A Hare with Flair Watercolor 8×10 Saunders Cold Press
I found some time this past weekend
to splash some paint.
Once again inspired by the genius of
Andrew Geeson’s loose watercolor painting,
I painted this
rare,
bare
hare
with flair
that I dare
to share
if you care
to stare
or glare.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Crooked Creek, Ford City, PA – June, 2017
How do you say “Thank You”
for sunshine or health…
for clear days or gentle rains…
for happiness, joy or love?
You say it by sharing
what you have.
You say it by making
the world a better place in which to live.
-Thomas D. Willhite
How do YOU say “Thank You?”
I say it by trying to share something small every day
in this tiny little platform that is mine
to give to the world
a little bit of happiness…
a little bit of joy…
a little bit of love.
My “Thank You” might be
a photograph,
or a painting,
or a craft or DIY idea.
It might be a favorite cherished
or newly discovered recipe.
It might be a verse
or a quote or a story.
But it is my “Thank You”
for sunshine and health…
for clear days and gentle rains…
for happiness, joy, and love.
It is my gift.
It is my little life.
It is my creative journey…
at life in between.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Fresh Red Raspberry & Blueberry Pie.
Are you looking for an amazing fruit pie that is tart and sweet and bursting full of fresh fruits of the season?
I haven’t baked a pie in a while, so I thought it was high time I treated hubby to something he would love being that it is Father’s Day weekend and all.
He would choose pie over cake or cookies approximately 99.5 times out of 100 – conservatively speaking.
I had some fresh red raspberries and some fresh blueberries in the fridge, but not enough of either to make a whole pie, so I decided to try combining the two into one pie.
I researched some recipes and then decided to combine things I liked about different ones into my own creation – including using tapioca instead of cornstarch as the thickening agent for this pie. Grandma always used tapioca in her berry pies, so there is no other way in my book!
This pie turned out perfectly thickened and so full of fresh berry flavors. It was a complete hit with Hubby – especially when topped with a melting scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.
If you are looking for a new twist on berry pie, I hope you’ll give this recipe a try!
Ingredients:
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Line a 9 inch pie plate with bottom pastry.
In a bowl, combine berries, 1 cup sugar, tapioca, flour, lemon peel, vanilla, and cinnamon. Gently stir, and pour into pastry lined pie plate.
Top with remaining pie crust cut and wove into lattice.
Brush with milk or water, and sprinkle with remaining 1 Tbsp. sugar.
Bake at 400 degrees F for 45-50 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly.
Enjoy!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Purple Pansy Watercolor – 6×9 140lb Saunders Hot Press
A Pansy for Your Thoughts.
I painted this pansy one night this past week, and it kept “speaking to me” in a thoughtful way.
It just keep saying, “A Pansy for Your Thoughts.”
Anyone that knows me well, knows I’m a bit of a “deep thinker.” In fact, you might say I overthink things. But it is who I am, and now that I’m in my fifth decade of life, I’m pretty okay with it. A nice place to be.
So today, I just wanted to share a bit of me, and I’d love to hear about a bit of you. You know… A Penny… A Peso… A Pansy for Your Thoughts.
I care what people think…
about me…
I really wish
I didn’t.
But I always want
everyone to like me.
And if they don’t,
it bothers me – a lot.
And it is not possible for everyone to like me.
I really do “get” that.
But it still troubles me,
no matter how hard I try.
My head
understands this.
But my heart,
which I prefer to think with,
Or just can’t help
but to think with…
just can’t wrap
its arms around the notion.
Is it just a part
of my DNA?
That is what
my personality assessment reveals.
I’m a High “I”
not matter the circumstance.
So I truly believe,
though I wish it weren’t so,
I will still think this way
if I live to be 108.
Do you care what other people think…
about you?
A Pansy
for your thoughts…
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Happy Birthday Dad!
Today is my Dad’s birthday.
I am so glad to have him in my life to celebrate.
This is one of the very few pictures I have from my early childhood.
As a child of divorce, many photos of my early life were destroyed along with the marriage that ended. I suppose in an effort to erase the “mistake.”
But I am so grateful for this photo shared with me by my sweet aunt of a birthday celebration that was shared by my brother and cousin.
Sadly, half of the people in the photo are no longer with us…
Cancer, aging, murder, suicide… Many of us can relate to similar losses.
