Our Special Guest

This past week, we had an unexpected guest arrive prior to Thanksgiving...her name was - La Nina. She was very beautiful but I have to say, she wasn't very helpful when it came to assisting everyone with the holiday meal preparations...somehow though, the feast was pulled off...deliciously I might add, but once it was over...poof, she was gone!

And even though she didn't stay to help with the dishes (or play Domino's)....her hostess gift of a 'White Thanksgiving' was the stuff dreams are made of. I hope she comes back for Christmas.

An Artful Thanksgiving

Every single time, either during or just after one of my art classes, I find myself saying silent prayers of thankfulness because I feel so unbelievably blessed to be able to do what I do for a living. It has been a true gift, one that was handed to me on a silver platter, one that I know came from above.

I had always loved to draw and actually in my teens, was so sure that when I grew up I'd be designing album covers for a living! Well, things didn't turn out that way and the drawing went by the wayside until several years ago...when the gift was given to me, it fell right into my lap...."how would you like to teach drawing to kids?". I had recently quit a job that I truly loved and had worked at for sixteen years (due to health reasons - job related), and had no idea what I was going to do next when that fateful question was proposed to me. I accepted instantly and have never looked back.

To be around these budding little artists everyday, with their natural, uninhibited talent and delightful creativity...not to mention their sweet and funny personalities that keep me constantly smiling and trying to stifle laughter, is more than I could ever have hoped for in a new career.


And let me just say that hanging out with these masterpiece makers is literally one of the best stress relievers - EVER! During class I'm completely oblivious to all things stress related...a little bonus that came with the job, and another reason that thankfulness abounds not only during Thanksgiving, but throughout the year. Big sigh....

Is there something that you know deep in your heart was a miracle that happened just for you...something that you find yourself being thankful for just about every single day of your life...something that blesses you continuously?

Well, my dear blogging friends...you also were a very special gift to me, another miracle that came at a time when I desperately needed one, and one that I'm also so thankful for, every single day, and with all of my heart...I wish each and every one of you an extremely Happy and Joy Filled Thanksgiving!

Champignons Galore

Several years ago, right before we started building our house, I had fallen in love with and purchased this 'vintage' French scientific study of mushrooms at Anthropologie, and immediately had to pack it up and send it away to our storage unit, along with all of our other belongings until the completion of our home would allow me to finally enjoy it properly in all it's colorful and curious glory.

Also around that time, I purchased another mushroom laden treasure at Anthropologie, this one being a ceramic pot painted with beautiful fungi specimens...it too was packed away and taken off to storage.

Well due to extenuating home building circumstances, we ended up moving out of the place we had been living for two years where we had only taken the bare essentials with us, to a much more spacious abode that allowed us to get a few things out of storage to make the place feel more like 'home'. Needless to say...the mushroom treasures were one of the first items brought to our new, temporary cottage and since then (another two years) we've been happily able to enjoy them.

Once the house was finished, I immediately knew that I wanted the picture to go above the fireplace on the dining room side where it would be visible from the kitchen and be at home amongst the rocks and reclaimed wood that will *one day* be our mantel. For now though...it's just propped up in the general vicinity along with some other items, pot included, that are still awaiting their proper placement.

I never really had a thing for mushrooms, I had just loved the artwork and detail on both items, but since having them to look at everyday...I've really come to admire these delectable, unusual beauties and would love to see more varieties, if they still exist, in our grocery stores.

Can you imagine coming across these lovelies in the produce aisle...would you eat them or just pile them up in a bowl and display them on the dining room table, or even on a window sill?

Last week...our local grocery store decided to display several varieties of the glorious little morsels in a few very stunning and thoughtful displays that quite impressed me.

They brought in rocks, moss, branches, bark....

and of course, the ever popular, mushroom loving - Fungisaurus!!

All enhancing the mushrooms strange and earthy natural beauty.

These are Lobster mushrooms...they definitely have the color, I wonder if they also taste like lobster...I'll have to give them a try sometime.

These next two images I'm dedicating to my mother...who's love of the sweet Chanterelle, or Pfifferlinger as she like to call them (their German name), is legendary. Here in the Pacific Northwest they are quite abundant and we are fortunate to be able to purchase them frequently, and at a very low price I might add.

Cooking with mushrooms adds such a meatiness and wonderful depth of flavor to so many dishes and it's applications are endless. When I saw this tart in the last October issue of Martha Stewart Living...I thought it was one of the most beautiful and creative uses of mushrooms I had ever seen and I am determined to make it very soon. I'll let you all know how it comes out.

I wonder...is the delicious mushroom going to play a part in your Thanksgiving feast?? I hope so!

A Lingering Bit Of Summer

During the summer, Miss. Ginger and I will find wild orange poppies along a particular path we like to take and the bright flowers always make me smile. Well now that it's "sweater weather", I didn't expect there would be any at all along the path but lo and behold, there were...one little patch was left...

and I was so happy to see that I wasn't the only one appreciating the sweet surprise.

My little companion was actually stopping to "smell the poppies"...I know, poppies usually don't have a scent...but maybe, just maybe, they do...if you're of a canine persuasion.

So this weekend, while you're out and about...may you find a beautiful, bright, and possibly sweetly smelling...unexpected surprise!

One Of These Things....

