Walnuts, Kielbasa & Spinach

1. Sliced turkey kielbasa, brown in fry pan with a fourth cup of walnut pieces
2. Add a cup of washed fresh spinach
3. Mix in a tablespoon of honey mustard and teriyaki sauce
4. Stir while kielbasa heats up, about 5 minutes on medium heat
5. Options: Serve over rice pilaf or a baked potato

Next time I'll add feta cheese, and maybe a drizzle of white wine. If I use collard greens or kale, then I'll add a bit of apple cider vinegar, honey, and orange zest into the sauce.

I had it for dinner last night. The walnuts aren't as hard after cooking them a bit. My sense of taste is returning slowly. For what it's worth, I think it tasted good.

When Plans Change

Dead Creek East Branch 2018 (?) digital photo
The Golden Hour on Dead Creek

Change of plan. Mr. Cedar Waxwing in watercolor will have to wait.

The above photo is being used for a watercolor in progress. I remember posting it here years ago thinking I would do an acrylic. Thus far, I'm still considering a large acrylic. The sky in acrylic will be a deeper powder blue like you see in the autumn.

It took me a while to find the picture in my folders. My photo library is a mess. I estimate it will take a few days dedicating a few hours per day to straighten it all out. I kept wondering where several photo session folders are. I thought they're on a memory stick. Not. They're on my old laptop. 

If you have a photo library program, then please share how you like it. My homemade  photo library doesn't work well for me. I keep a written log, and still it gets a mess finding things. 

Day 12 of Week 2 January 2024

Cedar Waxwing

Next in the paint watercolors from photographs will be the Cedar Waxwing With Berry. He is huddled inside the crook of a crabapple tree in the spring. The fruit winters over all shriveled like crabapple raisins. The cedar waxwings appear to love them. 

The image is more complicated than the maples leaves.  It is a nice challenge. First off, I know I will repositioned the branches.

Have a Berry Nice Weekend!

Bake a Spanakopita (Greek spinach pie)

Read about dandelions

Create a gift tote from a cereal box

Draw a pair of boots

Browse pine tree tee shirts online

Watch elephant videos

Play cards

Call a cousin

Happy Hot Tea Day!

First Watercolor of 2024

Dancing Leaves, digital photo 2023

Dancing Maple Leaves 2024 
11" x 10" Watercolor in progress

Starting out the year with watercolors is a good way to back to painting regularly. At the moment, it is at the end of the day. As I sit painting, I realize I have to get up to find my watercolor tubes because the yellows I have are too orangey, and the red not bright enough. 

I don't feel like get up. I know where the supplies I want are, but I'm lazy around the cocktail hour. I don't even want to get up to make a cocktail. My back aches from puttering and leaning forward while sitting. Hopefully, before the sunrise, a finished photograph of the watercolor will appear below.

Dancing Maples Leaves
2024 Watercolor 
veins not defined

Dancing Maples Leaves
corrected

Oops. 

Aha! I forgot to paint the leaf veins in. 

The definition is better in the corrected painting.

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁

Maple Leaf Umbrella

The last photo will be the 2nd watercolor subject.

Update, that's a maybe because the first try,

it looks more like a cacoon than a leaf.

The Umbrella Maple Leaf

This watercolor will rest. 

Last night, I began a watercolor
of the Dead Creek East Branch at the golden hour.

Winter Chat

Tree, Leaves & Snow 2024

At the moment here in western Vermont at just after 7 PM EDT, it is snowing at a good clip. The ground has about two inches of snow cover. Earlier, it felt like rain that changed to snow. The weather forecast is rain after 10 PM EDT. A warm font is moving in to wash winter away.

In the morning, with a 40ºF temperature forecast, road conditions might not be all that good as there may be spots where it is colder and icy. 

Please Drive Safely

The winter landscapes today were beautiful. Tomorow I expect things will resemble early spring. Winter being winter. 

