Flamingo Pond at the National Aviary, Pittsburgh, PA
Advice from a Flamingo.
Wade into life.
Stand tall.
Stand out in a crowd.
Hang out with your flock.
Find the right balance.
Keep your beak clean.
Show off your true colors.
Even the pinkest of flamingos starts out gray.
Don’t be afraid to get your feet wet.
Always be yourself!
Unless you can be a flamingo….
then be a flamingo!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
*Inspired by YourTrueNature
Elvis the Penguin at the National Aviary, Pittsburgh, PA – September, 2017
Just Do it Anyway!
It might be scary.
It is probably risky.
What if someone is watching,
and it turns out to be a flop?
What if people laugh?
What if they say, “I told you so.”
There’s a pretty huge chance it won’t work out.
But guess what? That’s the point!
Be brave!
Just Do it Anyway!
This is a mantra I am trying to reiterate to myself. I am taking on new experiences, new challenges, new risks – with my art, writing, self-development….
It might turn out to be a great big flop, but I’ll never know if I don’t just do it anyway!
Is there something you’ve always wanted to do? Pick up a paint brush? Write a book? Travel to a faraway place? Learn a new skill? Begin a new relationship? Record a song? Learn to fly? Heck – maybe it’s even just a new hairdo?
It might not turn out……..
But then it might?
If you don’t just do it anyway, how will you ever know?
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Blue Parrot Watercolor 11×13 140lb Saunders Waterford Cold Press
Parrot of Blue Part Deux.
Does this guy look familiar?
You may recall him as the handsome guy who posed for me at the National Aviary on our recent visit this past weekend.
He was just too irresistible for me not to have some fun with.
And I happened to finally hit it right and remember this month that it is our “official unofficial” Draw a Bird Day – which a group of bloggers celebrates every month on the 8th.
Seems it is a bit of a bird week for me this week at thecreativelifeinbetween.
This cutie is going with us to the Lake Latonka Fall Festival tomorrow, where he’ll be for sale as an original, prints or cards, along with loads of others you’ve seen here and that are in our McKinneyX2Designs ETSY Shop, as well as a wide variety of fall, holiday, kitchen, and farmhouse-design signs created by my daughter-in-law Colleen from reclaimed pallet wood. My son, Jake, even got in on the action with some amazing artwork too that will knock your socks off! He also built us a landing page website (mx2d.com), where you can access our ETSY shop, Facebook page, and Instagram.
If you are anywhere near Mercer, PA tomorrow, come find us at the McKinneyX2Designs booth outside the red barn. We are having a drawing for a gift card to our ETSY shop and are doing some “show specials!” We’ll be there from 9am – 4pm. Hoping for good weather and fun times!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
PS This Parrot of Blue Part Deux Watercolor was done with Daniel Smith Cerulean and Prussian Blues, Cadmium Yellow and Orange, and M. Graham’s Neutral Tint, as well as a bit of Dr. ph Martin’s Bleedproof White.
Pan Seared Lemon and Garlic Mahi Mahi.
I adooooore seafood!
When eating out, I will likely order seafood 80% of the time.
Chilean Sea Bass… Salmon…Lobster… Shrimp… Scallops… Tuna… Fish Sandwiches… Fish and Chips… Fish Tacos!
And then there is Mahi Mahi! Ohhhh the light, mild, delicate flavor of heavenly deliciousness….. no wonder you have to say it TWICE!
I don’t often cook seafood at home as Hubby is not nearly the fan that I am, but I snuck this yumminess in last night for dinner. A couple of wonderful wild caught Mahi Mahi fillets pan seared with onions, garlic, thyme and lemon zest – this recipe is quick as a wink, healthy as all get out (did you know a 3-4 ounce serving of Mahi Mahi has 20 grams of protein, contains all the amino acides you need to survive, and is under 100 calories?!), and melts in your mouth better than butter!
Here is how I made it thanks to the inspiration from ChicFitChef:
Ingredients:
Directions:
Heat olive oil in skillet until searing hot!
Meanwhile, combine lemon zest, thyme, salt and pepper. Coat patted-dry fish fillets on both sides with this seasoning.
Add onion slices to hot skillet. Once onions are golden brown (about 2-3 minutes), add fish to sear for 3-4 minutes (without moving).
Turn fish fillets over with a spatula, and let sear for another 3-4 minutes on other side.
Lower heat, and add minced garlic and lemon juice. Cover pan, and cook fish another 3-4 minutes.
Remove from heat and serve.
Enjoy!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
A Woohoo Journey.
I was talking to a friend the other day
whose family just returned from their annual weekend amusement park vacation.
It made me think about how many “rides”…. how many difficult situations… how many journeys…
I closed my eyes and waited until it was over.
Instead of enjoying the ride… Instead of appreciating the journey,
and shouting “Woohoo!”
Roller Coasters…
literally and figuratively.
I think of all the things I missed….
just waiting to get to the end – the destination.
No more!
No more closing my eyes and waiting.
Eyes are now wide open.
I am watching. I am appreciating. I am enjoying the journey!
(Just please don’t hold me to this on the Thunderbolt at Kennywood!)
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s… Birdly!
Hubby and I made a little visit this past weekend to the National Aviary located in our beautiful city of Pittsburgh.
It’s pretty awesome having America’s only independent indoor nonprofit zoo dedicated exclusively to birds in our own “backyard” with a diverse collection of more than 500 birds representing more than 150 species from around the world, many of them threatened or endangered in the wild.
And guess what? We’ve never visited it before this past weekend!
Bird lovers that we have become….. meet some of our new friends.
