Lights and Darks

I am working on it looking good and contrasty from far away. Up close, there are a lot of little details. This was fun. Here it was a few weeks back. Yep, it's really evolved. I am finally starting to like it.

My Valentine's Day Heart

Crouching over without gloves I scooped up handfuls of fresh snow. The dusty flakes wouldn't stick, so I used my warm palms and fingers to slowly sculpt the snow into a sticky mass. With icy wet fingers, I was able to eek out an iPhone photo and a short love note.

Dusting off my fancy red coat, I picked up the bakery bag from the salted hood of my car and warmed my fingers on the large paper coffee cup sitting next to it.

Ah submission! Letting those creative moments happen. Knowing when they are waiting.

Chattering

Next to each other, I can see my voice come through strongly. I had watched Melinda-Stickney Gibson's video, Paint and Solitude. She shows how her works in progress are hung next to one another - and how "they talk to each other". I can see that here ... but it wasn't until my teacher also mentioned the same type of idea, that I made the move myself. 

Painting on right is almost done, I think. Compare to last week, do you see any differences? There is actually one difference - hint, look at white square.

Complacent Progress

Je Pleure Non Plus has progressed and I am liking this work a lot. It's not there quite yet, but it's making me very happy, thus, I don't think the current title (I cry no longer) is going to stick.

"I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way -- things I had no words for." ~ Georgia O'Keefe

Je Pleure Non Plus

(36" x 24")

(12" x 12" the right side is slightly cut off)

Both of these paintings have morphed from the ones shown last week into the ones posted right here (works in progress).  This week, a record setting seven hours of painting in a row. My class was three hours and I stayed after for open studio. I cranked the classical music. Me, my work, and alone in the beautiful studio with floor to ceiling windows that face the woods. It was one of those fresh snow days where the velvet black trees pop against the bright gray sky. At home, I spent the evening looking at other artists' work and am enthralled by Melinda Stickney-Gibson's existence. Today I was so happy and emotionally solid. I also knew that I needed to rest, not in the sense of being still, but more of a break from the heavy flow of emotions that were cursing through me while painting. 

Coats of Many Colors

It's about layers and layers and letting go ... right here, it's early as far as layers go.

It's never to late too get dirty or wash your hands.

And certainly, it's too soon to "be done". My family was wondering why I covered this up. "Oh, it's not ready yet!" Like meditation and trying not to let your mind wander and think, I try not to feel the pressure to finish or produce a final. If I go there, my freedom is totally cut off.

I Heart Felt

I bought the mittens from this fabulous artist who made my purse that I love so much. Three years later, my hubby scooped up the iPad cover, not knowing that he was purchasing from the same creative and wonderful knitter/felter. Anyway, I'm always looking at the iPad cover and enjoying it like a view. The colors are so rich and fun. The contrast of a completely new factory-produced technology living in a completely old-world hand made wool shell is also thrilling. 

A Lovely Abstraction

I see little paintings in the palettes.

But, I see bigger things in the paintings themselves. I am in love. Officially cannot stop thinking about abstract painting, yes, just like when you meet that special someone.

Making it Merry & Recycled 2012

An old shoe box with white artist tape and a carefully selected magazine page torn to size. A "shoe in" for an easy wrap job without a bunch of paper or bows. Add your own inscription in metallic ink for the finish.

Just Like Mom's Lemon Cookies?

Arlene used to make these for her everyone, but her youngest son, perhaps loved them the most. He'd often receive a box of these from Mom on Christmas. When we cleaned out my in-laws cupboards and home, we were very lucky to find this recipe in a small, well worn, dotted with oil Pillsbury cookbook from 1969. The recipe had a "checkmark" penciled in next to it. We knew all too well what that meant. Here's to finding the needle in a haystack! And to my MIL for her many years of hard work, her joy in baking and for taking care of so many people at Christmas time. She made some of the best cookies I've ever eaten.

Black & White

The simplicity of black and white and the power of color work for me over and over again. It's all about the juxtaposition of these elements and how they move together. I consider most of my black wardrobe as a background awaiting the splash of color to happen. A scarf, bright lips or bold jewelry seem to look better on black. Here, I simply love the way the color of one word can make the entire page feel like something extra special. Typography and color change everything. Where's your color hiding?

Thaw

No more socks or slippers 

against a cold wooden floor, 

or lost under the bed.

Bare. Ready. 

Toe, heel, ball, arch. Planted.

Limbs energize.

A connection unbroken. 

The familiar healing.

Waiting for me,

to grow with it.

Warm-up with Tortilla Soup

Ingredients

1 tsp or more olive oil

1 medium onion diced 

6 cloves garlic, pressed

2 large jalapenos, seeds removed, minced

1/2 tsp or to taste, coarse sea salt

1- 28 oz can Muir Glen crushed fire roasted tomatoes (*must*)

2 tsp ground cumin

2 tsp ground oregano

1/4 tsp allspice

1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice

12 cups chicken stock**

meat from one chicken (optional)

freshly chopped cilantro (garnish)

Heat oil in heavy 5+ quart pan. Add onions, garlic and jalapenos. Saute for 10 minutes, or until slightly softened. Add tomatoes, seasonings and salt. Simmer until all ingredients blend together, approximately 20 minutes. Add shredded meat from one chicken, followed by citrus juice and simmer for 5-10 minutes longer. Rest soup on low heat for about 15 minutes to blend flavors, no simmering. 

