Merry Christmas 2022

 Merry Christmas

Ornament made from my collection of rubble

Tea Stands for Tuesday 12/13/22

 We are having a wet December here in NoCA.  That is my excuse to stay in and drink tea.  I think I should ask Santa for this tea pot, isn't it lovely.

I did have a bit of time for art this past week.  Nothing holiday related.  Kind of dark in my workspace and no tea, just my trusty water bottle.

I'm working on my Altered Playing Cards again.  If you look closely you can match some of the paper bits to the cards below.

I pretty much failed at photographing these three.  The ones left and center have gold  that I painted on tissue paper and then tore out and glued to the background.

Lets go visit Elizabeth's blog and see if anyone is into holiday ideas.

Second on the Second 12/02/22

 Here we are on the second day of the last month of 2022.  Sometimes I read the number I've written for the year and can't believe it.  Here is my entry for the Second on the Second hosted by Elizabeth.  A little T stands for Tuesday throw back.

TUESDAY, JULY 23, 2013

T stands for Tuesday - Sunflowers

Elizabeth at Altered Book Lover is hosting "T stands for Tuesday".  I thought I would be fun to add a poetry reading to the tea party.  Sip your morning cup of tea and read along with me.

hand painted individual tea set

I even have a coordinating tea spoon holder

THE SUNFLOWERS
by Mary Oliver

Come with me
into the field of sunflowers.
Their faces are burnished disks,
their dry spines

creak like ship masts,
their green leaves,
so heavy and many,
fill all day with the sticky

sugars of the sun.
Come with me
to visit the sunflowers,
they are shy

but want to be friends;
they have wonderful stories
of when they were young -
the important weather,

the wandering crows.
Don't be afraid
to ask them questions!
Their bright faces,

which follow the sun,
will listen, and all
those rows of seeds -
each one a new life!

hope for a deeper acquaintance;
each of them, though it stands
in a crowd of many,
like a separate universe,

is lonely, the long work
of turning their lives
into a celebration
is not easy. Come

and let us talk with those modest faces,
the simple garments of leaves,
the coarse roots in the earth
so uprightly burning.

Welcome December

We end the year with a busy month.  May all your baking be delicious, all your gifts get wrapped and all the memories you make be great ones.

free clip art

Happy Thanksgiving

My wish today for all of you.

 

Tea Stands for Tuesday 11/22/22

Hello and Happy Tuesday.  

Here is the tea I'm trying this morning.  I am familiar with Stash Earl Grey but this one with double bergamot is new to me.  I like it but not everyone I know is a bergamot fan.  As I said in a recent post, I am looking for new things in the grocery store.

Take a look at our Crab Apple tree in all its glory.  I showed the photo to someone who thought it was framed.  It is just the view from our covered porch.  See the bit of railing at the bottom?

Cicely Mary Barker

Do you think if we look close enough we might spot a Crab Apple Fairy?  I certainly hope so.  I have always been fond of Barker's art.

Happy Thanksgiving to those celebrating this week.  Please join me at Elizabeth's blog for a cup of tea.

 

Veterans Day 11/11/22

Thinking of my Dad today.  He was wounded in WWII and spent quite awhile in the hospital.  Thankfully he made it home to us though.

Purple Hearts are a type of American military medal given to soldiers who were wounded or killed while serving in the US military. It’s the oldest military award still in use and was the first award given to common soldiers.

Lemon cake recipe

I had a request for the recipe for the cakes shown in my previous post.  This is an old recipe, probably from 1960 or so.  Enjoy!

LEMON JELLO CAKE 

Cake:
3/4 c. oil 
3/4 c. water 
4 eggs 
1 small pkg. lemon Jello 
1 pkg. yellow cake mix 

Stir the dry Jello into the dry cake mix . Beat eggs, oil and water together. Pour liquid mix over dry mix and beat well. Grease and flour pan.  Bake in a sheet cake pan, two 8x8 pans or 6 little loaf pans as I did recently. Bake according to time and temperature on cake mix box.

Glaze: 
2 c. powdered sugar mixed with 1/4 cup of fresh lemon juice
Stir together and let stand while cake bakes.  I usually add a bit of lemon zest to the glaze at this point but that wasn't in the original recipe.

When cake is done but while still warm, poke holes all over the cake – a skewer works well for this but so does a small paring knife. Spread the liquid glaze over the warm cake. This will soak in and for the most part you won’t really see it.

Since it is so moist it keeps really well.  The cake freezes very nicely which is a bonus if you don't want a whole big cake all at once.

Tea Stands for Tuesday 11/7/22

 It is time to get the party rolling.  I'll bring food.  Today my post is all about the food.

You have seen my Nana Banana cup before.  Same cup, same coffee.

Have you seen the Land O'Lakes flavored butter?  I had that on a piece of toast earlier.  It was good, not to sweet.  I admit I could easily accomplish the same thing without the packaging.  Toast, butter, cinnamon and sugar.

Some tiimes I get so bored when grocery shopping that I would buy almost anything I haven't seen before.  Marketing people have me in their sights.  LOL! 

Never mind that stuff in the background, I will be making chicken noodle soup later.  Just lining things up.

To make up for all that foolishness I baked lemon cakes.  I used our own lemons picked from our tree this morning.  See there?  I can be thrifty,  I can get 6 small loaves out of my recipe.  They freeze really well and it is nice to have something on hand when the urge strikes.

That's me for today.  Lets all go over to Elizabeth's and bother everyone - or, er, - see what they are talking about.

Helpful Hints

 Time for some of us to turn our clocks back.

Second on the Second 11/02/22

 Elizabeth gives us a chance to re-post something from our blog every month on the 2nd.  My entry for this month is below.  You can find everyone participating HERE.  Thanks so much Elizabeth.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 02, 2011

Día de los Muertos

Día de los Muertos is widely celebrated in the latin community here.  I decided to make a talisman to recognize the day in my own way.

I think if you click on the picture you can enlarge it.

I really enjoy making what I call Rubble Art. Just the usual tin can lid, pull tabs, scrap paper and some beads. I actually found this string of beads in the gutter - maybe it was originally a bracelet. Anyhow, I knew I wanted to use them in some way.

Have you found anything interesting laying in the street lately?

Tea Stands for Tuesday 10/31/22

 Hello to all those at the tea party today.  If you don't know what party I'm talking about you will find it going on at Elizabeth's blog.

I'm drinking my tea out of one of my many Blue Willow teacups.  I've collected Blue Willow dishes for years and while the theme is the same, not all china companies use the exact design.  I like to see some of the older varitiations.

Since it is actually Halloween in the U.S. as I'm writing this I couldn't resist sharing a bit of fun.

I

That's it for me this time around.  I have a shoulder problem and pretty much need to stay off the computer.  I should still be able to get around and visit everyone though.  Just a little at a time.

Welcome October

It is definitely looking like fall.  The stores are filling up with decorations.  I am making a few of my own.

ATC

Here is another piece I created using the ATC format.  This time I used a scrap of wrapping tissue paper (dots) and the limb and raven are drawn in ink.

Wishing you a wonderful October.

Tea Stands for Tuesday 9/20/22

 

Time for Tea and once again I'm happy to be able to join everyone.  Elizabeth hosts this weekly event.  You can find participants here.

I am continuing to play with the ATC or Playing Card format.  It is small, doesn't need much room to work on and feels like it fits me just right for now.

I stamped some images on book pages.  I used archival ink because I'm going to paint the images.  There is my ever ready bottle of water.  Some for me and a splash for the paints.

Here are some of the images painted with watercolors.

Three cards finished.  I still have a number of painted images to play with.  It is so easy to make a few extra pieces as long as I have all the supplies out.

