken. Later he watched me piece the 13 baskets and start putting it all together. I have it on my wall, right here, where I see it each and everyday. An emotional journal.

We bought some ShamWow! towels at Target on Monday and they have come in handy as the woodstove brick fireplace has water running down the back wall. And I need to keep soaking it up and wringing the towels out into a pail. I called a local woodstove company and they repair chimneys (???) so I have them coming out next week to look see. Probably a cracked flue liner along with a number of broken and cracked bricks on top. I would really like the whole thing removed (even though it is beautiful) as I don't like the woodstove (dirty and smelly), the smoke makes it hard for me to breath (allergy to smoke), and we only use it in ice storms. I would prefer a gas fired stove if we have to have one, and, really, I would rather have windows where the brick fireplace is now. We will settle for the solution that is least expensive. And after the chimney is repaired ( or removed) we will have new roof shingles put up. I think there are a few places near the many skylights where the shingles are leaking. The shingles up there have lasted, in good condition, for 24 years. We'll replace them with the same quality shingles.

And a new furnace. And a new refrigerator. Both because a newer one will be more cost efficient. The furnace is 24 years old and the fridge is 18 years old. And I have hated that fridge for each and every one of the 18 years. As you can see, I will be doing my part to stimulate the economy. Une Balance in everything.

Southern Winds & Warming Sun

The January thaw has arrived. Forty four degrees. I had to take off my hat, my scarf, my gloves and the short down underjacket on the walk today. And then I pulled out the lawn chair and took a short rest in the sunshine.

My photo today was taken many weeks ago and I still haven't cracked the thriller on the left open but I have read parts of this vegetable gardening book. I like it. I might want to own it. It would certainly come in handy if I return to work at the greenhouse (please let me return to work at the greenhouse). Since my wish hasn't been granted yet--I filed online for my next week's unemployment check. I file on Sunday and the check is here in my mailbox on Wednesday. Like magic. Who knew the government could be this efficient?

I have been reading VooDooCafe and really enjoy the way Rice writes. I need to link to this blog but do not have the url handy now that Paula has given me very good (most excellent in fact) instructions on how to "link". That little card was here yesterday...........

Today is Sunday so we are having SOUP. I used the last "broccoli crown" in the veg drawer. Thank heavens it was lurking in there because I didn't have much else to work with. I melted the last few tablespoons of butter and sauteed a diced onion and a big carrot, also diced and the aforementioned broccoli chopped up with the stems diced. I salted and peppered lightly. Added some dry basil and paprika. Then spooned 2 tablespoons of flour in the pot and mixed it in so as to make a roux (of sorts) while the water kettle heated up. I added 2 cups of water and 2 vegetable boullion cubes and let everything simmer till "not raw anymore" which I guess is 10 or 15 minutes on low. I also added one 15 ounce can of corn, drained and one can (same size) of diced tomatoes, drained. That's where we are right now. When it's time to eat, I'll heat the soup up and add 1 pint of light cream (I have some half and half and some milk in the fridge) and 3/4 cup of shredded cheddar. Once the milk and cheese goes in--no boiling or you get vegetables and curds soup. Not as popular around here.

The sausage, mushroom and onion pizza was VERY popular on Friday evening. I browned the sausage first till it was crispy. I don't like juicy meat. I like meat that is dark brown and crispy. I like it past done. G's best friend, Charlie, always asks in diners and restaurants, for "the roast chicken you have in the kitchen, the one that's overcooked and dry and you're planning to pitch". What they serve him is never dry enough. Charlie always starts my hotdogs early and doesn't call me to the grill to pick them up until they are blackened charcoal. Got to love a guy who makes that kind of effort.

My pizza had three slices of bacon, diced and very crispy, red onion and green peppers. Not very interesting (not enough bacon) so I added red pepper flakes after baking. And I tried something new and stretched the ball of pizza dough over my knuckles to make a perfect circular pizza. Chewy crust. I had been rolling it with a rolling pin and it was "breadlike". Stretched over the knuckles is the way to go.

I have surrendered to the knowledge that I have to return to the 1200 calories a day eating plan. I don't want to, but just "trying" to eat right is only resulting in a half pound of weight loss a week. At this rate, I will be doing this for years. I just want it over with. I want the twenty pounds gone by the time I stop wearing my winter clothes.

