I worked on this still life for several days. It features an illuminated lamp, a seltzer bottle, an old beam, a tea cup, a gnarled soccer ball, a military fuel can, fabrics and assorted flotsam.
A Time For Thanks
A Time For Thanks
I love the story of the founding of America; the epic tales of people heroic and adventurous.
I love the east coast of the United States; the old cemeteries, houses, churches, the gorgeous expanse of nature – the sea, the forests and fields. The stories of George Washington, the Founding Fathers, the Americans and the British. After the discovery of ancestors through my Mother’s research and my Dad’s genealogies, of people who helped build this great nation, I’ve wanted to share their stories with my grandchildren and family. For you, here are some of your ancestors and their roles in our history.
My children know that I have always had a place in my heart for the Pilgrims. We have several ancestors who arrived on the Mayflower that bitter winter of 1620, more about them later. A few miles to the south, in the Berkley Colony, Virginia; William Tracy was acting as governor. He was from Britain and invested heavily in the American colonies. His family had ruled Europe centuries earlier: Charlemagne, William the Conqueror and others. The Tracys left the throne after Edward I around 1200. They served through the years as knights and sheriffs and in other offices of the law. William went to the Berkley colony to act as governor in 1619, with his wife Sara and two children the year before the Pilgrims arrived. He died there in 1621. His daughter and her husband were killed in the Indian Massacre of 1622. According to historical records, his son survived and was sent back to England to be learn a trade. This is Grandma Nixon’s family.
On the good ship Mayflower, a tiny girl, about a year old was traveling to America with her aunt and uncle. Humility Cooper arrived in Massachusetts and survived that first dreadful winter. Unfortunately her aunt and uncle did not. They died and so did her uncle’s brother and his wife, leaving Humility an orphan again. When she was about 3, she was sent back to England where she grew up, was baptized in the Trinity Church in London and eventually married Christopher Webb, who may be a relative of Shakespeare (I need to do the research.) They ended up back in Massachusetts where she died in 1687.
Stephen Hopkins also sailed to America on the Mayflower. He had been to Jamestown and knew something about that area. He brought his wife and children with him on the voyage. She gave birth to a baby boy, Oceanus Hopkins while at sea, the only baby born on the journey. Another man, Edward Winslow, also shows up in our family history, but the years don’t match, so I’m not sure if he is THE Edward Winslow from the Mayflower. These ancestors are on Grandaddy Layton’s side of the family. All of these courageous and honorable people came to America in the early years, establishing our family in the New World and paving the way for future generations. I am so thankful for their bravery and vision and encourage you to hold them in honorable remembrance at this special time of year. Be strong and do your part in making our country the best place on earth to live, generous and stalwart in keeping God’s commandments.
This is a yummy treat for watching the game or as a fun meal. It’s pretty ugly, be sure to serve it in a bread bowl – at least the presentation is attractive.
SPICY CHEESE FONDUE WITH CRUDITÉS AND CROUTONS
Preheat oven to 350°. Cut off top of bread, reserve top. Hollow out the inside with a small knife leaving a 3/4″ shell. Cut remaining bread into 1 1/2″ cubes. Toast as directed below.
1 round loaf of unsliced sourdough bread; 24 oz., 8- 10 inches in diameter
Combine with mixer
3 C sharp cheddar cheese, grated (12 oz.)
12 oz. Neufchatel cheese, softened
1 C sour cream
1 C green onions, chopped
7 oz. green chiles, diced
1 TBSP jalapenos, diced (optional- this adds quite a bit of fire!)
Spoon into bread, replace lid. Wrap tightly with several layers of heavy-duty foil, place on baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 1 hour, or until cheese is melted. During the last half hour of cooking; toast bread cubes. Remove bread from foil and place on a serving tray. Encircle with vegetables and toasted croutons.
CRUDITES
Broccoli, red, yellow and green pepper strips, radishes, zucchini, mushrooms, jicama, celery, cauliflower
TOASTED CROUTONS
Place in baking pan
2 sourdough bread baguettes, cut into 1/2 ” slices
stir together
1/2 C butter, melted
1/4 C vegetable oil
Place in oven during the last half hour the fondue bakes. Remove when crisp but not dried out.
Happy Halloween!
Cheesy Potato Chowder
My Little Pumpkin
I finally painted a piece in my oil painting class that I’ll sign 🙂
Art School Cupboard
If you’ve ever taken a college art class, you know one of the drills is that the instructor cleans out the art closet and makes an arrangement of all kinds of junk that has collected over the years. Usually this includes an assortment of empty wine bottles, some plaster body parts, fake produce, ugly lamps, rusty objects and who-knows-what else. We worked on this for days.
American Kitchen still life
I visited the Getty Center this summer with my family and experienced amazing art. After receiving an assignment to create a painting in the style of a “famous” artist, I chose Cezanne’s “Still Life With Apples” and made this twenty-first century American kitchen adaptation.
It’s almost time…
Coloring pages
We Are Seven
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WE ARE SEVEN
by William Wordsworth “Written at Alfoxden in the spring of 1798, under circumstances somewhat remarkable. The little girl who is the heroine I met within the area of Goodrich Castle in the year 1793. …To return to “We are seven,” the piece that called forth this note, I composed it while walking in the grove at Alfoxden. One evening he came to me with a grave face, and said, “Wordsworth, I have seen the volume that Coleridge and you are about to publish. There is one poem in it which I earnestly entreat you will cancel, for, if published, it will make you everlastingly ridiculous.” I answered that I felt much obliged by the interest he took in my good name as a writer, and begged to know what was the unfortunate piece he alluded to. He said, “It is called ‘We are seven.'” Nay! said I, that shall take its chance, however, and he left me in despair. I have only to add that in the spring of 1841 I revisited Goodrich Castle, not having seen that part of the Wye since I met the little Girl there in 1793. It would have given me greater pleasure to have found in the neighbouring hamlet traces of one who had interested me so much; but that was impossible, as unfortunately I did not even know her name. The ruin, from its position and features, is a most impressive object. I could not but deeply regret that its solemnity was impaired by a fantastic new Castle set up on a projection of the same ridge, as if to show how far modern art can go in surpassing all that could be done by antiquity and nature with their united graces, remembrances, and associations. ——–A SIMPLE Child, I met a little cottage Girl: She had a rustic, woodland air, “Sisters and brothers, little Maid, “And where are they? I pray you tell.” “Two of us in the church-yard lie, “You say that two at Conway dwell, Then did the little Maid reply, “You run about, my little Maid, “Their graves are green, they may be seen,” “My stockings there I often knit, “And often after sunset, Sir, “The first that died was sister Jane; “So in the church-yard she was laid; “And when the ground was white with snow, “How many are you, then,” said I, “But they are dead; those two are dead! 1798. |