http://glauciamir.com

(grahite pencil, aprox. 8″x11″ on moleskine sketchbook)

This is for a international moleskine exchange, where each of us draws a self-portrait,  then sends it to the next person, and they draw themselves and the person whose book they have.

Inspired by Sara’s picture in the woods, I drew her, and myself [...]]]> I finally finished one of my entries…

(grahite pencil, aprox. 8″x11″ on moleskine sketchbook)

This is for a international moleskine exchange, where each of us draws a self-portrait,  then sends it to the next person, and they draw themselves and the person whose book they have.

Inspired by Sara’s picture in the woods, I drew her, and myself as a lurking tree. It was fun.

I confirmed my love of working in pencils.

For the 4th week now, we’re starting to get overwhelmed by this amount of greens, though I have to say, we’re probably eating the healthiest ever….  I love the convenience of getting super fresh veggies, all in a span of 5 minutes, and not having [...]]]> This is becoming as much a food blog, as anything else.

For the 4th week now, we’re starting to get overwhelmed by this amount of greens, though I have to say, we’re probably eating the healthiest ever….  I love the convenience of getting super fresh veggies, all in a span of 5 minutes, and not having to pick out anything myself.  It’s all there, already in a box.  All I have to do is divvy with Sue, and then start to plan my meals.

I’m finding that sharing the “whole share” was the best decision we could have made.  It’s just right for our family of four.  If I use one item everyday, or combine a couple smaller items, we pretty much have one thing every week.  Now, if you’re a vegetarian, or you cook 3 meals a day, the whole share would work better, but this way, we’re either having a salad, or a side or main dish made with veggies.  It’s awesome!

This week we had(my half)…

• napa cabbage
• swiss chard
• 2 beets
• 2 endive
• a pickle
• escarole
• romaine lettuce
• and huge spring onions!!!
• snow peas(Sue kept them)
• tiny broccoli(Sue kept it)

I had some cabbage left over from last week, and today I had time for cooking.  So, I decided to tackle a more adventurous recipe.  I found it in Napa Cabbage Gratin, thanks to Slashfood.  You can look there for the recipe.

I forgot to add the nutmeg, but it was de-lish anyhow.  The cabbage gets sweet and tender.  I added a little half and half, because I had a large amount of cabbage, and not enough cream.  My non-picky son really liked it.  It was our side dish, but could easily have been a main dish for a vegetatian meal.

I’m really excited about roasting the beets, and also using the beet greens as I do spinach.  I’ll keep you posted on the results.  In the mean time, go make something yummy.

I hope next week we start getting some veggies with color.   But who knows what will happen with the lack of sun we’re having…

Now that the boys are done with school, I will have a bit more time at home, and will hopefully come up with some other interesting dishes.

I can’t believe how big he’s getting.

He’s had a great year, and has transitioned very well.  He enjoys the new house, especially the backyard, and will soon be enjoying the much desired tree house, as Fab is getting read to build it.

He has made [...]]]> As of Sunday, our first born, Willik, is 8.  Happy birthday Willik!!

I can’t believe how big he’s getting.

He’s had a great year, and has transitioned very well.  He enjoys the new house, especially the backyard, and will soon be enjoying the much desired tree house, as Fab is getting read to build it.

He has made friends easily, done a superb job with school, ace-ing everything on the report cards.  He played soccer this spring and had a great time getting back into it.  He’s very tall, loves to smile, and still will read anyone under the table.  (Just this evening, he started and finished a whole book, Magic Tree House’s Christmas in Camelot)  He retains all kinds of trivia, and continually wants to share it with all with us.  He will talk to anyone who will listen.

He is extremely generous and sensitive, very much a perfectionist, and has grown a lot emotionally and spiritually.

He had a great birthday, which ended with me making a cake I’d never made before.  Carrot cake with tart chocolate ganache icing.  This was Willik’s request(it’s my mom’s recipe) and it turned out yummy.  He took a version of these as cupcakes, as a treat to celebrate his birthday at school. 

The list of goods were:

Finally, yesterday, the last day of week 3, I was able to [...]]]> This week has been so busy, I have barely had a chance to think, much less cook creatively.  We also had a birthday(another blog entry) and several days of eating out.

The list of goods were:

• strawberries(finished by the next day)
• snow peas
• cucumber
• napa cabbage
• endive lettuce
• red lettuce
• tuscan kale

Finally, yesterday, the last day of week 3, I was able to make something new and creative.

I made Roasted Butternut Squash and Kale Soup (Here’s the recipe I came up with after doing a little research…)

Ingredients:

1 medium/large butternut squash

1 large onion, chopped

4-6 strips of bacon, cut into small pieces

1 medium bunch of kale, cut into long thin strips

chicken broth( at least one carton)

1/4-1/2 cup of cream

Instructions:

Roast butternut squash( I did this a couple days ahead).  Cut in half, remove seeds, brush on a little olive oil and roast in a 375 degree oven for 45minutes-1 hour.  It should peel right off the skin and basically look like it’s been pureed. Set aside.

In a dutch oven or other heavy bottomed pan, cook the bacon.  I like to cook it til it just starts to crisp up.  Remove the bacon to a bowl with a paper towl to absorb the excess grease.  Leaving the rest of fat in dutch oven, add chopped onion.  Cook for about 7-10 minutes til onions are soft and translucent, on a medium heat.

Add kale, let it cook down and shrink and soften.  This will also pick up all the brown bits from the bottom of the pan.

When the kale and onion are soft and gooey, add pureed squash.   Stir it around a bit to get it incorporated with the other ingredients.  Add chicken broth.   Cover, and let it simmer.  After a few minutes, check for thickness, add a good bit of salt and pepper, and taste.  If it needs more liquid, add water.  Let it simmer for a few more minutes, and at the last minute, add the cream.  You can even use milk, or half and half,  if you have no cream on hand.  Give it a minute, for the cream to heat up, taste one more time, and serve.  Garnish with fried bacon.  Yummy!

The kids liked it!  The roasted squash is really sweet.

It’s been raining on and off, every day here!

I brought my cardboard box back for the farmers to re-use it, and I was told I was the only one who brought the box back.

This week there were some of the same things [...]]]> This week, when I went to get my share, it was pouring down rain!

It’s been raining on and off, every day here!

I brought my cardboard box back for the farmers to re-use it, and I was told I was the only one who brought the box back.

This week there were some of the same things from last week, and some new veggies

• spinach
• swiss chard
• endive
• pac soi(sorta like bok choy)
• handful of snap peas
• napa cabbage
• red lettuce
• pickles

Because there were more pickles, and I had yet to use my pickles from last week, I decided to look for and make a batch of refrigerator pickles.  I did lots of research, and decided to make my own spin on it.  They turned out good, but a little too sour.

Specifically, he has a buckle fracture on his left little finger, in the middle phalanx.

Aren’t you glad to be able to learn about anatomy through my son’s tragedy?

Anyway, he broke it while playing with his uncle, down in Maryland.  Tossing a football around, [...]]]> The news around our house is that Willik now has a broken pinky.

Specifically, he has a buckle fracture on his left little finger, in the middle phalanx.

Aren’t you glad to be able to learn about anatomy through my son’s tragedy?

Anyway, he broke it while playing with his uncle, down in Maryland.  Tossing a football around, and then receiving one that bend his pinky back.

Willik seems to have a history of having bad injuries down in Maryland.

I, myself don’t have a very good memory of Maryland.  I actually have Maryland labeled as a hot dog state.  That’s a blog entry for another time.

Anyone have a bad relationship with any states?  Please leave a comment.   If you don’t have any bad relationships, leave a comment about good one.  Just leave a comment!

If you don’t  know what a CSA share is, it’s when you “buy” into a farm, and help support the local farmer, and then every week, throughout late spring, summer and early fall, you get a weekly share of vegetables, herbs, and maybe fruits from [...]]]> Last week, our first csa share started.  From Myerov Family Farm.

If you don’t  know what a CSA share is, it’s when you “buy” into a farm, and help support the local farmer, and then every week, throughout late spring, summer and early fall, you get a weekly share of vegetables, herbs, and maybe fruits from whatever is harvested that week.

I’ve been anxiously awaiting the start of our shares.   One of the funnest aspects to me is the surprise.  I won’t know from week to week, what the share will bring.  I am splitting a whole share with a friend, that way we’ll see what it’s like and see how it works for our families.