This morning my tea got cold too fast after I took a too early sip, and burned part of my lower lip. I tend to try tea faster than I do a hot cup of coffee. I don't know why that is. It was so freezing cold this morning, I think it settled in my mind to warm up.

The Arches watercolor paper order from Dick Blick.com arrived today. It awaits measuring and cutting. I buy full 22 inch by 30 inch sheets because I can cut them to the sizes I want. 

That all means the puttering pace will rev up tomorrow for the painting area to be organized. Right now there are clothes sorted and piled around. 

I am anxious to paint watercolors most of this winter to ease out cabin fever. In years past I've created projects specfically for the purpose of not falling too far into a winter depression. Projects work only when I put effort into them. 

How is your winter going?

 

Spring & a Smart Televsion Update

Azaela Leaves In Snow

 71 Days Until Spring!

The azaela waits to bloom,

as many await another winter snow storm.

❆❆❆❆❆❆❆❆❆

It has been over a month since I set up a smart television. As yet, I have not learned how to navigate all the channels, many that I would not chose if I had a choice. I rarely turn the TV on.

As I see it, a smart TV is nothing but a streaming service device made to look like a regular easy to turn on and watch television. Evidently, "smart" means not a user friendly design, IMHO. I have to scan digital signals every time I turn on the television to just see the one local channel the "smart" TV can pick up.

I have an indoor 60 mile antenna. The old television captures 28 signals. The "smart" TV scans only 4. That is evidence to me the "smart" TV is stupid. I read online there is an app or feature in a smart television that prevents it from picking up digital signals unless you do this and that or that and this to the whatever it is. 

Now I am looking into a streaming service. It is be daunting to say the least. Price is a top factor in my search. I'm in no hurry. At least I can watch YouTube on my computer without scanning anything or clicking through multiple places I don't want to have to click on.

On a positive note, I have found a way to only swipe, log in, scroll, and swipe again to make a phone call on my iphone 13. 

A Bit of Brrr

At Sunrise 8 January 2024

Brrr.

A dusting of snow last night covers the bird seed. Thus, requiring a shovel off, I'm out there early, later than the birds, but early. The light is dull on the photograph. In person, the air is clear enough to show sharp outlines. In the cold, I have to be careful to not breath too close to the lens or else it will fog up the scene a bit.

Why is it when I Google clouds, nearly all the images don't represent the formation I'm searching for? The clouds in the background are clearly stratus, (estimating below 6000 feet). If you have an accurate description, then please leave a comment. Thank you

Happy Bubble Bath Day!

The Snow Is Slowly Piling Up

Cedar Stake Snow Topper

Snowy Pinwheels

Mr Bixby Hunkered Down

Mr Bixby is under balsam wreaths as the snow steadily falls, light powder at this 292 foot above sea level elevation in Vermont (western side Addison County). There isn't enough snow to plow in the parking lot.* The small steady powder snowflakes don't feel like they are the big snow storm forecast. Plus, last night there was a break when no snow fell for a while

The birds are very busy at the bird seed. I've shoveled the deck three times so far. Due to the steady pace, the snowflakes cover the seed fairly quickly. A lawn chair with the seat covered in plastic helps keep the main feeding area dry.

Bird Seed Set Up

❆❆❆❆❆❆❆

For this week...I've been brainstorming ideas for posts with a different flair. I usually look to science for interesting subjects, but this time, I'm trying out my brain all on its own. Scary. No Google searches assisting me is a different brain storming beach to walk  along. Strange as is sounds, it feels like I'm using a brush without the paint.

It will be fun seeing what I post this week. 

* The snow changed to heavier wet snow, not the little powdery stuff early in the day.

Thinking on a Saturday Morning in January With No Cheese in the Fridge

Vintage Glass Ceiling Shade

It can be rough when there's no cold food in the fridge to grab and eat without prep, no cheese, no bread, no leftovers, no spoonful of peanut butter (because you read peanuts are better than peanut butter). Raw vegetables and fruit don't count because they may need peeling, and for sure washing.

