Saturday Still Life

Still Life

Half way mark at the kitchen remodel left me with an exposed lath back splash.  Admittedly, I find charm in the plaster stained wood that makes me think of Rachael Ashworth's Shabby Chic.  All that wood made me think of my black and white photographs and a great way to temporarily enhance the space while waiting on my tile guy.  (since it is in house--a.k.a husband) it might take a while!  This will get me through the waiting period.  The old glass bottles have a certain charm and visual appeal in front of the photographs making it a fun little still life! Enjoy your weekend and create!  

BLACK EGGS AND FRIENDS

DYING EGGS

I stumbled on this picture while cleaning off my phone the other day.  The translation of cell phone pictures is poor but I loved the "Black" eggs on the right.  They were this lovely shade of purple--almost black.  The hard boiled eggs took the dye better than the blown out eggs.  I used cake decorating dye in black to acheive the look.  They are by far my favorites and I can't wait to do it again next year.  The top right is tumeric and directly below is coffee grounds.  They both made beautiful eggs.  So in spite of the poor picture quality, the eggs are worth looking at and remembering.  

SIDEWALK ART

 SIDEWALK CANVAS

Walking down the trail at the lake were these wonderful paintings of the local wildlife on the trail.  What a wonderful medium and way to reach a large audience.  I found it espically useful when pointing out the different paintings to my son and then finding them alive and well in the local landscape. 

Seems like a wonderful spin on sidewalk chalk which leads me to dream of having my sidewalk with some of these animals painted on it. 



Notice the pedicure. . .

so much for cropping the picture! 

Cell phone camera's are not my forte! 

Black and White

Saturday Study in Black and White.

Asian Temple

Downtown.

This wonderfully colorful building has amazing details that show up best in black and white. You might normally miss them in color.  Taking Black and White snapshots of the rooms you are wanting to remodel, stage, redecorate are a great way to pick up lost detail, too! 

New Color, New Look

The Living Room Takes on another look.  Hammered Silver by Sherwin Williams.  Historically accurate colors that enhance the white oak trim.  Gold drapes add a lush touch.  The dog, well he just can't resit the camera.  I am thinking Benjamin Moore's Sand Beige--a super soft pink--to give the ceiling a candle lit glow. 
(Previous posts show the room in buttery yellow) 

Tested, Tasted, & Devored.

 After visiting Elizabeth Bard's chaming blog, Lunch in Paris, yesteday, I was really smitted with her Maple Cream Scones.  So I decided to whip up a batch for Sunday breakfast.  They are ready to go into the oven here. . .



Here they are wrapped in antique linen with a Strawberry Rhubarb Jam, Tom's favorite, coffee for me and hot chocolate for Robbie

MAPLE CREAM SCONES

Lunch in Paris--see link in blog crushes

http://www.elizabethbard.com/

Makes 10 scones (I yielded 8)

2 Cups all purpose flower

1 Tsp baking powder

3/4 Tsp Salt

4 TBS cold butter, cut up

3/4 C Heavy Cream

1/4 C Pure Maple Syrup

Additional Cream and Syrup to finish

Chopped Walnuts or Almonds--optional

Preheat Oven to 425 degress.  Line a cookie sheet with Parchment. 

Combine Flour, baking powder and salt.  Add diced butter and rub together with your fingers until the texture of small crumbs. 

In a small bowl mix cream and maple syrup.  Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the cream mixture.  With a fork stir until just combined.  Don't overmix!  Turn the dough out onto the parchment paper and flatten to about 3/4".  Using a biscut cutter or small glass cut rounds 2-3" across.

Stir together a small amount of cream and syrup and brush on top of the scones.  Bake for 12 minutes until golden brown. 

Serve warm with Strawberry Jam (I used Strawberry Rhubarb).

Note,  in her published recipe, she lists Baking Powder and in the instructions she says soda.  I used the powder and they were delicious. 

To The Farmer's Market we go. . .

Saturday Mornings can find me wandering to the Farmer's Market.  Especially in the spring and early summer.  The mornings are cool and overcast and make for excellent black and white photo ops.  Today I found the last of the Roma tomato plants that must be in this weekend, baby Swiss chard (am making a Strata for dinner tomorrow) and the last of the rhubarb for Rhubarb and apple crisp.  Perhaps my favorite time at the market is crossing the pedestrian bridge, coffee and son in tow, and dreaming of great meals to come.  Happy weekend and happy cooking!  

ATTIC DREAMING

I have always wanted an attic that seemed as if family treasures were held there for generations.  This memorial day, I made my attic into that place.  I eliminated all boxes, hung old pictures, and arranged all the odds and ends.  Now I love venturing up into my space for the perfect serving dish or holiday decoration and my son has spent several hours playing with old family toys.  Even the kitten couldn't resist the new space.  It just reaffirms my mantra:  Every Space should be beautiful and useful!  Even when it is storing the stuff of life!