Last week we received several things:

• mizuna
• bok choy
• tat soi
• red lettuce
• swiss chard
• pickles
• cucumbers
• mint
• sage

It was so exciting figuring out what to make.

We’ve had brown butter pasta with swiss chard and tatsoi and sage.  We’ve had sliced cucumbers.  Yesterday we had shrimp mizuna with thai rice noodles.  And today we are gonna have the lettuce in our salad.  I will also be making refrigerator pickles.

I can’t wait for this week’s share!!!

Something in me really wants to paint and draw, but I sabotage my own efforts by [...]]]> Have you been there?  I am there right now.  I know I should be creating things, but I don’t seem to be able to.  I have ideas of grandeur, but even picking up a pencil seems like too much effort.

Something in me really wants to paint and draw, but I sabotage my own efforts by coming up with reasons why it can’t or won’t happen.

Here are some reasons:

• I don’t have enough time to get in a zone
• I will be interrupted by my kids
• I don’t know what to create
• I need to cook/clean/do the laundry
• I don’t have a studio or a proper place to work in

If it’s not that, I end up spending too much time on the computer on facebook(which I’m currently taking a break from) or even looking at art, photography, tutorials, ideas for other projects, and I do just that– look, and don’t do or make anything.

Is anybody familiar with this behavior?  What do you do when you get there, to just kick-start your creativity?  How do you get out of the mire?  How do you overcome accomplishing much, with little time?

I think since doing the mural for the church, I have been in this creative desert.

I have been praying alot about this next step as it concerns my art and my time and efforts.  So maybe now I need to start acting…..

Would love your thoughts….

Although I make it a point to rejoice in those things, often my memory is such that soon after, I might forget the details within the event.

On Sunday, Phoenix tied his shoes by himself for the [...]]]> When the kids are little, a large part of the time is spent teaching new things, or celebrating milestones accomplished.

Although I make it a point to rejoice in those things, often my memory is such that soon after, I might forget the details within the event.

On Sunday, Phoenix tied his shoes by himself for the first time.  I was actually napping on the couch, after a busy mother’s day weekend, when he shouted, I opened my eyes, expecting something terrible, but I was pleasantly surprised to hear, and see, his sneakers tied correctly!

Now, we’d been working toward this for some time, and I had promised him a prize once he could tie his shoes, so I had to deliver.

He got a bubble sword.

Check him out in action:

With spring coming, comes much excitement over the backyard.  We’ve been enjoying it almost everyday, for about a week.  It’s reminded me of why we wanted to get a house with a big backyard.  Something I’d been longing for, for so many years.

Another reason for a big backyard is having a garden.  When we moved [...]]]>

With spring coming, comes much excitement over the backyard.  We’ve been enjoying it almost everyday, for about a week.  It’s reminded me of why we wanted to get a house with a big backyard.  Something I’d been longing for, for so many years.

Another reason for a big backyard is having a garden.  When we moved in, there was a garden bearing fruit.  I enjoyed many tomatoes, and a good many other veggies as well.

Now it’s my turn to get to the joy of planting the garden.  Inside, I’ve been planting seeds, and watching them grow.  Outside has been where the real challenge lies.  I’ve been raking leaves which are still in our yard from the fall.  It’s a big yard, with big trees, so there are tons of leaves.  I’ve raked during the past 2 afternoons, and I still have lots to go before the garden is clear of leaves, and ready to be tilled and sown.  It’s a lot of work, but it’s so exciting to have the chance to do it.  I’ve had help from my mother-in-law, and I’ve also put the kids to work.    It’s been a good tool to curb the fighting.

I think in a week or 2, planting outside will happen.   I can’t wait to see my garden come to life.  More importantly, I can’t wait to eat a mouth-watering fresh tomato.  I should have plenty of them, so come and visit this summer, and you can eat some too!!!

Here’s a photo of my growing tomatoes…

Yesterday I had a great country adventure.

After seeing a sign last week that said “Fresh Brown Eggs — Drive In” ,  I made a mental note to return as soon as I could. Yesterday was that day.

After both boys were in school, we drove about a mile down this quiet road, passing nice spacious properties, [...]]]>

Yesterday I had a great country adventure.

