Bedroom....complete

the bed, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

The master suite has been completed. I was a little disappointed that I didn't have a bedskirt but Whitney suggested a fitted white sheet. i was lucky to have one on hand and we swiftly put it on completing this project. This room is so fresh and summery! The bathroom is like a spa with its soft colors. Next project: putting the Zen back into my Japanese garden

black armoire & Sophie

black armoire & Sophie, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

Armoire with a few quilts on top and Sophie on the floor

sitting area and bath

sitting area and bath, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

Sitting area and looking into the bathroom

bath tub

bath tub, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

cream and white bathtub area

YYYYYYYYYYYY

yyyyyyyyyyy, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

Ink wash and calligraphy

International Quilt Festival

class collective, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

Today's class was creating texture with writing. Our teacher, Lisa Engelbrecht, is a fantastic calligrapher. Her artwork includes her calligraphy and embellishes her pieces beautifully. On canvas and muslin we created washes with ink; smeared and swished with more ink; did calligraphy with all colors of ink in all directions with so many tools; and added more ink after that. I can't wait to finish these pieces individually and with a collection of mixed media.

Zen blue

Zen 2, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

nk washed with ink in pipette

if I had just one day

if I had just one day, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

ink washed, white grafitti

Quilt Festival playday

Quilt Festival playday, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

The International Quilt Festival is in Long Beach this weekend with fabulous quilts displayed, tempting vendors and best of all: classes! Today I took a class from Traci Bautista on creating papers and binders and then making them into a journal. We even did the binding in Macrame! Does anyone remember doing that 40 years ago? Here is the result at the end of class. I will finish up the binding and do some embellishing. Then I will be ready to make my first journal entry. Saturday I go back for another class.....so much fun!

Peach ginger sorbet with raspberry sauce

peach sorbet with raspberry sauce, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

Today's expression of backyard peaches is sorbet. I also had on hand some beautiful raspberries so this is my version of peach melba:
Peach sorbet:
2 cups fresh peaches, pealed, pitted and diced, shortly rested with 1 tbs sugar and 1 tsp lemon juice
1 cup simple syrup (made from equal parts of sugar and water brought to a boil on the stove until sugar is dissolved and then left to cool)
1 Tbs fresh grated ginger
Puree the peaches and the ginger together, add simple syrup and process in an ice cream maker

Raspberry sauce:
1 pint fresh raspberries
sugar to taste (less is better)
In a small saucepan, heat the raspberries with the sugar until the raspberries start to break down. Let cool slightly or serve immediately over sorbet as shown above.
This was a delightful and simple dessert made from the bounty of fresh summer fruit.
I daily pick and prepare peaches from my tree. It is a chore that some days I am not in the mood for but I am so grateful for this "free" harvest and I enjoy trying new ways to share and enjoy them. I wish you all could stop by for your share of my bounty.

Peach Salsa!!!!!!!!

peach salsa 2, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

More peaches!
4 ripe peaches, pealed, pitted and sliced or chopped
1 Jalepeno pepper, charred, seeded and chopped fine
1 Anaheim chili, prepared like jalepeno
ginger, fresh grated fine
red onion, chopped and macerated in fresh squeezed lime juice
zest of 1 lime
cayenne pepper to taste
cilantro, chopped fine
Zest the lime, squeeze the lime juice over the chopped red onion and leave to macerate or "cook" the onion. Prepare the peaches, add the peppers, ginger, cayenne and cilantro. Let the flavors blend. I am going to serve this over a nice Halibut steak, grilled. Tomorrow I will reconfigure all of the elements to have fish tacos. Isn't life grand?

Peaches, peaches, peaches!

peaches, red baron, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

My peaches are ripe. Although they are not as large as previous years they are delicious! This photo is from a couple of years ago. Today's pick was blushed with a deeper red....thus the name "red baron". Remember the blossoms in February?

Red baron peaches in watercolor

Red baron peaches in watercolor, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

After picking peaches from my backyard tree I tumbled them out on my counter to wait until I could turn them into a peach crostada. I just had to pick up my pen and watercolors. 8 1/2" by 11"
I would love to decorate my entire house in these colors. (Oh yes, I already have)

and Voila! Peach Crostata

peach crostata, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

After harvesting the peaches; stopping to capture them in watercolor and baking them in a variation of Ina Garten's "summer fruit crostata" here is the result. I am ready to take a bite.....

chicken grape and cashew salad

chicken grape and cashew salad, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

This is a favorite summer salad of mine. It's crunchy with the cashews and fresh with the grapes and very satisfying. It is also very high in iron. I used to make it just with the chicken salad alone but I now prefer it over a bed of baby greens dressed with balsamic vinegar and a good olive oil. Here is the recipe:
Chicken breasts (thighs if you want more Iron) cubed
celery, chopped
red seedless grapes, halved
mayonnaise, celery salt and celery seed to taste
add right before serving;
roasted and salted cashews
serve over baby greens ( baby spinach for more iron)

Cottonwood tree, Denver

Cottonwood tree, Denver, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

This week Whitney and her family moved to Denver. It was a very hot week with no air-conditioning in their "new" house. They moved into a repurposed Lowry air force officers' quarters that is now a townhome in a lovely little neighborhood. This cottonwood tree has been here as long as the buildings and is absolutely beautiful. When the breeze passes through the leaves it provides this rustling sound that is so soothing to listen to. For a break from the lifting and unpacking I would go out to the front lawn, sit in my Adirondack chair that I had shipped along with them and watch Ella and Kate ride their scooters in their new neighborhood. I plan on visiting as often as possible until I can get there too.

adirondack chair

adirondack chair, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

I found this chair in Laguna Beach about 10 years ago. It was a Key Lime green. It went through a repaint and became soft yellow but through my eyes I still see it as lime green. It went to Denver with Whitney and her family and sits on the front lawn.

A day with Kate

You think about it, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

A little fun with time out.

last day in California

last day in California, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

Sweet little Kate sits in my garden with me sharing a smoothie wearing her cute little short cake T-shirt. Kate's last name is "Short". This precious little girl and her family leave for Denver tomorrow. I have been brave but it won't last much longer.

Butterfly, flower & tickles

Butterfly, flower & tickles, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

This morning Ella, Kate & I walked to Acorn Park to play. Along the way we found a butterfly that was dead but it was special to take home. We walked home through some overgrown "tickles" and then Ella picked a desert rose flower along the way. This all made for good subject matter for today's journal entry