Tuesday, December 22, 2015

The Boys (Just the Boys) Go Hiking

Giles said the blessing at dinner. "Thank you, Lord, that Felix and Ben and I got to go on such a great hike. And that everyone else got so much work done."

We all burst out laughing. True though.



















Monday, December 21, 2015

Four Days Before Christmas


All my children are at home for the week. 


 Giles wandered around today with a camera in his hand.


You can see what he saw, this sunny December day.


Felix working,


and Sister,


Felix reading,


and a bird.


Friday, December 18, 2015

Chocolate Shards


Or call them deconstructed truffles. I made the ganache from this recipe (which is super simple--Lindt chocolate, coconut oil, salt, vanilla, water) and let it harden in the fridge.

Instead of shaping the filling, I just broke it into bite-size pieces with a spoon, then dropped each side in cocoa. More interesting than a truffle, I think.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Anna's Garden Applique in Progress


I just picked this project up again after a few months off--it's a straight-up applique of the Alabama Chanin "Anna's Garden" stencil. I'm doing it on the bodice pieces of a bolero.


I'm tracing the shapes very lightly on the back with a pen--not a Sharpie, which would bleed too much--and also tracing the spot where they go, very lightly. It's a little tedious and it overworks the weakest part of my brain (spatial orientation). But it's so tidy when it's done.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Christmas Trees: Today's Report

While the Composer was putting one up,


Sister was taking one down.



Also, it may be too late for this year, but plan ahead for next year with some adorable wool garland--all proceeds go to charity!

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Winter Salad: Butter Lettuce with Fruit and Avocado


Butter lettuce with chunks of grapefruit and satsuma, some sliced avocado, and a few pomegranate seeds because Daisy made a bag of them for the fridge.


Dressed with a spritz of lime, a drizzle of olive oil, pink sea salt, and ground pepper. Dressing doesn't have to be complicated--it doesn't even have to get another dish dirty. I put mine straight on the salad.

Monday, December 14, 2015

My Fresh Pink Kitchen


Well, here we are all pink up in the kitchen! Benjamin Moore's Melted Ice Cream did the trick for me. 


It's a pink subtle enough to look very different by different lights. 


Cream in the strong sunshine, pink after dark. 


Beautiful and fresh.


 At the moment it's hosting a bit of Christmas color, but that will settle down after the holidays.


Friday, December 11, 2015

Up and At It


The early bird gets this. Sometimes.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Winter Salad: Arugula and Parmesan


This is the first in a series of winter salads. Once a week or so I'll be trying something new and sharing it. Winter salads can be interesting! They differ from summer salad in that they don't live and die for tomatoes. I love tomatoes. But I do not eat them in the winter.

Today: arugula dressed with olive oil, salt, pepper, and curls of parmesan cheese. Leaving the vinegar OUT is the secret to a good arugula salad. The oil tempers the bite of the greens.

I actually went on to add an avocado and a tangerine to this and called it my lunch. It powered me through a seven-hour painting day.

Wednesday, December 09, 2015

Melted Ice Cream

Melted Ice Cream is my new kitchen wall color. My schedule miraculously cleared itself today and after an early-morning run and a stop for some TSP cleaner and a roller cover, I got to work on my project. I painted for six hours, and went up and down the ladder I don't know how many times. My legs are going to tell me about it tomorrow, probably while I'm doing the second coat.

Tuesday, December 08, 2015

Like a Perpetual Snowday


This weekend our two painter friends painted the kitchen ceiling and skylight walls. Wow, the difference! These had never been painted and had aged to a dark pine color--not the best.

Now the kitchen and utility room (open to each other and sharing a ceiling) are filled with so much white light that it feels like a perpetual snowday.


Up next: I'm painting the entire kitchen pale pink. Benjamin Moore's Melted Ice Cream, starting tomorrow.

Monday, December 07, 2015

Chocolate Panforte for Giles


I baked Giles' yearly chocolate panforte, a sticky confection filled with dried cherries, honey, and chocolate. 

I shipped it two-day mail, G, so please share with your brother.

Friday, December 04, 2015

Christmas at the Painting Studio


Festive open house tonight at the painting studio. I didn't get there in time to hide my less-favorite works, but oh well.


Downtown was full of Christmas cheer, and the best carollers I've ever heard came in to sing. I think they were top choir students from the university. Truly wonderful.


 These yellow roses are last week's endeavor. I really like them. I've just about discarded my brush. It's all palette knife and finger painting now.


The white roses below were from this week.


Christmas lights on the way back to the car.


Thursday, December 03, 2015

Daisy and the Lorakeets

Daisy and her father went to the zoo today. First they saw the giant anteater (remarkable for the way its tail resembles Sister's tail).



Then they went to see the lorakeets.








The lorakeets aren't afraid of people.


They finished off with flamingos.

Tuesday, December 01, 2015

Clara's Knitting: A Slouchy Juniper Beret


From her own pattern, tiny stitches, super-soft yarn. Full service: she makes and models! And it's for me :)


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