Welcome to the New Year!

Whew! I survived the holiday season! Lots of one of a kind items on order and they all made it under the appropriate trees in time!

I also participated in the Jasper Christmas Market with my handpainted rock ornaments and they were a hit with all! I never thought I would be painting on rocks but they are a lovely canvas to work on. My husband and I are members of the Pine Country Gem and Mineral Society so we have a big interest in rocks and that has led to me painting on them. We have a nice selection of agates, petrified wood, jasper, quartz and more and we cut the slabs from them.

September 13, 2010

You never know WHAT you will find at the old farm! Remember Elsie the cow? Well, she was that cute bovine that helped to symbolize that perfect milk product back in the 1930's for Borden. She was more popular back then than most human celebrities! lol

Word has it that Elmer of Elmer's glue fame was actually her husband? Could this be true? Yes...it surely is! Husband and wife marketing duo!

To see some cute little VINTAGE Elsie charms CLICK HERE

September 9,2010

I love the cute little rabbits that seem to be everywhere! They hop and then they freeze...thinking you won't be able to see them in their grassy spot!

SEPTEMBER 6, 2010

Good Morning and I hope you are enjoying your Labor Day weekend (or if you are in Canada...your Labour Day) ;-)

The weather seems to be getting milder...even though it's been in the upper 80's, the humidity seems to be lower making being outside bearable. It looks like it is going to be another gorgeous day so I would imagine the fishermen will have already left for the lake and some relaxation time!

As a side note: I am now offering prints of my watercolors on ebay.... to check them out click here

September 2, 2010

I was digging back in the archives last night and found this watercolor I painted 5 years ago. I love redbud trees! The color just can't be explained in words...it is something you have to see for yourself. It's not quite pink and it's not quite purple but a hue unto itself. They don't smell sweet like the wisteria blossoms but they put on a SPECTACULAR show once a year!

September 1, 2010

The start of a new month! I love fall...it's my favorite time of the year and soon the cool breezes will be here and the sound of leaves crunching under my boots as I take Murphy for a walk.

This painting has me thinking of the Hoecakes I made on the weekend. I had never had them before and I will say..."they were finer than a frog's hair!" ;-)

1 cup self rising flour
1 cup self rising cornmeal (can use a mix or do what I did - I added a tsp of baking powder and a 1/4 tsp baking soda)
2 eggs
1 tsp sugar
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon water
1/4 cup vegetable oil or bacon grease
oil or butter for frying
Mix well all ingredients, except for the frying oil. Heat the frying oil or butter in a medium or large skillet over medium heat. Drop the batter, by full tablespoons, into the hot skillet. Use about 2 tablespoons of batter per hoecake. Fry each hoecake until brown and crisp; turn each hoecake with a spatula, and then brown the other side. With a slotted spoon, remove each hoecake to drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Leftover batter will keep in refrigerator for up to 2 days.

There are some other recipes out there that I think I'm going to try so I can compare but these hoecakes were amazing!

oh....forgot to mention...we ate them with a spoonful of homemade scuppernong jelly....yummmmy

August 31, 2010

Well, it's my first post on this blog and as I look outside the window the sun is shining and it is pouring buckets.

Gotta luv East Texas weather!

I'm not complaining though...the grass and trees were starting to get brown so the moisture is much appreciated. An afternoon of rain perks everything up (even me) and makes it a lush, green world again.

We are still working on my art studio so for now I am set up in the dining room but there are 2 big windows and the air conditioning works great so I'm painting up a storm!
Hmmmm...I see weather is a theme today. ;)

I'm working on some handpainted items for the holiday season but I also have some new watercolors coming up soon. My work can be seen at different venues such as fineartamerica, etsy and zazzle as well as ebay, so please follow the links to view the different shops.

Back to work....but....ya'll come back now...ya hear! Living in the country DOES rub off on a girl! :)