My honest reality

 This is how I'm living these days. Seriously. My art room is symbolic of my whole life: personal, spiritual, literal.

I'm enjoying the online goodness about decorating, traditions, finished projects. But I haven't done one thing. Not one present bought, not one decoration hung, not one fruit cake baked. Ok, there won't really ever be fruitcake.

On a thankful note (gratitude still comes effortlessly to me - that must be a good sign), the Winter sun is so great in my art room. Considering how tall the ceilings are and how many windows I have up here, this space is dark-ish most months. But in these pre-holiday days, the sun shines extra brightly it seems, exactly when I need it. And that gives me hope. xo

Sweets 2012

Last garden post of the year! Promise! We had an hour and raced out to dig up our sweet potato harvest, having no idea what we'd find after such a hot summer. 

For the first time ever, the potatoes were peeking out of the ground waiting to be picked. We didn't have to hunt at all (which is good and bad...bad if you're eight and enjoy the digging-for-treasure part of this tradition).

 

Our pile kept growing...

and growing...

 

and growing!

 Look at this big bunch - again, they just kind of came out of the earth effortlessly. It was fascinating.

 Here's a closeup, because I'm weird about this stuff and delighted to show you a closeup.

It was a great harvest and we are very thankful! Potatoes are now laid out single file on newspapers in our basement.

Questions for next year include: Can I save a few of these to plant in the Spring? and Is one supposed to rotate potato crops around their yard/garden space? We've had three years of growing here now, the dirt is like black gold, and I'm tempted to just keep planting them here. Opinions? Answers?

Happy Thanksgiving week! xo

....and exhale...

Well, what a difference two months make! I have missed being here and if anyone is still here with me, welcome back. I have a lot to share, but first I'm going to simply recap my time away...

I started and finished a new after school art class for preschoolers called Art Outside.

 Our beautiful girl turned 14.

 

 

 Halloween came and went.

 

Joey and his friend were One Direction - get it?

 

 I participated in Craft Out Loud and sold 29 journals - a record for me in one sale!

 

 I also took a break from reading art blogs (details about that soon) and came back to discover the arrival of Ms. Amelia. Talk about making your heart sing (and keeping things in perspective - it was also election season as I was away)! Hooray hooray! 

So much to tell, so much to share! Happy happy November! xo

deep breath...

I have been reflecting a lot lately on the parallels between making art and parenting. It started easy, thinking about how leaving lights on (for example) makes me feel frustrated (sometimes make-my-skin-itch frustrated), but finding baseballs in my plants makes me feel thankful. The same is true for having a creative business, parts of this life just drive me batty (no pun intended) and other things make me feel this intense sense of gratitude, balance, assurance. And then that parallel extends to deeper topics. Schools nationwide it seems are putting new focus on grit (I heard this speaker this week.) and while I believe in this newish conversation, I also believe that we the parents are really who need to develop more grit. I think authenticity is seriously absent in our society.We need to speak more honestly with each other without fear of ending friendships, we need to listen, really listen, when someone offers a view that conflicts with our own. But before any of that can happen, we need to put ourselves out there and be honest about our parenting, our partnering, our personal (strengths and weaknesses all). It's just so hard. And I don't need to tell you how this parallels with art - sharing art is terrifying in its own way. But if we're all keeping our cards close to our chest, are we growing as best we can? Are we learning? Are we honoring who we're supposed to be as individuals and as community? I don't know...and then I wonder some more...

Anywho, I'm starting my paintings for the Craft Out Loud art show - first week in November. I don't know where blogging will find me, but I'm feeling right now like I just want to paint and not document it, not share it, not put it "out there". If people told me they felt this way about putting their parenting selves out there, I would immediately encourage them to change their minds. But with painting I don't know (still wondering). It seems like a little retreat might be just the thing.

My blogging has dwindled as of late. I do not think this is indicative of anything - I think it is just a season. Hope you'll check in with me again because I have every intention of getting back here. But for now, I'm just going to take a deep breath, dip my brush and see what happens next. xo

Best baba ganoush recipe in the world? Agreed!

We have found ourselves with an abundance of eggplant this year. We have left it on the sidewalk in baskets with "free and organic" marked on them for passerbys, we have delivered them door-to-door, we have given them away in bag-fulls to people who swear they eat eggplant all the time. We have more growing, but this weekend, we finally picked a big bunch (two huge bowls) and make baba ganoush in bulk. The recipe below claims online to be the "best in the world" and I must say, we think this might be true. Remember all of the measurements are somewhat relative because eggplant come in all shapes and sizes, so mix it up as directed and then tweak as necessary. Happy Monday! xo

1 large eggplant
1/4 cup tahini, plus more as needed
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, plus more as needed
1 pinch ground cumin
salt, to taste
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 cup brine-cured black olives, such as kalamata


Directions:

Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill.

Preheat an oven to 375°F.

Prick the eggplant with a fork in several places and place on the grill rack 4 to 5 inches from the fire.

Grill, turning frequently, until the skin blackens and blisters and the flesh just begins to feel soft, 10 to 15 minutes.

Transfer the eggplant to a baking sheet and bake until very soft, 15 to 20 minutes.

Remove from the oven, let cool slightly, and peel off and discard the skin.

Place the eggplant flesh in a bowl.

Using a fork, mash the eggplant to a paste.

Add the 1/4 cup tahini, the garlic, the 1/4 cup lemon juice and the cumin and mix well.

Season with salt, then taste and add more tahini and/or lemon juice, if needed. Serve topped with extra olive oil if desired and sprinkle with chopped parsley.

Shop update today!!

 

 

 

I have a small set of new, upcycled journals available for sale in my shop. Each less than $20 and if one speaks to you, grab it, because they are all one-of-a-kind! Wishing you a wonderful weekend! xo