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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

Up and At It

The early bird gets this. Sometimes.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 :)