cooking...

I've been busy in Roberta's kitchen for the past few days...,

It smells so good...

Yummy cake, made from scratch...

Recipe is included in this post.

I love making deviled eggs...,

Fantasy Fudge...,

If you make this cake let me know how it turns out... comments are appreciated.

PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE:
You do not need an electric mixer for this cake, I like mixing it with a wooden spoon.

INGREDIENTS
Topping:
1/4 C Butter
1/2 C Dark Brown Sugar (packed)
1 can Pineapple Rings (in juice), save 1/2 C juice
Marischino Cherries

Cake:
2 C all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. allspice
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 C Butter (soft)
1 C granulated sugar
2 Eggs
1/2 C milk
1/2 C Pineapple juice
1 tsp. vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS
Heat oven to 350 degrees, Grease 13" x 9" cake pan

Topping:
Melt butter, mix in brown sugar, spread in pan
drain juice into bowl and place pineapple rings in pan, add maraschino cherries

Cake:
In large bowl, mix butter and sugar till creamed
add eggs one at a time stirring till well blended
add all dry ingredients, stir in gently
add 1/2 C Pineapple juice, and milk - stir
add vanilla - stir till blended
Pour gently over topping

Bake 40 minutes at 350 degrees, or until a toothpick can be inserted and comes out clean.  Allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes, put a plate (or baking pan) on top of cake pan and carefully turn over.  Did any of the topping stick to the pan?  Scape it off while it's still warm and put it back on the cake.
Enjoy!!!

Waiting for spring...

Any guesses what these are?

Strange, aren't they...

Does this help?

Getting warmer?

 They're Morning Glory seeds 

...I'm waiting to plant them in the spring!

These are some of the first seeds I've ever collected for spring planting...
I wonder if they will "take". 

sweater

I've had several people ask me about China's green sweater... 

The top of the sweater

Bottom view...

China, modeling once again...

Suzanne and I are thinking about making these sweaters for sale.  Anyone know any chilly cats or dogs???

China's new sweater

I know - I know, I'm prejudiced..., but is China not the cutest kitty ever?     

China, modeling his new green sweater...

Someone said green is my color...

Will I get standard modeling wages... or catnip?

Catnip would be fine!!!

I made China's sweater... Do you like it? 

I'm back - finally...

It's been a long, long time since my last post, but I'm finally on line... right here in my own home.
 
Have to introduce you to the newest member of the family.

China Cat Sunflower 

China for short, or Buddy, 

or Kinkers for the broken spot on the end of his tail... 

or any of a number of silly endearments.

China with his little sister 

The first evening of their rescue

Here he is living up to his Grateful Dead namesake 

wearing a stylish tie-dye sweater

Suzanne loving his little sister... 

What will this little Peanut eventually be called?

These kittens are feral rescues... there were actually three of them on the sidewalk outside Suzanne's apartment. 

Lured by the incredible flavor of chicken burritos, two of these apparently starving babies were captured by Suzanne's husband, Jeff.  They searched for the third kitten but it had vanished.  These babies were docile from the moment they were touched.  

On the second morning of searching, we did find a humane trap with a note attached to the top saying not to disturb it as they were trying to capture feral kittens in order to foster them and adopt them out, so we were hopeful that the third kitten would be caught.

About two weeks later a woman left a note on Suzanne's door saying she had been searching for the person who rescued the two kittens.  She was wondering how they were caught so easily, as she had been trying to catch them for a period of time.  She is involved in a UC Davis research of Feral Cat Colonies - trapping kittens for fostering and adoption, and grown cats for neutering/spaying then returning the adults to their colony.  Suzanne contacted her and learned that the third kitten had been caught about a week later (evidently the mother had just left them to their own devices, and they lied about being starved), then the mother and an adult sister, and finally the papa.  She said the kitten she caught was as tame as could be, and if she had not been studying these cat's she would not have believed the kittens were feral.  All's well that ends well.  

Subtle difference...

Do you see the difference?

Does it make a difference???

TTFN, xoxoxo G. :-)

Two views...

Look what I saw on my way home from Rio Linda the other day...

Cattle Egret

Doesn't he look grouchy?

Amazing.... Such a beautiful bird, and yet it can be so strange, and comical.  When I lived in Florida, many years ago, my parents had a house built out in the boonies of Fort Lauderdale.  We were one of three houses in the whole area.  It was a mecca for wild birds.  The cattle egrets would congregate in the field across the street.  As bugs would fly in erratic patterns the birds would follow - their wings flapping wildly, body and legs going in all directions, and their little heads absolutely level and on target with their prey.  Thinking about these elegant birds looking so silly still makes me laugh.

Sketchbook Challenge

I don't know if I mentioned it before, but I  have been following,  sketchbookchallenge.blogspot.com.  There are a variety of artists, and a new theme every month.  (I just learned how to insert a URL.  If you click on the "address" it should take you right there.)

This month's theme is "Spilling Over"

]'s\rtf5r\]\ Lilly is helping me blog by walking across the key pad...  Notice her little paw at the top of the photo?  She helps me with my photography too, by butting her head up against the camera, just as I'm getting ready to shoot.  :-)

Creative Play finale...

Strange does not look so sad to me now.

What do you think?

I added more hair,

And, he has been banded.

Did you notice his new scarf?

A friend made it just for him.

And check out his tail. 

I am So Loving it!!!

Well that has been some fun creative play!  There's a little painting I need to complete next. 

TTFN, xoxoxo G.

Not quite done yet...

But almost...

I feel pleased with him, although he looks a little sad to me.  Have a few more plans for him.  He needs to be "banded", and I think he will be happier when he has some chicklets around him.  Also, am thinking about giving him a pony tail for tail feathers - to match his hair. 

Not quite so "Strange"...

Perhaps this is better...

A little personality in the making.

There is further progress in the works... :-) 

TTFN xoxoxo G.

Creative Play update...

Hello out there... Here's an update on the paper doll kitty.  She is coming along- slowly.

I'm using acrylics.  Here's a closeup of paint details.

More creative play in the making...

Introducing - Strange Boyd.

Newest member of the paper clay Boyd family.

That's it for now... xoxoxo G. :-)

On the table...

Look what's blooming on the kitchen table... 

Isn't it pretty?

Beautiful even from the back...

Don't forget, you can click on the pictures to enlarge them for more detail.

I always find it amazing, how a little thing - like a flower,

maybe as long as your finger, makes me happy.

Hope you've enjoyed the pictures.  Sorry about the gap in posts, have been occupied with "busyness"... hope to post again in about a week...  See you then.  :-)

Paper dolls....

Creative play time... hooray!

Took an empty cereal box, flattened it, and drew on the shiny outside with magic markers.  Applied scissors, flipped my pieces, and voila.  The doll on the right has slightly elongated limbs because I am planning to articulate her.  The doll on the left is my geisha/ninja kitty.  One of the three pieces below will be his/her tail.  I'm having fun.  Have been wanting to do paper dolls for quite a while.

Will paint them and show you the results later.  xoxoxo

Before and after...

Well, our hair is not quite as wild as "chia man's", but we were certainly due for a trim...

 Before...

After....

Now that I've got both my "chicks" in one area, a new "art play" theme came to mind.  Remember chicklet gum?  I don't know if they make it anymore, but I was thinking of painting "chicklets", to corolate with the new bird series I'll be doing.  More on that later... :-)  xoxoxo for now.

Haircut...

 I'm getting a haircut today!

Hooray!

Is this the beginning of a series of paintings?

Maybe so, I rather like this...

Its the start of an acrylic/mixed media piece.  Didn't plan on it being predominantly orange.  But I like the way the background is coming.  I'm using canvas board, so it is sturdy..  Am thinking of doing some collage, writing and stamping on it.  But it is still just a baby painting and has a way to go. 

Jimmy, my son has come down from Washington state.  He arrived last night.  He's back in California, to stay, hooray!  He's a Rad musician and, of course, brough his guitars with him, so I'm looking forward to some good music.  There has to be a painting in this.

Incidentally, what type of birds do you think these are?  TTFN xoxoxo

Creative play day...

Creative Play - You like?

Mixed Media

Watercolor, Charcoal, Acrylic, Ink

Title: Jeff & Suzanne

The hand has a memory of it's own...

It's been a long while since I've drawn faces that I've been satisfied with.  I've been trying to remember how I used to draw.  When I haven't drawn for a long while my hand feels stiff, but if I push on, the memory in my hand comes back...  I truly believe the hand has a memory of it's own.

The Eyes Have It...

So, what do you think?

I think an artist has to be careful not to be overly influenced by art that's "popular".  I'm having fun sketching, "doodling", again...  and, although I think it's a bit "tight", I believe zendoodle as been useful to help me loosen up creatively.

The party was extended...

...'till Monday night.  What a treat!!! While we were visiting, I showed Suzanne the new transfer journaling technique I learned...

Click on it,,,
Isn't it pretty?

The quote is part of a poem by Emily Dickinson, "Hope is the thing with feathers, the purches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all".  Emily Dickinson is my all time favorite poet.  And, of course the whole thing is glitterified (new word by me).  This piece now resides with my darling girl.

Here's a view of the trees from outside Suzanne's living room window. 

Do you see what I see?

Petulent Wind-Up Tree Toy

with illusionary bird on head, (and in hand).

Isn't he funny???

I'm still coughing, but not nearly as badly, and now Suzanne is getting sick.  That's it for now... xoxoxo