Month: June 2015

Berry Love

/ Jodi / 19 Comments

berry mint heart

I love berries!  Blackberries, Raspberries, Strawberries, Blueberries.  They are one of those foods that taste best to me in their purest form.    Sure – it’s hard to pass up a Blackberry or Red Raspberry Pie…  Homemade Strawberry Jam on fresh baked buttered bread……. Blueberries are devine on my breakfast cereal too…. But just popping berries in my mouth pretty much rocks my world.

If I want to make a nice fruit salad, I love berries the best.  Mix them together, then make a simple “dressing” from just a smidge of brown sugar and a splash of balsamic vinegar.  I know it sounds strange, but it really makes the flavors burst!  Then top that with some fresh mint leaves and a sprinkling of lime zest – and ooooo laaa laaa!

berry salad

Sometimes adding a simple, beautiful homemade shortcake biscuit and some whipped cream make berries even that much more special!

Four Berry Cobbler

To make 8 shortcakes, I simply mix 2 cups flour, 1 Tbsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt and 1 stick (8 Tbsp cold butter, cubed) with a pastry blender until crumbly.  I then add 2/3 cup half and half and form the dough (being careful not to overmix and make it tough).  I then cut the dough into 8 biscuits, brush with a little more half and half on top and sprinkle with some raw sugar before baking at 400 degrees F for 12 minutes.

So that’s what hubby got for dessert last night.

Which is your favorite berry?  What is your favorite way to eat them?

berries in bowl

And I thought you might get a kick out of seeing a “behind the scenes” shot of my berry professional photo shoot set up early morning on the side porch.

berry heart photo shoot

Yep – that’s how I roll…

at life in between.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Stay Loose My Friends

/ Jodi / 35 Comments

pink peony watercolor card

You know that Dos Equis “guy” who is famous for saying, “Stay Thirsty My Friends?”

When I am water color painting, his voice runs through my head…

“Stay Loose My Friend.”

I know – you do not want inside my head – eh?

So when I picked these beautiful, vivid peonies from the “other side of the house” this past weekend to make a fresh centerpiece for the kitchen table, I had the urge to paint.

pink peonies

I know I don’t have the skill to recreate the actual image…

but that is what I LOVE about watercoloring!

To me – it is freedom.

Freedom to express creativity.

It is not about recreating the exact image.

pink peony watercolor card 3

It is being inspired by the image to create your “own thing.”

So after watching an inspiring tutorial by Janet Rodgers, I decided to “wing it.”

In 15 minutes, without even sketching first, I just took paint and water to paper and created my “idea” of the peony.

pink peony watercolor card 2

Janet talks about just throwing water on the paper and keeping it “loose” and just the idea of the actual image – not the exact color nor the exact representation.

Watercolor allows you to express your vision of the image.

Mine is so far from artistic perfection,

but oh what freedom it is to create!

Thanks for visiting.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Don’t Take that Route Little Squirrel

/ Jodi / 23 Comments
squirrel

the little grey squirrel that visited our deck

Hello little Squirrel…
are you a boy or are you a girl?

I love the way your fluffy tail
has such a happy curl.

We thought you were so cute
the first day you gave the bird feeders a whirl.

It was fun to watch you leap and jump
and prance and dance and twirl.

But you were a bit of a piggy…
eating more than your fair share.

So we had to give a shout
that gave you a little scare.

I sure hope that your feet – that are a little biggy
withstood that leap and kept you springy
from the tromps and claps and shouts
of that old meany Papa Bear McKinney.

Have fun climbing trees and running about,
but please watch out – – -don’t take the route
that causes us… to chew you out.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

My First Design Team Card for The Paper Players

/ Jodi / 37 Comments

PP248 Masculine Birthday Card By the Tide

This week begins my three-month journey as a Guest Design Team Member for The Paper Players.  I have admired this group of talented individuals for some time now since discovering the hobby of stamping and card making and paper crafting.  I have participated in their challenges over the past year or so when I had a chance, and I always appreciated the kind and fun feedback and encouragement.  I’ve even been recognized and won a few times!  When I got an email asking if I would be interested in being a Guest Designer to inspire others, I was extremely flattered.  Also a little nervous!  I decided to commit for three months, and see how it goes.  If all goes well, I will extend to the six-month commitment requested.  So you will notice I will be posting a card each Sunday morning now that will be an inspiration for others to participate in the weekly challenge.

pp248

This week, for my debut card as a Paper Players Designer, our PP248 Theme is Masculine Card.  I decided to pull out my StampinUp “By the Tide” stamp set as I haven’t used the lobster stamp yet.

PP248 Masculine Birthday Card By the Tide knot

I had some navy blue designer series paper with nautical knots printed on it that I thought would go well, and embellished it with a jute knot to somewhat simulate the design of the paper.  (Anyone know how to do that specific knot or what it really is?)

PP248 Masculine Birthday Card By the Tide flat

I used SU Cherry Cobbler red ink for the lobster and SU Crumb Cake for the sea grass, print and to sponge the edges of all the paper for a more “rugged” look.  I finished it off with silver brads and a tan candy dots on all four corners.

So I’m off and running with ink and paper cutter and stamps as an official “Designer.”  I hope some of my fellow stampers and paper crafters will play along in the challenges.

Happy Sunday!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Sunny Sunflower Birthday Wishes

/ Jodi / 19 Comments

Liz Birthday Card Yellow Sunflower 2015

Is it a sunflower or a black-eyed susan?  Not sure… but that’s the beauty of art – and especially watercolor painting.  The freedom to create something new, something different, expand OUTSIDE the lines.

Whatever it is, it is bright and cheery and for a special young lady’s birthday!

Happy Birthday Week Liz!  🙂

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

 

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing

/ Jodi / 25 Comments

Strawberry Spinach Salad 1

Looking for a bright, light, fresh summertime salad?  How about fresh baby spinach leaves, slices of juicy ripe strawberries, chunks of creamy goat cheese, and crunchy candied walnuts all drizzled with a sweet and tangy poppy seed viniagrette?  It just screams summertime!

Strawberry Spinach Salad 2

Since we were talking about strawberries this week, I couldn’t resist making this when asked to bring a salad to Liz’s birthday party last evening.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Candying the walnuts is a cinch and homemade dressing makes it so much fresher.  This salad is super easy and bursting with flavor.

Enjoy!

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing

Ingredients:

  • Large bunch or bag of fresh baby spinach leaves
  • 1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
  • 1/2 cup goat cheese, broken into chunks
  • 1/2 cup candied walnuts
    • 1/8 cup powdered sugar
    • pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
    • pinch of salt
  • Poppy seed dressing
    • 1/8 cup white vinegar
    • 1/8 cup sugar
    • 1/4 tsp shallot or onion powder
    • 1/4 tsp salt
    • 1/4 tsp ground mustard
    • 1/4 cup olive oil
    • 1 Tbsp poppy seeds

Directions:

  • Prepare candied walnuts:
    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
    • Mix dry ingredients in small bowl.  Set aside.
    • Blanch walnuts in a small saucepan of boiling water for 3 minutes, and drain.
    • Mix sugar and walnuts together, and spread onto baking sheet.
    • Bake 10 minutes until golden.
  • Prepare dressing:
    • Whisk together vinegar and sugar until sugar is pretty much dissolved.  Add in shallot powder, salt, ground mustard.
    • Whisk in olive oil.
    • Stir in poppy seeds.
  • When ready to serve, toss spinach leaves with poppy seed dressing thoroughly.
  • Stir in sliced strawberries, goat cheese, and candied walnuts.
  • A protein can be added for a full meal (i.e. chicken breast slices, steak slices, salmon chunks

Happy Friday!  Enjoy the weekend, and have fun doing things at life in between.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Don’t fence me in

/ Jodi / 12 Comments

broken rope wire on fence post

Don’t fence me in…
Don’t make me stay inside “the lines.”

I must break free
to really be me.

True love… true freedom…  true creativity… true thoughts… true peace
can only be achieved when they are chosen.

Let me choose.
Don’t fence me in.

On my way home yesterday afternoon, I took a different route.  I was looking at the sights of the tall grass along side the road and stopped to take a photo.  When I was done, I caught sight of this fence post with its broken wire rope on the other side of the road, and it kind of took my breath away.  All I could think was, “Don’t fence me in,” and I took this shot.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Strawberry Fields Forever

/ Jodi / 29 Comments

strawberry watercolor

Shall we talk about strawberries…
the yummy, juicy, sweet, delicious, nutritious, ruby-red fruit of summer?

Or shall we discuss what John Lennon was talking about in the amazing Beatles hit, Strawberry Fields Forever…”
and boy are there a lot of commentaries out there on that!

Or do we want to talk about drawing and watercoloring and cardmaking and “art…”
some of my favorites things to do?

Or how about strawberry recipes…
Strawberry Spinach Salad, Strawberry Jello Pretzel Salad, Strawberries & Cream, Strawberry Pie – OH MY!?
What is your favorite?  I love them all!

Or shall we just “Let it Bee?”
Let it be whatever we want it to be…

A symbol of summer,
A memory of our childhood,
A favorite hobby,
A sumptuous summer treat.

Let it be Strawberry Fields Forever…
at LifeinBetween.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

PS   Barbara, you know I love a challenge!

Chewy Butterscotch Toffee Cookies

/ Jodi / 26 Comments

butterscotch toffee cookie

BIG butterscotch flavor ROCKS this new cookie recipe I tried that is based on a suggestion a friend recently shared from Taste of Home.

butterscotch toffee cookies

These SUPER EASY chewy, buttery cookies are LOADED with butterscotch chips that just burst with flavor in every bite!

butterscotch toffee cookies 2

If you are looking for something new and different to take to a picnic, share with friends, dunk in milk, nosh on with a cup of coffee or satisfy your sweet tooth for a late night snack, whip these up in minutes and toss in a Ziploc bag in your freezer to have on hand.  You will NOT regret.

Butterscotch Toffee Cookies

  • Servings: Approx. 3 dozen
  • Print

Ingredients:butterscotch toffee cookie

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, beat eggs and oil until blended.  Add cake mix and flour and mix well. Fold in chips and toffee bits.  Refrigerate dough for a couple hours or overnight.  Roll into 1 inch balls and place 2 inches apart on a baking stone. Bake 10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 1 minute before removing to wire racks.