Wednesday, September 25, 2013

A JEWEL OF A OASIS IN THE CORTELYOU AREA OF BROOKLYN

I WAS WITH MY JEWELRY MAKING FRIEND ARLEEN GELLER OF http://www.handstrung.com/

CHECKING OUT NEW PLACES IN BROOKLYN WHEN WE CAME UPON THIS DELIGHTFUL JEWEL BOX OF A SHOP CALLED
SCARED VIBES APOTHECARY 376 ARGYLE ROAD (CORTELYOU & ARGYLE)

THE WINDOW WAS SO INVITING
  


YOU JUST HAD TO STEP IN AND SPEND SOMETIME WANDERING THE WARES




THE WALLS WHERE LINED UP NEATLY WITH SPICES AND ORGANIC HERBS

OILS TO HELP SOOTH "WOMENS" PROBLEMS



EGYPTIAN ART WAS OVER THE CASH REGISTER
AFTER ALL WEREN'T THEY ONE OF THE FIRST TO KNOW HOW TO USE HERBS AND TEAS TO IMPROVE ONES LIFE ON EARTH AND IN THE AFTER LIFE?

ALL AGES WERE WELCOME WITH REMEDIES

AHH THAT WILL MAKE YOUR SITTING AREA FEEL SO MUCH BETTER

TEAS TO HELP WITH DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE MENTL HEALTH.....

THEY HAVE A FRIENDLY STAFF AND A BIG MAIL ORDER BUSINESS

ENTICING VIEW OF THE SHOP

ASIAN INFLUENCES POPPED UP AMONG THE JARS

SO DID AFRICAN OR SOUTH AMERICAN ( I'M NOT THE EXPERT)

A BUDDAH IS ALWAYS HAS A VERY CALMING EFFECT ON ME....NAMASTE

A

AND NOW A CLOSE UP OF A FEW OF THEIR TREASURES

LIKE THE CHINESE THEY HAVE AN HERBAL REMEDY FOR ANYTHING THAT AILS YOU

WHO COULDN'T USE SOMETHING TO SLEEP BETTER?

OK BOYS YOUR COVERED HERE

NATURES VITAMIN C IN A JAR

I WANT TO KNOW WHO THOUGHT TO USE THIS?

DON'T LEAVE HOME WITH OUT IT?



A TREASURED MOMENT TO REFECT

THANK YOU KAREN ROSE THE WONDERFUL OWNER OF THIS  OASIS FOR PERMITTING ME TO PHOTOGRAPH AND WRITE ABOUT YOUR WONDERFUL PLACE... CAN'T GO TO BROOKLYN ... VISIT THEM ON LINEWWW.SCAREDVIBESHEALING.COM

OF COURSE WE HAD TO STOP FOR LUNCH.... the farm on adderley  AS YOU WALKED IN YOU FELT THAT YOU WERE IN THE COUNTRY &THE FOOD WAS DELICIOUS
I HAD POACHED EGGS, ON CHEESE GRITS AND SWISS CHARD


THE AREA IS FULL OF OLD WORLD CHARM, VICTORIAN HOUSES WITH SECOND FLOOR PORCHES

HOW DID I GET THEIR FROM NYC?  WHY AN EASY HOP ON TO THE Q  TRAIN

THESE ARE THE CHARMING WINDOWS FROM THE CORTELYOU STATION

SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?  TIMES RUNNING, PUT THIS ON YOUR LIST OF TO DOS.....


