My favorite shade of blue
is a flower picked
on a brisk Autumn day
by a sweet little girl
who found this gem
amidst the orange and brown and red and yellow.
She picked it
and handed it to me
with a heart of gold
that dreams of rainbows
and finds the beauty
in moments shared.
This is family.
This is love.
This is my favorite shade of blue.
I love you Ella!
You are my favorite shade of love.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
A friend who reads my blog asked me a few weeks ago to post a yummy warm drink recipe. Well – when I recently tasted a warm caramel apple cider drink at a restaurant with my buddy, Janet after our Autumn Weekend Wandering trip, I knew it is what I would be trying. And try we did, again!
You could certainly make this with fresh apple cider, but I had a box of Alpine Sugar-Free Spiced Apple Cider packets in the pantry that I thought would work great, and they did!
When there is a nip in the air and you have time to sit under a warm blanket by a crackling fire with a good book or while watching a favorite movie in your fuzzy slippers or enjoying some catch up time on the phone or in person with a good friend, make a mug or two of this warm cocktail that tastes like drinking warm apple pie or a gooey caramel apple. (sigh…)
Here’s your yummy warm drink recipe, Melissa! Hope you enjoy!
Combine 1 packet Alpine Sugar-Free Spiced Apple Cider with 1 cup of hot water.
Add 1 shot (or as much as you like) Buttershots Butterscotch Schnapps.
If you want to “fancy it up” and make it special, you can garnish with a cinnamon sugar rim on your mug (simply dampen the rim of your mug with water and dip in cinnamon sugar), add a cinnamon stick and a fresh slice of apple.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
How could I have missed this?
It is a classic novel.
It was made into a film, a musical, and a soundtrack.
It is a story that caused my heart to swell,
reminded me of the past,
gave me pause to consider the future.
It made me smile broadly.
It gave me a lump in my throat.
It caught me off guard and caused me to gasp.
Tears welled up, and then magic appeared.
How could this be considered a “Children’s Novel” when it teaches such relevant adult life lessons?
“How about this old Bunny?” she asked.
“That?” said the doctor. “Why, it’s a mass of germs! Burn it at once. What? Nonsense! Get him a new one. He mustn’t have that any more!”
And so the little Rabbit was put into a sack with the old picture-books and a lot of rubbish, and carried out to the end of the garden behind the fowl-house.
How often does this happen in real life….
to real people….
whose hearts and souls are young,
but their bodies are aged, broken, weak, and have germs….?
How could I have missed this beautiful story that was never read to me as a child and that I never read to my children?
Written almost 100 years ago, and I just bought my first copy this week…. via Amazon Prime…. for ages 3 – 7… and I am 52… and I LOVED it!
The life lessons are so deeply profound.
I so encourage you to read this… slowly – and at least twice:
Thank you, Skin Horse, for your insightful wisdom.
I will try very hard to remember this every day.
Whether you have children or not, The Velveteen Rabbit is a MUST-READ! It will be the best 10-15 minutes (depending on how long you linger over the beautiful illustrations) you’ve spent in a long time, and the best $7.49 you will spend this year.
A new, old, profound classic on our bookshelf!
It is waiting to be read to or by anyone who visits our home…. anyone who wants to know what it means to be REAL.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
P.S. I was so amazed by this story (which I discovered after a friend posted a quote on Facebook), that I had to draw a version of a stuffed bunny (a velveteen rabbit) late one night. It came freely. From a Google Search of stuffed bunnies, I saw a photo similar to this one I painted. It came quickly and easily, and I was delightfully surprised when I saw how it turn out the next morning – when the paint had dried, and my eyes were clear, and it became “Real.” And “Real can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”
I recently mixed up a batch of seasonings for a dry rub mix that has rocked our world (well – that might be a teensy bit of an exaggeration… but I really wanted to catch your attention.)
But seriously – who knew mixing spices could be so exciting… Pack so much punch…. add such “zip” to what would otherwise be so … ordinary?!
And once you make a batch of this, you will have it for a while… But you will want to use it often!
I’ve used it so far for slow roasted oven baked ribs where I rubbed it on and baked them for 8 hours on a low heat in the oven. O. M. G!
I’ve also rubbed it all over a couple of pork tenderloins and marinated all day in the refrigerator, then grilled. YUM!
Both ways turned out amazing.
I’m looking forward to trying it on more things… Maybe chicken? Beef? I’ll bet it would even be a nice seasoning for roasted potatoes.
This mix smells so amazing, that we sometimes just open the jar and breathe it in!
I am sure you can mix and match the ingredients as you see fit or as you have on hand, but I believe the two most key ingredients are the SMOKEY paprika (oh how I wish we had smell-a-blog or scratch and sniff photos on our phones and computers so you could experience this smell if you never have – it is very different from “regular” or Spanish paprika) and cinnamon (the smell and bit of sweet bite that you don’t quite expect takes it over the top!).
Here is the recipe. I hope you will give it a try. If you do, let me know how you liked it.
Mix all together and store in airtight jar.
To use, sprinkle and rub liberally over all sides of ribs, pork tenderloin, pork chops, or anything you like. Let marinade for several hours or overnight. Bake or grill to your liking.
This really is an amazing seasoning mix to kick up your pork tenderloin and ribs.
It would also make a great gift to give in pint size jars for the holidays for gourmet cooking friends on your holiday gift list.
The guys we had over for dinner this past Saturday evening loved it. I think you will too!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Nick, Winston, CJ, Zach
Look at these handsome guys!
Could I be any happier than to have the opportunity to have them over and cook for them?
Does that make me a little strange?… unusual?…. old-fashioned….?
I was really looking forward to – and totally enjoyed – the opportunity to cook and bake for my youngest son, Nick (far left in the photo above) and a group of his old college buddies (Winston, Zach, and CJ – two of whom are married already!), who decided to get together for a Saturday afternoon of basketball and an evening of pool and poker, with a short break in between to be nourished by Momma ME!
In talking with my friend, Tracy, on our Sunday morning walk yesterday, I remarked upon reflection that it is good to be 52 and not so worried about what is the right or wrong way to be a woman today.
For a while, I tried to be a “modern” business woman – one who enjoys working as much as the rest of “the guys” and has no time for such silliness as cooking and baking….
But I can’t help it….
It is my happy place.
It is in my DNA.
When I was a young girl, if asked what I wanted to be when I grow up, I most often would say, “A Mom.”
Being a mom is a job that should be as equally admired as those that serve as doctors and lawyers and teachers and executives.
It really is a tough job. Little training is provided. Little recognition is provided. The monetary rewards are quite minimal. The days are long. Then nights are short. The worries are many.
But the rewards…..
especially when looking back and knowing you raised your kids to become amazing adults….
well – there really is nothing greater.
So the chance to cherish moments with my “kids” (who aren’t really kids anymore)…
is pretty darn great.
I am most happy when I am cooking or baking or having guests in my home.
I TRULY love my work too. Don’t get me wrong.
I am extremely fortunate to have a work-life balance that allows me to work as passionately at my job in corporate communications for home health and hospice and enjoy it as much as I do my “life in between” activities.
I also truly and equally admire women who don’t choose to be mothers, but dedicate their lives to noble careers because that is their passion.
But put me behind the kitchen counter with pots steaming and cookies cooling and bread kneading…..
with Charlie by my side napping as the Autumn sunshine streams in the window…
and life is perfect.
I baked some classic chocolate chips cookies,
and made Zach’s favorite – good old-fashioned peasant food – Haluski.
I made some yummy rosemary roasted butternut squash that they all surprisingly LOVED, some freshly baked rustic crusty bread, and some dry rubbed pork tenderloin (recipe in tomorrow’s blog!), as well as some mini pumpkin pies….
served up with a side of dreamy, creamy whipped cream.
In the midst of it all, with dishes piled high in the sink…
flour all over the counter….
dough in my hair…
Nick asked,
“Do you REALLY ENJOY doing this?”