After seeing a sign last week that said “Fresh Brown Eggs — Drive In” ,  I made a mental note to return as soon as I could. Yesterday was that day.

After both boys were in school, we drove about a mile down this quiet road, passing nice spacious properties, with barns, horses and other such things.  We arrived at the sign, and turned into a long driveway.  As we made our way down the driveway, we saw several sheep, and even a few baby lambs on either side of the driveway.  They were all so cute, and it was all so quiet.

I parked, saw chickens in the distance, and the house and car behind us.  Since I couldn’t spot a person, I went to the door and rang the bell.  A tall, distiguished looking man open the door.  He had a white beard and was holding a yogurt container and sppon in one hand, and the lid to the yogurt in the other.  I said I was interested in their eggs, to which he turned and called his wife.  She was tall, white-haired and thin, and with exitement, responded “Great!  I’ll go get them in the basement!”  In the mean time, I stood at the doorway, while the man licked his yogurt lid and made small talk.  She was back with the dozen eggs in a couple minutes, as she charged me $2(what a bargain!).  I only had a 20-dollar bill, so while she made change,  he told me about how the eggs were not “graded”, but were cleaned.

They asked me if I was local, and I told them I was, but was new to the area, which started a whole new conversation about a “folk fest” coming up in Doylestown, which they will be a part of, since he’s a metal engraver.  As it turns out, he showed me some of his work, and I shared that I am an artist as well.  He spoke of our joining efforts because sometimes he needs to engrave a picture, but he’s not very good at drawing.  At this point, I mentioned that my mother-in-law was out there, and so Toni(the lady) went out to talk to Patti, as I finished talking to Peter about the art, and his being featured in Early American Life magazine.  We headed out, and I joined Patti and Toni; who then went on to tell us lots about raising chickens,  and raising sheep, as we asked several questions, trying to take it all in.  I had already asked permission to take photos of the animals, so I kept on snapping as we talked.  I got some wonderful shots of these creatures, and dare I say, might have made a new friend, in the community.  I hope to take the boys out  there to see the animals, and meet the farmers.

When I came home, i promptly looked at the website for their business “The shepherd’s Croft“, where I learned more about them, and their farm, and their sheep.

Patti and I made an omelet for lunch, using only 3 eggs, which fed both of us thoroughly. It was delicious!

Yay for meeting the farmers and living in the coutry!  Thank you to the Kellers for being so friendly!

I don’t shop much for clothes, or shoes or make-up.

I don’t get my nails done, I don’t get massages or go to the spa.

In a rare moment, I buy something for the kitchen.  That is something I use, but it will benefit the whole family.

Of course, there are [...]]]> I don’t buy stuff for myself very often.

I don’t shop much for clothes, or shoes or make-up.

I don’t get my nails done, I don’t get massages or go to the spa.

In a rare moment, I buy something for the kitchen.  That is something I use, but it will benefit the whole family.

Of course, there are things I want, but being as I don’t bring in any “mula” for the family, I don’t feel like shopping for myself is really warranted.

That’s not to say I couldn’t name 50 things I would want, if given the choice.

The things I want more often, though, are things that relate to making art of some kind.  This is where I usually end up spending.

So, when I earned a “monetary thank-you ” from our  previous church, Graffiti for doing some design, I decided that this time I would be self-indulgent.  I decided that I would buy one of 3 things I’ve been wanting to add to my photography gear.  Choosing between a flash, a new lens and a tripod was a hard choice.  Each had it’s merit, and would be so useful.  But in the end, I chose what would be most fun.  A new lens.

I bought a Sigma telephoto lens.

I’ve had it for 2 days, and I’m already loving the ability to snap a closer look at the birds in my yard.

I will be posting pictures on my photoblog early next week, as soon as I get a chance to preview my photos, and pick the best ones.  Stay tuned for a more thorough review.

Thanks Erin for the video

Drum roll please….

The old Jerusalem unveiled…

13feet x 36 ft latex/acrylic on muslin

54 hours of work, more or less, from start to finish, including the time when I first drew the scene on paper, based on what Pr. Randy gave me.

This is what he first gave me..

It was alot of fun [...]]]> Ladies and gentlemen, girls and boys…

Drum roll please….

