Around The Garden

(May)

(July)

I thought we would spend a little time walking around our garden today. You might remember a few years back when we first put in these raised beds. Since then we have added a few more and started growing lots of things we never would have dreamed we would have sprouting right outside our back door. And, for the first time ever, I have actually been remembering to take photos of the growth every month right around the same time!! We are into our second month of the growing season and things are bursting at the seams.

(brussel sprouts in May)

(brussel sprouts in July)

Those cute little baby lettuce heads, aka brussel sprouts, are one of my favorite veggies. This is our first attempt at growing them. I can't wait to harvest the first batch, but I think we are still a few weeks out and these. Sliced in half, tossed in Italian dressing, and roasted in the oven is heavenly.

(swiss chard in May)

(swiss chard in July)

Okay, okay, admittedly, this isn't an impressive shot of the swiss chard. That's because we have been eating it like mad. And the awesome thing about chard, you can cut it to the ground and it just keeps growing!! But next week, those center stalks will be steamed in chicken stock with a bit of garlic and on my dinner plate.

(broccoli & blueberries in May)

(broccoli & blueberries in July)

I think I planted too many broccoli plants... and I think I am going to have Ron buy a freezer for the basement so we can freeze this for many a sauce pan full of broccoli soup this fall/winter. Yeah. That's the plan. I know they are hard to see, buried among the broccoli leaves, but there are two blueberry bushes in this bed as well. Something is up with them... they never flowered. So I have been researching what I need to do. The branches are covered in healthy leaves, but not a berry in sight. Turns out the soil may not be acidic enough. So, every morning hence forth, I shall be dumping my coffee grounds around the bush's base to better the soil for next year.

(tomatoes in May)

(tomatoes in July)

We had a bit of a scare with the 20 plus tomato plants recently. We started to notice the leaves at the bottom start to yellow, covered in brown spots. We worried that they may have become infected the blight (a tomato killing disease). We took some of the leaves to a local garden store and we informed they actually have septoria. We left with organic Copper Fungicide in hand and are doing everything we can to save the crop. We are very hopeful.

I do have to confess, this garden wouldn't be as beautiful as it is without Ron's hard work. I am much more a garden manager than a gardener per say. I decide which plants we grow, I plant them, I weed once in a blue moon, then I leave the watering to Ron, only taking the reins back when it is time to pick the bounty he has brought to life. And with the weather we have had this year, he has had to water every single day. They said on the news the other day that this is shaping up to be the driest June-July on record... ever.  So far we have only had .05in of rain in July and there is no rain in site. So, Ron has been a watering fool.

It is so worth all his effort!!

Around The Block

Oh how excited I am to share these images with you. As part of our first Superhero Photo assignment, I committed to bringing my camera along with me for the entire day. Now, I have always wanted to show you the path I run in the morning, but I have used the excuse that my Nikon is too heavy to run with as a way to get out of it. No more. Our fearless leader, Andrea Scher, says you can use any camera to take meaningful images. So with my phone in hand, with the camera app on, I set out on my run.

I snapped lots of photos along the way. Some that will never see the light of day, and that is okay. But these are a few. And I know what you are thinking... we are saying to yourself  "wow, Kerry, oh my goodness... your camera takes the most amazing images ever. Are you using a special app to make them look like old polaroids? Do you have an iPhone?"" To which I reply "Nope, no special app. No iPhone either. I did it all in photoshop!!"

I have been hearing whispers of something called "actions" for photoshop for sometime now. I even looked into it once before. But that first experience left me feeling like they were something for "professional" photographers/photoshop users. And I let my knowledge of them fall to the way side. I am constantly bombarded with the awesomeness that is Instagram images from friends with iPhones and I am incredibly jealous and even considered buying an iPhone just so I could take and post cool photos like them... but, first... I decided to give actions one last try.

It was a blistering hot day on Monday. Andrew started the summer session at his new school, Lauren was at a friend's house, Jacob had a few hours of weight lifting scheduled, and I found myself kid-free yet again (gawd I hope that becomes a reoccuring thing this summer!). So instead of trying to brave the inhuman temps I knew my studio would be reaching, I sat in my lovely air conditioned living room digging deeper into what these action thingies were/are and holy crow, they are a freaking piece of cake. They make editing life so much easier!! And I can make crappy camera phone shots look like super cool 1970s-esque polaroids in seconds. Yeah, literally seconds. Best part... all the actions I found to download are FREE.

Weird, I think I sound like a door to door salesman. HA!

Hmmm... I think I may have to work applying actions to images into my Snaptastic class for ArtBliss in September. And actually, one of my summer to-do list items is writing an e-book for that Snaptastic class and I am considering making it available to everyone as a download. Lots of new territory for me. Exciting isn't it.

But, I digess... I was first saying how I always wanted to take you along for one of my morning runs. This is the path I run. It is 2.5 miles around my block. Or rather, halfway around my block. I cut down the bike trail to get back to my street. Otherwise, it would be a 5 mile run (which I have a goal of running in August). The L O V E Y O U message was on a bike trail leg of the run. I grinned so big when I saw it. It really spurred me on. I have friends that run marathons all the time, and I feel somewhat pathetic that I have to push through 2.5 miles. But, I am learning to be gentle with myself and know I will get there someday. It feels good to be out there, working on making me the best me I can be.

