Its Not Nice to Fool Mother Nature!
Alright….
who tried to slip
Mother Nature
some Chiffon margarine
in place of butter?
Woke up early this morning
knowing it was coming…
the weather people
kept telling us.
But to see daffodils blooming
and tree buds bursting
in a haze of green
against a blue sky
and warm, sunny breeze
just yesterday…
and wake up to this –
albeit splendid beauty-
this morning…
Someone had to have tried to
fool Mother Nature!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
A Ghost in the Tree
(A bit of Silly… Poetry)
Do you agree
with me?
Do you see
a ghost in the tree?
On a carefree
walk of sightsee,
it caused a teeny
bit of anxiety.
But Charlie in his chivalry
helped me gain clarity
and guaranteed
it was but a tree.
Such pedigree
to disagree
and decree
it must be too much coffee.
It was a beauty.
Could it be
a chickadee
or chimpanzee?
Whoppee
and Yippee
for a tree designee
of imaginative jubilee!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
May 18, 2014
So I have a good idea what I want to write about… for the most part. My BFF’s oldest daughter told me I should start a “lifestyle” blog. I guess she thinks my life is interesting…. or at least enough that one or two people might want to read about things I do…. (Hopefully I’ll have at least one subscriber – Jacyln Rae – hint hint!)
Or maybe she just thinks I would enjoy doing it, and that is enough.
Hmmm…. I think I like that…
You know…. that’s one of the perks of growing – err – older and wiser – you get to the point where you realize you can do things just because you want to. Yes – there are those things most of us HAVE to do – like paying bills, doing laundry, working – you get the gist – but what do you like to do in between all that?
That’s the real “living” part.
“Life in between” can mean so many things…
The main reason I titled this blog with it is because I want to share the things I choose to do in between the things I “have” to do.
It can also be a stage of life that is in between stages – and aren’t they all?!
Right now – I’m kind of in between the mom stage and the empty nester and grandma stage. And Oh I Can’t Wait to be a Grandma! (No hint hint Jake and Colleen – whenever you are ready… well – maybe a little hint hint)
I think I was born to “mother.” And oh poor everyone around me that I “mother” – sorry! It’s just in my DNA – I want to nurture, I want to comfort, I want to make happy. Could be worst things -right?! (clear throat) But don’t ask my boys…
So anyway – the things I love to do “in between” the things I have to do – that’s what I want to share with you here.
I love to bake. I love how it makes the house smell. I love how it makes people feel when they bite into a buttery, chocolately, caramely yummy thing. I love surprising someone with a special treat of something they love. Here is a picture of my first attempt at French Macarons. I was so excited these testy little buggers turned out. Not sure I’ll ever make them again – so much work – so temperamental – and what if they don’t turn out the next time? Was it beginner’s luck? I’ll just believe I’ve MASTERED them…. and leave it at that….
I also love to decorate – my home that is. And it’s not all about it being House and Garden perfect for those of you that know me and are thinking “Jodi – you are NOT an interior decorator!”
My ultimate goal (in deocrating) is to create a place that is warm and welcoming. A place where someone can just drop by (no formal invitations needed around here) and feel comfortable and welcomed and loved. No shoes off in my house. So what if the carpet has stains… Those stains represent someone who I shared my home with or that spilled a drink or our dog who came in after a rainy spring day – so what… I grew up in a house that was House and Garden perfect… that meant NO SHOES inside… it meant that you could see sweeper marks in the carpet from the daily vacuum…. it meant that you could literally eat off the garage floor if you were so inclined because it was so clean…. and that’s all good… Mom was an awesome “cleaner”… but it’s not me. I want comfort, warmth, welcoming. I want my house to feel like your favorite worn slippers or most comfortable fleece hoodie or your “go to” black yoga pants. That’s what trips my trigger.
Here’s a little peek at our home – and that’s my little buddy “Mikey” who is never far from my side. After this LONG COLD winter, it was so nice to see the daffodils and grass recently.
And I also love to craft. It’s been various things through the years… I’ve tried knitting and crocheting and cross-stitching, tole painting, slate painting, wood crafts, and ceramics. My most recent crafting obsession is papercrafting – stamping, coloring, cutting, punching, pasting, tying – anything with paper and ink. I guess it feels comforting being that I (and so many of us) spend so much time on the computer. It feels extra special to create and send a special handmade something to someone and hope they realize the time and love you put into it – just for them. Here’s a card I made for a very special cousin and friend – Oh Rob! (I’m sure you’ll hear more about him in coming posts). Oh how I love that guy – and his amazingly talented and loving wife and superhero to me, Joyce. Rob’s “One Little Word” this year is “reflection,” so I wanted to create a birthday card acknowledging and celebrating “reflection.”
And then – I love to photograph it all. Dear hubby got me my first good camera for Christmas this year – and I think he might regret it…. I know my boys do…. but I just love taking photographs of crazy, silly, normal, everyday things. Not a trained professional by any means – not even a class – haven’t even read the whole manual (sorry Patty – I will get there!) – just have fun with it and love seeing what it captures. My BFF, Jill, honored me with the privilege of capturing her daughter, Jackie’s bridal shower recently – oh what fun that was – and even allowed me to do a “photo shoot” with her in-laws (I think George and Alice are going to be more famous than all of us) for a work campaign.
Recently, while Marty (that’s the dear hubby’s name) was cutting grass, I was doing very important things like taking pictures of dandelions and bees on them…. and HE snapped this little gem with his phone while on the tractor…. Not flattering – but yep – that about sums it up. The silly things I do in my life in between…..
So we’ll see how this goes…. I now have my first post under my belt.
Cheers and hugs,
Jodi
#MyFirstPostRevisited
This’ll be the Day.
This’ll be the day
I will seek and find
beautiful things
in humble places….
Things that have been there
all along,
but I didn’t take the time
to notice.
This’ll be the day
I will look in the mirror when I rise
and say, “Hello Beautiful”
instead of “Ugggghhhh!”
I will focus
on the things
I like about myself
instead of the things I don’t.
This’ll be the day
I consciously decide
to seek
simple moments to cherish.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
My New Creation Station / Art Studio is just about done.
A few pieces of art need framed for the walls and some fabric is needed for a window treatment, but besides splashes of paint and scraps of paper on the floor, we are about done.
Hubby has been working so hard this past month transforming a 22′ x 13′ bonus space we had in our home into a usable space for a few of my “creative life in between” hobbies.
Duct work had to be moved for the air flow of heat and air conditioning.
A cold air return had to be added.
Recessed lighting and a ceiling fan were installed.
Walls were painted.
Flooring was laid. (And I’m so grateful to my son, Nick, for pitching in last Saturday to help Hubby with the underlayment, padding and laminate flooring. They did it all in a day!)
Trim was stained and cut and nailed in.
And then I got to start filling it with my painting and stamping and crafting and sewing and photography supplies. The weekend was spent cleaning out a walk-in-closet that could not be walked in anymore and an office that doubled as a craft room.
Our large garbage receptacle was filled. The office is now streamlined and breathable. The walk-in-closet can now be walked in.
It was cleansing and fulfilling and back-aching and tiring work, but so wonderful to accomplish.
And one of the best parts about it all is the only new things furnishing my art studio (besides lighting and fan and flooring) are the Husky Adjustable Wood Work Table and Chrome Shelving Hubby bought me for Valentine’s Day and the fabric organization boxes I bought to organize things in.
Leftover cans of paint from other home projects were used to paint the walls and ceiling.
A very old 8′ folding table that was stashed in the basement, as well as a small four-drawer wooden baby dresser, got a fresh new look with a coat of Tuscan red chalk paint.
I’m keeping one tall wall clear and open for possible photography use. I received the reflector and Genaray light for Christmas. Another little spot houses my light box for photographing smaller things.
Another corner is reserved for sewing.
A very special corner is set aside for grandies and other children that may visit with a small child’s art desk that holds a roll of paper (gifted to use by some very special peeps), plastic drawers filled with wooden stamps and a carousel of crayons and markers.