But I have my Dad in my life, and today is his birthday.
And I am choosing to cherish these moments!
By the way – can you tell which two we are?
I think we look so much alike!
Happy Birthday Dad!
From your only daughter.
Your first-born child.
You were my first great love.
You are the man I am still discovering.
The Daddy I am still allowing myself to remember.
Thank you for being back in my life.
Thank you for healing the wounds.
Thank you for ending the nightmares.
Thank you for fulfilling the dreams.
I love you.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Updating the Nursery at Grandma’s House.
Some of you may remember the fun I had creating a nursery for my first grandchild about seven months ago. I turned my youngest son’s childhood room into a baby girly nursery room. Here is what it looked like when I first created it.
Time is passing way too quickly, and our little girl is growing so fast. She is starting to get around, so it was time to lower the crib so she won’t pull herself up and tumble out.
Then, though I hope she doesn’t need it very soon, we were so generously gifted with a beautiful antique iron day bed from my our bestie cousins, Joyce and “Oh Rob,” fully loaded with soft and fluffy Pottery Barn bedding in just the right colors to match our room! Isn’t it awesome?!!?!
I moved some things around to make room. It will be a nice spot for us to snuggle up and read books soon I’m sure. It also adds versatility to this guest room allowing for another “single” to stay over. We love having campers stay over, so the more beds the merrier!
Remember how I made the bumper pads into curtain valances (since they are a “no-no!” now)? Well – I still had a piece left, so I cut the ties off, cut about a 6-inch opening on one end, and stuffed it with filling from an old pillow I wasn’t using to create a fun tube-shaped pillow. Throwing that and the other pillow that came with the nursery set really helps carry the theme onto the day bed and pull the room together I think. Aren’t I so crafty clever?!?!
I am in love with this little space in the house. It is the smallest bedroom of the four, but it is my current fave! I’ve redone all three (now) guest rooms. I think it may soon be time for a master bedroom makeover! <wink!>
Hope you are having fun in all of your favorites spaces with all of your favorite people… at life in between.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Roasted Potatoes and Fennel
Recipes like this one I am sharing today are ones where I really wish I had the ability to share “smell-a-blogavision!”
The amazing aroma that filled my kitchen and nose when I roasted this fennel and potato recipe is too divine for words. Seriously!
So after the euphoria of the fragrance faded, and I began typing this post, I was trying to find a word worthy to describe it. It was THAT amazing!
In my “research,” I found that fennel is actually used as an essential oil and in aromatherapy. Well…. there you have it! I was not kidding about how awesome it smelled! Apparently, sweet fennel essential oil helps nourish and restore an optimal mind and outlook. It is believed to bring strength and courage in the face of adversity.
Have you cooked much with fennel? Besides smelling like heaven, it has great health benefits too. It is wonderfully crunchy and sweet when served raw in salads or silky and succulent when roasted or braised. It has an interesting licorice-like flavor.
Now… before those of you who are not licorice fans skip over this recipe….. STOP! You have to give it a try!
When you roast this amazing celery-like root vegetable…. O. M. G! I don’t have the words for the amazingness.
Mixed with some simple sliced potatoes and seasoning, it makes for a simply glorious addition or highlight to your dinner.
We had ours with some grilled chicken and a simple cucumber and tomato vinaigrette salad one day last week.
I will be making this again and again. I adore it! Hope you do too!
Ingredients:
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spread sliced potatoes and fennel in an even layer on a stoneware baking dish or baking pan. Drizzle with the olive oil, and season with salt, pepper and rosemary. Roast approximately 40 minutes, tossing 2-3 times during roasting, until golden brown and tender.
Enjoy!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Everyday Heroes.
They really are among us.
And I have to brag on one of them (maybe two).
For those of you that have been hanging around here at TheCreativeLifeinBetween for any length of time know about our amazing McHendy family.
Well – our youngest Jake (who we affectionately refer to as Baby Jake, but who is far from a baby these days!) is now a distinguished Naval officer on a ship that was being commissioned this past weekend. An Everyday Hero he is!
But behind the story of this great hero is another hero. This everyday hero shuns the spotlight, but she does magical, amazing, generous acts of kindness behind the scenes.