“Oh YES!,” I didn’t even hesitate when I replied…
“This is my happy place.”
Thanks, guys, for the wine!
Thanks, girls, for the surprise visit!
Thanks, Merv, for being the grill master and my “partner in crime” through it all.
Thanks for allowing me to nourish your bellies as much as you nourish my heart! ❤
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
My design team inspiration card this week for The Paper Players Color Challenge #PP270 is a relatively clean and simple card. I made three Christmas cards before I decided I wanted to share this one for my inspiration – a not-Christmas card.
This week’s challenge is to use Black + White + Silver or Gold + One Color, and the other design team members have some awesome inspiration cards (including lots of Christmas cards!)
For my card, I stamped the dragonfly onto watercolor paper in black and then dropped in some W&N Prussian blue watercolor paint (surprise surprise!) very loosely and shook it a bit to make it move and drip. I also threw a few splatters on just for more freedom and artistic flair. Once dried, I added some silver brads to complete the front.
One the inside, I stamped the dragonfly again in Night of Navy stamped off twice before stamping on the third hit to make it more subtle and muted. I then stamped the sentiment on top of it. Just for a bit more sparkle, which you really can’t see in the photo, I brushed this one with the Wink of Stella.
Hi Friends –
Mom finally took a break from blabbering about Winsor and Newton Prussian Blue to allow me to get a word in edge wise! Shheeesh!
How have you all been?
Well…. enough about you…
Can you believe I have been in my new home three months now?
I am really settling in and feeling comfortable.
Comfortable enough to reach up onto the kitchen counter when something yummy smelling is within reach….
Comfortable enough to snag Dad’s soft and fluffy slipper and take out in the yard to play with and pull all the stuffing out of…
Comfortable enough to find my voice and “Rooooofff” when Mom isn’t quick enough to get her shoes on when she mentions we are going for a walk, and I have already waited an antagonizing 15-20 seconds…
Comfortable enough to grumble at Dad when he tries to roll over when I am snuggled up by his feet prohibiting him from moving in the middle of the night because I am cold and Mom and Dad’s bed is so much warmer than mine….
Comfortable enough for Mom to let me off my leash when I see my neighbor, Jim, so I can run to him and jump up and kiss him right on the lips because I am so happy to see him….
Comfortable enough to “drop it” when Mom tells me to – even though I want to play tug with my favorite toy…
Comfortable enough to wait patiently in the yard while Mom and Dad leave in their car and truck, watching the leaves blow until they come home again….
It’s a good life…
A dog’s life…
My life.
Woofs and Wags,
Charlie
Congratulations Ann! You are the winner of the card give-away from Sunday’s post.
I asked hubby to choose a random number from all the lovely comments you left on my post, and he picked Number 37.
So Ann, if you will email me your address to mckinneyjodi@gmail.com, I have a package ready to send with this card and a few more goodies.
Thanks ever so much to all of you, and I’m sure we will do it again soon.
Happy Weekend!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
So yesterday I spoke about learning
to wait for paint to dry.
While I was waiting (for the paint to dry)
on my “real” painting that I showed yesterday,
I quickly sketched this little bird
just dying to use more of my
“Professional Artist” Winsor & Newton
Prussian Bluuuuueeeee.
A simple, small, quick, pass-the-time, wait for paint to dry birdie
that I kinda fell in love with…
My Winsor & Newton Prussian Bluebird of Happiness!
Happy Friday!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
I am TRYING to learn
to wait for paint to dry.
It’s harder than you think!
This is my first 9 x 12 watercolor painting –
my largest to date.
It was done following a line and wash tutorial on ArtTutor by Joanne Boon Thomas.
AND with my very first few tubes of Winsor & Newton Professional Artist watercolor paint. OOOO LA LA!!
I treated myself to four tiny tubes – and was so excited to use Prussian Blue!
I see several things I would have liked to do different,
but it was a good practice in patience…
A practice in background, midground, and foreground…
Who knew it could be so fun…. waiting for paint to dry!!??!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 