Hope everyone is enjoying the last of September.

Tea Stands for Tuesday 9/6/22

Good morning friends.  If you are here early for tea you may know Monday is Labor Day in the U.S.

I've been retired for some tme but this morning I was thinking back about all the jobs I had.  I was fortunate, I enjoyed them all.

My very first job was as an usherette at this theater.  The street looked a bit different way back then.

My drink for today is....

Because...

Hope everyone is enjoying their day.  You will find me sitting in front of a fan somewhere.  This old house doesn't have A/C as it is very rarely needed.

I posted a watercolor piece in my previous post if you want to see what I have been doing, 

Be sure to visit our hostess Elizabeth and all the faithful who join the weekly tea party.  A napkin exchange took place on her blog and it is fun to look through all the pretty designs.

Welcome September

 Time to turn another page in the calendar.

8x10 watercolor

 

Tea Stands for Tuesday7/19/22

 Hello friends.  I was unable to participate in the napkin exchange and I think I missed an ATC exhange as well.  I can't depend on meeting deadlines or getting out to mail something these days.  I do enjoy seeing all the things that are being traded though.

I'm drinking a berry tea (forgot which one) this morning.  I found some glass mugs on a very high shelf in the kitchen,  I bought them about 30 years ago and they are marked Made in France.  I think tea looks pretty in them so they are now in my regular mug rotation.

Then there are those playing card.  I decided to turn them into ATC's.  Some call them Altered Playing Cards.  Either way, I had fun making them.

As always, I look forward to what is posted on Elizabeth's blog and what the Tea Party participants post.  See you over there.  

Tea Stands for Tuesday 7/12/22

Tea Stands for Tuesday is nine years old.  Can you believe it?  Many thanks to our hostess Elizabeth.  Visit her here.

Hope everyone is enjoying mid-July.

Mixed Media 9x12  Scraps of paper and oil pastels

Today's art work is all about using what I have.  I had a 9x12 canvas board I had painted on some time ago.  It was art effort I didn't care for.  I appied a layer of acrylic medium and used a bunch of random scraps to cover the board.  I then applied a very thin wash of white acrylic to knock back some of the brighter colors.  I used oil pastels to create the flowers and to "age" some of the edges.  It was an enjoyable process.

I know the Tuesday Tea Party regulars will have some interesting posts so I'm going to visit Elizabeth's blog and catch up with the activities.

Welcome July

Wishing everyone a wonderful month of July.

Tea Stands for Tuesday - and a Happy Solstice

 

Happy Solstice

I liked the graphics on the box and who can resist something that promises you will be stress free?  I'm not sure I like the tea enough to buy it again.

I did get some nice tea dyed papers using the tea that was left in the pot. 

That's it for me this week.  Lets go to Elizabeth's blog and see what others have been doing.

Happy Fathers Day

 Thinking of my Father this morning.

Dad was a pharmacist.  Mom made dolls.  She made a little pharmacist doll complete snowy white hair.  Notice the tiny mortar and pestal,  

Lots of happy memories.

Welcome June, 2022

 

Tea Stands for Tuesday 5/24/22

Happy Tuesday everyone, I'm here with my teacup. Ready for the party at Elizabeth's place.  Why don't you join me?

graphic reposted with permission

I have been exploring some possibilities with paper.  I'm making my own Washi tape using double sided tape and paper scraps.

Also trying some of my hand carved rubber stamps on my gelli plate.

 

There is always something new to learn. 

Have a happy week everyone!

May Day, 2022

 I wonder if anyone dances around the Maypole these days.  Back in what seems like the dark ages, I had the chance to be a Maypole dancer.  I think I was in the first or second grade and attended a small country school where grades 1 through 12 were in the same building.  I have very vague memories of the day and how excited I was about participating.

