Studio Project

As promised, here's what I've been working on in the studio. I'm never entirely satisfied with whatever it is I've put over the mantle, so I thought I'd try my hand at charcoal. Remember my post from a few months ago? Well, here's my first stab at it. Okay, my second. The paper is a little more textured than I would want, and easily becomes overworked, but it's cheap, which makes mistakes a rather forgiving possibility. You can't tell with a picture, but it's huge. And I'm never sure when I'm finished. Should I frame it and find out?

Passionate Attention

My husband often talks about having passionate attention when reading a book or listening to music. I would add that the same might be required when looking at a painting, or spending time with a dear friend. We're all in such a hurry these days, it seems unfathomable to stop for five minutes to invest your time, energy and heart in something that doesn't yield measurable results ... but it is so worth it. When you lose yourself in something other than the dailiness of your life, you forget your troubles and become richer in spirit.

What do you like to give passionate attention?

I'm spending the next few days in the studio. I'll be back to share the fruits of my labor.

Happy Weekend!

Summer

I hope everyone had a glorious 4th of July weekend. Here are a few things from my weekend, full of color and sun.

I've been a very bad blogger lately, and I'm sorry. I miss it, really, but I've got a hefty work load on my plate and will for the next few weeks. I hope you accept a few occaissional humble pictures as I try to get everything under control. Leave me a comment now and then and let me know how you're enjoying this summer!

Ah, the weekend!

Hello, my friends. Sorry for the week without posts ... it's been an insane week. In and out of Chicago the same day, packing up my entire office to move to a new location, and Friday I volunteered at a Habitat house. While exhausting, this gave me an absolute appreciation for the cool, quiet calm of my own home and made me feel utterly blessed. This new home is for a single mom who has been in and out of shelters for years. One of my colleagues, instead of helping with the build, is tutoring her in English so that she can find a job and support her young daughter. See? There are good people who happen to spend most of their time behind desks.

So now it's time to recharge my batteries. What do you do to rejuvenate yourself?

The West Side Market

Those who know me (or have been around my blog long enough), know that I'll travel pretty far for a good farmer's market. My husband took me to the West Side Market this weekend for my birthday - the place of our first date. The original market was built in 1840 across the street from the current building, built in 1902.

While we're fairly spoiled with our own market in town, you can't beat the cultural and culinary diversity at the West Side. When you walk in, your senses are pleasantly assaulted by the smell of strong coffee, baking bread, exotic cheeses, and any number of other food smells. You can hear people haggling over a price of meat or a basket of fruit in several languages.

If you visit, come prepared with a tote to carry your treasure; you will inevitably become intoxicated by the atmosphere and buy more food than you can possibly eat in a day or two.

Do you have a market that you like to visit?

How does your garden grow?

I've been growing most of my usual plants this year and a new favorite.




My nasturtiums haven't completely taken over the pots ... yet.




This is my first time growing tomotios ... I love the green little lanterns (thank you, Leann, for the colorful phrase).





I planted these bulbs years ago and can't, for the life of me, remember what they're called. Do you know?

And now my husband and I are off to an adventure to the place of our first date. Do you ever revisit old, romantic places?

Dreaming in Color

My husband and I went to Oakland Park Nursery yesterday to plan the next phase of turning our backyard into the garden escape we've always dreamed of. While the "bones" are all in place, we still have many other plants and trees to add to make it complete.




I really want to have Foxgloves.



... and this Snow Queen Hydrangea.

What sort of garden escape do you dream of?

Pesto!

I grow a lot of basil, and one of my favorite things about summer is turning it into pesto. It takes only minutes, and I use a recipe by Marcella Hazan, the authority on Italian cooking.

Pesto by Food Processor Method2 cups tightly packed basil leaves
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons pine nuts
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese
2 tablesspoons romano cheese (optional)
3 tablespoons butter (I skip this step)

Briefly soak the basil in cold water and pat dry. Put the basil, olive oil, pine nuts, garlic and an ample pinch of salt in the food processor and blend until you have a smooth, uniform consistency. Tranfer the mixture into a bowl and fold in the cheese. (If you choose to add the romano and butter, you would do so at this point.)

I often throw the pesto in the freezer until I'm ready to use it. It keeps its flavor nicely.

What did you eat this weekend?