Month: March 2016

Everything’s Popping Up Poppies

/ Jodi / 58 Comments

everything is popping up poppies 8 x 10 watercolor

You’ve probably heard, “Everything’s Coming up Roses.”

Well – I’m in a poppy state of mind these past few days, so after painting this bunch of very loose impressionistic poppies after dinner last night, I decided to name it “Everything’s Popping up Poppies!”

I even put this 8 x 10 painting in a frame I had and hung it on the wall to see what it would look like.  First time ever….

everything is popping up poppies 8 x 10 watercolor framed

I have been inspired by various styles and artists while perusing Pinterest and YouTube and all of my amazing WordPress artist friends and blog followers, so I decided to just “let it go,”  and I think this might be my personal favorite so far.

In a few days, it will be one full year since I painted my very first watercolor painting ever (which you can view here).  What a fun journey this has been so far.  I have learned so much and have sooooo much more to learn.  I now understand why many artists say it is a life-long journey to accomplish or develop a style and master a medium!

I am enjoying the journey…

and cherishing the brushstrokes and paint puddles and splashes…

the artistic moments… at life in between.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

And they call it Poppy Love

/ Jodi / 50 Comments

poppy watercolor original 4.25 x 5.5

Do you ever get an old song stuck in your head triggered by something  totally unrelated?

If you ask my family, they will tell you I can come up with a song for most any word, subject, discussion….

And to their dismay (as I truly have no musical talent!), I often break into random song most any time of day.

So ever since I painted this little poppy flower earlier this week, I’ve been walking around singing, Puppy Love (yep – 1972 Donny Osmond), but substituting “Poppy” for “Puppy.”  (I know – I have issues!)

And while we are on the subject, the 9-year old girl in me remembers Donny Osmond being much more swoon-worthy than the silly kid I see now when I watch the video on YouTube.

Oh well – I guess that is why they call it Puppy Love.

I thought this Poppy would make a beautiful greeting card, so that is just what I did.

poppy watercolor original print cards set of 4 1

And I called it “Poppy Love.”

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Sittin’ on the Dock of the Day Part Deux

/ Jodi / 69 Comments

old red boat watercolor 10x12

If you caught yesterday’s post: “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay,” you MIGHT recognize this old red boat.

I couldn’t resist doing it in watercolor.

But alas my attempts at recreating it – TWICE – last evening – fell short of what I had in mind….

One last try I thought….

So I flipped the 10×12 sheet of Arches over and slapped on some paint with abandon this time – not even trying to exactly recreate, but just having fun splashing and creating a “feeling,” presuming I would never post this one.

But then….

I kinda liked it.

It’s not a Monet or a Matisse, but it’s a “Jodi,”

and for now, that’s okay.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay

/ Jodi / 56 Comments

old boat at three rivers rowing association youth boathouse pittsburgh pa

Sittin’ on the dock of the bay
watching the……

geese and birds and fishermen and rowers,
cars and bikers and joggers and walkers.
Soaking up the early Spring sunshine after a fun little field trip day with hubby on Saturday.

We stopped by the Three Rivers Rowing Association Youth Boathouse in Pittsburgh.

As I snapped photos, I was drawn to this beat up ole’ beauty that sat alone
amidst all the sleek and shiny new sweep and sculling boats.

It’s beauty caught my eye the most.

Kind of like people.

Youth is sleek and shiny and new and beautiful,
but the real beauty that more often catches my attention
is the kind that emanates from the wrinkles on the face of the older woman
who has spent decades loving and smiling and laughing
with her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

or the rough and calloused, knotty, sun-spotted hands of an old man
who worked hard all his life to support his family.
Hands with map-like veins protruding as if telling a story of the places he’d gone and the things he’d done.
Hands that hurt, yet gently stroke his wife’s cheek, guide his children’s path, and cradle his grandchildren.

Yep – sittin’ on the dock of the….. river….
wasting time?
Maybe not.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Photo submission for the Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge:  Half-Light:  Share a photo inspired by a poem, verse, song lyric or story.  Also in loving memory of “Poops” Pap McKinney, who we remember lovingly today on his birthday.

Waiting and Watching – A Charlie Guest Post

/ Jodi / 51 Comments

Charlie Waiting and Watching

Waiting and Watching…

for Dad to come home,
or Cliff the mailman,
or Mike the UPS man,
or Jake or Colleen or Liz to come visit.

Waiting and Watching…

for Pippa and Twiggy (the doggie girls next door) to come out,
or a deer or a turkey or a squirrel or a chipmunk to scamper by,
or a bird or bee or butterfly to flutter by,
or maybe the Easter Bunny!!

Waiting and Watching…

for Mom to say it is time for a walk,
or for dinner,
or a treat,
or an ear scratch or belly rub.

Waiting and Watching…
until my eyes grow weary
and close for “just a blink,”
which is rarely more than two minutes.

It’s a dog’s life.
It’s a good life.
It’s my life.

Woofs and Wags,
Charlie

Jodi’s Mediterranean Crockpot Chicken

/ Jodi / 45 Comments

Jodis Meditteranean Crockpot Chicken 1

I love chicken, and I love easy crockpot recipes – especially for days you know you are going to be busy, but want a nice, healthy meal at the end of the day.

Crockpot recipes are often thought more about in the winter and often with heavier, creamier sauces, but I love how light and healthy this recipe turned out that was born out of simply searching the pantry one morning last week for what to throw together.

Jodis Meditteranean Crockpot Chicken

I daresay this is good enough for company, yet simple enough for any ole’ weeknight dinner.

Best of all, you can throw it together in about 10 minutes in the morning and forget about it until dinnertime.

Hope you give it a try and enjoy!

Jodi's Mediterranean Crockpot Chicken

Ingredients:Jodis Meditteranean Crockpot Chicken 1

  • 6 frozen chicken breasts (or your favorite cuts – thighs, legs, whole cut up parts)
  • 1 12 oz. jar Marinated & Quartered Artichoke Hearts ( I used DeLallo)
  • 1 12 oz. jar Sweet Roasted Red Peppers (I used Mancini)
  • 3 oz. (1/4 cup) Capers (I used Roland Capers in Sherry Vinegar)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning (oregano, basil, parsley, thyme blend)
  • 1/2 cup white wine (I used a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc that was open, but any kind would do, or you could substitute chicken broth)

Directions:

Layer all ingredients in crockpot in order listed above.  Cook on low for 6-8 hours.  Serve alone or over pasta, rice or with a side of new boiled potatoes. Garnish with some fresh basil leaves minced and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Easy – Right?!

Delicious?  You’re going to love it!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Roses and thorns

/ Jodi / 53 Comments

pink rose impressionist watercolor 5x7 matted 8x10 2

I’ve never been very successful at growing roses,
but I thought it might be fun to try painting some this past weekend.

Roses remind me of love,
of Mother’s Day,
of Romeo and Juliet,
of Valentines and fragrance and summertime.

purple rose impressionist watercolor 5x7 matted xx10

Roses also remind me that there is always two ways to look at things…

Roses have thorns…
or
Thorns have roses!

May you see roses in all of your thorns.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

 

More AND Less

/ Jodi / 36 Comments

thoughts at dusk

Thoughts at dusk while riding home from a celebration of life service for a young girl whose life was cut short much too soon…

More presence –
Less distraction.

More compassion –
Less indifference.

More generosity –
Less accumulation.

More tolerance –
Less narrow-mindedness.

More kindness –
Less cruelty.

More love –
Less hate.

Cherish the moments!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi