Chelsea

Jester Park Natural Playscape

One of the best play areas we’ve ever been to is in the backyard of the Des Moines metro area – Jester Park Natural Playscape. It’s a mere 25 minute drive and worth it! We missed out on a play date earlier this weekend, and so made the trek this morning. Though it’s 82 andContinue reading “Jester Park Natural Playscape”

Sweet Cream Cake

I made a lovely, dense, rich cake last weekend from one of my grandma’s cookbooks – there is just something so wonderful about old cookbooks. The way recipes are described and explained – it so much less detailed and matter-of-fact than any of the modern cookbooks I own. There was a certain level of assumptionContinue reading “Sweet Cream Cake”

Boredom Buster Books

I finally got around to creating a set of small take-along binders for my two kids. They are forever wanting to be busy, constantly restless in restaurants, and my eldest is always wanting to write or draw something. Here is what my solution looks like: A half-sized, mini binder filled with pocket dividers, page protectorsContinue reading “Boredom Buster Books”

Balancing Act

With grad class on hold and winter break in session from school, I have managed to do some of my own artwork. At any given time I have a minimum of five projects going, absolutely filling my brain and art room. This is a painting I did for my sister, as a Christmas present. IContinue reading “Balancing Act”

Autumn Gardening

September (and half of October) has flown by – that will happen when most of your week is busy with school, family, and grad work. I have a short break between classes right now, so I’m in frantic finish some projects mode. Earlier in September, we harvested a 22 pound moon and stars watermelon fromContinue reading “Autumn Gardening “

Roasted Beet & Carrot Tart

I love love love love fall. This fall has been supremely more busy than most of the previous autumnal seasons combined, for our family. But, so it goes. I got my recent Martha Stewart in the mail last week and was itching to do some baking – it has been far far too long sinceContinue reading “Roasted Beet & Carrot Tart”

Dining Room Table

One of the things I had on my summer to-do list was to decide on what to do with my dining room chairs. They are in the image below – boring light wooden chairs from Target that I bought when I first moved to Greensboro more than a decade ago. The chair story also involvesContinue reading “Dining Room Table”

Go West (via Prisma App)

My current favorite app is Prisma – I’ve been using it on some of our photos from our trip out West and the results are stunning. It’s almost enough to make me want to just use this app and not paint. Actually, if anything it inspires me to turn more of my photos into paintings.Continue reading “Go West (via Prisma App)”

Bleached Bones + Beetles

Quite frankly, this is a post I have been wanting to write but also avoiding like the plague. It will easily be one of my most personal posts to-date, as it shares parts of my childhood history. I have always collected objects and items from the natural world – having amassed a large rock and insectContinue reading “Bleached Bones + Beetles”

Pie Crust 101

A good pie is a flaky crust filled with delectable filling and a side of ice cream. Once on masters the crust, and figures out correct volume for your particular pie pans, you are free to experiment and create new combinations of pies. But I truly believe, a good pie is all about the crust.Continue reading “Pie Crust 101”