Food to Keep you Fueled

So I have been craving this wild rice salad that my mom used to make and I didn't realized how much I took for granted the midwest and their awesome foods! I have bought wild rice twice recently at two different grocery stores and it is amazing because they have 1 kind, no variety and it is soooo expensive. I may have to have someone from back home send me some wild rice because this is ridiculous!
Anyway enough with my ranting! I decided to add a few things to the original recipe and take some out, ok I only took out one ingredient and that is the peas. I did added a purple pepper and some chives.

My husband made a nice dressing but you can use store bought italian if you are so inclined.


Here is the finished product ingredients are

• wild rice (chilled)
• grape tomatoes cut in half
• celery
• onions
• chives
• purple pepper
• marinated artichokes
• dressing, something of the italian variety.

I made a batch of this and it is great as a side dish or a lunch and lasts in the refrigerator! It also has a great amount of fuel and I used this to work on my new garden.

We are going to have a fall garden including spinach, lettuce (a few kinds), potatoes, garlic and some parsnips. We should get a small harvest from the leafy greens before it frosts and everything else will be in the ground ready for the spring, at which time we will fill the rest of the garden beds with our favorite vegetables.

I need to get the seeds in this week and in order to do that, we need to get more dirt as we are using raised garden beds. I am amazed at how quickly we executed this project as I had only just seen the garden that inspired me to do this:


I saw this garden on a walk last week and fell in love! I can't wait for next year when I can get it all laid out.

Project Artwork for Bedroom!

I have had different ideas of big projects I was going to do regarding artwork for some area of our house. The ideas have melded over the years and I finally think that I can put some of this together for the artwork that will fill our room. I have always been a big fan of positive negative and to completely different things coexisting within the same space. I am taking a bunch from nature but all bringing in the elements of the city. Using different textures to accomplish this will be the fun part!
I got some shims and some half sheet plywood that I am cutting down for frames and bases for some of the work that I am putting together.

When I got the plywood I also perused through the aisle to see what other random things I could find and get inspired by. Here is a collection of the things I will be using.
My curiosity lays into when this will be done! So far it is going rather smoothly and I am hoping to continue this pace!

Backyard Blooms Inspiration

This vine has finally bloomed and I love it's soft delicate color and the sharpness of the green new buds developing flowers of their own.
This was a gift from a friends mom last year and it has latched on to the earth and grown significantly. This shot will probably be used in one of the art pieces I am doing for our bedroom, since we have some leaf like accents in our lighting and curtains. I love bringing the outside in.
You know summer is coming to an end when the hasta's start to flower, their fragrance is intoxicating yet subtle in the evening breeze.
The new addition to the garden, thank you Lowes we love your clearance outdoor items they are the best!

New Additions to the Garden

A new Lowes opened near our house recently so we went to explore...right now is the time to pick up annuals for you garden because they are great prices and you will still have a while to enjoy them until it frosts. I wanted to link back to Lowes so I went to their website and put in the name of the flower Mandeville and to my surprise they give you all the necessary info for taking care of your plant so go check it out. This is a great database for new gardeners to learn the basics and to have a photo to compare. For me that has been the hardest part is identifying what should be in the garden and what shouldn't be, ie. weeds. As good as a job the previous homeowner did in planting it, I had no clue what to do, so I have been gardening trial and error but think I am getting a grasp for it. Adding my own annuals have helped add color and also a name to search for. With the Lowes gardening website it will be easier to bookmark and catalog the plants that I have so when next spring comes around it will be easier to know what to do.



Of course no garden is complete without butterfly's so I got this bush. I have several other butterfly flowers in the garden that have long lasting bright flowers. Every year I notice more humming birds fluttering around the backyard.

Spring Motto Less is More

Almost a year ago I posted pictures of my then newly organized studio, (above) here is my studio with the motto of Less is more! (below)



Having put our house on the market a few weeks ago and all the preparatory work that you do before it is ready to show for the public. Over the weeks leading up I started removing things and just clearing out all clutter, moved furniture to optimize the space, put color where color was needed. Our house is so much easier to live in now thus this is the year of Less is More!

Inspiration from hard work

I have been doing a bunch of this
and a load of spackling and sanding.
The kitchen is coming together, but I am doing the whole over hall, moving cleaning everything in sight!


So I rewarded myself with this


and that, the new table cloth with a sprig of flowers really ties it together!

Delaware and Domestic Diva

While I was in Philly the first week of August I thought, I have never been to Delaware, I am going to go check it out. I visited an old mansion with the most beautiful garden, so picturesque there was a women who had set up an eisel and was painting on a perfect hot summers day! While I was looking at all the great places to visit in Delaware I realized something I had not known, it was settled mostly by the Dutch, the English and Swedes. In fact the first American Swedish Lutheran church resides here, in a run down neighborhood not many swedes in the neighborhood now.

I then headed down to Newcastle which is a really quaint seaport filled with history! Below is the Amstel House which resides on an old brick road surrounded by some of the neatest old houses I have ever seen.

On a domestic diva note, the garden has been baring fruit so there has been a lot of new recipes being had, using all the ingredients that we seem to have an abundant amount of. This weekend we emptied out the hot water heater to prepare for the winter that is soon upon us and have had the luxury of using my friends breadmaker to crank out some fabulous breads! Can't wait to get the house decorated for Halloween, the best holiday ever!

Checkin in and then checkin out!

So sorry for the lack of posts I have been without a computer for a week as my computer had to go to the doctor AGAIN! Now I am heading off to 1 of the 10,000 lakes for some R&R and well needed family time. Here are a few pix from my NYC trip a week ago and here are some pix of my garden. Have a happy and safe 4th and here is some patriotic inspiration.

Garden Blooming Inspiration

I took these pictures about a week ago and it is amazing how quickly the garden changes in that amount of time. These guys are nearly dead now and the petals are laying everywhere. On the other hand, my vegetables are growing like crazy, I have a bunch of flowers on the tomato plants, a lot of the chilles have already started to weasel their way into the world. Yesterday I was able to pick a few radishes and throw those on a greek salad. The stocks on the green beans are getting really strong and I have a feeling that I will have some many of them I will be handing bags out on the street. Taking the time to watch nature really allows us to store up the inspiration and pull it out when we need it.

Garden Inspiration

Inspiration comes from many different things. Now that it is spring time and there are so many things blooming look outside for you inspiration. A meandering walk to observe the flowers through all of your senses. Taking a big breath of air can definitely spark a bit of creativity.


The images above are from our garden and it is amazing how quickly it changes. We are getting some well needed rain and I am looking forward to seeing how much the vegetables have popped. Watching the things you plant grow is very inspiring and worth the time to take a moment to enjoy.