Tea Stands for Tuesday. 4/26/22

Sunflowers are everywhere this year.  Many in support of the Ukraine.   I think I will have my tea in this little one cup tea set.  It has been in my cupboard for awhile.

hand painted individual tea set

I thought I would be fun to add a poetry reading to the tea party.  Sip your favorite drink and read along with me.

THE SUNFLOWERS
by Mary Oliver

Come with me
into the field of sunflowers.
Their faces are burnished disks,
their dry spines

creak like ship masts,
their green leaves,
so heavy and many,
fill all day with the sticky

sugars of the sun.
Come with me
to visit the sunflowers,
they are shy

but want to be friends;
they have wonderful stories
of when they were young -
the important weather,

the wandering crows.
Don't be afraid
to ask them questions!
Their bright faces,

which follow the sun,
will listen, and all
those rows of seeds -
each one a new life!

hope for a deeper acquaintance;
each of them, though it stands
in a crowd of many,
like a separate universe,

is lonely, the long work
of turning their lives
into a celebration
is not easy. Come

and let us talk with those modest faces,
the simple garments of leaves,
the coarse roots in the earth
so uprightly burning.

I'm visiting the Tea Party at Elizabeth's blog.  Elizabeth recently had a birthday (Happy Birthday Elizabeth) and she is celebrating with sunflowers too.

Tea Stands for Tuesday 4/19/22

When Tuesday comes around it means it is time for a Tea Party at Elizabeth's blog.  She has an interesting post this morning so check it out. 

Edit:  OOPS, I found out I left the wrong link for my page but have corrected that.

In the Before Time (pre pandemic) I used to be faithful about going for a walk most days.  It is time I returned to that practice.  Slowly, not as far and not as often to begin with.

I like to walk to Peet's to get my coffee.  They offer you a free cup of coffee when you buy your beans.  I take my coffee across the street, sit on a bench and people watch for a bit.  A nice break before heading home.

I will leave you with some poetry this morning.

Talk about Walking

By Philip Booth 

Where am I going? I'm going
out, out for a walk. I don't
know where except outside.
Outside argument, out beyond
wallpapered walls, outside
wherever it is where nobody
ever imagines. Beyond where 
computers circumvent emotion,
where somebody shorted specs
for rivets for airframes on 
today's flights. I'm taking off
on my own two feet. I'm going
to clear my head, to watch 
mares'-tails instead of TV,
to listen to trees and silence,
to see if I can still breathe.
I'm going to be alone with 
myself, to feel how it feels
to embrace what my feet
tell my head, what wind says
in my good ear. I mean to let
myself be embraced, to let go
feeling so centripetally old.
Do I know where I'm going?
I don't. How long or far
I have no idea. No map. I 
said I was going to take
a walk. When I'll be back
I'm not going to say.

Happy Easter

 Wishing everyone a Happy Easter.

Tea Stands for Tuesday 4/12/22

Hello friends,  I'm always happy when I can show up for the tea party at  Elizabeth's blog. 

I've been away without wifi for awhile.  It means I have more time for art though.  I'm on a book making journey.  Not big bound books, little booklets I guess I'd call them.  Here is my first experiment making a booklet using envelopes tucked together.  Some long time ago I bought what I thought was a package of blank cards but it ended up being a package of 4x5 envelopes so I had them handy.

Front of booklet.  I used a napkin and a pencil stroke here or there

These pages are bits of gelli plate prints I made earlier

The bird is stamped on an ATC and tucked into an envelop "pocket".  Over that is a teabag, just attached at the top so it kind of floats when you open the page.  The right side is a copy of an old postcard and some more gelli print bits.

The back of the book has a smaller napkin piece and the yellow is a gelli print I made using a stencil.

This is the book standing up.  And if you squint you can see my water bottle behind everything.  Had to squeeze in my drink.

The booklet isn't quite finished.  I may use it as a birthday card with a special message for someone or perhaps write a quote I - a few words on each page.  

I like trying new things and hope you enjoyed my booklet process.