Friday, September 20, 2013

A PEAK AT GUDRUN SJODEN FALL FASHIONS

PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD!  MY FEET ARE THANKING ME FOR BUYING THESE BEAUTIFULLY COMFORTABLE SHOES.  ALL MY FRIENDS KNOW THAT I'M A WALKER AND I NEED SHOES THAT CAN WALK MILES.... MY FEET FEEL LIKE THEY ARE IN SLIPPERS..... THEY COME IN THREE COLORS.  I NEED THE WINE ONES.  SPEAKING OF WINE.... IT IS ONE OF THE TWO COLOR TRENDS FOR FALL THAT I'M IN LOVE WITH!  (NEXT MONTH I SHARE THE OTHER)
AND THESE TIGHTS GET MEN TAKING A SECOND LOOK AT MY LEGS ..... I ADORE THE DOTS








AS A FASHIONISTA I START TO BE SHY BEING PHOTOGRAPHED (REALLY)
 HERE I AM WEARING ONE OF MY FAVORITE DRESSES OF   THE FALL  called "KRUMELU" IT'S A JERSEY TUNIC/DRESS THAT SPELLS COMFORTABLE DOWN TO MY TOES. THE FLOWERS ARE AN ORIGINAL PRINT FROM GUDRUN HER SELF. GREY, PURPLES AND A DASH OF LIME.......   OVER THE DRESS IS  A COSY LONG LINEN/COTTON VEST.  I JUST LOVE THAT THE LINING IS BLACK AND WHITE DOTS TO SHOW OFF OF COURSE

BTW THE WONDERFUL STRIPE BACKGROUND IS THE DRESSING ROOM AT GUDRUN SJODENS'S SOHO STORE..... 50 GREENE ST, NY. NY.  AN OASIS OF GREENE LIVING .... DO VISIT IF YOUR IN TOWN OR SHOP ON LINE @ WWW.GUDRUNSJODEN.COM



Wednesday, September 18, 2013

TOMMY TOE SOUP


THE END OF THE SUMMER BEGINNING OF AUTUMN SPELLS FOUR FRESH VEGGIES/ FOODS TO ME, TOMATOES, PLUMS AND RED PEPPER AND CORN.
THIS WEEK I MADE AND FROZE CORN ICE CREAM....YES, CORN ICE CREAM    YOU HAVE TO TASTE IT TO BELIEVE HOW GOOD IT IS.   LIKE A LABOUR OF LOVE, EACH TIME I MAKE IT, I SAY NEVER AGAIN CAUSE IT'S MESSY AND TIME CONSUMING.  BUT EACH YEAR AS THE CORN IS AS HIGH AS AN ELEPHANTS EYE.... AND BOUNTIFUL IN OUR LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS I OVER DOSE ON CORN AND YEARN FOR CORN ICE CREAM.  IT'S AN ALL AFTERNOON CHORE, SHUCKING, SCRAPING THE COBBS OF ITS KERNELS, COOKING IN SWEET CREAM AND MILK, PUREEING THE CONCOCTION,MAKING A CUSTARD AND FINALLY COOLING DOWN THE DARN STUFF TO CHURN IN AN ICE CREAM MACHINE.
TOMATO SOUP ON THE OTHER HAND IS A BREEZE........


SIX POUNDS OF SUMMER BEAUTIES DANCING IN THE SUNLIGHT

READY TO BE BATHED ?




