Baking Bread and Cinnamon Rolls

Today the aromas that came from the kitchen 

were unbelievable. Unbelievably good.

Making bread is so easy...it just takes about 4 hours

before you can put some butter on it and devour.

The ingredients are probably already in your kitchen.

Milk, egg, butter, flour, salt and yeast.

Then more flour, butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. 

(I ended up making cinnamon rolls.)

Patience is required as they rise and the dough

fills out so that it melts in your mouth like cotton candy.

Full of goodness that you roll around your mouth

and then swallow. Bliss.

Who cares what the weather is outside

when all of this excitement is happening inside?

Recipe here.

I didn't make the Cream Cheese Glaze they were

heavenly without it.  

Grainy Sugar Snow

We got it last night. Snow sifted on us and then little balls of ice. They call it wintery mix. We call it Maryland snow. It gives such a fresh, bright look to the usual winter browns of trees. Then there is the boxwood with the leaves a deep green with the white icing. Nice contrast. I do love English boxwood. It always looks beautiful January through January! June through June. This garden is off of our porch or veranda.

The snow ought to make it easier for the birds to see the berries...

This thuga shrub turns the color of a brown paper bag. The snow covers enough branches so that the ones we see look lacy.

All of the little animal tracks decorate the fields and... roads. Last night I was out driving and there were kids doing donuts at intersections. They were hitting the brakes and doing all of the things you are taught not to if you want to stay on the road. I wonder what their cars look like this morning? Keep on the road and keep warm.

Snow Loving Westie

We had a sifting of snow tonight! Enough to put a white sprinkles of confection sugar on everything. Our westie boy was loving it. Running around trying to catch the flakes. It was dark so pictures were like white scratches against a dark background. This getting dark at 5pm is hard to get used to. Then again I try to remember that in Alaska as well as other places it gets dark at 3pm so how lucky we are to have a few more hours of daylight.

Our little westie modeled for this new small watercolor. He's left a present for the squirrels.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

Christmas Garden Farm Table

LOVE farm tables. This one is outdoors but under a roof. A coconut husk mat liner, for hanging baskets and window boxes, is used for a table runner! The chippy old sled with greenery on it compliments the greys.




I would love to build a farm table and put it right in the middle of our vegetable garden. Then we we need to build a long gazebo over it. And plant more roses. Our dreaming takes place in the winter months. This vignette has an old world vintage touch.

Berry Heavy Holly Fruit

Winter is here and we are bundling up. Fleece and down feather jackets sound so good right now. It's 27 and I've still got to get some perennials in the ground that have been in pots for awhile.


I have one small bush of this wonderful winter shrub. It's a holly called "Berry Heavy" that looses it's leaves early on so the red orange berries are on parade. I recommend it for gardeners and crafters who make their own winter wreaths. Put it next to your ornamental grasses for a pleasing garden plant combination.

October Snow

Nothing like a little snow to stir things up and then shut things down. I took a few pictures with my camera phone half kiddy because it was beautiful. There were big, wet flakes, sloppy at first and then huge flakes tumbled down from the biggest fluffiest goose ever it seemed. Fluffy but heavy enough to knock over trees and power lines.

The sugar maple tree above was aglow in the snow like a jack-o-lantern just as happy as we were.





I was very happy until I realized our power was out when I went back in the house. It rather dampened my gleeful spirit, but kids only think of fun things like sledding. Over the summer you forget how quiet a calm snowfall is. You are in the middle of a caccoon and you focus only on the things nearest you.






Our power came back on in a few hours and once again we were thankful for the important things, a home, a warm bed and our westie dog's cold nose pushing against our hands, and each other safe and sound.

Watercolor Aceo Fever- Let it Snow

A wonderful NEW watercolor set has finally been opened and this is my first with it tonight. I actually was waiting up a bit to see if it was really going to sleet and ice rain tonight. In between 10 other projects (only slight miscalculation, it's more like 100 other projects) I opened the watercolor set. Watercolors are challenging as one cannot dream and paint--which means you must be fully awake. They are also so fresh looking.

Ice rain is a headache for us (for obvious reasons) because we are in a hilly area and some country roads do not have any shoulders here. So if someone ahead of you starts spinning out going uphill all of us behind are stuck. To back up a bit, we have to make it to the car first without injury! Then we move on to worry two.

To back up even further to cats and snow, which is the reason I did this painting. Our tom cat is so heavy that he falls through the snow. The others tip toe right across the top of the crusted snow. He needs snow shoes. He doesn't care as we're around he just wants to snuggle and rub his head against us. My son named him Happy and I had named him India at first because I thought he was a she, but that is another story.

Westie Dog Valentine Clothes

We've been having fun around here. Snow seems to put everyone in a laughing, playful mood. The only thing that dampens that spirit is snow in your boots. Your ears can be cold, and your nose, but when your feet get cold it's time to go inside.

Snow is one of those challenging things to paint. I look out the window and am amazed at how the colors change from clouds zipping overhead. The other morning it was 10 degrees here and the playful mood was a bit slower waking up. Even Sir Salty had to just sit a bit and take it all in then he was off to look around. He loves it when it is snowing. I do believe he thinks it's bird feathers falling. He races around searching as if searching for a bird in the snow.

I see the trees lined along the town roads with squirrels nests high above all of the homes. They are all tucked up inside those swinging, leaf baskets warm and cozy. A squirrel must have written the lyrics to rock-a-bye-baby-on-a-tree-top.

Back to Valentine's Day...They have fun party glasses for every occasion and this westie has hers on and just needs a party to go to. This is an oil aceo that I listed on ebay.

Let the party begin!

The Magical Whites of Winter

We've hardly had any Canada geese this winter. Granted most decide to go to the Carolinas for the winter and sunbathe a bit near the ocean. Yesterday was different. We had a field full of them and the silence that fresh fallen snow brings was lost while they all honked a hello and nice to know you to me. I think they are gorgeous, elegant and right up there next to swans for beauty and grace.

Chameleon Deer Watching Us

Deer blend into the wintery scenery here. They love hiding close by and they blend so well until I realize the trees are moving, and look closer and it's deer. They are wanting to come up close to eat our greenery, but they are watching our westie dog on top of the hill rolling around feeling full of himself. They eventually cross the creek and go on to other fields. But I know they will be back in a few hours for a little buffet outside.

Westie Sweater Dogs Sledding Painting

Just when we think we hear spring whistling down the lane...we receive 6 inches of fresh powdered snow to work or play with. (Forget about getting out the gardening shovel and pull out the snow shovel again.) My westie chooses playing over working hands down. The snow is way too powdery to form into some magnificent lawn ornament, but it's great for sledding, and saucers. Saucers are for the funloving type. You speed downhill and spin around at the same time.

The colors are soft like the snow. When it snows there is such a calm outside (when there isn't any wind at least) so I tried to capture that with the colors and the westies being a bit more colorful and energetic.

This painting is up for sale on ebay now.

Victorian Houses Frosted

I love old victorian houses. We have some older ones here close and since the snow has frosted them all I took some pictures. Wouldn't you love to sit up in that top window with a book or a painting easel? I would.