She also just so happens to be my BFF. Her name is Jill, and she is astonishingly extraordinary. (Remember the Pay it Forward Christmas Gift Challenge?)
Well – much like any Mom of a military service person would do – Jill sends “care packages.”
But Jill doesn’t send care packages just to her son (our Jake), she sends them to the ENTIRE crew of the ship he is on – EVERY month!
She does it behind the scenes, all on her own, while also working full time and then some in an executive position, being a mom to four grown children and grandma to one (and a half!), and being an amazing friend and philanthropist.
When we recently celebrated Jill’s birthday, Jill insisted on paying the bill for lunch. When paying, she told our server to “keep the change.” The server questioned her to assure she meant what she said, because, you see, Jill tipped our server over double the amount of the cost of our lunch. It was her “gift” to the server – on HER birthday!
That’s the kind of person she is… Someone I can only aspire to be like!
When she was recently called up among dignitaries and military personnel and political celebrities to be honored at the commissioning of the naval ship our Jake is an officer on, she humbly accepted, but raised her arm in respect to doing it “all for the crew!”
I am so stinking proud of her, I had to share! She will likely not be pleased, but hopefully she will forgive me, because she knows I am doing it out of love and respect for the amazing person she is.
Everyday heroes are among us! And I am so honored to call one of them my BFF!
Love you Jill!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Colorful Hummingbird Watercolor 8×10 140lb Saunders Hot Press
A Pair of Hummingbirds in Watercolor.
Among the many birds that visit our backyard are sweet little hummingbirds.
I noticed our little hummer friends that arrived in May didn’t seem to be visiting the feeder recently and realized I had not changed the “nectar.” As soon as I filled it with fresh sugary water, they were back in a snap.
They are so beautiful. Not nearly as wacky colored as I created here in this pair, but I sure had fun going wild with color creating this beautiful, graceful little creatures.
Colorful Hummingbird 2 Watercolor 8×10 140lb Saunders Hot Press
Recalling the one I recently painted for a friend, I had fun creating these ones on a whim and with no agenda or direction in mind. I love this style of painting where you just throw color down and add water and watch it do its magic! Every one is a unique creation.
Hope your day is colorful and creative and magical.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
I’ve fallen madly in love… with Biscotti!
I’m not sure why? But all of the sudden, I can’t get enough of it.
It all started with an “impulse” purchase (dang hungry shopping!) – where I picked up a small package of almond flavored biscotti.
I’ve never really been drawn to biscotti – thinking it rather dry and bland tasting, but oh was I wrong!
Dry? Maybe… but in an amazingly crispy, crunchy way.
Bland? Far from it! So full of flavor and texture.
And when served with coffee (or red wine) 🙂 – and dunked – Wowza!
The word “biscotto” means “biscuit” or “cookie.” Biscotti are named according to their method of baking. The root words “bis” and “cotto” literally mean “twice” and “baked.” When Italians first created biscotti in the region of Tuscany many centuries ago, they were careful to bake the cookies twice, in order to form their unique shape and allow the cookies to develop their signature crisp texture.
So after purchasing the almond…… and then the orange pecan…… I decided it was time I try to bake my own biscotti.
I considered what I had on hand and chose to try a Starbucks Copycat recipe of Dried Tart Cherry and Walnut.
I’m not sure I achieved the correct shape, but I’m pretty sure I nailed the flavor!
Hubby, who would normally not choose biscotti…. well – let’s just say he definitely liked them. We won’t talk about how many he ate when he found them cooling, but suffice it to say, they were a hit!
Here’s the recipe I tried, and I cannot wait to try more flavors.
This could be a very dangerous love affair!
Ingredients:
1 stick butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup dried cherries
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Beat butter in electric mixer on high speed until fluffy. Add sugar and continue beating for about 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.
Add baking powder, cinnamon, and salt, and mix. Add flour just until blended.
Mix in walnuts, cherries and orange zest by hand.
Turn the batter out onto a floured work surface and divide in half. Shape each half into a log 12 inches long and 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Transfer to baking sheet.
Bake 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Place baking sheet on wire rack and let logs cool for 10 minutes. Using a serrated knife, cut the logs into 1/2 inch wide slices, and carefully place the slices back onto the baking sheet. Bake for another 10 minutes. Let the biscotti cool completely on the baking sheet. Store in airtight container.
Enjoy!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 