The old Jerusalem unveiled…

13feet x 36 ft latex/acrylic on muslin

54 hours of work, more or less, from start to finish, including the time when I first drew the scene on paper, based on what Pr. Randy gave me.

This is what he first gave me..

It was alot of fun and alot of work.

I had great help from Darla, Pastor Tim, Pankey, Katlyn, Samantha, Andrew, Beverly, Nancy, Becky, and Joanne.

I used a variety of old latex paints left over from other projects.  I think I went thry some 20+ different half-used gallons of paint in order to make the colors needed for this project.  I did use 3 different new colors for the buildings.

I painted on the floor as well as on the wall.  I spent several hours on a ladder.

I can’t wait to see it surrounded by the other things which will make up the stage scene.

Thanks for all the prayers and encouragement.  I felt them.

I pray it brings God glory.

I often have a hard time keeping track of how long it takes for me to do things.

But yesterday, my time was limited, so it was easy for [...]]]> Often times, I find people have a hard time getting a sense of how much time it takes to do certain things, especially when it comes to art.

I often have a hard time keeping track of how long it takes for me to do things.

But yesterday, my time was limited, so it was easy for me to see how much time was spent on something…

I spent about an hour and a half at the church, while Phoenix was at school.

This is what I did…

It doesn’t seem like much, since all I was doing was adding in all the brown shading and details, but you have to remember that this section is approximately 36″ x 24″.

Unfortunately the morning has gone, and I’m still at home.

I will have to spend the rest of the day there.  My arm will tire, and I hope it will be mostly done by this evening.

Check back for updates.

Thanks for keeping up with my progress.

Now, I think I have had all the help from other volunteers I can, and I have to do the rest on my own.

The buildings need to be one unit, and I need to do all the details myself.    I won’t be able to get anyone to do it like [...]]]> I’m still working on the mural.

Now, I think I have had all the help from other volunteers I can, and I have to do the rest on my own.

The buildings need to be one unit, and I need to do all the details myself.    I won’t be able to get anyone to do it like I do it, or to do what I want, cause it’s just too hard to explain.

Also, I think tomorrow afternoon, the mural will be going back up on the wall, which will make it a bit more challenging to paint, but it will be okay.

Here are 2 more pictures of the progress:

I’ve been working on the mural for the whole weekend.

Thursday I mixed a couple colors. Friday I painted all day, with 5 volunteers, down to 2, down to 1, by the night time.  I was at the church from 9:15am to 10:40pm with an hour respite.

On [...]]]> The last few days are a bit of a blur.

I’ve been working on the mural for the whole weekend.

Thursday I mixed a couple colors. Friday I painted all day, with 5 volunteers, down to 2, down to 1, by the night time.  I was at the church from 9:15am to 10:40pm with an hour respite.

On Saturday, I was there from 9:15 am to 4:40pm.  At first 2 volunteers, then one, then me, all by my lonesome.

I was working up a headache all weekend, and I still have it. Saturday night it was particularly brutal.  I went to bed with a headache, and awoke on Sunday morning with it.

The mural is coming along nicely.  All of it is covered, but now all details have been going in.

That is a picture of what it looked like as of Saturday night.

I managed to get a couple more hours of painting in yesterday afternoon, but I’m not sure when I’ll be able to go there again with this snow.

I will only have the occasional volunteer from here on out, because very few people feel comfortable putting in the details.

Little did I know what I was getting myself into.  I had said yes to painting, and leading other volunteers, to paint the backdrop for [...]]]> About 6 weeks ago, I was asked if I’ve done murals before, by a leader from our new church.  Without hesitating, I said, yes.  It’s true, I have done a couple.

Little did I know what I was getting myself into.  I had said yes to painting, and leading other volunteers, to paint the backdrop for the Easter Musical which the choir and drama team will put on.  I had no idea it would be over 11′ x34′.  That is 11 feet by 34 feet, people.  Say it with me, “that is gi-hugic!!”

Anyway, not only that, but the choir director didn’t have much else to say other than to tell me they wanted it done on some sort of material so that they could reuse it–oh, the pressure!  And that the pastor would give me a picture of what he wanted.

He soon handed me a picture of old Jerusalem which he’d found, and said that was what he wanted.  He wanted it to be dismal, and of course, that is when I learned the size of the thing.  I would have to adapt this scene to fit this long landscape horizontal shape.

