orange and yellow zinnia 5×7 watercolor 140# Arches Cold Press
Some of you may remember a photo I shared of the first day of Summer of an Orange Zinnia I have on my back deck that I called The Colors of Summer.
A few of you suggested I should try watercolor painting it, so here it is…
The Colors of Summer in Watercolor.
Hope you are feeling the sunshine and warmth of Summer – if not where you live – at least in this little painting.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Happy Fourth of July to the USA!
We are relaxing today after a fun-filled weekend
at the Second Annual Lake Park Bash
hosted by the the best ever “hood”
in Conneaut Lake, PA…
Look at this crew in their red, white, and blue
from Lake Park Way!
Whether by land or by sea…
a fun time was a guarantee!
A photo booth welcomed guests
and hosts alike.
Some of us were silly…
an others were very pretty.
Friends and family
and my most specialiast of all ladies. ❤
There were refreshing drinks
because the cutest mixologists/most generous hosts/sweetest family ever made sure!
There was food galore…
with lots of meat…
and of course there were also
plenty of treats!
To work play it off
there where games a plenty… Like Twister
and life-sized Kerplunk
and Jenga
and corn hole
and Bocci Ball to name a few.
There was also music
and young ones to make life bright.
All were winners
on a gorgeous Saturday.
And when the sun set
the bonfires lit and the sparklers twinkled
while fireworks glowed and banged and shined.
And then since one day was just not enough…
there were bloody marys and screwdrivers with the next morning’s coffee
and a shared breakfast of pancakes with blueberries and chocolate chips
and scrambled eggs and bacon and sausage.
The Lake Park Bash was a real holiday treat! Thanks to all that made it so sweet!
Hope you are enjoying –
wherever you are –
the special moments to cherish.
Reach for a star!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
watercolor fireworks 5×7 fourth of july
Happy Independence Day!
Not much time for painting this weekend since we are busy celebrating, but had to at least splash a little red, white and blue (with a touch of quinacridone gold too) for #WorldWatercolorMonth!
watercolor abstract fourth of july flag 5×7
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Flower seed pods blowing in the wind watercolor in violet and raw sienna
In case you forgot…
In case you were looking…
In case you are wondering…
Just remember
the answer, my friend,
is blowing
in the wind.
Just look for it.
Just feel it.
Don’t complicate it.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
“But a Speck” Mixed Media Watercolor 9×12 300# Arches Cold Press
This painting
I decided to feature
for the first day
of July
and the first day
of the first ever
World Watercolor Month
began as a field
of daisies
gone wrong….
So following the advice and experimentation
of my mad scientist artinista mentor, Laura,
at CreateArtEveryday
I slapped and slathered
white Gesso on top
and started over
feeling free
and loose
and creative.
I wanted to express
how I am but a speck,
in a huge universe
but a tiny speck
can also have
a rippling effect
that creates art
and magic
and joy
and beauty.
I am
but a speck.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
This abstract watercolor mixed media piece was created using Brusho Watercolor Crystals in Black and Orange, Splatters of Rubbing Alcohol and water, hints of InkaGold and Golden Brand white acrylic, a straw, sunshine, and a free mind.
Dreaming of ruffles and lace and ribbons and bows,
of tutus, tiaras and shiny, bright toes,
pig tails, tea parties, and flowery prose.
The pink slide of life…
My heart overflows.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Piling fresh, healthy ingredients on top of protein-rich fish before wrapping for fish tacos
On Monday, I shared a recipe for Pineapple Blueberry Salsa and told you how I used it to make Fish Tacos for dinner Sunday.
They turned out SO DELISH! And they actually are more like burritos than tacos because we had burrito-sized four tortillas. You could certainly make them smaller by using smaller tortilla shells and cutting the fish into smaller pieces.
I’m still pretty obsessed with the Pineapple Blueberry Salsa, and think it would be great with grilled chicken too.
I decided to lightly bread and pan fry the fish for our fish tacos because that is the way Hubby likes fish best, but you could surely grill the fish too without breading.
It did add a nice crunch and was complemented by the creamy avocado, crunchy red cabbage, and sweet and zippy salsa.
This is a winner winner of a fish dinner. Hope you’ll give it a try!
Ingredients:
Directions:
Prepare three shallow bowls with flour, salt and pepper combined in one, egg and 1/4 cup water whisked together in second, and panko bread crumbs in the third.
Heat olive oil in 12 inch skillet over medium-high heat.
While oil is heating up. Dredge each Hake Loin first in flour, then in egg, and lastly in Panko bread crumbs.
Pan fry two at a time in hot oil for approximately 2-3 minutes on each side until Panko coating is browned and crispy.
Remove from skillet to paper towel lined plate to absorb any excess oil.
On a flour tortilla, please Hake loin in center. Top with 2-3 slices of fresh avocado followed by 1/4 cup shredded red cabbage and topped with 1/4 cup Pineapple Blueberry Salsa.
Fold and roll burrito-style. Slice in half diagonally. Serve immediately.
Enjoy!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
“Out beyond ideas
of wrongdoing and right doing,
there is a field.
I’ll meet you there.”-Rumi, 13th Century
I took a walk this past weekend.
Not the usual path…
Not the usual road.
I took a walk in the woods
behind the house
where I rarely go.
It made me wonder
why I don’t spend more time there
out beyond the daily routine.
Beyond right,
beyond wrong.
I’ll meet you there.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
It was HOT here in Mars this past weekend, so Sunday supper called for something light and fresh. I rarely make fish as Hubby is a bit skeptical about it, but I had some frozen Hake loin filets in the freezer that needed to be used.
I was still OOGLING the amazing Fish Tacos I had the night before at Breakneck Tavern – O M G – and thought I’d try some type of version at home.
So I made this super yummy, bright, fresh, fruity and savory (with just a touch of heat) Pineapple Blueberry Salsa to accompany the fish, but it also tastes AMAZING on tortilla chips. I had some Tostitos Wholegrain Scoops, and they were just the ticket to balance out the flavors and allow for a healthy scoop of fruit and veggies in every bite!
This salsa and chips would be a great company or party snack to go with white wine spritzers or some white sangria (and everything goes with Gin and Tonics in the summertime!).
Here is the recipe. Hope you’ll give it a try, and let me know what you think.
Ingredients:
Combine all ingredients and serve with tortilla chips (especially yummy with Frito Lay Whole Grain Tostitos Scoops, or alongside chicken or fish for a fresh and light, summery accompaniment.
Tastes bests when chilled for several hours to allow flavors to fully blend.
Enjoy!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
*slightly adapted from Jen @ CarlsbadCravings
the creative life in between 
