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A Special Cookbook from Mom

/ Jodi / 23 Comments

Feeling nostalgic – and hungry LOL – and remembering giving this cookbook to my youngest son for Christmas one year after he left home. He still uses it.

As you contemplate gifting and shopping, remember to give gifts from the heart.

My request this year from my son – – a schedule of Sunday Christmas dinners that I can cook for the fam! 🙂 Hope I get it!!

Cheers & Holiday Hugs,
Jodi

the creative life in between

Nicks Cookbook from mom

I have one more special little homemade Christmas gift to share this week.  This is one I was excited to give to my son, Nick.

Nick had requested I put a cookbook together of his favorite recipes I make, and especially those that are EASY, so that he will have and be able to make wherever life takes him.

For the cover of this little book, I used a photo of our kitchen in the frenzy of pots boiling, cookies cooling, and flour and sugar and other ingredients out on the counter.  I am hoping as he takes this little book with him throughout his life, he will remember the smell and feel and love of our family kitchen.

For the intro page, I wrote Nick a short note:

Nicks cookbook from mom introduction page

Nick is a chicken lover, so I tried to remember all of his favorite chicken dishes.

nick cookbook chickfila chicken sandwiches

But remembering the “easy” part…

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Reflections of Thanksgiving

/ Jodi / 15 Comments

As we prepare for another Thanksgiving, reflecting on the last. Cherishing all the moments.

the creative life in between

Reflections of Thanksgiving.

Babies growing too quickly.
A loved one’s final day.
Family time together.
Thoughts of family apart.

Sons have become men
that make us gleam with pride.
Daughter in laws grow dearer
with each passing year.

Hubby’s smoked turkey
woos the crowd again.
Granddaughter’s first apple pie
sweetens meal’s end.

Pumpkin pie for breakfast
with a bestie and “our” mom.
Cocktails with our faves
to consummate a just-right day.

Waists growing thicker.
Hair becoming greyer.
Embracing the vulnerability.
Loving fiercely.

Reflections of Thanksgiving.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

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Cascade Green Pumpkin Watercolor

/ Jodi / 47 Comments

Cascade Green Pumpkin Original Watercolor by Jodi McKinney – 11×14

Cascade Green Pumpkin Watercolor.

Who said pumpkins have to always be orange???!!!

And…  What watercolor artist doesn’t adore playing with
Daniel Smith’s Cascade Green?!

Mix it up with a little Quinacridone Gold and a bit of Sepia for contrast and Voila!

I love all the shades of green and blue and yellow and brown and black created with the granulation of these pigments in this combination!

It was a fun pumpkin to create!

I’m excited to be one of the artists featured at one of our local town’s Sip and Stroll events this Thursday evening in Zelienople, PA.

I have the great honor of  being invited by my friends at Boutique 16063 – an amazing women’s boutique with the sweetest owner and team that making shopping there so much fun and make you feel like a million bucks when you walk out!

I’ll have some prints of this painting there and some cards (as well as a great selection of some of my other watercolor originals and framed prints as well as copies of the two children’s books I wrote and illustrated, Klaus the Mouse and Lucas the Lucky Lion).

The original of this painting is available through our McKinneyX2Designs Etsy Shop or at Berry Vine Gifts in Bradford Woods, PA.

If you are local, I hope you will sip and stroll by on Thursday, September 19th between 6-9pm!

There will be lots of great beers and wine to choose from, food to eat, artists to explore, and great shoppes open to browse and shop in.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Eyes Wide Open

/ Jodi / 30 Comments

Eyes Wide Open.

We must keep our eyes wide open.

Sometimes we will see good and happy and beautiful things.
Other times we will see horrific, sad, disgraceful, reprehensible things.

Blinders don’t change the truth.

The only way to change
the things we don’t want to see

is by keeping our eyes wide open,
so we can face what needs changed.

Hugs,
Jodi

Grieving for the victims and seeking justice:    https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/14/us/pennsylvania-catholic-church-grand-jury/index.html

 

Taking a Blogcation

/ Jodi / 39 Comments

Taking a Blogcation.

Hi Friends!  On May 18, 2014, I published my very first blog post.
Almost four years later, I’ve been blogging daily or at least five days a week.

I’ve never taken a blogcation – even when I was on vacation!

So I’m thinking I deserve a little break.
I hope you understand.

I am going to take a week or two off as I focus on a few other things going on in my life right now, including a new full-time career.

I’ll try to check in on occassion and may even have a chance to post a time or two, but forgive me if you don’t hear from me for a little while.   Know I am well… very well and happy!

Looking forward to connecting again soon here at “life in between!”

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Released from the Soul

/ Jodi / 62 Comments

Released from the Soul.

Sometimes…

Art is just feeling.

And no explanation is needed.

There is such a freedom
in simply creating
feeling.

No concern
of whether
someone else

will like…
will understand…
will appreciate…

But such emotion is expelled.

It is like an untold,
secret story
that is released from the soul.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

As If I Were Dancing Myself…

/ Jodi / 72 Comments
Graceful Ballerina Watercolor 11x14 Saunders Cold Press

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.