I worked on the drawing, and showed the pastor, to which he seemed pleased.  It took me a while to find a place to buy the material from.  After doing a couple days worth of research, I settled on using a muslin.  I would paint it on the floor, and it would get hung up afterwards.

The muslin’s arrival was delayed by several days, and when it did arrive, it was apparent they sent us much more than what we paid for.  That was okay, but this is when my work began.  I set out with a helper, to cut the fabric after having to use a big tape measure twice for the length.

After cutting, Pastor Tim hung it up on the gym wall.

Then we got the projector set up and pointed to see what size my drawing needed to be once on the fabric.

Armed with a big fat permanent marker, I set out to trace what I had prepared.  After a few adjustments, I got going in stride. 

Within an hour and a half, I had the whole thing sketched out, to the surprise of many.

I’m sore from climbing on the ladder, and squatting alot as I sketched.  The pastor liked it, which is really the one I’m aiming to please on earth, besides myself.  I pray God is pleased with my efforts and my service.  The outcome is less of an issue for God, I think.

I also searched throughout the many nooks and crannies of the church for leftover paint.  I have many cans which I will attempt to use and make interesting colors from, tomorrow.

Friday the painting starts.  I will have volunteers willing to help.  I’ll have more pictures friday or saturday.

Keep praying for our efforts.

8″x10″ pen and colored pencils on bristol paper

Our car’s in the shop again. Actually, Fab’s car. The one he drives to and from work. The one we already spent a ton of money on. The point is, he was home today. So after dropping Phoenix off, we went on a lunch date. We went to jules in [...]]]> update: here’s the drawing…

Our car’s in the shop again. Actually, Fab’s car. The one he drives to and from work. The one we already spent a ton of money on.
The point is, he was home today. So after dropping Phoenix off, we went on a lunch date.
We went to jules in doylestown. It was a place I’d been wanting to visit, cause it has pizza–thin crust pizza, with lots of exotic ingredients. If I’m gonna have pizza, it has to be this kinda pizza. Fabio, on the other hand, likes any good decent average pizza.
Anyway, I picked it out cause I knew he’d been wanting pizza, and I thought we could check it out.
I was not disappointed. It was more than good, it was great! And it had so many varieties to choose from, and the pizza was a cool elongated shape, and the place is all organic and they use biodegradable plastic-ware. How cool is that! It might be the best place we’ve gone to so far, in Doylestown.
Anyway, the pizza was great, the place was great, and the service was great, but that’s not what made it great.
The company was great. Before and after eating, Fabio and I both had our moleskines. He wrote, and I drew a sketch of this beautiful old house-turned-law-offices. It was wonderful to just be able to share these moments together, each occupied with the things we love.
Yeah for love! Yeah for a 10-year mate who meets my needs and surpasses my deepest desires!
Fabio, I love you!!

I finally took the time to put on the finishing touches, and it’s done. Now I have 3 city [...]]]> yeah, unbelievable as it is, i finally finished another city drawing.
This one had been in the works since just before we left the city, in July.

pen and colored pencil on bristol paper, approx. 8″ x 6.5″

I finally took the time to put on the finishing touches, and it’s done. Now I have 3 city scenes. I hope to draw a few more, and therefore, have a set to show together. Hopefully it helps with “sell-ability”.

Let me know what you think…..

Today, we were eating at a newly found “real” Chinese restaurant(hardly any Americans were there- except for the ones who were having a party for parents of Chinese-adopted children). When Phoenix was asked whether or not he liked Fabio’s “spicy” Singapore Mai Fun, he replied “It may [...]]]>
Phoenix is 5. Sometimes, he says the funniest things.

Today, we were eating at a newly found “real” Chinese restaurant(hardly any Americans were there- except for the ones who were having a party for parents of Chinese-adopted children).
When Phoenix was asked whether or not he liked Fabio’s “spicy” Singapore Mai Fun, he replied “It may be spicy for a 3-year-old, but it’s not spicy for me.”

Later, Fabio was telling the boys a story about when he ran over a skunk, and it made his car really stinky. After realizing that the skunk died, he said “That makes me sad, because you killed something that God made.”