BUBBLE BATH OF 3O SECONDS TO MAKE THE  SKINS  SLIP OFF SEAMSLESS




SLICE THE TOMATO IN 1/4'S


WITH A TEASPOON SCOOP OUT THE SEEDS (THEY ARE BITTER)  MAKE SURE TO GET ALL THE SEED SACKS


STRAIN SEEDS TO GET ALL THE JUICE




PUSH DOWN WITH YOUR SPOON TO GET ALL THE JUICE
NOW YOUR READY TO MAKE THE SOUP



RECIPE:
6 LBS OF TOMATOES ( I BUY THE "NOT PRETTY ONES" AS MY MARKET MARKS THEM DOWN.....WHO CARES WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE SINCE YOU ARE GOING TO COOK THEM DOWN AND PUREE?
2 LARGE ONIONS CHOPPED
OLIVE OIL
SALT & FRESHLY GROUND PEPPER
1 PINT  PREFERABLE HOME MADE CHICHEN STOCK ( VEGANS USE VEGETABLE STOCK AND ADD TIME AND BAY LEAF)
1) PARBOIL THE TOMATOES FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS 3 AT A TIME, COOL, AND WITH A PARING KNIFE CUT AN X ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TOMATO, PEEL AND CORE.  SET ASIDE IN A LARGE BOWL
2) CUT TOMATO IN 1/2 VERTICALLY AND WITH A SPOON (OR CLEAN HANDS) SCOUP OF THE SEEDS INTO A STRAINER OVER ANOTHER BOWL. BUT SEEDED TOMATOES IN A CLEAN BOWL
3)STRAIN JUICE FROM THE SEEDS AND ADD TO TOMATOES
4) IN A LARGE SAUTE PAN ( I USE TWO AT A TIME) ADD OIL TO COAT BOTTOM OF PAN AND HEAT OIL UNTIL HOT
5) ADD CHOPPED ONIONS,SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE AND COOK UNTIL TRANSLUCENT (SWEATED) ABOUT TEN MINUTES.
6) ADD TOMATOES, SALT AND PEPPER TO COOKED ONIONS AND COOK "DOWN" AND "CHOP" WITH WOODEN SPOON ABOUT 10 MINUTES, ADDING TOMATO JUICE AS NEEDED. REDUCE HEAT TO A SIMMER AND COVER.  CONTINUE COOKING AN ADDITION 15 MINUTES ADDING REMAIN JUICE IF ANY AT THIS TIME.
7) USING A FOOD PROCESSOR,  LADDLE COOKED TOMATO AND ONION IN SMALL BATCHES AND PUREE. POUR PUREE IN A CLEAN LARGE SAUCE PAN.
8) ADD 2C HOME MADE CHICKEN SOUP TO TOMATO PUREE.  STIR UNTIL COMBINED. HEAT SOUP AND SERVE OR FREEZE
OPTIONAL GARNISH
1 C WHIPPING CREAM
SALT 
A BUNCH OF CLEAN BASIL CUT INTO CHIFONADES ( THIN STRIPS)
WHIP CREAN WITH A PINCH OF SALT UNTIL IT CAN HOLD PEAKS, FOLD IN BASIL.  LADDLE SOUP INTO BOWL AND GARNISH WITH A DOLLOP OF BASIL CREAM
TO SERVE ABOUT 10-12

GOT TO GO BUY SOME PEPPERS TO ROAST, TA TA FOR NOW!
SAUTE THE CHOPPED ONIONS


TOMATOES ARE ADDED AND COOKING WITH THE ONIONS

READY TO PUREE THE TOMATO AND ONION MIXTURE



ALL PUREED AND READY TO RETURN TO THE STOCK POT  WITH CHICKEN BROTH






GARNISH WITH BASIL CREAM, BASIL LEAF AND TINY TOMATOES




HMMM, HMMMM GOOD!  GO GET YOURSELF SOME TOMATOES AND SEE FOR YOURSELF... GOT TO GO CREATE MORE RECIPES

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

AN OBSESSION WITH DOLLS CONTINUED

HOW MUCH IS THAT DOLLY IN THE WINDOW?   I JUST DROOL EACH TIME I PASS A WINDOW THAT HAS A DISPLAY OF OLE DOLLIES!  AND I USUALLY FIND THAT MY BEER BUDGET HAS CHAMPAGNE TASTE (BUT OF COURSE) BUT HONEY PIE... THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE.... SO I GET TO OWN EACH AND EVERYONE....JUST IN PHOTOS, BUT WHAT THE HECK, DOESN'T THAT MAKE ME RICH IN MEMORIES.... SOOO MUCH BETTER (AN EARTH FRIENDLY) ....
I ENJOYED A RECENTLY VISIT WITH A GREAT FRIEND AND A SHORT EXCURSION IN A DELIGHTFUL ANTIQUE SHOP IN BELLOWS FALLS IN SOUTHERN VERMONT....YES, THIS BEE DOESN'T GO TOO FAR WITHOUT HER IPHONE CAMERA.  CHARGED AND READY TO SNAP "SHOT"