I wish I could remember their names and species, but maybe some of you are better at identifying. I simply found them fascinating and beautiful.
The eagle took my breath away.
But wait….. what is this rare bird?
It’s Hubby as a virtual reality eagle flying over New York City on BIRDLY!
Have you ever dreamed of flying like a bird? BIRDLY has made that possible, and we were able to experience it on our recent visit.
The exhilarating flight simulation experience allows you to fly like a bird while lying on the simulator chest down, flapping your arms using hinged wings, and controlling your direction and speed while a fan simulates headwinds. Motors and actuators tilt and dip your body in response. The sensory-motor coupling essentially tricks the brain, so between the motion, wind, sound and visuals, you are effectively flying!
For me it was exciting and terrifying at the same time. Biggest ninny poo poo of all time, I am deathly afraid of heights. But I wasn’t going to let that stop me. It is clearly safe, and oh what a feeling of freedom it was!
So yep – got to experience flying like a bird this past weekend! I’d say that’s a check off the ole’ bucket list for sure! Hubby was so busy telling me how to flap my wings, he didn’t think to take a picture. Does that surprise anyone that knows him!?!?
He really was trying to help me as I was…. [ahem]… let’s say the “most vocal” of all the flyers that afternoon…
If you get a chance, do visit the National Aviary and take a flight on Birdly where you can “Fly Like an Eagle.”
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Graceful Ballerina Watercolor 11×14 Saunders Cold Press
As If I Were Dancing Myself…
I’ve always admired the delicate gracefulness of a ballerina…
As a little girl, I dreamed of being one myself.
I had a little jewelry box with a tiny ballerina that twirled to music when I opened it.
I wanted to be able to do that and look so delicate and graceful and beautiful.
But I wasn’t delicate or graceful or beautiful.
I was chubby and a bit clumsy and loud.
I tried tap and jazz and ballet classes,
but my mind and body didn’t cooperate with the rest of the dancers.
I was heavy-footed and exuberant and impatient.
When the rest of the class moved right, I moved left.
I continued to grow into being a “big girl” with a “pretty face.”
Just what every teenage girl wants to hear – right?!
I had short, wavy mousy-brown hair – with bangs no less –
when all I wanted was long, straight hair.
I had a full round face, and when I smiled or laughed,
I completely lost my eyes, which became tiny slits (still to this day!)
I had big feet – a sturdy foundation Grandma claimed –
not delicate ballerina feet that could point and hold me up so gracefully.
A ballerina I was and am not,
but that is finally ok with me now. (only took 50+ years!)
If I can’t be a ballerina,
I can paint one.
And I can feel the same delicate gracefulness
as if I were dancing myself.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
*Painting inspiration from Pinterest (no credit identified). Three colors used: Daniel Smith Neutral Tint, Azo Yellow, Alizarin Crimson.
This past week I received a surprise bouquet of flowers
from a generous friend named Gary
who grows the most beautiful dahlias.
This past week I also learned I lost a dear blogging friend
whose name was Terry from his beautiful husband named Gary
after I spoke to him just the day before sharing my love and admiration.
This past week I worked and I played and I laughed and I cried
in determination and freedom and joy and in sorrow
for family and friends both cherished in my life and those I have lost.
Tomorrow is Labor Day in the United States.
A day set aside to honor the American labor movement and the contributions
workers have made towards the strength, prosperity, laws and well-being of our country.
I think about Gary laboring over the beautiful flowers he planted.
I think about Terry laboring to breathe when I spoke to him the day before he died.
I think about Gary laboring to get through the days following the death of his love.
I think about those who labor to provide comforting care to hospice patients.
I think about those who labor in hospitals and emergency rooms and trauma centers.
I think about those who labor to protect our country’s freedom.
I am grateful for a weekend of respite
and the opportunity to work
this past week.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
On Being an Uncle: A Charlie Guest Post.
As many of you may recall, I became an uncle about nine months ago.
I gotta tell you, this job just gets better and better every week.
“We” are now eating some “solid” foods by “our self” sitting in the “high” chair.
It is very important for me to stay close by during mealtime to catch anything that hits the floor… or happens to be shared by a swinging hand. (And I must say, blueberry puffs with purple sweet potato are quite scrumptious.)
“We” are also now getting much more mobile, and “somebody” likes my squeaky toys, my ears, my tongue, my paws, and my nose. “She” even takes my bones right out of my mouth.
But that’s okay. It’s all in a day’s work of being an uncle. And as long as she tosses me a blueberry puff or two, I’m totally fine with the rest of the havoc!
Mom says I am a really good uncle. I like when she tells me that. It is usually accompanied by a chin scratch or an ear rub or possibly a treat! She really, really likes being a grandma, so I guess its a good thing I like being an uncle…
Woofs & Wags,
Charlie
Charlie is an adopted dog with brown eyes and a white-tipped tail who brings joy and laughter to his family and friends. Charlie is a gifted writer, raving food critic, cat, chipmunk, and donut lover, and exceptionally photogenic model. Some of his best friends are Mike the UPS Man, Cliff the Mailman, Jaeger the neighbor dog, and ANYONE who delivers pizza to the house. If you would like to read more guest posts by Charlie, simply type “Charlie” into the Search box at the top right hand corner of this link: thecreativelifeinbetween.com. If you would enjoy a companion like Charlie, please consider pet adoption.
The Softness of Early Morning – Mars, PA August, 2017
Be Soft.
Don’t let the havoc
make you hard.
Don’t let the hurt
make you hate.
Don’t let the struggles
steal your joy.
Don’t let the bitterness
steal your sweetness.
Be kind.
Give love freely.
Be soft.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 