Pumpkin Pie

One time I tallied my paintings by season and discovered that I had done more with an autumn theme than nearly all the other seasons combined. It's hard not to want to put a golden, orange, and red landscape on canvas.

The older I get, the more I appreciate fall.  I think that during my first 50 years, I was just too busy during fall to notice it... back to school and getting the year going, parent conferences to hold, band practice to get kids to, football games to attend, Fall Harvest events... I'd see a senior adult fall foliage trip in the church bulletin and wonder who would drive around for no reason.  Now I think, "Honey, want to go for a drive to see the leaves?"

Our Creative Companions challenge was "It's Fall, Y'all." I've painted so many autumn landscapes... I've painted pumpkins and gourds and colorful leaves and scarecrows and candy corn... What else says "fall" when you see it? Ahhh... or taste it!

So, first I was off to Wal-Mart to buy a pie and Cool Whip. (No, of course, I didn't bake it!  Who does that really?) Then I asked the neighbor down the road if I could borrow her pumpkin for a couple of hours.  She didn't mention that it was a weird request and said that was fine.

Next, I got my grandson to come with me in his little jeep to carry the big pumpkin home. 

I carefully cut a slice, added a perfect dollop (great word) of whipped cream, and set up the still life. I took a ridiculous number of photos (this way, that way, move the plate, move the pumpkin, blur the back, don't blur, add a fork, take away the fork, reshape the dollop, turn the plate, move the lamp for a better reflection of the pan on the table...)

Finally, Ron could enjoy eating the slice of pie (I'm not a fan.) and I could choose the right photo then put paint and brush to canvas.

For my companion piece, I collected leaves from around the yard and did some leaf stamping. That was fun. How had I gone nearly 60 years without knowing how easy and how much fun leaf stamping could be. I did some more of it with my little pumpkin-hauling partner.

Original Oil Painting on 10"x 10" Wrapped Canvas

Click Pumpkin Pie if you'd like to purchase this painting.

My Garden Harvest (October 1 - that's it for 2023)

Temperatures have been dropping into the 30s, so I decided to call it and bring in all the green tomatoes.  Most of them will ripen on the counter. 

Our garden completely exceeded all expectations this summer. It was both fun to harvest and a lot of work, but our freezer is full. 

I could have a blooper reel of my uncropped photos.  There's a certain yellow family member who wants desperately to "help" me, especially when there are herbs in the day's harvest. Do you see it?

Salsa Recipe

This is a painting that's kind of a repeat for me.  I first painted a version of it about a decade ago and decided to paint it again thinking it might be a good one to do with a class of senior adult beginning painters in the spring. In my mind it was a good choice... simple design... only red and green (alizarin & veridian) make up the "black" background.  Those reds and greens are repeated in the tomatoes and pepper, so limited palette. 

So, I pretended to be a new painter and began. Ummmm.... no... Long story short, I will not be using this with a group of senior adult beginning painters.

The painting shows mostly what you need to make salsa.

My recipe? [Warning: I never measure exact amounts. I do have tortilla chips handy to taste test until it's right.]

• Tomatoes
• blend in the blender, skins and all.
• heat in the microwave for a minute... wait, watch... the frothy tomatoey goodness rises to the top, and the tomato water sinks to the bottom... suck that water out with a turkey baster and freeze it to use in the next soup you make... use the thick top layer for your salsa
• Onions
• chopped - fine or chunky, whatever you like
• white, yellow, or purple
• Jalapenos
• chopped
• seeds in or out, up to you - or leave out completely if you like it mild
• Bell Peppers
• chopped in large chunks - so someone who hates them (me) can pick them out
• Garlic
• out of a jar or fresh cloves - whichever you want
• Salt / Onion Salt / Pepper
• as much as you need to make it taste just right
• Lime or Cilantro 
• if either of those suits you

If you've ever been to my house, this little painting might look familiar.  A much, much bigger version that I did several years ago hangs in my dining room.

My weekly-ish painting challenge was "In a Row."  Although the jalapenos are a bit out of line, these veggies are pretty much in a row.

Original Oil Painting on 6"x 12" Wrapped Canvas

Click Salsa Recipe if you'd like to purchase this little painting.

I Like Thursday 10/23

 Thank you to Leeanne of Not Afraid of Color for reminding me to notice things I like. 

I like that I have completely finished this art journal!
There's a completed project on every page!
And there's a brand new one ready to begin.

I like watching these young hens. 

I like (actually love) candy corn!
But, I never eat the white parts.

I like the view from the upstairs window... 
A dozen (okay... 16) chickens in the grass...
a tired-but-still-producing garden...
my red benches... our winding drive...

I like (and am annoyed by) our squirrels.
On one hand, they're so cute. Balance that with the other hand,
they eat hickory nuts and throw the sharp shells on our deck, they sneak in to eat the chicken's food, they make our birdfeeders their own, they pick tomatoes and take one bite... I could go on and on...

I like Twinkle.
She's the friendliest and most patient to wait for a treat.

I like starting the day with Wordle & Quordle.
I usually win, sometimes I get extra lucky.

I like filling my gardening basket.
It's not every day any more, but that's okay.

LeeAnne's  writing topics this month are about herbs & spices:

Your most used spices or herbs... what do you seem to use over and over? Did you grow up with these or start using them as adults?  My mom used salt, pepper, and onion salt... maybe some paprika on the tops of deviled eggs.  I honestly can't remember any other herbs or spices in our house.
How do you store spices and herbs? jars they come in, special holders, etc. My spices stay in the little jars they come in.  My spice rack is a little box type thing with three drawers. I pull out a drawer and it drops down to show me the little jars.
Do you grow any? how do you do it? pots, inside or out side? all year or in summer. Do you dry them for use later?  I started growing herbs in pots in recent years.  I'd never done it or never cooked with fresh herbs, but I've learned that I like it. I grow chives, basil, purple basil, Green oregano, Italian oregano, and rosemary.

What is an unusual herb or spice that you love now that you've tried it? How do you use it?  I suppose It's not unusual to most, but I'd never smelled, cooked, with or eaten rosemary until last year.  Yum!  How did I miss that for nearly  60 years?
What ethnic foods do you like? I'm pretty much an all-American eater.  I do like Mexican food.  I like Italian okay. 
Do you get take out, eat at a special place,  or have you learned to make a version at home?  We do have our favorite places for take-out or to dine-in occasionally. I have my own home version of lots of things.  I'd say I most enjoy making soups, chilis, and stews.  I find it a pleasure to chop and stir and simmer and sample.