PINK

What did you love to do as a kid?

young Morgan in her favorite dance outfit, drawing on the front
porch, drinking a cup of milk
update: I still love to wear funky clothes, sketch or read outside,
but with a cup of strong coffee!

My favorite things:
- draw and paint
- play with my cats and dogs
- dance
- build fairy and elf worlds out of grass, leaves and flowers in mossy hidden areas under trees
- make dollhouse furniture out of found objects
- bake cookies, pick fresh strawberries, share a rice dream ice cream sandwich with my mom
- play with my dolls
- play board games
- dress-up and create fantastical make-believe worlds
- watch for my first crocus or spring beauty
- travel places

What did you love to do? What do you still do that you've always loved?

Inspiration in the Studio

... kitties, sunshine, happy green plants

... my books, rocks, feathers, old hats

... and a bowl full of beautiful shells sitting on my studio desk

Bugs

Other than the nasty kind keeping me from feeling well, I remembered I had these phone pics from a trip to the local May Natural History Museum, a few months ago with friend S. Not the greatest quality pics, but I just couldn't stop myself from taking them. The museum is amazing not only for its kitsch factor, but simply to see so many beautiful, fragile beings. I felt a mixture of sadness with all of them pinned behind glass, never to return to the earth, and awe at how stunning (and sometimes scary) insects are. I think S's favorite part is the whimsical and oddly placed signage. (I hope you visit and don't forget the very strange space "museum", a.k.a. posters and toys in a strange maze of trailers...)

Still Under the Weather, but...

...wanted to share this photo I took a couple days ago of a stormy sky approaching from the west and morning sun shining from the east

under the weather

more posts as soon as I feel better

Hot Soup and Hot Toddy Weather

Very cold here, so it is the perfect time for a hot bowl of soup. Here is the fresh and light dumpling soup I actually made a few months ago -- more fitting for summer. I was reminded I hadn't posted this photo yet, when I had a delicious bowl of butternut squash - sweet potato - apple soup at my friend's tonight.

It is also the perfect weather for Hot Toddies. We recently did a taste test and I discovered I enjoyed the rum or brandy toddies, whereas my friend enjoyed the more traditional whiskey toddy. Here is a great post on a delicious Highland Toddy on Kate's blog.

coat bottom of cup with honey, squeeze fresh lemon, shot of rum/whiskey/brandy, with hot water

Sunday Sweets

Pippin doesn't understand why I ever have to go anywhere, unless he can come with.

Thanks Gigi for such a beautifully crocheted necklace / scarf!

starting 2011 off on the right foot

Pikes Peak in the distance

a beautiful sunny hike through the snow around Garden of the Gods with C, S and M... later hot cocoa to warm us up...

etsy shop 'on vacation' til the 14th

... working on a number of projects, so my etsy shop is 'on vacation' til 1/14

New Year's Eve 2011

step one: lick the salt, shot of tequila, bite the lime


step two: freshly made clam chowder (my first time making it!)

fresh clams, two leeks, dry white wine, olive oil, clam juice, cream = delicious

step three: macchiato (to keep us going through the night)


step four: caviar, truffle tremor goat cheese, robusto cheese, peppered salami, blackberries and apricots, olive tapenade and more...



step five: lobster with olive oil, garlic, lemon, asparagus, new potatoes

step six: champagne toast in vintage green glasses


Hope you had a great New Year's Eve. Happy twenty-eleven!