Autumn Art Sonnet

/ Jodi / 57 Comments

Autumn Art Sonnet.

I recently took my very first online art course at the gentle urging of my blogging friend Jill at Jill’s Art Journal.  Actually it is my first-ever any kind of art course.

The class was hosted on Carla Sonheim’s website and presented by the amazing Lendon Noe.  The short 2-week, 6-session class was on Meaning Making:  Inspired by Poetry.   They were short 20-minute recorded sessions that you could watch at your own pace and at a convenient time for you.

I LOVED it!  I learned so much from Lendon – about art, mixed media, poetry, and even about myself.

My first art love is watercolor, but I loved dabbling into the mixed media world.  And what fun it was to combine my love of words, writing, poetry, watercolor, and stamping.

In my art piece here, the lines are actually an artistic version of a Shakespearean sonnet, where verse is written in a pattern of AB AB CD CD EF EF GG.  You might notice that the lines are repeating in the same pattern.  I used a combination of Sumi Ink, Walnut ink, watercolor, water soluble pencil, and a splash of Dr. Ph Martin’s Iridescent Gold Ink.

I photocopied (directly on my photocopier) a sprig of burning bush leaves and berries from my front yard and gesso‘d it right on top of the “sonnet.”  I drew a trio of leaves directly onto the piece, stamped some patterns and words, and then “scribbled” a collection of autumn words on top with a Pilot Parallel Calligraphy pen.

I woke up early yesterday and created this piece after considering all the things I learned in the class.  It is my little mixed-media sonnet about Autumn.

The air is finally a bit crisp and cooler than it’s been in a long time this weekend. It is really feeling like Autumn.

And Autumn is quickly becoming one of my favorite times of year.  I wonder if it is because I am in the Autumn stage of life too…

Have a wonderful day – whatever season you are in or love.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Feel

/ Jodi / 31 Comments

Feel.

“Poetry
is what happens
when
your mind
stops working…
and all you do
is
feel.”

-Atticus

Take
some time
today
to
just
feel.

Make
poetry
happen.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Crazy Colorful Pineapple Crown

/ Jodi / 41 Comments
Crazy Colorful Pineapple Crown Watercolor 11x14 140 Saunders Waterford

Crazy Colorful Pineapple Crown Watercolor 11×14 140 Saunders Waterford

 

Crazy Colorful Pineapple Crown.

Because it’s Friday…

Because it’s been that kind of week…

Because I needed to just cut loose…

Because why not?

A crazy colorful pineapple crown!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Reach High

/ Jodi / 33 Comments

Reach High.

Reach high,
for stars
lie hidden
in your soul.

Dream deep,
for every dream
precedes
the goal.

-Pamela Vaull Starr

Are you reaching?
Are you stretching?
Are you seeking?

those stars that lie hidden in your soul?
those dreams that make you smile?
those dreams that bring you joy?

Keep reaching.
Keep dreaming.
Create your joy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Old-Fashioned Tomato Pie

/ Jodi / 53 Comments

Old-Fashioned Tomato Pie.

Looking for something to do with the abundance of fresh, juicy, sweet, beautiful tomatoes in your garden or available this time of year?

How about an old-fashioned tomato pie?!

It’s like a deep dish pizza  in an old-fashioned crust….

Layers of tomatoes, onions, garlic, basil and parsley… topped with cheesy yumminess.

Make one, and enjoy it hot, warm, room temperature, or even cold.  It is a wonderful treat to celebrate the end of summer’s bounty and the delight of vine-ripened tomatoes.

Old-Fashioned Tomato Pie

Ingredients

  • Single Pie Crust
    • 1 cup flour
    • 1/3 cup Crisco shortening
    • Dash of salt (6 shakes)
    • 1/3 cup cold water
  • Filling
    • 2-3 lbs tomatoes, thinly sliced (I used a variety of red and yellow heirloom tomatoes)
    • 1 sweet onion, coarsely chopped
    • 3 cloves garlic, chopped
    • 2 Tbsp olive oil
    • 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil and parsley
    • salt and pepper to taste
    • 1/2 cup freshly shredded Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
    • 1/2 cup freshly shredded Gruyere cheese
    • 1/8-1/4 cup cup mayonnaise

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Prepare pie crust by blending flour, shortening and salt with a pastry blender to create coarse crumbs.  Add cold water, and mix until just combined.   Do not overwork (this is the secret to flaky pie crust).  Roll out dough on floured surface and line a 9″ pie plate with dough – folding overhanging dough under itself along rim to create rustic edge.

Line piecrust with aluminum foil and fill with dried beans (or pie weights) to keep crust in place.  Bake for 20 mins.  Cool completely.

To prepare filling, place thinly sliced tomatoes on paper towels, and sprinkle with salt.  Let stand 10 mins.  Pat dry with another layer of paper towels.

While tomatoes are resting, saute onion and garlic, sprinkled with salt and pepper, in olive oil for 3-4 minutes until tender.

Layer tomatoes, then onion/garlic mixture, and a sprinkle of freshly chopped herbs into pie crust.  Continue layering until all tomatoes, onions, and herbs are used.

Combine shredded cheese and mayonnaise.  Spread over top of tomato pie.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes or until lightly browned, shielding edges with foil or pie shield (the GREATEST invention ever for pie bakers!) to prevent excessive browning.

Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature, whichever you prefer. 

