Paper Bird

Cooking on The Amalfi Coast

I'm certain in another life I was Italian!

Ok, maybe not, but I sure do have a love for Italy and Italian food.

Almost four years ago we traveled to this amazing country.  It was so incredibly beautiful and of course the food was delicious.  I'm sure I gained a good ten pounds while we were there!  The hotel Onda Verde where we spent our holiday on the Amalfi Coast offered a two hour hands-on cooking class with chef Nicola. 

 

 

He was quite the character! 

 

We discovered the art of creating Italian pasta's such as ravioli, tagliettelle and gnocchi.  It's actually very easy, it just takes a bit of time. 

 

 

  Delizioso 

 

 LOOK at my baby girl cooking Italian!  She was nine years old then.

 

 Chef Nick taught us step-by-step the art of making pasta fresca and savory simple sauces using fresh ingredients from their garden.

 

 My daughter-in-law Ally giving Nick a kiss on the cheek.  He was a wonderful chef and a big flirt!

 

It was a good day,

 

sweet memories were made.

 

This is one of my very favorite Italian recipes.  It is so good and simple to make.

BUON APPETITO

 

And because I can hardly stand how cute she was- one more image of  LuLu.

They grow up way too fast!

Do you have a favorite Italian dish?
 

 

Happy Friday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Wood Violets &Texture Tuesday

 

I found inspiration HERE today!  Lara from AirKiss posted some spring-time photographs of sweet Meadow Violets on her beautiful blog.  I love this old-fashioned flower.  I have a small patch of these pretty blossoms in my backyard. Each year they multiply and the patch becomes just a little bigger.  Their subtle fragrance is like a sweet kiss of spring.  Their occupation in my garden is just a short time. If you are distracted you could miss them completely!

I was so inspired by Lara's beautiful photographs that I thought I would photograph theses sweet buds of bloom for Kim's Texture Tuesday challenge!

 

The challenge was a prompt or theme of vintage and then sharing that prompt using one layer of Kim's textures...

For Kim's prompt I photographed my sweet wood Violets in vintage containers.

 

The texture used was Kims new freebie texture Pourvous.  The vintage goodness is a small metal container that I keep my sea-salt in.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The texture used in this image is Kim Klassens Pumpkin Grunge and an antique scrath from my collection.  The vintage item is a wonderful old garden shovel given to me by a sweet friend. 

 

 

 

 

The texture in this image is one I created from Kim's on-line class.  You can find it here at (Flickr) if you want to use it too! 

 

 These are just a few of the images I posted.  I may have gone a little overboard photographing these sweet spring blossoms!

You can see more HERE

Don't forget to stop by the Cafe' to see all the goodness shared!

 

Happy Texture Tuesday! 

 

 

(I don't know what is going on with typepad- but I guess they have their own idea of how the format of this post should be! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Best Chocolate Cake-EVER!

 Do you ever have those days when you crave something sweet?  It can't be any ole" sweet.  It has to be something absolutely wonderful that is worth falling of the sugar wagon for!  Today was one of those days for me.  I'm sure it's all part of the raging female hormones that are afflicting my body!  I made my favorite chocolate cake ever!  

Of course I'm sharing the goodness.

 

Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water

   Directions

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans. 

2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans. 

3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean

 

My Frosting

1 1/2 cubes of butter

1- 8 ounce cream cheese

3 1/2 cups of powdered sugar 

2 tsp of vanilla

Kahula- 1/4 cup or more

Mix ingredients until smooth and creamy.  I don't soften my butter and cream cheese for very long.

Frost on cooled cake

ENJOY!

An Ocean Of Bliss

As I walked the sandy malibu beach this past weekend and looked out across the seemingly endless Pacific, a feeling of humility crashed into my heart just like the waves onto the sand.  I stood in awe and wonder at the infinite power and beauty of nature.  I watched as the gulls played on the sea breeze just accenting the beauty.  I listened to the waves as they rolled back and forth playing their siren song.  I inhaled the ocean breeze carrying the aroma of sweet spring flowers mixed with the salty air....it was

bliss!

 adjective  

 1. delightful, pleasing, satisfying, heavenly,  enjoyable, gratifying, pleasurable 

2. happy, joyful, satisfied, ecstatic, joyous, euphoric, rapturous

 All those above- Take a walk with me and see~ 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just a bit of the scenery I witnessed when I was not painting with the Magical Katie and the lovely women who attended Artinfusio.  More about that later~

 

Have a beautiful weekend. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Tisket A Tasket

A pretty Easter basket!