As I was innocently walking towards the silverware drawer in the hopes of retrieving a spoon so that I could enjoy a delicious little snack of pomegranate Greek yogurt...

little did I know that I would find...

in such an inconspicuous place...

proof that over the last two weeks, yes...I actually had been *losing it* a little!

Do you see it??

There it is, in all of it's shiny, out of place glory...sticking out like a fancy sore thumb as it mingles away with the 'big boys'...the working crew, completely unaware that it was put there by accident and won't be able to stay. No, this is not your new home pretty butter knife...

you must return to where you belong...your family awaits you.

Over the past few weeks my writing, spelling, knife putting away skills, tea making (strong black tea is not meant to be drunk at 11:00 pm, especially when one thought they were making sleepy tea) and all sorts of other daily habits and cares have been put to the test due to LIFE happening (illness, lack of sleep, family stuff, house stuff, even fun stuff)...and it had me seriously wondering about my poor mind and where it had gone.

It also had me thinking even more about what our dear Visual Vamp has been going through and what her silverware drawer might be experiencing...as my last few weeks can't even begin to compare to hers and Alberto's.

May balance, sanity, and a bit of humor bless all who are experiencing the ups as well as the downs of this wonderful yet crazy thing called life, be they blogger, family or friend! ♥

So Grateful...

A very deep and heartfelt thank you to all of the self sacrificing men and women who have courageously served the cause of peace and freedom in honor and patriotism...we salute your bravery!

In my art classes this week, for the first time ever, many of my students were requesting that we draw a picture for Veteran's Day. I thought it so wonderful that they were learning about this very special holiday in their home rooms. Usually during this time of year we are easing our way into Thanksgiving with Native American artwork, Cornucopia's and the like, and I wasn't prepared for this...next year will be different. I'm so proud of them for wanting to honor the Veteran's with their artwork, and of our schools for teaching them so clearly what this holiday truly means. It touched my heart.

Online Benefit Auction for Valorie & Alberto

Some of you may already know that fellow blogger extraordinaire Valorie Hart of Visual Vamp fame, and her dear Alberto...both passionate Tango artists, were traveling to Calgary for one of their Tango workshops, and while at the airport there, Alberto suffered a massive heart attack.

Well another fellow blogger, Laura Ingalls Dunn of Decor To Adore, who is a close friend of Valorie's, decided to host an online fund raiser in an effort to help them be able to return to their beloved New Orleans so that Alberto can receive the care he needs from his own doctors and be near the support and healing that only family and friends can provide.

In the hopes of helping them in their plight, I've created six cards depicting lovely rooms (Valorie is a designer after all) all from a glorious old mansion in the French Quarter (one can imagine can't they?), all handmade (late last night), and ready to send (I will pay for shipping) to the highest bidder.

The cards would normally retail for $18.00. If so inclined, you may leave your bids in the comment sections of participating bloggers. Bids will be taken from Friday, November 5th to Monday, November 8th. Please remember to keep checking back to see where your bid stands.

All monies for the auction will be directly donated to Valorie and Alberto via their PayPal account at boutique@planet-tango.com. Donations are also welcome.

Last but not least...a special thank you goes out to Dumbwit Tellher & Decore To Adore for bringing such loving attention to the needs of these two gracious souls in need. Please keep our Vamp and her beloved Alberto in your prayers.

*Update* - Please forgive me, I had the bidding ending Sunday Nov. 8th, which doesn't exist...I've corrected it as it should have been written to Monday, Nov. 8th. Sorry for the confusion...I'm going to blame this on being ill this past week, since it's a good excuse for something so silly!

**Update** - Valorie and Alberto are home!!! The doctors in New Orleans were able to do the lesser of the surgery options and he is doing very well!! They still need our help...please visit Valorie's blog for all the details...and have a hanky ready. Also...Decor To Adore has extended the auction till Friday...please visit and see if there might be something that tickles your fancy.

D. is the winning bidder for the cards...thank you from the bottom of my heart to all who bid, commented and just even visited...what a blessing you all are! Please D., let me know where I may send the cards. You can leave your email in the comment section or just let me know what would be preferable for you. ♥

Seventy Five In The Hood

I can't help myself...my attentions are most definitely drawn to the outside these days. It was unusually warm yesterday...as the title says, we reached 75* in our little burb of Lake Forest Park! There was absolutely zero chill in the air...something I haven't felt since summer. The official Seattle record was 74*, which tied the record of 1949...so nice! Mt. Rainier was out in all her glory...

the Cascade Mountains and Lake Washington were allowed to be visually stunning in the clear skies and sun...

and the Ginkgo trees were glowing even brighter in the unfiltered, cloudless light that was shining down on them.

As evening progressed, the beauty and warmth continued...


and we all enjoyed the last glimmers of the sun touching 'the mountain', and the air that felt like summer personified. Fall perfection and summer perfection combined, make for a memorable and very special kind of a day. What a gift!

November Joy

Our gray and soggy skies today made for a beautiful display of fall color! The grayness was the perfect background for the foliage extraordinaire and seemed to brighten and enhance the already vivid colors. All was aglow...

Of course...when skies are blue, the pops of warmth add an extra layer of beauty to what are already breathtaking days. God really was thinking when he came up with this glorious range of warm colors to help ease us into fall and make the foray into winter so very pleasant.

Side note: I bet you didn't know that our nephews happen to be a monkey and a giraffe!!

Happy November everyone...and may you thoroughly enjoy the special kind of "sprinkles" this beautiful month has to offer!