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Recipe adapted slightly from Myrecipes.com.

A Yellow Canary Named Terry

/ Jodi / 52 Comments

A Yellow Canary Named Terry.

Today’s post is a collaboration with my friend, Gary, from Spearfruit, in honor of our beloved Terry.

Gary wrote this lovely little poem late one night and shared it with me, so I knew I had to create a Terry canary as beautiful as I could, so we could share this little story and our love for a great man named Terry.

———

There once was a yellow canary named Terry
who had a good friend named Gary.

Terry lived in a birdhouse high in a tree in the city of Tampa
close to his good friend’s camper.

Terry was so full of life with vigor and glee
as he continued to blog in his house in the tree.

Then early one day, Terry became very sick
and from that point forward his health went down quick.

No matter the pain, no matter the grief
Terry always felt better and a little relief

when he blogged to his friends who provided him love
no matter his struggles or thoughts from above.

Then one day when Terry was perched in his tree,
he got a sweet gift from his good friend Jodi.

The gift was a yellow flower that was painted with love
to remind Terry that things are much better above.

From that point forward Terry raised his head high
and did his very best to hold back his cry.

Terry knew it would soon be time to let out his last chirp
so he got himself ready to depart this dear earth.

Although Terry is no longer here perched in his tree
his friends all know that his spirit is with me

always…
Love his best friend, Gary.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

—–

If you would like a 5×7 or 8×10 print of this painting or a box of greeting cards, you can order at McKinneyX2Designs on ETSY by clicking here or by stopping by Berry Vine Gifts in BradfordWoods, PA.

The Flowers of Fall

/ Jodi / 44 Comments

The flowers of Fall
are the beautiful leaves

that in the summer
produced the forest’s shade.

The emerald and olive and mossy greens
turn to persimmon and crimson and gold.

The joy of Autumn
is in the cool, crisp breeze.

that carries the memory
of warmth and life and growth.

A breath of air inhaled
full of brisk, invigorating possibilities.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Chewy Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Cookies

/ Jodi / 75 Comments

Chewy Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Is anything really better than a good old-fashioned homemade chocolate chip cookie?  Well, this time of year, there sure is!
After all, it’s pumpkin and spice time.
So why not make Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Cookies?!

This cookie is a crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside version – unlike most pumpkin cookies, which are more cake-like (and wonderful too!)

Feel free to vary the spices to your liking.  No need to add nutmeg or ginger if you don’t have or don’t like.  Feel free to adjust the amount of cinnamon to your taste.  Some might like milk chocolate chips in these, but I prefer semi-sweet.  Milk chocolate chips seem almost too sweet to me.

I found a recipe at Chelsea’s Messy Apron, and tweaked it up to my liking.  Here is how I made them.

Chewy Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Cookies

  • Servings: approx. 6 dozen
  • Print

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. butter (4 sticks)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 cups brown sugar
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 4 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
  • 1 1/3 cup canned pumpkin
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 3 tsp baking soda
  • 6 cups flour
  • 3  1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

Soften butter in a large bowl in microwave until just melted.  Stir in sugars and completely combine.  Whisk in egg yolks.  Stir in vanilla and pumpkin.  Add salt, spices, and baking soda, and stir well.  Add flour and stir until all is combined and a soft dough forms.  Finally, stir in 3 cups of the chocolate chips, reserving 1/2 cup for decorating tops at end.  (If you prefer, you can just add them all at this time.)

Cover bowl with saran wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.

When dough is fully chilled, and you are ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Roll dough into golf ball-sized balls.  Place on baking stone or cookie sheet, and bake 9-12 minutes until lightly brown on top.  Decorate tops with 3-5 chocolate chips after removing from oven, but still leaving on baking stone/cookie sheet.  Remove from baking stone/cookie sheet after 5-7 minutes, and cool completely on cooling rack.

Once cool, place in large gallon-size Ziploc freezer bags and store in freezer.  Cookies thaw quickly and taste delicious right out of the freezer.

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Klaus the Mouse and his friends have become a Book!

/ Jodi / 92 Comments

Klaus the Mouse and his friends have become a Book!

Some of you who have been hanging around here for a while at TheCreativeLifeinBetween may remember Klaus the Mouse, who lived in a teeny tiny house.

You might also recall Hedy the Hedgehog who didn’t like to go to bedy.

Hedy the Hedgehog

Then there’s Chuck the Duck and Pam the Lamb.  There’s an Otter named Potter and Mig the Pig.

Adele the Gazelle has a smell that casts a magic spell, and what a phenomenon is a Fawn named John!

Chippy the Chipmunk, Rooty the Rooster, Hal the Colorful Cow, a Bumble Bee Named Buzz, and Gail the Snail.

They all joined together in this sweet little collection of watercolors and silly rhyming tales.

Thanks to so many of you who encouraged me along the way.  You helped make it happen!

My first published book!  A collection of silly tales for children 3-103.

If you would like to purchase, here is a link:  KLAUS THE MOUSE.

Happy Reading, Happy Sharing, Happy Laughing.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Pumpkin’ It Up for Fall!

/ Jodi / 44 Comments

Pumpkin’ It Up for Fall.

Happy First Day of Fall!

Happy First Day of Autumn!

Happy First day of Pumpkin Season!

I may have a slight obsession….

with all things pumpkin.

Can you ever have too many pumpkins…
to celebrate
Fall?

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi