It was a dark and stormy morning...

It's brewing up a storm here...I've been listening to the rumble of thunder for about an hour now, and can see the sky light up in the distance, and now the rain has arrived. I have to admit, I love it (the dog does seem to be a little concerned about the noise outside). It's Derby time here in Kentucky so it is a shame that it has to show up today. It will be quite the sloppy track.

It's also Saturday...and I share my blogging friends links on Saturday, but before we get to that I have some business to do...I get to give away some things!!! Back on this post, I told you guys that I'd give away... "One 8 x10, or two 5 x 7's, or three 3 x 5's of any of the photos I have posted in the "Timeless" and "An addendum to timeless" posts" to at least one interested person from those who commented on that post...and that I'd do that today, the first of May.

Looking at the comments, I see comments from Eileen, and Cyndi, and Joie Moring, and rurumom, and sandra elizabeth-york, and Maria, and Magpie Sue and Carol...A total of eight people commenting. So few comments (heavy sigh) I could go to the random integer generator, but seems a great deal of work for so few comments. I could just close my eyes and point to my computer screen, but what if I am no where near any of the names? So here's what I am going to do...EVERYONE who commented on that post, who wants a print, or prints gets their choice! It's always more fun to do things in a big way, isn't it?

Here's what you do...if your name is in the list above, email me (ACreativeDreamer(at)gmail.com) with the following information:

1. You get to pick one 8 x10, or two 5 x 7's, or three 3 x 5's. You may pic a single photo from those posted on the two posts, or you may choose up to three different ones (depends on what option you choose as far as sizes). Let me know which you want.
   
2. You may choose to have the prints on 80 pound card stock, photo paper, or water color paper. Let me know your preferences (you may mix them by the way).
   
3. And, send me an address to mail them to.

Pretty simple huh?

And, Maria, I'll be sending the ATC with yours since you were the ONLY comment on this post!

Now...on to the ArtsyBlogger links...

A contest to win a yummy book
60 Quick Knits is just wonderful, and, you can win a copy of it! Just leave a comment...

Cross Cake
Step by step instructions and photos for making a cross cake for a First Communion, Easter, or Baptism.

Scrapbooking Gift Ideas
Love scrapbooking? Here are some homemade gift ideas to make using scrapbook supplies and techniques.

Beading Arts
Here's a quick little tutorial on how to create a barnacle texture with seed beads!

Gadabout Media DIY
It's wedding season, so to celebrate Chloe is writing a series of articles on creating your own special DIY wedding!

The Artful Crafter
Do companies offer free craft products to the general public for testing?

Officer down...

Last night a young officer lost his life in my town. Shortly after 10 pm last night, a vehicle hit Officer Bryan J. Durman, age 27. The vehicle left the scene. Officer Durman was taken to the University of Kentucky hospital, where he died at 10:45pm.

Officers blocked the streets and stood in silence at approximately 1:45 am to honor their fellow officer as the corner and other emergency and officer vehicles transported his body from the hospital to the corner's office.

The suspect was apprehended later that evening and is in custody.

Officer Durman has served our community since December 2007.

I cannot tell you how sad this makes me, for our town, and for the family he leaves behind.

The father of my children is a police officer, so this hits home more for me than it may for others. When the information was given last night on the news that an officer had been hit, I wondered if it were my ex how long it would take before I were notified. I wondered how badly the fallen officer was hurt, and I said a little prayer, as I have since I entered into a life combined with his, that it wouldn't be the father of my children, and that the officer would be ok.

This morning when I learned of his death I cried, and I am still near tears here at work as I write this. For me, life will go on pretty much as normal, for this officer's family, it will never be the same again.

My heart and prayers go out to them, and to our community, who has lost more than we will ever realize.

(Photo from Kentucky.com, courtesy of the Lexington Police Department)

An inspired treat...

So, I was reading one of the blogs I follow, Baking Bites, the other day and came across her recipe for Strawberry Cheesecake Tiramisu. Does that sound just yummy or what? Heaven knows I do love tiramisu...I read through the recipe, and somehow just could not reconcile the coffee with strawberries in my head. But, the thought of strawberry tiramisu sounds soooooo good. And, I have the perfect "excuse" for making it (as if wanting it is not enough)...one of the guys at work is retiring, the formal gathering to celebrate his retirement has been done, but tomorrow we are all bringing goodies and hosting a roast for him...what better reason than that to make a strawberry tiramisu? And it's the perfect reason to share my version with you!

When I make tiramisu I dip the ladyfingers in a combination of espresso and a coffee flavored liquor, but, as I said, I just cannot make the espresso and fresh strawberries work in my head, so I decided that I would use amaretto instead. And, to add another twist, I thought I'd use angel food cake instead of lady fingers....and I'd toast it a bit. Hmmmm...this might be really good!

So, here's what you need if you want to make some too...

An angel food cake (purchased or home made, your choice)
Amaretto liquor (you can skip this if you want)
16 oz of fresh strawberries
1/4 cup sugar
1 package unflavored gelatin
8 ounces of nufatchel cream cheese, softened
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 pint of whipping cream
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
2 oz sliced almonds for garnish (optional)


If you'd like to toast your angel food cake, slice it into 1/2 inch slices and put on a cookie sheet, pop in a 250 degree oven and "toast" for about 30 minutes, flip them, and give another 10 minutes in the oven. Let cool.



While they are cooling, smash the strawberries. Cut the strawberries up, toss on 1/4 cup of sugar, and smash them a bit with a potato masher or something similar. This is going to release lots of juice, so when they are smashed to your liking, sprinkle a packet of unflavored gelatin over them and stir in. Let set to allow the gelatin to soften.




Dip the slices of angel food cake into amaretto and arrange in the bottom of the pan, feel free to stuff them in there tight...and set aside. If you choose not to dip them in the amaretto, layer the cake undipped.










In the top of a double boiler, over simmering water (or, you can do like I do, and use a shallow bowl over a sauce pan), put the 4 egg yolks and 1/2 cup sugar.


Whisk together, and continue whisking over the simmering heat for about 10 minutes. In that time they should become very pale, and double in bulk, they develop a sort of "fluffy" texture that you can see. Add the softened cheese and whisk them well to combine. Put it in the fridge for a bit to cool while you make the whipped cream.

Beat the whipping cream until it forms soft peaks, then add the 1/2 cup of confectioners sugar. Whip until the peaks are stiff, then slowly stir in the cheese mixture. When that is incorporated, add the strawberries. Stir them in by hand, gently. You don't want to deflate the mixture.


Pour the strawberry mixture over the toasted angel food cake. Garnish with fresh strawberries or sliced almonds. Refrigerate at least a couple of hours, or over night. I make mine in just one layer, but it is often made with two layers.


Stays yummy for a couple of days in the fridge...I tend to prefer it the first day after it is made. You can also freeze it, and serve it frozen (regular tiramisu is wonderful that way too)...a wonderful summer dessert!

Random conversations with random people...

Recently I had a very random conversation with a very random person...as so often happens in my life. This particular conversation was about life partners, companions, people that you love who love you back. More specifically it was about why I don't have one.

(Do strangers ever think there is anything to personal too ask, or does this stem from a real curiosity?).

Eventually, in the conversation, the question was asked "Do you have any insecurities?" Obviously, the person does not read my blog. Of course I have insecurities, and they are here for all the world to see.

Later, as I was going through the routine of my evening, my mind went back to that conversation. Insecurities...are they just a part of being human? Do we all have them? I think so. Actually, I think that the insecurities we saddle ourselves with are a huge part of what drives us as well as what holds us back. Feeling as though I could never please my mother drove me to work harder...not for the right reasons maybe, but my "need" to work harder came from my need to please her. Of course, the problem with that is that, regardless of how much "more" I achieved, it was still not enough...thus, insecurities are born. I often wonder what I would have been had I been lovingly nurtured instead?

We all hear phrases like "be nice to everyone, you don't know what they are going through". That's very true, but you can bet that they (we) are all struggling with their (our) own insecurities and sense of vulnerability. Maybe, the real question we need to ask isn't if we have insecurities, maybe the real question is, "Why don't we celebrate our differences rather than turn them into insecurities?"

Why do we seem to think that it is better to conform to the group rather than be who we are? Obviously, when we conform and become part of that group, we work toward the desires of the group and it maintains some system of status quo. Really that's something required to make the society function relatively smoothly. But still, can we not celebrate the wonderful uniqueness we each possess too? We could, but it isn't likely that the larger group will. That means that we, as the smaller group, need to encourage the beautiful, wonderful, quirky, unique people to be who they (we) are, to accept their (our) insecurities, and let us help nurture them until they understand that they (we) are just fine warts and all. They (we) make the world a more beautiful, colorful and wonderful place to be a part of, not merely exist in.

