Nana camp part II, watercolor, citrus week, rock star week

So then we took camp outside and did some water coloring of flowers we found blooming in our gardens

Reina's tulip

Gabriela's leaves

my poppy garden

The next week was Citrus week!!!  Special request for Key Lime Pie!!!!

While we waited for our Key lime juice to arrive Nellie and Joe's  we made felt coasters in the design of citrus slices:

Thank you to Purl Soho for the free pattern:

supplies for citrus coasters

assembled pieces

pieces in place

pinned in place

stitches in top layer with some seed spaces

coaster set

"grapefruit" coaster and wine glass

OK  Now for the Key Lime Pie

recipe from Williams-Sonoma-classic Key Lime Pie

The Nellie and Joe's 100% Key lime juice arrived and the girls did a great job.  They used graham crackers for the crust; I used the Ginger snap cookies.  They whipped up their cream right before the served it to their parents that night.  I topped mine with a little toasted coconut:

classic Key lime pie with gingersnap crust and toasted coconut

So citrus week was complete and yummy.  Good work girls!!!

The word of the week....."scurvy"

The next week the girls were rock stars.  We studied rocks....well we painted rocks.  The girls found smooth rocks around their yard (remember we're under quarantine- how dare we go off the property) about the size that would fit in their hand.  We collected paints and paint pens and thought about positive phrases we would like to be reminded of:

supplies for rock painting

Reina's rocks "Be Happy"

Gabriela's rocks - love the confetti, don't you?

my rocks - "Dream big"

OK then back to the kitchen to make rock cookies

We used the chocolate chip cookie recipe on the back of the Nestle bag and added "rocks" in the form of chocolate chips, white chocolate chunks, M & Ms, caramel bites and Heath English toffee bits:

Gabriela's rocks

rock star cookies

word for rock star week - "lapidarian"
Stay tuned for the next three weeks

Iris

This is Iris.  She is the prettiest little goat.  Her mommy is white.  Her daddy is tan.  Out pops this black and brown, beautifully marked goat.  Besides being the pretty girl she is she also has the least fear of her siblings.  She jumps the highest, twists twice in the air and prances around like life is the best.  She goes to her new home soon and I will miss her.  Although my watercolors are getting little use these days I did have to pull them out and paint Iris so that I won't forget even one little mark on her face.  Here's Iris:

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Studio open

Studio, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

I took the whole day Sunday to be inspired and open my studio to wonderful colors like Cadmium yellow, Cadmium orange and Cadmium red. The inspiration came from my garden...pumpkins and squash everywhere...even on the chicken coop roof!!!
It was a great day to do nothing but create.

Watercolor and pumpkins

Jarrahdale, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

and from these colorful squash came inspiration for painting:
with bright colors mixed in all sorts of combos:
Cadmium yellow
Cadmium orange
Cadmium red
Sap green
add some iridescence and "twinks"

squash trio, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

Cinderella, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

Galeaux d'Eysines, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

butternut squash, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

Fresh eggs

Fresh eggs, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

and now I have all nine chickens laying Easter egg colors

The BLUES, or is it the PURPLES?

The Denver blues: Today it is 37 degrees....isn't it Spring? Isn't the sky supposed to be blue? Are Violets Blue? How about Dutch irises? Pansies? Blue or Purple? Grape hyacinths should be purple. Blue hyacinths should be blue. And Brussels sprouts? Really? Purple? How about Cabbage seedlings?

I do wish the real Spring would get here soon and the Blues will turn into sunny days

Happy Birthday, Whitney

starfish, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

You have always been my "star"
Love Mom

More feathers!

feathers, 4, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

Here are two more pages: The fluffy one on the left is a feather from the Canadian geese that make their home in City Park, the orange and black is from the Northern Flickers that feed on ants in the front yard each morning.

Door Knobs

door knobs, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

I bought a 1927 brick Tudor home in Denver. As I live in this lovely old house the charm and personality are shyly revealing themselves. The old beautiful oak wood floors are creaky in areas, It is nearly impossible to drill holes in the brick walls to hang window coverings. And it takes a little coaxing to close the doors completely but these things aren't a bother at all especially since Ryan does the drilling and I live alone so the fact that doors don't latch shut is irrelevant.
My favorite old features are the doors and door knobs. The doors are raised panel but not like the ones in Lowe's; the doorknobs are exquisite. Most of them are crystal pulls with brass hardware. In the bathroom the inside knob was replaced with a milkglass one. The closet doors are brass and bronze and the front door is brass.
Ten years ago on my first trip to Maine my friend Marjorie and I went antique-ing in York. I found a beautiful ebony knob set and had to have it. I don't know which door I will place it on in my old new home but one of them will be begging me for it soon.

Crystal Cove beach cottages

Crystal Cove beach cottages, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

I walked into the secluded area, found a place for my beach chair and started to sketch. Many of the cottages are trimmed in this beachy turquoise blue

Root vegetables

carrot, onion, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

Oh Spring! Sunday at the Farmers' Market there were so many beautiful vegetables....spring vegetables. The red onions, including their stems were beautiful as were the tender young white turnips and the radishes. Did you grow radishes as a child like I did? They are sew easy to grow from seed and are ready to harvest first. I have been trying to search new ways to eat them but I always come back to whole or in a salad.. This painting is 12" by 15" too large for my scanner so it is in 2 parts.

radish, turnip, carrot

radish, turnip, carrot, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

I really wanted to do the radish but it resides on the left side of the painting

Sunflowers, no sun

sunflowers, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

I took some time to paint today. It was planned. The time was set aside. I found sunflowers at the Farmers' Market. All was in line. Except the sun never came out today. It was too cold to paint outside and it just wasn't the same indoors. Sunflowers search for the sun and their lovely faces are turning towards it during the day. Maybe the sun will come out tomorrow!

Happy Birthday, Kerry

My niece, Kerry, is celebrating her birthday today. Instead of my traditional cupcake I have sent her tulips. It is getting to be close to Easter. I wonder how many times Kerry's birthday has fallen on Easter Sunday. It is random but of course does happen. Kerry lives in Denver near her Mom and brother and his family and near my daughter's family too. She went to college in Boulder...a beautiful place to be. When she was little and visiting my house she finished her dinner by saying that she was ready for dessert. I said, "but Kerry, you have not eaten your dinner." To that she replied, " I am satisfied from my dinner." When challenged again she answered, "but Aunt Denny I am not satisfied with my dessert...so I need my dessert." This is a phrase I do use from time to time when I really just want to skip right to dessert. Thank you, Kerry, for your childhood wisdom I hope you have a very happy birthday!

Crab cakes, watercolor recipe

Crab cakes, watercolor, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

OK so sometimes I like to write down my recipes with pictures. I am still enjoying my yummy crab cakes from Sunday and wanted to make a recording of my experience....that is what journaling is about. I keep a sketch/watercolor journal and as I look through it later the day that I captured this way I can remember vividly.
I also love the beauty of ingredients in the kitchen so here is a new version of crab cakes.....no calories with this serving
Bon appetit!

Shit Howdy!

Shit Howdy!, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

watercolor in blacks and silver
In the late 80s Western was in. All of us had a pair or two of cowboy boots. My favorite ski hat was a black cowboy hat and the piece de resistance: a bolo tie ( this just happens to be black onyx). Either piece alone or in combination just happens to give you a little attitude as well. I am planning to revitalize a little cowgirl attitude when I move to Denver. It is the West after all. Maybe a little 2-step, a little plaid shirt wearing and a little "Shit Howdy!" Maybe not the dancing on coffee tables. I hope those days are gone.