The “Man-Servant” of Moonbeam Farm

/ Jodi / 53 Comments

The “Man-Servant” of Moonbeam Farm.

Another character from Moonbeam Farm has come to life!

Please allow me to introduce you to the “Man-Servant” who lives with his animal friends Odessa, Dewey, and Jaxon.

You may recall me introducing you to his friends this past week, beginning with a “just for fun” stab I took at painting Odessa the owl in watercolor at the urging of my blogging friend Carolyn at Nuggets of Gold, who is collaborating with Colin at A Dog’s Life on a children’s book.

Carolyn and Colin were so pleased with the painting of Odessa, they asked if it could be used as the cover photo for their first book, “The Odessa Chronicles.”  I am honored to do so, and I must admit quite flattered and thrilled!  I was then encouraged to paint Dewey and Jaxon, which they ended up loving too.

Then I needed to create the Man-Servant.  Unlike the others, which I created on a first-try, Man-Servant took four iterations before we all decided he was the one.  At first, I was a bit frustrated, but I grew to love creating this character.   The Man-Servant is a human in the senior years of his life, who actually believes he runs Moonbeam Farm.

It’s been fun bringing these characters to life.  I’m now going to venture into creating more to be included in the book.  It’s a fun journey, and I hope you’ll enjoy it with us.

 

 

 

 

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Chicken Salad

/ Jodi / 34 Comments

Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Chicken Salad.

On warm Summer days, salads are so great for dinner!

And there are so many fresh ingredients available to mix and match.

I had some fresh Brussels Sprouts and thought they might work great in a dinner salad.

They are so delicious roasted simply with olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper.

Then all you have to do is add your favorite greens to a bowl and top with some yummy, healthy additions of fruit and nuts and cheese and protein and more veggies.

The grand finale topping is the roasted Brussels sprouts and a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette.  It is a full meal deal covering all the  bases!

Here’s the recipe for the way I made it, but feel free to mix and match and tweak it up to how you like.   Roasted Brussels sprouts are a great addition to any salad!

Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. Brussels sprouts
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • Salt & Pepper to taste
  • Chopped Romaine lettuce or your favorite mixed greens
  • 1/4 cup chopped carrots
  • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts (or almonds or pecans)
  • 1/4 cup golden raisins (or dried cranberries or cherries)
  • 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese (or your favorite)
  • 1 grilled chicken breast, sliced
  • Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing (or your favorite)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Cut stems off Brussels sprouts, then cut into quarters.  In mixing bowl, combine Brussels sprouts, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.  Pour into baking pan and roast approximately 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.

In a bowl, add lettuce.  On top of lettuce, add carrots, nuts, raisins, cheese, and chicken.  Top with a half cup of Roasted Brussels sprouts (or as many as you like – leftovers are always delish too!)

Pour dressing on top, then mix.

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi2

Pink Dogwood Blossoms in Watercolor

/ Jodi / 34 Comments
Pink Dogwood Blossoms Watercolor - 11x14 140lb Cold Press Saunders

Pink Dogwood Blossoms Watercolor – 11×14 140lb Cold Press Saunders

Pink Dogwood Blossoms in Watercolor

As we begin the month of June and the warmth of Summer is upon us,
I celebrate the end of Spring with this painting of Pink Dogwood Blossoms.

We only have white dogwood trees in our yard, but they are very old.
I wonder about their history as they were here on the property for likely many years before we built our house on the wooded 3 1/2 acre plot we’ve called home for 17 years now.

Some have died and had to be cut down this Spring.  Makes me sad to see them go, but maybe we can replace them with some new pink ones.  Maybe the old white ones can share stories with the new pink ones.  Do you ever wonder if the trees and other things in nature communicate to each other?

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Thanks Andrew Geeson for another inspiration Youtube tutorial!

The House by the Lake

/ Jodi / 26 Comments
The House by the Lake in Black and White Nostalgia - Lake Arthur, Moraine State Park - May 2017

The House by the Lake in Black and White Nostalgia – Lake Arthur, Moraine State Park – May 2017

I’d like to spend a day
in this house by the lake.

I’d spend some of the time
roaming the rooms

Looking and listening
and smelling and touching

Imagining the stories
of the occupants through the years.

I’d spend some of the time
on a reclining chair in the lawn

Watching the sailboats and fishing boats
and birds and fish and wildlife of the lake

Imagining the stories
of its occupants through the years.

I’d like to spend a day
in this house by the lake.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

The Rest of the Gang from Moonbeam Farm

/ Jodi / 62 Comments
Dewey the Cat from Moonbeam Farm in Watercolor 8x10 140lb Cold Press

Dewey the Cat from Moonbeam Farm in Watercolor 8×10 140lb Cold Press

The Rest of the Gang from Moonbeam Farm.

I found a couple hours yesterday afternoon after a glorious, long holiday weekend to paint the other two characters that live on Moonbeam Farm with Odessa the Owl, who you may recall from a post last week.

Above is Dewey the cat.  Dewey is always hungry and always getting into mischief on the farm with his friends.

Below is Jaxon.  Jaxon is a magical Jackalope who often comes to Dewey’s rescue, but other times gets him into more trouble.

Jaxon the Jackalope on Moonbeam Farm in Watercolor 8x10 on 140lb Saunders Cold Press

Jaxon the Jackalope on Moonbeam Farm in Watercolor 8×10 on 140lb Saunders Cold Press

And in case you didn’t remember, this is Odessa.  Odessa is the wise (and wise-cracking) owl.

Odessa the Owl on Moonbeam Farm in Watercolor 8x10 140 lb Saunders Cold Press

Odessa the Owl on Moonbeam Farm in Watercolor 8×10 140 lb Saunders Cold Press

It was fun painting the animal characters that live on Moonbeam Farm and in the imagination of Carolyn and Colin who are working on a children’s book for kids from 1 to 101.

They’ve been sharing excerpts they collaboratively write  on Carolyn’s blog, and it’s been fun watching the characters and plot evolve.  Hope you’ll check it out and join the adventures!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

A DIY Rainbow Clock

/ Jodi / 35 Comments

A DIY Rainbow Clock.

My BFF Jill is an “all the colors of the rainbow” kinda gal.

She loves color – bright, bold colors.

So when I came across this idea on Pinterest for a colorful clock made out of a wooden plant stand, I knew this was the gift for her birthday this year.

I found this approximately 12″ diameter circular plant stand on line at Ikea for under $10!  It came with wheels that could be attached so that you can use outdoors and move your plants around I suppose, but I just tucked the wheels away to save for some other use some day.

I simply divided the circle into 10 pie shapes from the center with a pencil and ruler and painted them with bright beautiful colors of indoor/outdoor grade acrylic paint I found at Walmart (Waverly Super-Premium Plaid).

I hit the whole thing with a spray of Krylon UV Resistant Clear Spray after the several layers of paint dried.

Then hubby came to the rescue to cut out a piece in the back and drill a hole in the center to add the battery-operated clock works.

And Voila!  A fun rainbow bright colorful indoor-outdoor clock!  It’s TIME to celebrate YOU Jill!  Where has the TIME gone?  I love our TIME together!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

 

 

 

A Sweet Baby Baptism Card

/ Jodi / 38 Comments
Baby Girl Baptism Card

Baby Girl Baptism Card

A Sweet Baby Baptism Card.

It has been a while since I’ve played with card stock and embossing folders and the Cuttlebug, but I wanted to make a sweet and dainty and special card for a very special baby who is being baptized today.

As she is surrounded by family and friends who love her dearly today, my hope is that she grows up feeling completely loved and blessed by these people and others who are in her life and as she grows.  I hope the love she feels today is something that stays with her through good and bad times, ups and downs, ins and outs, and all arounds.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Advice from a Lake

/ Jodi / 41 Comments

Advice from a Lake.

Be clear.
Make positive ripples.
Look beneath the surface.
Stay calm.
Don’t be shallow.
Cast away troubles.
Take time to reflect.
Be “reel.”

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

*compilation of thoughts from Pinterest – authors unknown
Photo taken 05/21/17 Lake Arthur, Moraine State Park, PA – First Spring boat ride of the season

Odessa the Owl in Watercolor

/ Jodi / 41 Comments

Odessa the Barn Owl in Watercolor - 8x10 140lb Cold Press Saunders

Odessa the Barn Owl in Watercolor – 8×10 140lb Cold Press SaundersOdessa the Owl – A Wise Old Barn Owl in Watercolor.

A blogging friend, Carolyn, at Nuggets of Gold, challenged me to paint an owl in watercolor.  But not just any ole’ owl…

This had to be Odessa the very wise barn owl who is a character in a book she is collaborating on with another blogging friend, Colin, at A Dog’s Life.

I’m not sure if this is how she pictured Odessa, but this is how I do, so this is a little surprise for her.

If you want to learn more about the wise (and wise-cracking) Odessa and her friends at MoonBeam Farm, check out Carolyn’s blog to read the continuing saga that is soon to become a book!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Creamy Avocado Pasta

/ Jodi / 37 Comments

Creamy Avocado Pasta.

One day this week, I was in the mood for a creamy pasta with grilled chicken and broccoli.

At first I grabbed a jar of Alfredo sauce from the pantry – thinking hubby would enjoy that – and then I thought…. “Wait!  Isn’t there a healthier way to make a creamy pasta sauce?”

I had a few avocados on hand and wondered how they might work to make a creamy sauce.  After doing a little research on the web, I found this is kind of a “thing,” and I couldn’t wait to try.

I created this recipe by researching and combining ideas from several versions of recipes I found, and I have to admit- it was seriously flippin’ amazing!

Pasta covered in a creamy, dreamy, full flavored but HEALTHY sauce!!  What could be better?!

Goodbye Alfredo sauce.

Goodbye Mac’n Cheese.

Hello amazingly divine Creamy Avocado Pasta Sauce!

I steamed some fresh broccoli, and we grilled some marinated chicken breasts.  Putting these on top of a cup of Creamy Avocado Pasta made for a full and satisfying dinner.

You’ve got to try this!  Here’s my recipe.

Creamy Avocado Pasta

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb pasta of your choice
  • 2 ripe avocados
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 large or 2 small limes, juiced
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt or light sour cream
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp freshly ground pepper

Directions:

Cook pasta in boiling salted water to al dente.  Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain and set pasta aside.

Cut avocados in half, remove the pit, and scoop out out the green flesh from the skin with a spoon.  Discard skin.  Put avocado in blender or food processor.  Add minced garlic, chopped fresh basil and cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, Greek yogurt or light sour cream, olive oil, salt and pepper, and 1/2 cup pasta water.  Blend/puree into a creamy sauce.  Add more pasta water as needed for desired consistency.

Toss with warm pasta, and serve immediately.

You can top with vegetables of your choice like cherry tomatoes and sweet corn, peas, asparagus, broccoli, green onions, pine nuts, or whatever you like.  You can also add a protein if you like – chicken, shrimp, crab meat, lobster, pork.  Sprinkle with a bit of freshly grated Parmesan for a bit of salty, nutty zip.  Or – you can just enjoy as is.  

Can’t wait to hear from those who try and what you think of it!  I’m a total fan!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi