Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Lots of Love & Kisses Reflected

What's the best thing about Valentine's Day?

Roses?  Cards?  Chocolates?  Dinner out?


I have a confession... I stick my thumb into the bottom of each little chocolate.  I know, yuck... but... I like to know what's what in that big red heart-shaped box!

Visit Etsy treasuries (collections of art pieces and vintage items) celebrating love, hugs, and kisses called Crash into Love Embrasse Moi or another called Things Symbolic of Valentine's Day for a reminder of all the favorite traditions.  It's a collection that will spur you on to get ready for that next special day!
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Saturday, January 22, 2011

Love & Kisses Reflected

Remember Valentine's Day when you were a kid?

I always get a kick out of watching my students at the school valentine party.  After they get settled with their treats, they open each little card.  The cards all kind of say the same thing, but they love them!  I just sort of walk around and listen.  "Ooo.. this one says love!" "Hey, nobody signed this one!  Who's it from?"  "I got three that are just alike!" They rip off any candy that has been taped on and throw away all the envelopes.  Then they put them all back into the valentine bag they've made.  I know they'll reread them, organize them, and put them in a special place at home.  Fun...


Enjoy some fun Etsy treasuries (collections of vintage items and art pieces) that include ""Love & Kisses Reflected."  Click Sealed with a KissKissesOpposites Attract and Valentine Day: Red, Pink, Purple... to  have a look!  

Thursday, January 20, 2011

:) Sisters...

Can all the facets "sisters" be defined in words?


Probably not...  These lovely ladies are my sisters, sisters-in-law, and me. 
In our family we are collectively known as "The Aunts."  


How blessed I am to be a part of this group!


I'm showing my sisters today because of a poem by Margaret Bednar.  She took a painting that I had submitted to a challenge for In the Moment and wrote the loveliest poem about sisters.  I love this poem on so many levels.  Enjoy!

Hand in Hand

Fingers clasped, palms together
Made of the same sweet design
We can face all kinds of weather

Special gift to one another
You are dear, sister of mine
Fingers clasped, palms together

Some call you "little mother"
My eyes simply see "divine"
We can face all kinds of weather

You encourage constant blather
And offer a safe lead line
Fingers clasped, palms together

I can be quite a bother
From your lips never a whine
We can face all kinds of weather

Protector like no other
Our hearts will always intertwine
Fingers clasped, palms together
We can face all kinds of weather

by Margaret Bednar



This is the painting, "Hand in Hand," that made Margaret want to write her poem.
It can be purchased in several forms.
12" x 12" giclee
8" x 8" giclee
8" x 8" print

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Love & Kisses


How many ways are there to say I love you?

Happy Valentine's Day!
Love and Kisses!
XOXO

These little hearts and silver wrapped chocolates say it all without any words at all!

Oritinal Oil Painting
[SOLD]



Thursday, January 13, 2011

Central Park

What can a couple from Arkansas learn during a free afternoon in New York City?


** There is a Metropolitan Art Museum store near Times Square.  The guy there is happy to explain how to get the the museum.
** Apparently having exact change is imperative if you want to be allowed on a bus.
**Giving change for a dollar is not something the guy in the coffee shop is quick to do. (Eventually he will give in, but only for one of your dollars.)
**It's a really long ride with lots of stops before you get there.
**And, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is not open on Mondays... sigh...
**There are no places to beg change for a dollar near there.
*****Finally, it's a lovely, peaceful (long) walk back - but, you get to experience Central Park from one end to the other.
**And, it's possible to have a very inexpensive day in New York City - even if it's not on purpose.


Enjoy an Etsy treasury (collection of art pieces and vintage items) featuring Romantic Vacation Destinations where "Central Park" was chosen as one of those special places.  Click and enjoy a moment in each.


This painting was done for the December challenge from A Day Not Wasted.  I find it intriguing to see the diversity of  paintings done by a dozen different artists who all used the same image as they painted  Have a look!

Monday, January 10, 2011

Bride

How do you describe a bride?


Beautiful... lovely... glowing... radiant...


The January challenge given for the In the Moment was to show an image that portrayed the word "unsullied" - immaculate, pristine, pure, elegant...


I can't think of any more perfect image to portray those words than that of a bride.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Farmhouse

What special meal do you remember from your childhood?

         My grandma's was the perfect “grandma’s house”...the kind that all children should have the opportunity to visit...the kind that all adults should have tucked into their memories.  Every ingredient was there:  a cold creek for swimming, a hot hay loft for daring, a huge garden for picking, a few chicken eggs for gathering, and a treasure-filled attic for pretending.  Of course, there were also cousins, always cousins.  Then... we shared the chores, games, secrets, and mischief.  Now... we share fond memories...memories that come back clearly whenever I see a silver Christmas tree, feel a crocheted afghan, hear the word spectacles, smell marigolds, or taste noodle dumplins.
          Grandma always made noodle dumplins for the grandkids whenever we were visiting without parents, aunts, or uncles.  When I lost Grandma at 14, I also lost that special flavor.
          After I had children of my own, I made many unsuccessful attempts to find the right combination of ingredients to share the taste with them.  I asked my mother, and she mentioned P.E.T. milk as part of the recipe.  That was the secret!  I knew it was right from the first spoonful.

Noodle Dumplins 
2-3 lbs. chicken
7-8 c. water
1-2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1-2     chicken bullion cube (optional)
1/3     small onion
8 oz.   egg noodle dumplings
12 oz. evaporated milk

          Remove skin from chicken.  Boil chicken, salt, pepper, onion, and bullion in the water.  Take chicken out of broth to remove bones.  Cut into small pieces and return.  Add noodles.  Cook 5-10 minutes.  Add evaporated milk.  Bring to a boil.  Broth will thicken as it cooks.

*Tastes best if served in tiny, pink china bowls.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Red Barn in Winter

What makes a big old barn such an intriguing building?


E.B. White was a master of using descriptive language. I remember a part in Charlotte's Web when he described the barn using only the sense of smell. I know I'll butcher the beautiful flow of his sentences, but it went something like this....

.... The barn smelled of hay and of manure, of rubber boots, and the perspiration of tired horses.  It smelled of axle grease, new rope and of the sweet breath of patient cows. And whenever the cat was given a fish head to eat, it would smell of fish. But there was always the smell of hay. Hay being pitched down from the loft...


I'm sure there was more, and I'm sure it was worded much more elegantly, but the spirit of his words is there. Somehow we just want to be there enjoying that. And, how can cow breath and fish heads be pleasant... I don't know, but somehow I believe that this red barn holds similar delightful smells.