... I'll be back in a few ...

taking a short break

Thank you Indie Fixx!!!

I am so excited that I won! I can't wait to see my Tickette necklace. Thank you Indie Fixx! If you haven't checked out Jen's blog yet, you should.

Birthday Delights: Apples, Berries, Picnic & more...

I had such a delightful birthday! The day started beautifully with wrapped presents in my favorite colors, with a corresponding O'Keeffe card, from my boyfriend. So many wonderful books this year! And great shoes. :) Many thanks to everyone for the splendid and generous gifts.

A group of us headed down to Penrose where we first went blackberry and raspberry hunting.

Then on to the apple trees -- Gala, Jonathon, Golden & Red Delicious... pies to be made today.

Next, a picnic down the road in Florence, CO. Sitting in the shade we drank wine and snacked on delicious stinky cheese, crackers, bread, peppered Genoa salami, olives, tomato salad, berries we had picked, and Lazy Daisy Chocolate Cake.

After walking around Florence's antique shops and finding little treats for ourselves, we went back to the Springs for a game of Parcheesi and dinner.

These colorful poker chips are from a set my friend found in one of the Florence shops. We didn't have time to play yet -- but hopefully soon!

Denver Bead Show

so many lovely sparkly beads to behold.... pics are from my phone - so they aren't the best!
I had a great time seeing my Sangria Sisters and finding the best deals on beautiful beads. Now to work on the fall / winter designs.

Zinnias, Cosmos & More From My Garden

Zinnias, Cosmos, Marigolds and Nasturtiums

Jewelry for Nancy

(turquoise and crystal commissioned bracelet to go with these earrings)

birthday bracelet and earrings (gold and wood)

Remembering NYC

Brooklyn, Prospect Park, 9/2002

Aloo Gobhi and Chicken Curry

Prep for both the Aloo Gobhi and Chicken Curry

Saute onions, garlic and chiles in oil -- when soft, add potatoes, mustard seed and other spices. Cover and cook while making the curry. I used my lovely dutch oven which worked perfectly!

Heat oil and add curry powder and scallions until bubbly...

add coconut milk and simmer...

I cooked organic free-range chicken with olive oil and garlic until brown; add to curry.

Don't forget the rice to counteract the heat and to help soak up the curry sauce.

Delicious and easy!

Aloo Gobhi:
chop: 1 onion, 2-3 chiles (to your taste),
thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger
saute these in oil
add: 1 Tbl mustard seeds, 1 tsp ground turmeric, 1 tsp ground cumin
cook until soft and gold
add: 1 lb chopped potatoes (cauliflower optional), S&P (to your taste),
1 2/3 cup water
cover, lower heat to simmer until potatoes are soft
(checking to make sure it doesn't dry out)
garnish with fresh cilantro

Too Easy Curry:
slice: scallions (how many is up to your taste)
saute in olive oil
add: 2-4 Tbl of fresh curry powder
(Wholefoods or co-ops usually sell it in bulk, so you can get what you need for a particular recipe and it stays fresh)
cook until bubbley
add: 14oz can of coconut milk
bring to boil, turn down heat, simmer for 2 minutes
add any cooked meat or tofu, garnish with cilantro (and I like a little lime too)

Hot Air Balloon Fest

I have a memory from a very young age of a quiet morning, large balloons filling up and taking off. But memories are funny, how they fade and transform. And I know old photos affect the way I remember things too.


Many years later, I now live surprisingly close to the park and was able to walk to this annual Hot Air Balloon Fest. We went in the evening to watch them glow. ‘Glow’ is an understatement if you’re anywhere close to them.


We first watched at a distance as many of them slowly started to fill with air. Once all the balloons were filled, the crowd counted down (with the help of two annoying MC’s) to get them to all light up at the same time. We decided to move closer and see what it was like under them.


It seemed scary and overwhelming – crowds of people packed in tight under huge fabric balloons with tall flames bursting to fill them with heat. (I know –they’re made of fire-retardant cloth, but still my imagination…)


Stunningly beautiful, hot and bright – pictures I would try to take seemed blasted. The heat from the flames filled not only the balloon, but the air around it with warmth and kept away the chill from autumn creeping in.

CS Thrift Store Review: Encore

Encore Consignment Shop
2218 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Colorado Springs

Notes from 8/2010 visit:
- accessible / lots of parking (in small strip mall) Nemo's coffee nearby
- clean, well lit and organized space (although not much 'thrifting' to do)
- quality, designer label clothing, hats, shoes and jewelry for women
- mostly for women 40+ years ... but they had a pair of beautiful Cavalli pants!
- couture labels; leather jackets
- interesting date/$ tag system

...and as my friend noted: "The use of cheap locks and chains on the designer pieces from the estate was a nice touch."

Palisade Peach Pie & Chopped Salad

Delicious. I could eat the whole pie all by myself, but that would be wrong, wouldn't it? really?

Inspired by Jamie's Food Revolution cookbook, I made a version of his Mediterranean Chopped Salad. I always make my salads with lettuce torn by hand and large chunks of fresh veggies. But this method looked intriguing and it certainly is a fast way to create a salad. All the flavors really merge together creating a quick and tasty healthy addition to a meal. But a regular hand-tossed salad is still my favorite.

Peridot Earring Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations Kendee! And thanks to everyone who commented for a chance to win.

Morning Coffee

oh, how I will miss summer mornings...

My Sunflowers

When I planted these sunflowers - I imagined them all along our little fence, giving me privacy from people walking by while I worked in my garden. Inevitably passersby want to ask me questions, chat... and all I want to do is have a quiet moment in my garden.

Of course those were the dreams of a new gardener in early spring. Many sunflowers didn't make it (I assume squirrels and birds were partly to blame). They grew slowly, so they don't give me the privacy I had hoped for. I know I waited too long to plant ('til mid-May), but I had worried about frost.

But none of this really matters. The birds and bees are making good use of them. And I can't get enough of their cheerful and bright disposition.