A Tale Of Two Cities

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness . . . it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair . . . in short, the period was so far like the present period . . . .”

~Charles Dickens, A Tale Of Two Cities

Well, they aren't London or Paris, a pair of great cities, but these two twins are headed for my Etsy shop, Kari Desi Art (see the sidebar) very soon! Click on the picture to see the texture more clearly.

"Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart."

~Confucious

Happy Thanksgiving

I'm thankful for the love I feel within

and see without;

in people

and in nature.

I got up early this morning before anyone else was up. It's my favorite time of day, when everything is still, dark and quiet and I'm rested and ready to create. I have so many ideas that I can't keep up with them all! This print will be added to my Etsy shop (see the link in the sidebar) along with a few others after the holiday. I hope you'll come back and take a look! 

In the meantime, I'm going to go bake my family's favorite holiday breakfast: 

Orange Current Buttermilk Scones (recipe below) and scrambled eggs 

On the menu for later: 

Turkey, Cornbread Stuffing, Green Beans, Potatoes, and Pumpkin Cheesecake for dessert.

We're going out in the snow

and then to see the new Harry Potter movie. 

I'll post more pics as the day goes on!

Orange Current Buttermilk Scones

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix together 3 cups of flour, 1/3 cup of sugar, 2 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp baking soda in a large bowl.

Cut in 3/4 cup butter.

Add 1 cup buttermilk, 3/4 cup currents and 1 tbsp grated orange peel.

Mix together and form two balls. Pat dough into 1 inch pads. Cut into 8 pie sections. Place on cookie sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes. Makes 16 scones.

Winter Moments

"My daily routines are transactional. Everything that happens in my day is a transaction between the external world and my internal world. Everything is raw material. Everything is relevant. Every thing is usable. Everything feeds into my creativity."

~Twyla Tharp, The Creative Habit

First Frost

Wishing you all good things.

Dance Like No One Is Watching

Focus Your Thoughts...Choose What You Love

Another page from my art journal.

To Love and Be Loved

Hang It Up!

Over at Michelle's Street Team, she's asking, "What's your hang up?" 

 Her challenge this month is to frame some of our own art and hang it in our home. I already have just a few that I'll share here: 

These are a couple of the first collages I ever did and I did them as a pair. They hang in my bedroom to remind me to create everyday.

This sconce hangs in our dining room. It's twin hangs on the opposite wall.

This is a oil painting of the area near where I used to live. I took an art lesson from a wonderful lady in Laguna Beach. It sits happily on top of a cabinet in my kitchen to remind me of the beautiful ocean.

  

And these are my favs. I have them hanging in my studio. 

I really like this challenge. I think it's important to surround ourselves with art whether it's our own or someone elses's, preferably both. My criteria for what I have in my home and surrounding me is that I love it. 

Wednesday Gratitude

"We are all functioning at a small fraction of our capacity to live life fully in its total meaning of loving, caring, creating, and adventuring. Consequently, the actualizing of our potential can become the most exciting adventure of our lifetime."

~Herbert A. Otto

Caring is like a fountain flowing energy into our lives every minute. However, caring is quiet and polite. If you're not paying attention and looking for it, you could miss it.

Today, I have gratitude for the instances of caring I have experienced:

*For my yoga teacher who gently and carefully helped me adjust in a difficult pose.

*For the new friend I met, her caring attitude toward me and the easy way we had talking with one another.

*For the boss who gave me tickets to the symphony.

*For the florist who asked me about the lady I was filling in for today, just wanting to make sure she is OK.

*For the man who charged me less on my order to save me a few cents.

*For the friend I share an understanding with.

*For the very kind email I got from a shop considering carrying my art.

*For all of the wonderful, kind and caring comments I get from fellow bloggers and others who read my blog.

Sometimes, Life seems hard or harsh or downright cruel. But other times, Life seems kind and caring and understanding. I want to be paying attention. I want to be able to be available for and enjoy those caring moments that come my way.