So, back to that question...do I have insecurities...oh yes...I have whopping, huge, gaping, massive insecurities...that is just part of what being human is. And, now that I am hitting "a certain age" I am intimately acquainted with my insecurities, I've lived with them a long time and I have come to accept them as part of who I am. But, if I could go back in time and give myself one piece of advice during my formative years it would be to really be me...not to conform to what someone else wants, but to be who I really am...

So, this is the advice I am giving today, it doesn't matter that no one has asked what I think...I am offering it anyway...

Stand out, be colorful, don't apologize for being uniquely you...BE uniquely you...embrace yourself, nurture yourself, especially if you cannot count on others to nurture you. And, don't forget to nurture the others, even those who don't understand you...you may make more of a difference to them than you will ever know. You may even give them the courage to be who they are, to learn to nurture themselves, to love their being...warts and all...and in turn they may do the same for another, or a couple of anothers, and then they will encourage others, and those others will encourage others....and just think of what a world that could be!


And if you ever need a bit of encouragement...let me know...I'm here for you. Personally, I much prefer a bright and colorful world filled with amazing and unique people...it's so very dull otherwise...

I'm stuck...

I had such good intentions. I really, really did...but I got so little done. I made a couple of ATC/ACEOs, and I got a couple of doodles painted in. And, somehow, the rest of the weekend just got lost, and I didn't even do anything.

I'm gonna share this, it's one of the ACEOs...it reads "beauty is not real. beauty only exists in perception", and now, I'm going to get to my dirty dishes...those did multiply...and clean up all of the scraps from my industrious creativity, and have my morning coffee...and go face my Monday.

Life is too short...

I'm playing with ATCs and dolls this weekend and getting the last of the wedding invitations address. I hope to have something to share with everyone next week. Some ideas have finally popped into my head that feel like they need to be made to reality, feels good to feel creative.

In the meanwhile, I have the ArtsyBlogger links to share with you this week...there seem to be a whole lot of giveaways going in our group this week, so check them out the links...and, when you do, come back and tell me about what you enjoyed, and one comment will be randomly picked to receive the original (number 5 in a series of 10, all hand made) ATC you see to the left. I'll let you know what comment gets randomly drawn in next week's ArtsyBlogger post.

(Oops, I stuck two of my blogging buddy Cyndi's Beading Arts links in and left out my friend Eileen from The Artful Crafter in the original post...sorry, it's corrected now...whew! If you check out the comment I left on Eileen's post, you'll see a very random connection.)

Gadabout Media DIY April 22 was Earth Day, so to celebrate Chloe has some easy tips for "greening" your craft room or studio.

The Artful Crafter
This week Eileen is offering some free striking vintage photos from the 30s and a chance to win the eBook “Altered Ancestors: 50 Techniques for Using Vintage Photos in Art”.

Beading Arts Cyndi has a copy of "Totally Twisted" that she's giving away! Come enter the contest now!

Home and Garden Cafe Make a leaf press to press those summer flowers and leaves, then you can use them for crafting later.

More video tutorials on Tottie Talks Crafts People keep asking Noreen how to get started with spool knitting, and also, how to finish the cords. So, she made 2 new video tutorials to show how.

Creative Dreamer Goodness...giveaways everywhere...I think I'll have another one too! Come see what I'm giving away!

An addendum to timeless...

So, it didn't dawn on me when I originally wrote the post, but I have had several requests over time for copies of these bits of cemetery beauty...and it's been almost a month since I've given anything away, and I am in a give away mood...so why not?








Could be that few will find cemetery art interesting enough to want a copy of it...but then again...some well may...










So, I'll at least offer....anyone want a signed print, or maybe two? Here are your options:





You may choose:

One 8 x10, or two 5 x 7's, or three 3 x 5's of any of the photos I have posted in the "Timeless" and "An addendum to timeless" posts. (Keep in mind, because of the cropping, there may be blank space around some of these regardless of what size print you choose.) You also have the choice of having them printed on 80 pound card stock, photo paper, or water color paper. Lots of choices I know...but you should at least have some fun choosing. These pieces are for your personal use, and cannot be sold as your work.

I'll choose at least one comment, maybe more, from all of the comments you guys leave. The more comments, the more winners. To keep it fair, you may leave one comment, on this post or the other, and add a second if you are a follower. No more than two comments per person. Simple enough, isn't it?

You have until 11:59 pm on April 30, 2010 to leave your comment, and I'll post the recipients on the blog on Saturday, May 1, 2010.

And, as an addendum to the addendum...if you dig a little deeper into the stuff you find here, you'll find an extra chance to enter too...the writing is in red...and it's hidden somewhere within the pages of the blog...You know it's even more fun when it's a hidden chance!

Timeless...

Everyone who follows along probably knows that I love the local cemetery...a "different" sort of thing to appreciate I realize...but it's amazing how calm and beautiful it is there, and how peaceful it makes me feel. It's interesting how we feel a need to leave a mark when we are dead, or maybe our loved ones need to have something more permanent spot where they can tie their thoughts of us?


Every culture has their own method of dealing with their dead, and over time those customs change...if you want to see the funerary culture where I grew up, watch the movie "Elizabethtown" (as if you need any other reason to watch Orlando Bloom)... Cameron Crowe did a fabulous job of presenting it.


Over the years I've taken thousands and thousands of photos of cemeteries, and since I don't really have much to say today, I thought I'd just share some of my favorites...

Smiley Pete and young love...

If you go walking downtown in my little town you will find this plaque. It reads "April 1943-June 1957 Smiley Pete missed by all"

Smiley Pete was one of our town's interesting characters...he was a mixed breed dog, a mutt, that took up residence in downtown Lexington in the early 1940s. His typical hang out was on the corner of Limestone and Main where he greeted everyone with a smile on his face...thus..."Smiley Pete". He was most often spotted outside of Hart's Pharmacy. It seems that the whole of the town adopted the mutt. He was fed well and loved much. And, in spite of all of his roaming, there was only one known litter attributed to him, born in 1952.

Pete died on June 17, 1957, and is buried near the Fairlawn Mansion on North Broadway. His marker reads "Pete...our dog, a friend to all, a friend of all."



The town's folk installed the plaque, down on his corner, at Limestone and Main...we dropped by the plaque when we were walking the Gallery Hop...and while we were visiting the plaque, I snapped this...

There was a lot of moving involved, so it isn't the sharpest of photos, but I love this one. I wonder if they both know how lucky they are to have each other...I know neither of them know how blessed I am to have them.

I hope that forever is on their side.

Wedding invitations...

Last year my niece (my ex's niece) announced that she was getting married...but y'all know that already. I, as I so oft do, said I'd love to help in any way I can...and then I offered to address the invitations for her.


Among all the other things I do, I learned calligraphy waaaaaaay back in the days when we had to use chisels and hammers to carve the letters into the cave walls. It got so much easier when they finally developed pens and nibs. Since it seems the invitation list she has sent me is mostly finished (at least I haven't had any new emails in a few days with additions) I decided this weekend was a great one to begin. So this is what my table looked like as I sat down early this Saturday to have my coffee while I watched the sun rise.



The company who produced these invitations sent along a line guide for the prospective brides to use when they address their invitations. It was a start. I added a couple of lines and got out my light box to make it easier.





It was way back during the days of Moses when I last was involved in a wedding. I think that was pretty much the last time I had out my pens and nibs out too. I do tons of "lettering", you know, the cutsie stuff like you see on my doodles and such...not so much any kind of formal (or even semi formal) script these days. I have to admit, it took me a few minutes (ok, an hour or so of practice) to find my hand.




The last time I did calligraphy for a wedding my son was seeing his orthodontist and I did the invitations for a couple of girls in the office...we saw that orthodontist so long the whole office became family...I didn't have the light box, I'm amazed at how much easier the task is with it.







I think they are coming along quite well actually. Like most things, I guess it is like riding a bicycle...it comes back when you begin again. There is something beautiful about a hand addressed envelope.







I've got about two thirds of the list finished...and now I am going to save the bride some time by folding her invitations for her and getting them into the proper envelopes, she's got enough on her plate with her college finals and graduation coming up...



And now, because this is a place where I very candidly express my views...I have a rant, and then an apology...Since it was back in the days of Moses when last I had been involved in a wedding to any degree, my standards tend to be those of that time, and, maybe because of that, they are higher than they should be. I honestly haven't checked into the cost of wedding invitations lately, nor the quality of those currently available. These came with the traditional inner (semi lined...the flap and the upper fourth of the front) and outer envelopes, the RSVP and reception cards, and those envelopes as well. She brought them to me as she had received them...and I was a bit surprised to see that the cards were not folded. They are computer generated and prefab, granted, so as you fold them yourself all you have to worry about is not getting one of the three points on the heart to tear away clean. They are printed on what feels like 60 pound card stock...and she bought these at a cost of $4.00 per invitation.

I know that when it comes to weddings, everything is an emotional purchase, and I realize that many companies play on that...but come on guys...a standard font, not hand set, but computer produced...zipped through a printer just really cannot be that labor intensive...ESPECIALLY when you don't even bother to fold them...shame on you...brides deserve a better product...

And, to all of you Etsy-ers who produce wedding invitations...I apologize for having thought they were far over priced...apparently they are not.

Memories from my Grandma...

Y'all have read about my Grandma...she was without a doubt the most loving influence in my life, and I am certain that I'll never fully get over the loss of her, I don't think you are ever supposed to get completely over the loss of someone so influential in your life. I do bring her memory closer from time to time though by re-creating some of the childhood memories that remind me so much of her. Polenta is one of those memories.

Polenta and gnocchi were two of my favorite foods when I was little, and I remember being shocked one time when my Grandma told me that they were "family" food...when I asked her what she meant, she told me that they were "simple" or "rough" foods...foods you would feed family, but wouldn't dream of feeding company. I wonder what she would think now if she could see both on the menus of very fancy restaurants? I wonder too if it would make her smile to know that the Big One considers gnocchi one of the fond memories of his childhood?

This week I wanted Grandma around, so I decided to make myself some polenta. The recipes from my childhood aren't really recipes...they are something that the cooks just knew by heart and passed on to me the same way. There's not much of a trick to it though, polenta is nothing more than yellow cornmeal (not cornmeal mix, but straight cornmeal) or, I like to use yellow grits...cooked with water or broth to make cornmeal mush. I use a ratio of 3 to 1 (more or less)...three parts fluid to one part cornmeal. You combine it and cook it over medium heat, stirring almost constantly, until it has thickened. Warning here, it spews sort of in big blurps at times, and they can burn, so use a lid, and be careful when you open it to stir. When it is cooked, you pour it into a lightly greased loaf pan and stick it in the fridge to get cold (I usually do this the evening before). When you are ready, you invert it on your cutting board and it slips right out of the pan.

Now you fry it to make it crisp...slice it into about 1/2 inch slices, and put some olive oil into your pan. Since I don't use salt when I make this, I toss some sea salt into the oil as it heats, it makes the most delicious salty-ish crispy outside...and, when the oil is heated, I lay the slices of polenta into it, cover it with a lid to minimize the splattering, and fry it over medium heat until it gets a beautiful golden color.

The Little One happened to make some of her famous marinara sauce 'cause she had her honey over for dinner... and it was perfect. But you can serve it with whatever sauce you prefer. I had it with a spinach and strawberry salad with a hot poppy seed dressing...


I think Grandma would have been pleased...

Gallery Hop...

So...Friday, the Bonus One and I had plans to go walking through the Gallery Hop downtown. Being the sweet person that she is, she thought it would help give me a bit of courage to get going on this artist-isy fantasy of mine. I caught up with my Bonus One, and one of her roommates, Jessica, outside the library downtown and hopping we went...

I was impressed, and I was perplexed, and I at times I wondered if how I define art is incorrect. It was a wonderful experience...I love being challenged to think about how I view my own definitions of my world...

I forget how unique and eclectic this town that I live in is. When I first moved here 28 years ago, Lexington had a population of somewhere near 65,000 people, and was differentiated by "Old Lexington" and "New Lexington". Now we have an estimated population of about 280,000 and we've got a bit more diversification. Although we thump our Bibles loudly here, but we also have a broad range of religious beliefs. I know people who are Christian, Jewish, Pagan, Hindu, Muslim, Amish, Mennonite, and even a few Quakers believe it or not. We also have a relatively large gay population for a town our size, some estimates range at about 20% of our population. And we manage to get along relatively well.

Lexington was once referred to as "The Athens of the West", and we take great pride in having a large arts base, especially for a community this size. I had no idea how many small galleries we have functioning here until last night though. We walked through the larger galleries attached to the traditional groups, and we walked through the greatest holes in the wall that featured works that were definitely not traditional but were infinitely fascinating.




One of my favorite galleries was Institute 193. A showing of Bob Morgan's work was there. (Institute 193 has an interview with Bob Morgan on their blog here.) My Bonus One just happens to know Bob well so it was especially intriguing...more so since I had met him in another gallery earlier in the evening.









Bob's work featured at Institute 193 for the Gallery Hop...







































And, here's where the Big One met up with us for just a wee bit of time...









There are an awful lot of things about my little town that I haven't found yet...I think my goal this summer will be to discover these wonderful and unique places.