CHINA HEAD DOLLS = PRETTY LITTLE MAIDENS ALL IN A ROW




Such personalities! I imagine them in a covered wagon travel to the wild west.  What about you?
divine dresses from a bygone era BUT PRICE TAGS THAT SPELL NOW


wearing her Sunday Best! The hat baby is ready for a stroll.  I just love the dimples on the ginger headed dolly

These shoes are made for walking..... UPSTAIRS OR DOWNSTAIRS.... DREAMING DOWNTON ABBEY
TILL NEXT TIME

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

THE SWAPS IN ME


I ADORE A GOOD SWAP.  IT GET YOUR CREATIVE JUICES GOING.  IF YOU ARE WITH A GROUP THAT YOU KNOW.  YOU WILL BE REWARDED TRIPLE FOLD WITH YOUR ENDEAVORS. RECENTLY I DID A WONDER TRIPLE TRIPTYCH SWAP WITH THE DELIGHTFULLY  DEVINE DENISE PHILLIPS FROMWWW.BirdnutsMixedMedia.blogspot.com
MY SWAP
I LOVED THIS FACE THAT I GOT WHILE TAKING AN ON LINE PHOTOSHOP CLASS WITH PAMELA HUNTINGTON.  I PUT HER ON A HAND PAINTED BACKGROUND AND THEN ADDED THE METAL RULER WITH TINY CLOTHESPINS
  

PART TWO "EMPTY NEST" I COLLAGED  ARMS AND BODICE HOLDING A NEST.    KNOWING THAT FRESHMAN COLLEGE TIME WAS NEAR AND I HAD A FEW FRIENDS THAT WERE FEARING BECOMING "EMPTY NESTERS" I JUST HAD TO ADD THE LEAVES AS FAIRY FEATHERS (WINGS)

PART THREE WS THE SKIRT AND SHOES,  I SCOURED MY  STOCK OF IMAGES UNTIL I FOUND A FASHIONISTA'S DREAM TO BE QUIRKY BUT BLEND TOGETHER!    LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THE SHOES GIRLS.  THIS PICTURE SHOWS MY TWO SWAPS READY TO BE MAILED OUT. I DID A DUH.  HAHA I FORGOT TO PHOTOGRAPH MY MAILING ENVELOP AS ANYBODY WHO KNOWS ME (THE POST PERSON HATES ME) I MAKE MAIL ART.....
I WAS REWARDED WITH MAIL ART! HOW CUTE IS THIS ENVELOP?  IT BRINGS SUNSHINE ON A CLOUDY DAY.... OH I DO HEAR A TUNE IN THAT SAYING....TEE HEE

WHAT A CUTIE PATOOTIE OF AN IMAGINATION WENT INTO THIS LOVELY PIECE BY FIONA RANDALL FROM www.artfulmuse.blogspot.com . "THE SEEDS OF OUR IMAGINATION" NOW HANGS FOR THE MONTH IN MY STUDIO TO OOOOOHS AND AAAAAHS  ( THEN IT WILL BE RETIRED TO MY 2013  JOURNAL, WHERE IT WILL BE LOVED AND LIVE AND CHERISHED)

BUT HELLO I GOT TWO, YES TWO FOR THE PRICE!
 THIS DELIGHTFUL ATC TRIPTYCH WAS CREATED BY DENISE PHILLIPS!   NESTING IN MY LIL STUDIO FOR THE MONTH.   HOW CAN YOU NOT GET SUNSHINE AND INSPIRATION FOR LOVELY ART THAT IS SENT YOUR WAY?  SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?  GO FIND A SWAP AND MAKE YOURSELF HAPPY.... I AM ALREADY SIGNED UP FOR TWO MORE ... YES I WILL SHARE WITH ALL OF YOU.  HAPPY DAYS