Easter has come and gone but I wanted to share the sweet Easter basket I received from a swap I participated in.  I participated in a fun swap hosted by the lovely Cerri from Little Pink Studio.  My swap partner was Bryanna Lenen from the The Canary's Cupcake .  She sent me a beautiful Easter basket decorated with vintage millinery.  Bryanna tucked in an assortment of wonderful things all packaged and tied with pretty soldered tags she created.  Bryanna also gifted me a sweet bunny jar she crafted from paper clay.  I loved Easter as a little girl and I felt that same excitement when I received her wonderful Easter basket.  It was a fun swap and I felt to very lucky to have Bryanna as my swap partner.  Thank you Bryanna!  

As I type this I am in a hotel room overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  The view is gorgeous!  Tomorrow I will be attending  Artinfusio to paint with the magical Katie Kendrick.  Two full days of painting with dear Katie by the sea- I think I need to pinch myself!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a beautiful weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Cup Of Texture Love

 

“We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.”

Ray Bradbury

 

Happy Texture Tuesday.  Have you been by the Cafe"?  It's filled to the brim with texture goodness.  

Our challenge for the week was to photograph a cup and add a Kim Klassen texture.

 

 

Tip it over girls 

 

let the beautiful

 

 

spill over! 

Thank you for the goodness that fills my cup~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing My Life

In my youth I always wished for longer legs.

   (As if miraculously they would just lengthen overnight!)  I felt quite certain that if I had longer legs I would be much happier.  Looking back through the years I realize how silly that was.  But as a young teenage girl I always felt inadequate because of my short legs.  I don't think it helped my self esteem that my Mom always told me I had football legs!  I know that this is random.  It's not even a shocking revelation of my youth or even fascinating but it is a memory that I have.  Brought back today after trying on summer wear at the mall today!  Lately I feel the need to write my life.  To pen the feelings and memories before they escape me completely.  How I wish with all my heart that I had a book of stories from my parents, a personal memoir of their lives.  Memories fade and the stories of our lives become tough to recall.  Just today my daughter asked me the question "Mom, do you remember when?"  For the life of me I could not place that memory that she recalled so vividly.  Many times I have started a journal only to tuck in in a drawer incomplete ... soon forgotton.  I hope to do better.  We all have a story to tell and no matter how silly or unexciting- someday our children will want to read them!

 

I found these pictures of days long gone by when I wore shorty shorts at cheerleading camp. My Mom was right- I did have football legs!  I am the third one down from the top.

   

 

(Me on the bottom trying to fake the splits!) 

About my legs. 

I still wish I had longer legs.  I am always looking for that miracle pill!  After complainging to one of my friends about my short legs she told me that I didn't make that pact with the devil- she told me I must have stood in line for the hair.  Dangit what was I thinking, I want those long legs!            

Pickles

Happy Tuesday!

My chickens are molting.  It's quite sad to see my girls with patches of feathers missing and their chicken skin exposed!  Thankfully Pickles my spotted girl has not been affected by this condition.  I think she felt a bit out of place on my kitchen table as I took photographs of her.   Don't worry-  I washed her cute little chicken feet before I placed her on the table.  I'm sure the hubby would have had something to say about this but I was desperate for something cute to photograph for my texture tuesday challenge.  So here it is~ a little texture and chicken love for my Texture Tuesday challenge.

If you are coming to dinner this weekend don't you worry- the table has been thoroughly cleaned!  

Textured with Serendipity by Kim Klassen

 

 

(Serendipity) 

 

(Textured with Kim's new FREEBIE texture Luminous)

 

Don't forget to stop by the Cafe' to see the wonderful Texture Tuesday work  that has been submitted and the sweet giveaway that Kim is offering!

 

 

 

 

 

The Girl

 Happy Tuesday!

Has spring come your way?  We have had so much rain but I am keeping a positive attitude.  It's common knowledge that  "April showers bring May flowers"... something beautiful for all of us to look forward to!  Today my daughter-in-law Ally  and I did a little photoshoot outdoors with "the girl".  LuLu is getting braces on Thursday!  She has been waiting for nearly two years for this day to come.  You would think that she has won the lottery or something- she is SO excited!  I can't understand it.  But she is 13 and who can figure out a thirteen year old!  

I used the photographs I took of LuLu today for Kim's Texture Tuesday challenge.  The challenge was to use the textures Sweet Treat and Silence in our image.  It's a challenge for me to add textures to portraitures.  I still have much to learn but I love how the texture looked on this image.

 

 

For this image I used the texture Serendipity.  

 

 

 

 

 The Letter was used in this image from Kim's  wonderful Studio collection.

 

I had to share this beautiful image that Ally took of LuLu.  I think it is SO beautiful.  I am hoping that she will teach me some of her wonderful portraiture skills.  You can visit her blog Rugged Roots to see more of the beauty she creates.

 

I heart Texture Tuesdays!

In My Garden-Texture Tuesday

It is cold and wet and grey here in my little corner of the world.

But sometimes, when I least expect it...

I find beauty!

  (Texture by Kim Klassen- Cinnamon)

 

I ran outdoors to let the girls out of their coop and was so happy to find these sweet spring blooms.  If I remember correctly they are called Lenton Rose.

. (Cinnamon )

 

 My garden has just begun to wake from it's long winter's nap.  

But still there is so much beauty to be found.

 My Garden Gnome

 (Whitewashed)

 

He is old and crackled and missing his nose but I think he is perfectly wonderful! 

 (Life's Good)

 

 

My rusted garden birdbath

 (Nature's Beauty)

 

 

(A garden hose guide)

(Pumpkin Grunge and Silence)

 

I am linking up with Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday.

This image was textured with her new freebie texture called silence.  You can download this wonderful texture for free at the Cafe' and if you are interested in learning how to add these textures to your photographs you can check out the classes she offers.  Don't blame me though if you become a texture junkie.  LOL!  

 (Cinnamon and Silence)

 

 

Memories Of France- Texture Tuesday

A year ago today I stood on this cobbled street in Paris.

I stood in awe at just being in a city with so much beauty and history. To stand in a spot where so many had possibly stood over centuries. To see things that I had only read and seen in books-it was amazing! I love that we can capture these sweet moments of our life's journey.  Treasured photographs that transport us through time and space reminding us of the joys and sorrows we have experienced in this life.  

 I had always dreamed of traveling to France.  Today I am linking with Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday and sharing a few photographs of my dream captured!

  

(All images textured with Warm Sun from Kim Klassen)

 

The Cathedral of Notre Dame is the most popular monument in Paris and in all of France.  It was amazing to behold. 

 

The flowers were so incredibly beautiful in France.  There were flower shops and stands on every street.

 

The Eiffel Tower looked smaller than I imagined it would be.

 

LuLu and me in the Monet Gardens in Giverny.  I think it was my favorite day spent in France.

(The girl is almost as tall as me!)

A beautiful Cathedral in the small town in Vernon.  We took a train from Paris and rode bikes through town.  The back roads are the best way to see France! 

 

We walked everywhere.  We had to walk off the chocolate croissants we ate for breakfast every morning.  I still dream about those sweet pastries!  My sweetheart was our trusty map guide.

 

 Paris in Spring was so beautiful!  I will never forget the sweet memories I have of the beautiful time we spent there.

 

Don't forget to stop by the Cafe to see the other links shared for texture tuesday.  So many sweet memories captured! 

 

 

 "Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose."   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Spring Chicks And A Little Texture Love

Hello sweet chicks, happy Tuesday!  Today I am linking up with Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday and sharing a few of my favorite textured photographs.

  

(Kim Klassen texture- Edges Squared)

 I took these images last spring.  It snowed all day yesterday.  I can't tell you how anxious I am for spring chicks and flowers in the garden!

 

(Kim Klassen texture- Cinnamon)

 

 

(Kim Klassen texture- Golden Hour & The Letter)

 

  Make sure to visit Kim's Beautiful blog and to visit the links for Texture Tuesday.  So much beauty shared!

Have a beautiful day.

xo

Lorraine