Archive for April, 2012
If you asked me where I got my artistic genes I would say my grandmother gave it to me. From what I heard she was quite the artist in her younger days drawing fashion models aspiring to be in newspaper ads. I don’t remember her as an artist but she was my biggest supporter in the arts. She always kept my drawings and paintings often framing them on prominent display in her house. She never batted an eye or questioned my ideas about becoming an artist as an adult. She believed in me when I needed it most. I think that’s what grandmothers are for. If you’re lucky enough to have one half as sweet and loving as mine then make sure you thank her while you can.
More than confidence my grandmother shared love, food, creativity, warmth, and a sense of humor, perhaps my family’s best defense against hard times. I’ll always remember the sound of her laugh. She was a story teller (and lately she told the same few over and over). On my last visit with her she remarked, “We just keep hoping for the best in the long run. But why does it have to be such a long run?”
She’ll make me smile for the rest of my run.
Last night at my family’s favorite Thai restaurant (That’s Thai Orchid in Mission for you local folks) we were waiting for food and discussing the best foods we ever had. I told the story of my Levain Bakery chocolate chip cookie (and how it was so beyond heavenly I couldn’t eat it all so I tossed it in a trash can in Central Park, I know crazy). 
Today is Saturday – my day off for food, shopping, painting, and other general home making tasks including baking something. I decided on oatmeal dark chocolate chip cookies with walnuts. And I spent every moment considering temperatures and textures to create the most “like” Levain I could do. I think the ratio of 1:1:1 (butter, sugar, brown sugar) plus a chilled dough made the magic happen.
I know this will seem like a train of thought from Crazyville but as I mentioned I have been painting and above you can see the nearly finished 8×10 watercolor painting (yet untitled). Before I got on my butter sugar ratio kick I began this artwork thinking about balance, color, and contrast. I think those three elements are the main elements that make my paintings work. I think I’ve been working a lot towards finding a balance in my artwork – not to mention within an often hectic life.
Speaking of ratios and life. I just have to share this clip from one of the greatest shows of all time. I hope it makes you laugh as much as I do. Poor Horatio…
Opening Day for the Farmer’s Market in my neighborhood. Behold my locally grown organic garlic. If you count Nebraska as local when you live in Kansas. I count it. I love the market. I forgot how great it smells! I forgot how friendly and helpful most of the vendors are. I did not forget how beautiful all the food looks all stacked up together shiny and plump.
All my favorites were there….the Tamale guy, the bakery people, all the older farm couples and these sweet farm families. I love paying children money; they count it so meticulously. I bought a big bouquet of flowers mainly because the lady selling them looked lonely and I normally walk to the market and would not carry home something so bulky. Today a rain threat (and general post Friday night lazy-ness) led me to drive the car.
I bought sage because it looked pretty. I bought rosemary because it was sitting next to the sage. I plan to try and plant these babies but for now they sit in the box. They may become soup or something later. I have no idea. I gave up on making a meal plan before going to the farmer’s market. The beauty of the market is you never know what will grab you. So I buy what looks good from people who seem nice. Call me crazy but I think that’s an excellent way to eat.
