Only Love Matters.
Autumn Leaves
are the most beautiful
right before they fall to the ground
and die.
Did you ever notice that
about people?
Some of the most beautiful moments
are experienced
when someone knows
their time left is short.
Things they once thought important
seems insignificant.
Only love matters.
Why can’t we live like this
all of our days?
Embrace that beauty within.
Let it shine.
Share it with others,
and see their beauty.
Only love matters.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
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
Inklings of Autumn Watercolor & Walnut Ink 11×14 Abstract Art
Inklings of Autumn.
Are you feeling it yet?
Can you smell it?
I’m getting
Inklings of Autumn.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Hauling Pumpkins.
I’ve been wanting to paint this for a while.
A year or so ago, I painted a red truck with a Christmas tree, which has been kinda popular around the holidays (and is still available in our McKinneyX2Designs Etsy shop and at Berry Vine Gifts).
People have asked if I could do other holiday/seasonal versions of it. Since the red truck trend still seems popular, I made a Pumpkin Haulin’ version for Fall.
It was fun to add colors to create the feel of swirling leaves and the colors of Autumn.
We are gearing up for the fun seasons ahead, where my DIL Colleen and I will be participating in a few local shows in addition to our usual Etsy and Berry Vine Gift sales and events.
If you are in the area, look for us at the Lake Latonka Fall Festival on Saturday, September 7th and then the Big Mars Craft Show on Saturday, November 16th.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Our Neighbor’s Yard – Mars, PA – November 4, 2018
Golden Beauty.
Most all the trees are bare with
their leaves now carpeting the ground.
Except this golden beauty
who decides each Autumn to make a statement.
It’s a standout amidst the others
in their stripped bare dormant state.
It’s like the late bloomer
who was awkward as a child
But is now the greatest beauty
as its come into its own.
It’s like the last crop
of buttery golden sweet corn
that bursts with the most intense flavor
as if it knows it will be the taste that lingers until the next season comes.
It’s like the brightest sunshine
lighting up the Autumn day
that knows the days are growing shorter,
so it must glow brilliantly while it can.
It’s like the golden rings
worn by the elderly couple
that represent the long-lasting commitment
through richer and poorer, sickness and health, good times and bad.
Thank you golden beauty
for reminding me once more
that hanging on or being last
is sometimes worth the wait.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
October Autumn Leaves, Wexford, PA
Change.
When the fear of change
challenges your thoughts
and stifles your actions,
look to the leaves of Autumn.
Marvel in their bold beauty,
and allow them to ignite your bravery.
Dare to embrace something new.
Confront your experience differently.
Welcome the transformation.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Charlie relaxing in the Dog Days of Autumn – October, 2018 – Mars, PA
The Dog Days of Autumn – A Charlie Guest Post.
Who says dogs like summer best?
I say hold your horses…
The dog days of summer
are for the birds!
Maybe it is the elephant in the room,
or maybe you consider me pig-headed,
but I’m going to let the cat out of the bag
and tell you Fall is the cat’s meow!
It just makes me mad as a hornet
and really gets my goat
when folks don’t realize the lion’s share of enjoyment
weasels out in the crisp breeze of Autumn.
Are you like a fish out of water when the leaves start to turn?
I promise Autumn is not a one trick pony.
You’ve got to believe me – I wouldn’t hurt a fly…
Fish or cut bait, and enjoy the beauty.
So when summer’s gone to the dogs
and I get ants in my pants,
I watch like a hawk
for the smoldering heat and humidity to quit cold turkey
And I head out on a wild goose chase
and let sleeping dogs lie
for the red herring is truly
the Dog Days of Autumn!
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, 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.
Pumpkin Spice Sugar Cookies.
It’s that time of year…
Time for baking things with pumpkin and spice and everything nice!
Though I almost always have my “almost-famous” chocolate chip cookies in the freezer,
these cookies just suit this time of year so perfectly.
Our gang loved them! Hope you will too.
Here is the recipe as I very slightly adapted from the beautiful blog: A Family Feast:
Ingredients:
Directions:
Cream butter, sugar, and molasses with electric mixer 3-4 minutes until fluffy. Add egg, followed by pumpkin, beating until mixed.
Slowly add in salt, baking powder and flour on low speed just until incorporated.
Divide dough into four logs, approximately 8 inches long. Wrap with plastic wrap, and refrigerate several hours or overnight.
When ready to bake, preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Pour Turbinado cane sugar into a shallow dish or pie plate.
Unwrap one log of dough at a time.
Roll log into sugar to coat.
Cut log into quarters. Then cut each quarter into thirds.
Put cookie slices in sugar, coating both sides.
Place sugared cookie slices on baking stone or cookie sheet, and bake for approximately 12 minutes.
Remove from oven, and allow cookies to cool on baking stones/cookie sheets for 10 minutes before transferring to cooling racks to cool completely.
Enjoy!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
A Krautfest Rhyme.
Once upon a time
in a neighborhood by a lake,
a group of friends gathered.
There was saurkraut to make.
500 pounds of cabbage
was cleaned and quartered and chopped.
Then young and old, expert and new,
sliced it down – they couldn’t be stopped.
Once sliced it went
to the station to be weighed.
Salt was added.
It’s how you make homemade.
Into crocks and buckets
it went to be pound.
It starts the fermentation
and keeps it safe and sound.
No krautfest could ever
be quite complete
without hugs and laughs and games
and plenty of treats to eat.
There was a tub of apples
waiting for kids to bob.
While others were pressed into juice,
which many found to be a fun job.
After working and eating and drinking
away the day,
evening arrived,
and instruments were brought out to play.
Singing with friends,
(only some truly in tune)
is surely the best way
to end a krautfest afternoon.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Thanks so much and mostest
to our amazing hosts and hostesses.
Love you Joyce and Rob and Nikole and Michael
for continuing the annual krautfest cycle!
If you would like to see previous years’ Krautfests, feel free to click HERE and HERE and HERE.
Cherish the Moments.
Crispness in the air.
Leaves turning colors and falling.
Front porch sitting.
Taking time to breathe.
And relax.
And snuggle.
Neighbor dog visits.
Grandbabies giggle.
Swinging the heaviness of the day away.
Cherish the moments.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
After two very heavy-hearted days being riveted to the hearing of Dr. Christine Blasey-Ford and Brett Kavanaugh, a late Friday afternoon on the front porch swinging with one grandbaby while hubby held the other was just what was needed. The air turned crisp, Charlie rolled in the grass, the neighbor’s dog visited. And for just a moment….. the world was perfect. Cherish the moments!
the creative life in between 