So I started counting, weighing, adding, multiplying and dividing everything I eat. My blueberry pancakes this morning were already 770 calories so I don't have much to work with for the remainder of today. I made the pancakes because I WANTED THEM and it's best to get those sorts of things out of the way. I also WANTED the nachos I had for lunch yesterday. You can see why I wasn't doing very well on the "honor system".

So all that is now in the past. Not that I eat that way, usually. I tend to eat moderately and am paying for excesses in eating that occurred in the fall and winter at work when I ate bagels and big lunches and bacon pizza and doughnuts and handfuls of fried peanuts. Yes, I did. So now I have to suffer because of all that eating at work. And when I return to work I have to be very careful not to do it again. Or I have to stay home, where I tend to be very good about what I eat. I could blame it all on Kenny. He's the one who kept buying all those pepperoni and bacon pizzas and sharing them with everyone in the lunchroom. I think I will eat in my truck in the parking lot when I return to work. And chew gum.

Friday-The Day I Don't Walk The Dog

G finally has a day off and he will be walking the dog today. I can rest my left foot. I even got to sleep late today (10 am) and haven't finished my coffee yet. I was reading blogs. The dog usually sighs and sits patiently (for as long as he can) while I read blogs and type comments, and then he comes over and wedges his big head over my left typing hand and pushes until I get his message. Or he goes over and rings the bell we have on the back door.

The sun has been strong this past week, even though it's been very cold (yesterday it was 10 when we walked) and my winter tan is shaping up nicely. I look healthy with a tan and tired and old without one. Paste-y. I drag my cheap lawn chair on to the back "stoop" and settle in for a little sun while Riley digs holes all over the yard looking for buried treasure. There are times when only his butt and tail are still visible. I have to be out there with him when he digs. He's social.

We are having a new pizza (for us) tonight. Italian sausage, mushroom and onion with red pepper flakes. I think my pizza will be onion, green pepper and black olives. I could add bacon. I have bacon in the freezer now as part of the "well stocked freezer". Bacon was on sale (sort of) and I bought 2 pounds. I cut long strips of parchment paper and lay 3 strips of thick cut bacon on the paper and rolled it up and placed the rolls in freezer bags. Very convenient to just pull a roll of bacon out and use it for soup, carbonara or pizza. We're having Italian sausage because a nice package of two butcher shop links was in the "marked down meat" bin when I was in the grocery this week.

What I really want and crave is Nachos. And a Margarita.

I had a good hair day yesterday. Usually my hair has given me a "lunatic" sort of vibe this winter. Standing up and swirling around in crazy patterns. I lost my favorite hat from last winter and have been using a combo of wool and fleece to warm my head. This combo itches and makes my head too hot so I am forever pulling my hat off and putting it back on when my head starts to ice over. Where did my hat go? Probably fell out of my pocket one day last spring while I was digging around looking for a hankie.

Riley expects a treat every time I stop to dig in my pocket looking for that hankie. When I was in kindergarten my mom pinned the hankie to my slip. We had to have, and show, a fresh hankie in school every day. I usually lost mine if it wasn't pinned to my slip. And all notes from home to school or school to home were pinned to my slip. I was a real air head, I guess. My report cards always mentioned my complete lack of attention to what was being done at school. Earth to Joanne? And I didn't get high marks for "playing well with others". But, later, my excellent penmanship got me the honor of writing all the vocabulary lists on the blackboard in third or fourth grade. Perfect s's, r's and t's.

I just sprayed the house with a new bottle of Febreze and I'm not too excited about the smell. Woods and rainwater don't smell like this. I may have to open windows. I think the dog smell was better than this smell.

Surrounded By Beauty

I have been rather forlorn lately. But how can I continue feeling this way, when surrounded, as I am, with beauty and happiness? This blooming Clivia would cause any gardener's heart to race and who couldn't melt when greeted by an enthusiastic dog (waggling his tail)?

Two days ago I was stumped with trying to list 50 things that made me happy. The first item I wrote down was: 1. happy the milk for my oatmeal wasn't spoiled (sour).

I am pleased that you liked my chairs. I like them, too, and I loved seeing the other 12. What I loved most was the stories the chairs told. a simple chair. Really, not so simple at all. and that is truly the artist's gift. To take something ordinary and make it say something just by the way you presented it. And why was it that most of the chair seats were pointed to the right? Is it because that's the way we read? from left to right.

I just finished re reading a wonderful book, "Bread Alone" by Judith Ryan Hendricks. I have enjoyed the seemly effortless style of writing this author has and the way the story progresses in a very natural way. Like real life. I have the sequel waiting for me. After walking the dog.

I was pleased to see the President get out of the White House, even briefly, to read to some second graders with Michelle. He must feel so "TRAPPED". I know he wanted the job, but people aren't co operating (and not telling the truth or paying their taxes) and he can't just go for a walk or go visit a good friend down the street.

The Democrats are so delighted to shoot themselves in the foot. Here was a golden opportunity to be THE party and instead they have given the Republicans so much to work with. Such fools. I'm sorry, but every appointee who has taxes owed should resign. Even the ones already confirmed. If I have to pay, they have to pay. And where was the (Republican led) IRS? If I make a mistake on one year's taxes, the IRS audits all my returns just in case I made the same mistake again. Why didn't they audit the new Treasury secretary? Their new boss. Shameful! Really, I am ashamed to be a Democrat. Tim needs to be unemployed.

The crock pot full of pulled pork was excellent. I served it with steamed broccoli and roasted potato chunks. Which leads me to this "tip". The new Reynolds non stick Release foil is excellent to line your baking sheets. The potatoes browned up nicely and didn't stick (slid right off into the serving bowl). Better yet, this is the fourth time I have used the SAME sheet of release foil. I simply wash it, dry it and return it to the baking sheet (which I also wash and dry). Since it's release foil, nothing sticks to it and it cleans up beautifully. Why throw it away? I wash it while it's still on the baking sheet and then remove it to dry flat on the counter top.

Okay, time to dress in every warm item I own, strap the YakTraks on my boots and walk the dog over snow covered, ice covered, streets. And bag any waste my dog deposits on the very tippy top of the highest snow bank he can find. At times the dog leash is stretched straight up over my head. Like I'm walking a dog kite. No wonder my shoulder aches.

Friend Of Twelve by Twelve -Chairs

Chairs. Here are the two fabric collage chairs that I made for this challenge. Positive and negative images. I painted the green fabric for the chair on the left and cut it out. Later, I thought about using the leftover fabric image layered over the background.

This chair collage has painted fabric times two. The pink"floral" is commercial fabric over painted and marked with a dye pen.

Here the painted green fabric, negative image of the chair, sits on top of the background and I slipped additional fabric scraps under the painted fabric to add interest to the chair legs. I used parts of the enlarged photocopy of the original paper collage and letters cut from the background fabric used in the first fabric chair collage. This chair is a combination of fabric and paper.

I had fun making these two chairs and I enjoyed painting the fabrics, layering the textures and adding hand stitching. I have "plans" to try this style on a few more still life subjects and would like to make a large (45 by 60) chair to see if it translates to a larger size. I haven't been very successful so far in creating larger versions of small works.

I Found Some Wonky Inspiration

This is the picture I wanted to post yesterday. My clivia is ready to bloom. and that's my applique Chickens and French Baskets quilt. I pieced the baskets and appliqued the handles by hand. And redrew the pattern which was for a smaller, very country style quilt. Still haven't added the binding.

Anyway, I was reading Simply Robin this morning and came across the "Project Improv" started by "tallgrassprairiestudio.blogspot.com" (I still do not know how to link) and also read her "wonky log cabin block tutorial" (in her sidebar) because it had huge polka dots (white on black) and you know, I am ALL about the polka dots! I even have a piece of yardage with big white dots on a red background which I had no idea how to use in some super cute design. Now I am going to make polka dot wonky log cabins. The tutorial is EXCELLENT! I discovered I had been making my "wonky" cuts a lot too severe and that any cut intensifies as the block grows. The compass pin is a great idea from Denise Schmidt.

The "Project Improv" invites everyone to join in and make a wonky quilt plus an extra 12 inch block for a future charity quilt (quilts). You get to select a color combo from a list. But if you just want to play and make one block--well, they need them by April 1st. So start your wonky up!

The rain started at around 7 pm and all our new snow has a crusty top layer which is making dog fun in the yard a struggle. So G ran lots of paths all over the yard with the snow blower so we could chase the dog around the yard (on the paths). It's like a maze but instead of boxwood hedges, we have banks of ice covered snow. And the sun is BLINDING! Riley (the dog) may need some of those ridiculous dog sun goggles.

We eat out today at 111 Maine (if it is still in business, so far about 6 businesses on our Maine Street have closed, just gave up, walked away) so I get the day off and don't have to cook tonight. We usually eat lunch late and just need some popcorn while watching CSI, though we don't like the new guy so may not be watching much CSI now that Grissom is gone. We do have "Life on Mars" to watch on TiVo and Law and Order (from last night when we watched Top Chef).

Editor's Note: These Art Rules or Working Suggestions are from the Painter's Keys and are not my own. And comments on the rules ARE mine alone.

Art Rule #6. Work Alone. Well, that's about all I have to work with here in Maine. Me. Alone. and that's not working so hot for me right now.

Art Rule #7. Replace passive consumption with creative production. What does this mean? Stop shopping and start making things out of saved onion mesh bags? Passive Consumption. Passive : receptive to outside impressions or influences. Consumption: the utilization of economic goods in the satisfaction of wants or in the process of production resulting chiefly in their destruction, deterioration or transformation.

Rule #7 is heavy. So don't transform your supplies into things other people have already made. And we all know Rule #2 which is all about having enough equipment and supplies. So we have to take all our stockpiled supplies and equipment and use them in creative ways, that no one else has yet discovered.

On another, completely different subject, while watching Thomas Hardy's Tess on Masterpiece Theater, I found myself completely wanting a wool shoulder/wrap around to the small of the back scarf like the one Tess wore during the winter scenes. Warm, but out of the way. Meaning not likely to drop into paint, the sink, or a pot of soup or get caught in the kitchen drawers when closed. Anyone out there, who knits, want to make one for me? Or would this be an easy beginner project, if one had a pattern. Probably a big triangle with long tails.

Time for a shower. Laundry. Suduko puzzle. And G just found a message on his cell phone from my Dad's attorney so I guess I have to return her call and find out what she wants.

Post 500

Yes, I have posted 500 times in the past 41 months. That factors out to 12.2 posts per month. And that sounds about right. Three times a week. Not that I think I will be posting this today as Blogger is going "belly up" in the snow storm. Everyone must be home writing stuff on the internet.

We drove over to P's house today and tried, unsuccessfully, to get her iMac to accept a working email account. After several hours on the phone with her internet provider we came to the conclusion that there is something very wrong with the iMac. I think she needs to consult with the previous owners. G needs to get down to the serious work here at home: snow blowing the driveway before it starts to RAIN. We have about 8 to 12 inches of new dry snow and it'll be easy to get up NOW, but after it rains; forget about it!

I am ready to move onto Art Rule #4. Think of work as exercise. Well, I think exercise is work. I know what this is supposed to mean. Work on your art like it was a daily exercise like walking the dog. Just put on the shoes, coat, scarf, mittens and get out there and walk. So for the art exercise, just get into the studio and do something. Pick up fabric and sew it to another piece. And then another. Easy to write here, but hard for me to actually do. I do much better when I have a deadline for getting something done. The reason this isn't working for me is I have no reason to make anything. No abiding passion for the work right now.

My only passion right now is cooking. And eating. Only good things in moderation, but food is what I think about, plan for and enjoy the work of creating. Right now. And posting on my blog about what I am cooking.

If I skip ahead to Art Rule #5 - Explore series development and exhaust personal themes. I did this once and made 5 pieces. I sold piece 4 and 5 as soon as they were viewed. I had taken the first piece and kept modifying it, but after 5, I got bored with the size and process. It could be that I had taken that particular theme as far as it could go in that size or method. I did make 4 pieces in the Anger series and the one people like the best is #1. I guess I ran out of anger after making that one and shouldn't have continued. But I happen to like #4 best. Maybe I work best in a limited series of 4 or 5 pieces in a theme. Short attention span theater.

So here we are, 500 posts, and nothing more to say. Dinner tonight, after all the snow is cleared off the driveway, will be pizza and salad. Lots of pizza for G and just a few corners (my favorite part, for me. And lots of salad. G will also finish the last piece of triple chocolate brownie cake. Or I might just have a big bowl of popcorn.

Sunday Art

I finished the placemats I started this summer. I had read a blog about a Japanese theme of having an emotional and artistic attachment to things in your daily life. I thought I would begin with something I see everyday. The fabric beneath my breakfast and dinner. I had been using commercial placemats forever. But these placemats would be artistic expressions. Blue with dots for me and yellow for G. No matter what happens, or where we eat, or what we eat; these placemats will be a reminder, a memory, of all the meals, all the days we have used them.

I used fabrics that resonated with me. Fabric I had painted mixed with fabrics I loved to use. I took bits and pieces and layed them on batting, moving, adding, subtracting until I had a design that made me smile. And then I used invisible thread to zigzag the strips and squares down. Last night I sewed the binding on and left them on the table in anticipation for our first (of many) meals with these pieces of art.

G loves the color of yellow and I used pieces of fabric that spoke to a sunny yellow feeling with some memories of summer flowers. The little label in the center has more meaning now than it did when I added it. Battle tested. At 62, you would think we were past that, but no, we are still being tested. G was surprised this morning when he sat down to his early morning breakfast (in the dark, it was so early).

Today it is very cold and windy. The walk with the dog will require lots of bundling up. And after --- well, I plan to return to the studio to stitch my chairs. I am quite excited by how they are looking so far.

Today's Sunday Soup is going to be Carrot, Orange, Ginger for G. Something bright and cheerful on a cold winter day with some simple yeast bread. I have a free pattern from Spool for a Blue Bird which I may turn into a Robin. A bit of handstitching later today in felted wools. I'm not sure how to attach the wire or wood legs to the little body, but I will make the bird first.

Art rule #3- Set short and long term goals. (Rule #2 was having enough equipment and supplies)- I've sort of been stuck on rule #2 for about 8 years now, time to move to #3.

Blurry Robin

On our walk today, Riley noticed some fat robins sitting in a crab tree, next to a very tall snow bank. Next thing I knew, he jumped to the top of the snow bank and nearly "got" a robin. Good thing the robins were awake. Or alert. Pardon the terrible picture. I really do need a new camera. The focus on this one isn't working anymore.

Later, as we finally were able to move on (no robins coming back to the tree), I realized that I was hearing birds chirping and seeing birds flying around. It's been so cold here in Maine that it is usually silent except for the sounds of snow blowers and plows. So birdsong. And robins. And sunshine. This may just be that January thaw "tease" we have in mid winter. And then February beats us down again. Though, I think winter just about gave up by Valentine's Day last year.

The Chicken Marsala was fantastic, G said. I didn't eat any. So I drew 4 stars at the top of the recipe card so I would know that it's a good card. I sauteed, reduced, finished with butter. I even piled and then twisted the pasta on the plate for excellent presentation.

I painted fabric yesterday and worked on my Chair. In fact, I now have a positive and a negative image of the chair. I just need to get the sewing machine going and stitch the two chairs down. I enjoyed painting. I, of course, didn't have the colors of paint I wanted, but in the end what I did have was exactly what was needed. Funny how that happens. There is a recognizable style in my work when I use my own painted fabric.

I came up with an idea for some fabric Valentine's that I could possibly sell for the coming holiday. I don't know whether I have enough time to get it done and into a retail venue. But I will keep working on the prototype. And another idea for Mother's Day. I want to keep it pretty simple because it is production work and that can be so boring. Both are very small and therefore inexpensive, IF I don't over do the amount of time it takes to make the things.

I could use the money to buy a camera.

Pictures Of Our Lunch

This was my choice. Half a house salad with a grilled three cheese foccachia (excuse the spelling) with a cup of black bean bisque to start. I had no breakfast and popcorn (no butter) for dinner so the healthy eating plan continues.

This is G's Flank Steak Philly with the star attraction --- the Crispy Fried Potatoes which I didn't order. And he didn't share!

My find at TJ Maxx. Paper coiled bowls. Two sizes. Large will hold my 5#'s of red grapefruit for $2.99. (this week's special) I love these paper bowls because they are recycled paper. The text on the rolled paper suggests an Asian source.

My baked black bean soup turned out fantastic and will be served as my lunch today. The popcorn (fresh jar) popped very nice this time and G and I enjoyed our treat in front of the television. We watched NCIS, Bones & CSI and at 9:45 Riley started begging us for "bedtime". He couldn't wait till 10 pm, and it didn't matter that he had been sound asleep since 7. He likes everyone to go to bed and then he can sleep without wondering if we are going to get up and walk around, make popcorn etc.

We drove past the library yesterday so, of course, there are books waiting for us to pick up today. Books for G. My books have been renewed so I can let them sit unread for another 2 or 3 weeks.

I got a property tax bill for the house in Ohio I inherited from my dad. And an insurance bill for the car I inherited that is sitting in the garage of the house I inherited in Ohio. I'm hoping that the mail brings 1099's for my dad's bank accounts in the next few days so I can contact his accountant and send everything to her to file his taxes for 2008. My dad's lawyer is being very helpful in sending papers, filing things and answering my questions. I just feel so overwhelmed.