Serve over baked corn tortilla strips (optional) and add cilantro garnish (recommended). This soup isn't thick, but definitely has a lot of body to it.

** Chicken Broth. This soup is excellent with homemade broth. To accompany flavors for this soup I used water, one fresh chicken, carrots, onion, celery, bay leaves (2), TBS oregano, sea salt. (remove veggies and bay leaves from broth when done - for flavoring only)

Solo Valentine for Dear Teacher

Hand cut card in cellphone sleeve with 

torn tissue, button fixtures & silky floral ric-rac.

I love

this creative process and how it literally pours forth.

This Valentine's day I produced only one beauty.

Yet no love was lost on the purchased versions. 

Instead, those find me and turn into a year long collection - 

just waiting for the next Valentine's Day.

Hello Valentine's Day!

I'm ready to have a great day and you're not even here yet. What a fun weekend I've had buying little presents for my family and actually having a real date with my husband. We had a lovely meal and then ended up in the bookstore. Romantic? Well, if you consider the bookstore is the location of our first time going out with each other, I would say "YES". Sometimes just getting to be yourself in a time frame that is unrushed and in a mutually inspiring setting, without being right next to each other is romantic.

Tonight I made a delicious homemade caesar salad dressing tossed with romaine, of course. I tried a new flourless and almost butterless chocolate souffle recipe, which was too large of a serving much for me - never thought I'd say that! I only had three ramekins, but the recipe called for four. Next time I'd like to add a little vanilla and heap them with whipped cream or fresh sliced strawberries. I also served broiled grass fed beef steaks with roasted garlic. Wow.

A surprise treat bag is waiting for "J" on the front door. He'll see it as he heads out the door early in the a.m. Yes, a romantic card, chocolate, Caribou coffee gift card, a bag of trail mix and some bath salts ... sure thing, it's all packed with a big kiss.

I'm off to wrap some presents for "E" on my very clean and organized art table and I am so excited. I love to wrap.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone.

Red Lentil Soup Sarah Style

Warm your heart. Feed your soul. Eat with great delight. Feel the difference. Support local tended foods and use organic when possible.

5-6 fat carrots

4-leafy thick celery stalks

1-cup dried red lentils

1-bulb roasted garlic

4-cups chicken stock or H2O
1-28 oz can Muir Glen organic
 fire roasted tomatoes
1-onion

1-2 bay leaves 

salt

fresh cilantro

olive oil

roast garlic, it really brings out the flavor and is much deeper tasting in this delicate yet hearty winter soup. set garlic on baking dish. roast at 425 degrees until tender - 15 minutes or so. cool slightly. chop. save. 

in a Dutch oven saute 1/2 - 1 onion in olive oil or other healthy oil. add carrots and celery when onion softens. drop in 1-2 bay leaves. lightly steam veggies as they saute, by placing lid on Dutch oven. as veggies begin to turn bright orange and green, add in the dried lentils. let them get nice and hot, stirring them around in the pan. hot lentils soak up the liquid well and cook faster - taste better. 

pour 4 cups of water or 4 cups organic chicken stock over the veggie/legume mixture. re-place lid. cook longer until lentils start to soften. at this point open one can of (Muir Glen) fire roasted crushed tomatoes - time to add the garlic.

let everything simmer until the lentils soften and tomatoes blend in - approx 25- 30 minutes. add sea salt to taste. if soup gets thicker than you like, add a little more water or chicken stock, but not too much. expect a thicker consistency due to lentils. serve with fresh chopped cilantro. 

Marketing It to Mill City Museum Farmer's Market

This morning's trip to the Mill City Farmer's Market was so much fun! I've been wanting to go for weeks and we finally made it, thanks to great weather and a little marketing, or what I like to call creative parenting. So, it's hard to go anywhere on Saturday or Sunday because E has such a fun time in our yard. He cannot think of anywhere he likes better! (Really!) I know that's awesome and ideal, but sometimes his parents have fun things they want to do too. "Hey, want to go down by the Mississppi River tomorrow and dig for fossils in the limestone!" Fortunately the river is right across the street from the market.

Here's the awesome fossil E managed to chip out of a big old rock. Yes, he did actually bring a backpack full of paleontologist tools. We trekked down a big hill to get here with my basket of veggies in tow.

The root veggies were plentiful. Lots of organic and naturally grown choices. It was a good work out to lug the basket full of local goods, and of course I fell in love ...

with this felted shoulder bag. It was the perfect way to squeeze more in, for a total pack mule experience up and down the hill and for a long walk. A couple of bakery items, a pound of coffee and the t-shirt that was making me too hot fit well. The eventual empty water container lightened the load too.

As I write, I am snacking on sweet carrots, radishes, yellow pepper, honeycrisp apples and finally a rhubarb bar. The guys are taking turns wrangling leaves around the front yard with the leaf blower! ... and I'm thinking of fall soup for supper ...  better get outside and make some vitamin D.

Going Green!

Lackluster garden radishes? Eat them and save the greens. This morning's green drink was pretty tasty.

Juice the following organic ingredients.

2 - big handfulls of washed radish greens

1 - small granny smith apple

2 - carrots

Bemidji Quacks

The farm supply store had baby chickens, ducks and turkeys that were ordered ahead of time and awaiting pick up. Eli stuck the lens right inside of this box. Baby ducks.

Bemidji "Birthdays" Road Trip #3

This year we spent some time in downtown.