Dreaming of Tofu Marinade

This is my basic dreamy marinade recipe for tofu...love it! I've been in the studio for hours but I've managed a good hand washing and into the kitchen to put this marinade together. I use Tamari instead of soy sauce. Tonight, jasmine rice, stir fry vegetables will complete dinner...easy Monday for sure.

Tofu Marinade:

3 to 4 Tbs. soy sauce

2 medium cloves garlic, minced

2 tsp grated fresh ginger

1 Tbs Chinese sesame oil

1 Tbs. vinegar (rice or cider)

1 to 2 tsp honey or sugar

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Add 1/2 pound tofu, diced and precooked.(boil water 10min.)

Stir, cover and let sit at least an hour. Stir gently into rice and vegetables.

I'm getting ready for Spring by ordering some clothes.I can't help wondering if others in blogland order as much as I do online. I'm not good at the stores, trying on and I enjoy the anticipation of seeing the UPS truck deliver my choices.

My show at the salon is up and looks just fine and we had fun hanging the work yesterday afternoon. I keep a bag of supplies, hammer, screw driver, tape, tape measure, nails, hangers and business cards. We were in and done in less than an hour.

Re-Post of the Recent Past

Gold 9
Actually this piece consists of 9 small canvas pieces 4"x4". Each one begins with layers of fabric machine stitched together in a circle of sorts. The fabric choices are varied...old paint rags, satin and cotton to name a few. Most have the addition of stones, some wire and all share paint and gold leafing. My heart was about the many layers and shapes of the human and divine. The imperfect within the beauty of color and gold...all becoming startling divine by connection and support. I like them all together but I have hung them in different ways.
This is such a grand day for me!!! My first ever post. I have plenty to learn and plenty to add but for a first day out, I have such a big grin on my face. I have been thinking and talking about having my own blog for the longest time. I called Gail on my server's list of consultants and she spent an hour and half talking me through and explaining options. I see her as my angel (we share the same birth date) because this old brain is slow and she was so very patient. Well my dear friends, the adventure begins. I'm sure it will evolve in strange and mysterious ways very much like my art and very much like my life...thank you for joining me on this very first day!

This month marks my blogs one year anniversary and I re-posted my first blog to celebrate! I can't tell you how much I have learned this past year and in 12 months I have met some wonderful blogger friends from all over this planet. Exciting, fun conversations, tender revealing sharing posts...this has been a great experience in what has been a not so easy year for me. Blogging has given me such joy! To each and everyone who has stopped by...Thank you so much and please keep coming back!

Wednesday's Wall Tour

"Coral Variations" # 4 hand dyed, machine stitched, hand stitched textile piece by Dijanne Cevaal of Musings of a Textile Itinerant . I began my blog life by searching, finding favorite sites and following them regularly...rarely leaving a comment as it would be anonymous and I didn't have my blog up and running. I noticed Dijanne was selling a series of these Coral Variations in various color combinations at a price I could afford and I jumped right on it. I paid for it with PayPal and Dijanne was very gracious and sent me this beauty. I was so thrilled to receive this piece and rushed out to frame it and get it on the wall to appreciate. I am a big fan of oranges and blues but she also had beautiful purples and blues and reds. The whole purchase online was a big event for me and I felt so empowered to be a part of the great big world of blogland. Look at me now!!

I've been out to the shed bringing in old work to hang on our walls. I needed what was on the walls for the upcoming show so now to fill in the gaps. It was like seeing old friends for me and Pablo now lives in new rooms!
Because I stopped working and framed, I tried today to return to a piece I was working on but for me I had been away too long and lost my way....it hurt but I covered it in one color and will return with fresh eyes and heart. ..maybe some journal writing. I don't believe in mistakes but rather all things lead to where I need to be for the next project.

Ode to Van Gogh

Canvas oil painting measures 20"x24" . I painted this corner of my studio years ago when I wanted to explore the impressionists methods. I remember as an exercise it was REAL work but I learned so much about light and shapes because the painting was done without drawing or layout just one mixed color shape after another.I used a strong light to create the shadows. It hasn't been my desire to paint realistically for years but I can appreciate the skill . I added the apple and considered it to be my ode to Van Gogh and his yellow chair. Margaret Ryall of

Painting On has a wonderful post on the empty chair...well worth it to visit her site.

Good news or at least unplanned opportunity for me...my friend, Deena has had a show scheduled for April/May at a local salon/spa but for many personal reasons asked me to take the slot and she would show later in June. The place requires about 16 good size pieces so I have been taking work off the walls here and repairing, framing and creating title and price lists...this is not my favorite part of showing art! When I began this blog it was instead of showing and so far I put myself in a juried show and now a two month show...go figure! I had wanted to finish some new pieces to share but that will need to wait for a week.

Spring has sprung here...windy today but loads of sunshine!

Wednesday's Wall

This is acrylic and measures 24"x30" on canvas. This is a story of a very prolific painter. She used a small empty house as her studio and painted day and night and literally filled the house with work...she moved the work to a friend's farmer's shed and asked him to market the work as he saw fit. A friend of a friend took me out to the farm. Entering this dark shed with well over 100 canvas pieces and reams and rolls and stacks of paper mixed media work was quite an amazing experience. Some of the larger pieces were 5' x 6' with all the same bold, bright, light and dark imagery which included dancing ladies and dancing cats and on and on. She was a student of transcendental meditation and as I said painted day and night. I liked this one and it was gifted to me as it had small damage. It isn't signed and to tell the truth I have forgotten her name...Carol......! When I moved here I lost track of many people so I don't know if there is more to this story or the work nor do I care much. I have hung this piece in four homes and it always feels right for me...I never get tired of it.

What's on your walls?

Airport Run!

I created this photo several years ago of my youngest son when he was just starting out in radio. He began at 18 working at a station as part of a college class and one thing led to another and he was "on air " and clearly making this his career choice. It can be very demanding work, on air, planning promotions ,creating and producing advertising. He always seems to be on the cell phone or doing a remote or taking contest winners to concerts...etc...etc.. The job has it's upside too, free stuff, meeting and interviewing interesting music performers and community based events.
Last year he took his two weeks vacation and spent it here while I was 10 days in the hospital...he was a great help and I truly appreciated his kindness and sacrifice of his precious free time. I was therefore happy to hear he had planned a trip to Hawaii and volunteered to drive him to the airport as long term parking can be expensive. He is visiting a friend who is also in radio so he will get a great tour of Hawaii...party wise! Being mom, yesterday we did a little resort shopping, swim wear and shirts. This morning I was on Hwy 17 at 6am driving with the commuters on a curvy road in the dark with (thank God) just a little fog on the summit. He arrives in San Jose on Sunday at 9pm and if the weather is calm ,we should have an easier ride home.

I'm so sleepy (getting old?) but I'm going to the studio to see what kind of paint I can mix and spread around. Sometimes things work better when you are too tired to care much!
Happy St Patrick's to all of you with wonderful green posts..I'm doing my part by putting a corned beef on for dinner!

Altogether: Collage/Assemblage

I slipped into the gallery and took these photos this afternoon.

The opening is on Saturday and it will be overflowing with people, live music, food and wine. I was pleased to hear there were over 350 entries and only 90 were accepted. I had two accepted (my

two are the 1st and the 6th photo)so I was very pleased. Florie's piece is the second one with the red pony. Wonderful assemblages...plenty of imagination and workmanship. CLICK TO ENLARGE.

Pablo went with me today and we

went out for another lunch. We had planned to visit our new Whole Foods but it won't open for five more days, we ate at a small delicious bakery/bistro...fun date for us.

Wednesday's Wall Art Tour

"Untitled" 14" x 24" framed mono type, by Stanley Rieck. I met Stanley in drawing and printmaking classes at the local college way back in the 80's. He was in his early twenties and art was his passion. He was completely immersed in the study of artists and in his own art making. He loved sharing what he had learned and working next to him was quite an experience...a mixture of passion and amazing messiness, especially in printmaking class! We decided on an art exchange and I chose this Liberty mono type, he had created in honor of the Ellis Island re-opening celebration in New York. I have always loved this piece, the raw beauty of the ink and the childlike imagery and loose pastel application. I moved away in the 90's and I have often wondered about Stanley, he had many complications in his life and I wonder if he was able to continue with his art. I have this piece hanging near the dining room and it is very much a part of my life. click to enlarge.

Today, Pablo and I have our tax appointment! He has been up half the night putting things in order. We will definitely take ourselves out to lunch...this preparation has been painful for both of us as I sorted and collected most of yesterday.

Maybe I can get over to the gallery for some photos of the show!

First Friday Art Walk

This past Friday was our city's art walk with museum and galleries participating. About a dozen places are showing Altogether: Collage/Assemblage so there should be quite a mix throughout! My two pieces in the Art League Gallery are up and they had their doors open as well. I didn't attend...rain was expected and the last thing I felt like doing was parking, hauling my umbrella and crowds...what a party pooper, I have become! I'll take my camera and go over this week without the crowds and take a few shots. Next Saturday the Art League is having a reception so maybe I can get past my lazy butt attitude and get over there...I'll drag Pablo.

An update on the exercise program being reported in the sidebar. I've been pretty steady about going out to the cabana and cycling for 20 min...most everyday. I wear a jacket, listen to both classical music and the sound of the birds in the morning. I haven't weighed

myself but I can tell by my jeans that I haven't lost much if any...oh well!

All the plants have new buds and the weeds are taking off like crazy. I have a brick walkway and those grassy weeds are growing up between the bricks...I need to get my knee pads on and start pulling them before they get too far out of hand. I like gardening and I especially like weed pulling. They are forecasting sunshine for most of the week!

In the studio: I'm working on canvas, adding collage with acrylics. It sure has been a struggle...can't seem to find my way. I'll re-cap next post!

Tonight's movie is "Frozen River". The actress Melissa Leo's performance was an Oscar nomination but the other actresses got so much of the attention. Looking forward to this one.

Wednesday: What's On Your Walls?

I'm starting this Wednesday subject because I have plenty of work on my walls and my new work is progressing very slowly...I'm buying time! The question is to share what you have on your walls, be it children's art (some of the best) collections, your own art, etc. So, every Wednesday (if I remember) I will share work on my walls, mine or other artists work.

As far back as I can remember, I have loved the planets, moons and stars. ..I'm not an expert on the science but I'm always ready to read the latest findings. My love for the planets extends to a fascination with the mythology connected to the cosmos. I once did a series on my travels to the planets....metaphorically speaking!

This piece measures 18" x 18" and is mixed media, collage, magazine photos and acrylic. I began this work by first loving the tension between this cluster of circles and from there I developed a vision of planets and moons. I have it in my hallway so it is a view between rooms...like a window.

It's raining today...very Spring kind of rain...sunshine, showers, wind, overcast and then all over again but not always in that order. I'm going to quit the studio , clean my brushes and go to the kitchen to start soup...plain old-fashioned turkey and rice.

In the Year of the Wheel

It's a very simple calculation: Add your birthday month to your birthday day and add to the present year. Add those numbers from left to right and the total will tell you your Tarot Year Card. Mine is 10+25=35+2009=2044+2+4+4=10

This is the 10th card of the Tarot deck and this is the second time I've knowingly recorded and experienced my year using the Tarot card as a guide. I like the consideration of an ancient tool used to inform in a modern setting. The year 2000 was quite a year for me, low lows and wonderful highs.

This piece was created in the year 2000 and is mixed media collage, acrylic, pencil , stencil and wood stain on paper. It measures 21"x 21".

According to Mary K. Greer, "With The Wheel of Fortune as your Year Card, you have come to another turning point. From your past experience, you bring seeds for a new direction, but also burdens and obligations. The wheel is the equilibrium of contrary forces, irreversibly set in motion. All in all, this is a fortunate year, in which experience gained as the wheel turns now helps you focus on your new direction."

For me this year is just beginning...so far the lows have been related to stocks and appreciation on my home. Interestingly Pablo and I do not share the same birthday but we share our birthday day and month TOTALS which keep us in the experience of the same year card!

For all of you who share this year as their Wheel of Fortune Year...enjoy the ride!