I am walking down to G's office after I post this to enlarge the chair I have for my Twelve by Twelve piece due February 1st. And then walking into my studio to set up my painting station. Then walking the dog. Then painting fabric. G just left for work. I think I might add some nails to the wall in my bedroom and hang some more of my fabric work up, if I can find some small nails. That's my day.

The waitress yesterday (when she saw me taking pictures of our lunch) asked if I wrote a "food blog" and really, I had to stop and think about that, since I do write about food a great deal and really enjoy cooking. I was going to write about the two chicken dishes I will be making this evening, but maybe not.

111 Maine

Now that G is working again, we have returned to our weekly lunch at 111 Maine in Brunswick. How do we love thee? Let me count the ways. Daily soups: Carrot Orange Ginger, Crab Bisque, Black Bean Bisque, Butternut Bisque. G's favorite Flank Steak Philly with Port marinated grilled onions. Crispy fried potatoes with lemon. And then there is the Big House French Press Coffee and Pie with the most delicious whipped cream. But, alas, no pie for a long time now.

We also stopped at TJ Maxx and guess what? It was Customer Appreciation Day and 15% off the total of what you spent. We got sale pajamas, a sweater and capri tights and a #26 Le Creuset cast iron casserole. Now I have #24, #26 and #28.

#28 was in the 300 degree oven while we were out. Union Street Cafe Black Bean Soup was baking for four hours. One pound of beans, one cup each of onion, carrot and celery, 2 quarts water, 2 cloves garlic, salt, pepper and thyme and 4 ounces of bacon were brought to a boil and then covered and set into the oven. And it's Good. I used the immersion blender to smooth it all out. I think a small dollop of sour cream on top and I will be happy.

I think #28 will be going in the oven with my Linsensuppe recipe next. I may start baking all my soups. I use #24 for No Knead Bread. Don't know what #26 will be responsible for yet. Perhaps spaghetti and meatballs which I also bake or brisket. I love new pots and pans.

I purchased 6 more 12 inch square gallery wrapped canvases at Big Lots. I plan to mount fiber work on the canvases either by stitching or adhesive (I've noticed both methods on fiber sites). The canvases were $5 each and have wide width stretchers which I like. I may mount my Twelve by Twelve work or some of the other small fabric collage I have. Or I may paint them.

I have come to accept the basic truth of who I am: a painter. I paint with fabric, paper and even with paint. But painting is what makes me tick (if I let it). It's the business that occupies me so totally that time no longer exists. And I NEVER have allowed myself to just paint. For hours, days, months, years, decades. When? Now.

I have Chairs on my mind and will be doing that project with some painted fabric, some collage and some stitching. I'm using a paper collage I made as inspiration. The floor in my studio is clear, the work table is empty and I found a crib mattress protector to use under my painted fabric. No reason not to start painting fabric. You should be seeing stuff on this blog in a matter of days. Soon as it dries.

I was in the car, on Tuesday, and while sitting and waiting to turn left, I said to myself, "what are you waiting for? You have the money from your father and you can go back to school, take classes, buy a printing press and make prints, vacation in Paris, paint pictures. What are you waiting for? What are you going to do with the LAST quarter of your life?"

Have you lived your life as I have? The First Quarter of my life was spent going to school and not doing my homework. The Second Quarter of my life was as a wife and mother and I think I did a better job than I had in school. The Third Quarter was spent working for a living. I think it would have been more enjoyable if I had paid more attention in the First Quarter and actually had a "career". So now we are in the Fourth Quarter, the place where the fat lady sings.

So many excuses. Have you seen the trailer for "Who Does She Think She Is?" Women who were artists AND wives, mothers and employees. Maybe not the BEST wives, mothers or employees but that's because ART was FIRST. Not Last. They got it right, from the beginning!

No Picture Today

I wanted to post but the sun has gone down and taking a picture (of what?) just to have a picture is kinda lame. So no picture.

Yesterday tired me out. I got back from running errands and getting my hair cut, in time to see the swearing in and the "speech". Then Riley and I went for our two mile walk and got back in time to see the bodies being removed from the luncheon (dramatic license). The parade was WAY too long and the balls don't really look very much like "balls" with 5ooo people shuffling around in a room the size of a football field eating cafeteria food.

Michele needs some fashion advice as the open coat in 17 degree weather was ridiculous. The dress and a sweater even more so for the lunch and the dress with the train was not meant for dancing unless she was taught how to hold the train up behind her left hip as she danced. She wasn't. The first daughters were very cute.

Coverage on all the stations went on and on but was always kind (except for Glenn Beck on Fox who went off about the racist comments in the benediction). Black not moving back. Brown stick around (Mexicans crossing the borders?), Yellow being mellow (?) and White doing right. Glenn didn't like the white doing right. Racist. And Beck SAW Obama SMILE at the benediction. All the PROOF needed to, shall we say, "tar and feather" the new president? Fox. When you think they can't sink further, they do.

On that note, I switched to TiVo and watched some cooking shows and a Mentalist re run.

G had today off so we did some chores and had Chinese lunch. A quiet day filing and paying bills and taxes, dropping clothes at Goodwill -- that sort of thing. I have one more load of laundry to wash and dry and clean sheets to put on the bed. G is playing with Riley. Almost time for the evening news. A slow quiet day.

Chicken Marsala and Black Bean Soup tomorrow. Popcorn tonight. It is whole grain so could be considered a meal. Sort of.

I Remember

The 1960's when we thought John Kennedy would be "the one". Today marks the beginning of new hope, new pride in American values.

I hope I will be back from my appointments in time to hear "the speech" delivered by our new President. And then we can all begin the hard work of rebuilding our country, our economy, our society. I'm ready. I've been ready since the 1960's.

Wonderful Saturday

The sun was shining, giving the false impression of warmer temperatures. Because we are scheduled for a snow storm tomorrow, everyone was at the grocery store today. Lines everywhere we went as people broke out of their homes and "shopped" in the sunshine. My daughter and I did our part for the economy. I got socks, coffee filters and tank tops (dreaming of summer) at Reny's; a cheap acrylic sweater at Goodwill along with a long sleeve tee and a glass bottle. I spent my usual $100 at the grocery store and remembered everything on my list. Even the spelt flour so I can make spelt crackers.

I've sprayed the cheap sweater with Febreze to remove the smell of Goodwill. I will be exchanging it with the shawl I usually throw over my cashmere sweaters (also thrift purchases) as another layer of insulation in my 60 degree house. The shawl keeps drifting into the sink, oven and other inconvenient places. I'm hoping this loose, jacket of a sweater will stay out of my way. It's a nubby dark grey, lightweight and easy to put on and take off. I think the cashmere sweaters end up at thrift stores because people get tired of the dry cleaning and never consider hand washing. I am spoiled by the feather light warmth of cashmere. I wish all my sweaters were made of this heavenly stuff. I have also decided that shawl collars are my favorite sweater style.

My purchase of socks was fueled by LL Bean cancelling my backorder of 4 pairs of my favorite socks. The lovely customer service rep thinks they won't be getting ANY of these socks in. Cancelled orders or a new vendor. Economic woes.

We are having pizza for supper tonight. I think we may start having pizza every Saturday and soup on Sunday. Makes the weekend less work for me. I don't mind cooking on weekdays but on the weekends I like to just do 'fun' stuff. So pizza and beer tonight. Chicken Noodle Soup and Butternut Bisque tomorrow.

I made the most delicious orange cranberry bread yesterday. I zested 3 navel oranges that were getting a bit too old to peel and eat, juiced them, soaked some Whole Foods dried cranberries in hot water till soft and mixed up the batter from a recipe in my 1960's vintage Better Homes cookbook. I added half cup of walnuts. I tend to overlook this treasured cookbook in favor of newer, hipper books. And sometimes forget that older is better. I have some No Knead bread dough sitting and rising for 18 hours. I'll bake it tomorrow around lunchtime.

I am in the midst of reading the new PD James mystery "Private Patient" and getting very British and proper. And wanting to visit London again. Does that happen to you when you read a good book? I used wholemeal flour in my no knead bread. That's the way they say it in London.

I am grateful for my daughter inviting me along on her shopping tour of Bath. It was good to get out of the house and not have to worry about driving on icy streets. The added bonus of the grocery store was great. We had just about run out of fresh food. Sam was excited to find chocolate miniwheat cereal (new). For dessert. When she was a teenager in Germany, she adored Muslix with tiny chocolate bits for breakfast. No nuts or seeds. Hasn't changed much in the intervening years.

The thrift shop clerk and I did get her to think about wearing her newly purchased denim short jumper dress OVER a pair of jeans. Especially if she intends to bend at the waist at any point in time while wearing the dress. Oh! she says. And she is thinking of topping the whole outfit off with a "grandpa" sweater. All I know is that the sweater has a zipper. Sam didn't think much of the shop owners suggestion of a dark burnt orange tee under the dress. I thought it looked fantastic. I have a little pink cotton "shrug" to try as my own something "new" in fashion. $5.

So, a wonderful Saturday. How was yours?

Minus One Degree

Riley and his toy monkey have the right idea. Pressed up against the baseboard heat source, in front of the sunny window. Riley woke us up last night, 2 am, because some animal was in the yard, peeing by the shed. Dog, coyote or deer. Riley was all over it.

My title for today's post (you can tell how much I am procrastinating by how often I post) was Thankful but then I read the weather report. I guess I can still be thankful.

Thankful: That G has a full time job. Last night's local paper had a front page story about a young family with four kids under 8 years old who have been living in a room at the Econo Lodge since November. He lost his job in May and she only got 2 months of holiday work at LL Bean instead of the usual 4 months. They are struggling to pay their own way with no help from any social agency other than food stamps. Not as a family. Single homeless people have room at the shelter. Women with children are taken in. Families of two parents and children. No. Wasn't this the standard for the workhouses in the Dickens novels? We haven't evolved, I guess. Churches and strangers are helping them, with gas cards for one thing, so they can drive to job interviews.


And that says nearly everything on the subject of thankful doesn't it?

Thankful: My dad isn't struggling (alone) through this frigid winter. But, if he were still alive, I would be thankful he was living here with me this winter or I would be there in Ohio with him. I had decided to do one or the other when we drove to Ohio in October.

Thankful: That I lead a creative life. Always interested in learning new things, expanding on the things I already know, ready to try something new, never afraid of failure (outside of driving the car). How can we even say we are artists, if we fear failure?

Thankful: For G. He really gives me the freedom and support to be who I am. I wonder if I give enough back to him to make him thankful for me? Other than the great amusement factors I seem to possess.

What's Good Today: Too cold to walk the dog. Warm enough to read a good book. Cold enough for a pot of Tomato Basil Soup for G to eat when he gets home from work later tonight. With homemade little drop cheese dumplings. I don't know what I will make for myself, but I do have some kale to finish up and some butternut squash in the unheated bedroom upstairs that I could steam. Curried Butternut Bisque?

What are you doing today?

Ten Degrees

The sun has set and the light outside (reflected off the ice and snow) looks very Arctic and blue. And it is very cold out there when you factor in the wind. I walked Riley after lunch and while I eventually warmed up due to fast walking, we only did the short walk. At 11 pm last night it was in the 40's and the melt equals ICE. The streets and driveways and sidewalks were all pretty slick. I had my Yak Tracs on and did okay. Riley lost traction a few times and was happy to return to the backyard and run around in circles with his tree limb.

Sorry to see the state of my dining room table in this photo. It was clear of clutter for most of the past 30 days. Not today. Sigh.

G took him out before dinner and this is what it looked like from in the house. A game of "keep away". Riley is now busy chewing on his bones (which I get from the butcher). Looks COLD doesn't it?

This was just a "test" posting as I now have a new picture file to use. The original picture file had a few things going wrong which I had no control over (not being a techie) and since they were probably my fault (I tend to overuse (misuse) the mouse), I thought I'd just move to a clean spot and let that mess sit alone for awhile. G showed me how to retrieve pictures in that file if I really really need them.

What's Not So Good Today: Nothing at all for supper. No soup. No vegetables. No bread. Plenty of frozen uncooked meat in the freezer. We've just about eaten everything fresh in the fridge. I could have a salad but G likes more than that for his supper. He wants "take out". It's 5:30. I was doing so well with this eating at home plan and here we are with the first hiccup. Wish I knew how to make spaghetti carbonara with what I have handy. He'd eat that. Time to climb up on the step stool and scout the pantry.

Well, I found one and a half cups of macaroni in a jar in the pantry and some canned diced tomatoes and an almost sprouting onion in the veg basket so I made a pasta sauce of sauteed onion, garlic and sliced mushrooms (fridge) mixed with half a can of the tomatoes and lots of Parmesan cheese. G said it was tasty. I had a Greek salad with the last of some very old feta, some new olives and carrots. No take out!!