It’s been fun organizing paints and supplies. I even created a long-needed paint chart for my watercolors and am trying to decide which 20 colors to add to a new palette.
Enjoy this little 30-second Hyperlapse visit of my new little Creation Station. Can’t wait to splash it up!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
PS – If you can’t view hyperlapse video above, click here to watch video on Youtube.
It was all a blur…
until I looked closely.
I stopped and closed my eyes,
and I took a deep breath.
I exhaled slowly,
and then I opened my eyes.
And there it was…
I saw the beauty.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Five-Minute Homemade Rustic Artisan Bread.
Aren’t these loaves beautiful?! I recently found this recipe that makes homemade bread so easy!
You can mix this dough together in five minutes. Then it just needs to rest for two hours while you go about doing something… anything else. After that, throw it in the fridge – for up to 14 days! Whenever you want a fresh loaf of bread, grab a hunk of dough, and bake it. Super simple, super delicious!
So… disclaimer… you obviously can’t make it from start to finish in five minutes, but that really is all the longer the dough takes to mix together, and there is no kneading, so it really is a simple way to make warm, fresh, delicious homemade bread quickly and easily with just a few simple staple ingredients!
Ingredients:
Directions:
Pour water in large bowl. Sprinkle with yeast and salt, and mix until dissolved. Add flour all at once, and mix until completely incorporated. That’s it! Five minutes. No kneading.
Place a clean kitchen towel over the bowl and let it sit for two hours.
After two hours, cover bowl with saran wrap (but not too tight as it needs a little vent for gases to escape), and throw it in the fridge.
Your dough is ready to use at anytime in the next 14 days.
When you are ready to bake a loaf, preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Grab a hunk of dough with floured hands. Do not punch it down, and do not knead or overwork it. Gently shape as desired into a ball, loaf, rolls – whatever you like. Place on a baking stone. (I bake absolutely EVERYthing on baking stones – cookies, bread, roasted vegetables, meatloaf, french fries – they are all I use in the oven – and the results are awesome!) You can let it rest for 30-40 minutes or bake right away – depending on the density you desire. Dust top of dough with flour (and salt if desired). Slash a few cuts in the dough with a serrated knife.
Place an empty metal broiler pan on bottom rack of oven and fill with warm water right before placing dough in oven.
Bake for 20-30 minutes until the crust is a rich brown color and firm to the touch. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.
Enjoy!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
*original recipe found at Leite’s Culinara
Smack in the Middle of Winter
The sunrise was beautiful
that mid-February day
when Charlie and I went
on an early morning walk.
And the sun just shone brighter,
and the sky turned bluer,
and the air grew warmer,
until it reached a sunny 68 degrees!
A record was set that caused
the robins to sing and the breeze to gently whisper.
It encouraged the daffodils to pop out of the ground,
and the earth smelled like Spring.
Charlie snoozed on the porch,
and we opened the window
while we painted and pounded
wearing light t-shirts.
It was a beautiful Spring day…
smack in the middle of winter.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Strawberry Chocolate Ganache Tart with Cookie Crust (No Bake).
You may recall seeing this dessert I made for our Valentine’s Couple Camp Party. I promised then that I would share the recipe.
I have to tell you… this dessert is not only beautiful and elegant looking, it is so simple, uses only five basic ingredients, and is possibly the most luscious chocolate dessert I have EVER tasted. And I’m really not exaggerating. I absolutely loved this tart!
I typically make dessert, but just taste enough to know it is okay to serve. This one, however… I not only had the evening of our party, I ate the last leftover slice!
I am certain I will make this tart again.. and again. It is a great dessert for ANY occasion, any season, anybody. I would take this to a summer picnic. I would make this for a birthday “cake.” I would make this for a Christmas dinner dessert. I would make this for ANY reason.
I originally came across this recipe posted by Mary at HomeisWheretheBoatis, and I only tweaked it slightly. Thanks for sharing Mary!
I so hope you will give this a try, and I cannot wait to hear how you like it!
Ingredients:
Directions:
Enjoy! I know you will!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 