10 for Creativity. Day 7

Former roommate, fellow artist, mother, coffee lover, etc. etc. etc. Liv has created a fantastic little adventure called '10 for Creativity'. On her site each day, she lists a ten minute activity that will motivate one to dream, be inspired, be creative, and enjoy the small things in life.

I'm picking up on day 7 (cause i procrastinate like that.) - and here it is!

Ready. Set.  Associate.
1.  Red_coral__.
2. Comfort equals __grey yogapants___.
3.  This pattern makes me feel crazy __southwest___.
4.  This pattern makes me feel happy __seersucker__.
5.  I could spend the whole day at __a farmers market__.
6.  This type of art _oil paint_ intimidates me.
7.  I wish I could have coffee with _Becky__.
8.  The perfect color combination is __classic black and white___.
9.  The elements to perfect inspiration are _the trust of my producers, an intense familiarity with the script, willing actors_.
10. If I could live in another decade, it would be __the movies portrayal of the 50s____.
11. This musical artist inspires me __Imogen Heap__.
12.  I want to wear more __jersey knit floor length dresses__.
13.  I think my curtains are __one of a kind____.
14.  The last thing that really caught my eye was _an old brick storefront___.
15.  When I visit the museum, I want to __walk around by myself____.
16.  I wish I knew more about __flavor combinations___.
17.  The best smell in the world is __campfire, coffee, smoke pit bbq, used bookstore, coconut, Silas' hair after a bath, Ryans pillow, ocean breeze, Sunday dinner___.


Share your answers in the comment section of Livs blog (or here, if you'd like) and send her the link to your blog. She's creating a list of us 10 for creativity-ers. ites? ettes? creativity-ens?
....ill keep working on that.

Spread the word about 10 for Creativity!

Uhh....

Things currently in my kitchen that i have no idea what to do with:

Cumin
Mascarpone**
Shallots
Cream of celery soup
Fish sauce
Turkey brine
Rose water
Cream of tartar
Cassava root
Half a package of frozen cut okra
Curry powder
Fleur del Sel de Guerande
Whole cinnamon sticks
Rennet tablets
Roasted portobella tapenade with porcinis
A really awful bottle of red wine
Two bags of mini marshmallows
Panko
Wasa crackers
Falafel kit
Liquid smoke
Shredded sweetened coconut
Organic fine shredded unsweetened coconut
Raw almond meal
Rock salt
Chocolate delight ice cream mix
Two packages of flour tortillas from a taco kit
Caramel packet from microwave popcorn kit


Don't get me wrong - i purchased almost every item on that list...just forgot what recipe i bought it for, or used up the other ingredients purchased with it.

Sooo if anyone has any ideas! lemme know.


**Tiramisu anyone?

Earth Creature.

....i planted another garden today.
that brings the tally to, ahem, 5.
and i have plans for another.
its a sickness.


The thing is, i feel connected outdoors and find it tremendously satisfying to be working with my hands.
I even enjoy yard-work like mowing the lawn - though i tried using a weedwacker the other day and that scared the living daylights outta me - and i caught Ryan raising an eyebrow trying to follow my routine with the lawnmower. In case you were wondering, there was none. I made wavy lines, and a zigzag, and a swirl. This is apparently 'not how its done'.

Moving on.

Does anyone else think the process of seed to flower/edible is magic? Stick this nondescript little thing into the grubby earth and with care and patience, up emerges beauty.
Anyway, they're mostly all still seeds...i hope they grow.


Heres the main backyard garden.
Rhubarb is in the pot, because if its planted in the ground it has a tendency to overtake the area, then there are tomato plants (under the round cages), peas along the right side of the fence, the strawberry patch is along the short fence and lettuce, carrots, and cucumbers are in the middle.



Heres the herb garden! I have no idea what kind of tree that is, it was here when we moved in and it seemed mean to yank it out just because i couldn't identify it. Anyway, those green plants are basil, transplanted there today from the windowsill garden. Dill and chives are on the right, more basil and rosemary are on the left.

This was todays project. It's the backyard flower garden. The line of pots are waiting to be moved elsewhere around the yard and in the house. Transplanted the grapevine to the far end of the row today - hopefully it will grow all along the fence. There are morning glories at each main fence-post as reminder of my grandmother. She always had them grow up around her bird-feeder and mine is above those rocks in the bottom right hand corner (thats the birdbath to the left of them). There's also hollyhock, mini-sunflowers, daisies, and love-in-a-mist. Contemplating throwing poppy into the mix.

I think thats enough photos of dirt.
...i really hope they grow.


Also, the following statement could be an entire post by itself: i'm attempting to quit Diet Coke. I've cheated a few times since i started but with the help of this magic potion:

im going to make it through.
If you'd like to try, i find 2 parts juice to 1 part perrier gives a nice fizz without being bitter, but see what works for your palate. Oh, and if anyone uses any other juices with it, please let me know! I get the feeling some new flavors will be necessary soon.


Finally, am considering the names Tootles and Smee for the fish. They are, after all, for a Peter Pan nursery.


Ah, and one more thing. While i've been sitting here typing, ive also been feeding this cute baby:


Life is good.

And here we go.

I'm unconvinced staring at the computer for 20 min. wondering what to write is the best start to a blog. 

...

Well then, how about a brief overview of my life as written above?

The Scare List: 

i decided one day i was going to further my culinary prowess by baking/cooking one thing each week that 'scares' me - something i've been too intimidated to prepare in the past, whether because it seems to complicated or time consuming, requires unfamiliar or "exotic" ingredients, never had it before, last time i tried it was a complete disaster, etc. I started May 25th, 2009 and still have yet to complete the original list (so, clearly that 'once a week' thing is working out splendidly).  Trouble is, i keep finding new fascinations to add to the list! I think a Part 2 is in order...

Moving on. 

Cute Baby:

 

Tea and coffee:

Self explanatory. 

Making a house a home: 

Before

When we moved into our new home, the paint colors were marigold yellow, lime green, burnt orange, hot pink, and dark brown. There were piles of dirt under the carpet, a broken furnace, and boogers on the walls. Just being in there made my skin crawl.  Two months and cans of Lysol later, we're in the house, but it still has a lot of work to be done. 

During

True love:

These fellas. 

Theatre:

The cast of Cosi Fan Tutte, also my kindred spirits. 

Gardening:

I finally have a real garden! Ok, actually i have 4! One inside on my windowsill comprised of basil, chocolate mint, mint, a venus flytrap, and an orchid. Another outside with strawberries, grapes, rhubarb, lettuce, cucumber, peas, carrots, and tomatoes. One in another section of the yard with sweet basil, dill, rosemary, and chives and finally one out front with tulips, hyacinth, peonies, jumping jacks, daffodils, and a rose bush. We'll see if they all make it. 

Teaching:

My classroom. 

I'm a performing arts director. Simply, i teach 4-12 theatre, conduct the 9-12 choir, and direct the K-12 play. 

It's intense and wonderful. 

Other various sorts of craftiness:

The 'etc'. Photography, sewing, my husbands woodwork, books, learning to refurbish furniture, finally coming up with a name for the pet fish, and other such nonsense. 

And here we go.