I'm sitting here with now cold coffee, barely getting my sense of taste and smell back, thinking about what it is going to take for me to cook breakfast. What does a person do without toast at the first meal of the day? Then I think about the people suffering with starvation having no bread at all any day. Well, if they were here, then they would miss having toasts as well.

This is what is going to happen. I will make latkes with shredded red potato and zucchini. I can't deal with onion at the moment. I am confident that I will cook because I am that hungry. Cereal is not going to cut it this late in the morning. Besides, I'm in need of some greasy and crisp food I can have with ketchup. No doubt there will be a latke photo added later.

Until then, clearing out a cabinet to organize it efficiently, I found a few things from days gone by. There was a time when I was near obessessed with vintage lamps, especially ceiling fixtures. I thought they make nice hanging candle holders. What the one in the photo above did make, is to fill a nice space in the donation box I dropped off at a thrift store yesterday.

Time to cook

How did your day start out?

Shredded Red Potato & Zucchini

Latke in corn oil

Latke, juice and ketchup

One medium pototo and half small zucchini shredded

About 2 tablespons of flour

About 1/8th bit of baking powder

Black pepper

One large egg

Mix

Add to medium heated fry pan

Tamp down mix to be evenly cooked

Fry in corn oil until brown  

Drain oil on paper towels

Makes 5 

Options: diced small onion, spices, parsley, cheese

Walking On Air

Forget Me Not

Wordle today in 2

My current total 4 

(might be 5)

What a shock!

Feels great such a silly thing brings happiness

Have a Happy Weekend!

Dance to "U Can't Touch This"
by MC Hammer

Draw a song bird 

Bake a custard strawberry pie

Read about Basalt rock formations

Plan a garden

Have a cup of tea

Pray for Peace

The next day, 7 January, Wordle in 6.

I had 3 letters in 3, and 4 in 4. 

Typical Wordle

Day 5 of Week 1 January 2024

McD Coffee Happy Face

Doesn't that title look nice.

Where have I been this last week is blurry with feeling overwhelmed by the deep clean out I am once again engaged in.  Today is a mish mosh of tasks and errands. Out early for my update on a tetanus shot, I decide to treat myself to a coffee and donut! 

Didn't happen.

In the age of technology, ordering take out changes. 

There I am waiting for a coffee and donut for what felt like over 10 minutes (probably less). The two in front of me were there even longer. I'm finally at the counter ready to order. Instead, the clerk leaves me waiting to order; and goes to prepare more mobile orders. I waited a few more minutes, then left, drove up the road, and had my food and coffee in less time than I spent in line waiting for a donut. 

What's ironic is that I went inside to order because the drive thru line takes far too long, like half an hour long. It's no wonder folks use the app to order. All of the clerks were super busy. No slacking going on there.

One problem is that there is a lack of help. A few years ago at the end of the pandemic, many folks didn't return to work. I don't know what has happened since then that causes a shortage of fast food help to continue. 

As it is, up and about early in the morning is a big time reason to take a mid morning nap. Out before 8 AM, get home before 9 AM, the yawning will begin before 10 AM. There is no coffee/caffeine I know of that will stop a mid morning nap when I've been out before 8 AM except for will power. I can't afford to waste the energy I have with dozing off. In a couple of hours, I have errands to do. If I sleep, it would take twice as long to feel up to doing all the  packing up and such. I'm not leaving this chair.* I might doze off and tumble onto the floor, but I will take the chance. Based on my naps in chair experience, I'm confident I will remain upright.

The cardinal is at the bird seed. Cold temperatures brings the birds out more. There are more chickadees this year. 

Have a wonderful day!

*Yawns were too heavy to chance the chair.

Sofa snooze until after noon time. I only slept about 3 or 4 hours last night.

Needed the rest.