And one last polaroid... one of the shots from datenight last week. So wanna print this and hang it on the fridge.

Around The House

:: the house is official D.O.N.E... being painted that it. we hung the shutters on saturday and it was done.
:: next project will be to spruce up the crooked breeze way with new windows and doors.
:: i told you my soul needed a rainy day... my lawn could use more than one.
:: look how big the daisies grew in just a month!
:: and oh yes, the deck is done too.
:: i know all this talk of house projects is boring as all get out, oh well. i'm sure you'll survive it.
:: i didn't even tell you, we painted the shed to match too.
:: oh, we ripped out the old, circa 1970, scrolly, rusted, metal porch railings and replaced it with lovely painted wood posts.




:: i decided to take you around my house all week... but not just the paint job. you'll see.
:: inside and out
:: why is it that after more than 6 months rusty still hisses at lola? all she wants to do is love him.
:: today marks the start of a new photo adventure for summer! superhero photo with andrea scher!
:: i love the idea of opening my life to more gratitude and joy!!
:: don't worry, i won't be silent for another month...
:: i just spotted my mom out the back window plucking weeds in the gardens.
:: time to throw on a sports bra for my morning run!

Date Night

One of the perks to the kids being at Mom's... date night.
And you can bet I made him take lots of pictures. I think he is so cute.
We went out for Thai for dinner, we sat on the deck enjoying a gorgeous evening,
and we watched a movie, at home, without any interuptions.
A perfect evening.
This month marks being together for 17 years.
It is official...
I've been with him longer than I was with my parents.
And I still think he is cute.

What's In A Name?

First things first... I was so honored to contribute to the latest installment of Interweave's Easy Wire magazine! (How cool, you can get a digital copy of Easy Wire 2011 too!) I just listed the original pieces for sale on my website. Hop on over and check them out, if you are so inclined. There are 3 earrings, 1 bangle, and a necklace too!!



My mom is treating me to a few kid-free days this week and naturally, I raced to the studio the first chance I had to get some work done. It felt like a lifetime since I had spent a few hours there. Though really, just two weeks ago, I was there... every.single.day... while I finished writing my second book. As I was out on my run this morning, I thought about what I would do at the studio once I got there. I toyed with the idea of making a vlog with more details about the things that went on through out June. But, once there, in my happy place, I got to thinking about something else.

Have you ever heard your name spoken or read it somewhere and been taken back by it? As if you nearly forgot it was your name and it takes a moment or two for it to settle in. I think Moms will be able to understand what I mean by this most. It happens to me all the time. I hear someone say "Kerry" and it sometimes takes me a moment to really understand that's me. Even as I type my name here, it looks foreign to me. I hear MOM this or MOM that about a gazillion times a day and I am sure that is what leads to the forgetting that I am actually Kerry.

I think a lot about the different sides to us that we all have. (Or rather, I think a lot about all the crazy sides that I seem have and wonder if others feel as split in personalities/titles as I do.) This time of year I find it so hard to move through my different mind sets. As an artist and mother, it is all about balance, but it is easy to be pulled to one side more than the other without even knowing you've tipped the scales. For me, I don't recognize things have become lopsided until I try to make major transitions from one to the other. It jolts my system. And I am starting to wonder if that might be one of the underlying reasons that I have come to detest summer. I go from being able to work during the day, doing what I love, spending evenings with my family to being home all day, every day, with everyone. Frustration quickly sets in from the jolt of letting go of freedom I had for months while suddenly being at the beck and call of others. Then, you throw in a random day like today... bam, freedom returned... but I am in my studio, lost... trying to remember what the rhythm was before. I was used to being home again... I was okay with it... it was working... but now what?

Now, don't get me wrong... when I say frustration sets in because I am suddenly at everyone else's beck and call, don't think I would trade being a Mom for anything. I love my kids... I love being with them, and doing things with them... but I need to be reminded that I am more than just Mom. I have to remember that my name is Kerry, too. Today felt like such an awakening to needing to be mindful of that rather than getting lost in the thoughts of one side or the other and letting resentment set in. I think it all goes hand in hand with a lot of the things I have been feeling for some time now. A multitude of things that feel impossible to articulate. They are a bubbling of awareness deep down... in my heart and in my soul. Everyday, little by little, I am discovering and crafting my life.  Though I don't have the words... I know it all feels *right*.

life is like...

:: if i were to say june was a full month, it would be the biggest understatement of the year
:: the kids are out of school and up to their usual driving-their-mom-nuts-summer-antics
:: the house updates i told you about this spring are nearly finished
:: the garden is overflowing with goodness... we've harvested the garlic, broccoli is budding, and more
:: and i love fresh picked steamed chard
:: i miss my studio
:: i finished knitting the sweater seen in the image that started off the month of photos in june
:: psst... i have seen the cover of my new book!!
:: i started cutting the fabric for a new quilt... it is oh so very colorful
:: it is hard to believe i am officially the mother of a high school student! high school... really?
:: i remember high school, it wasn't that long ago... or maybe it was... i graduated 15 years ago
:: oh how i love my blue house with white trim
:: honestly... my soul could really use a rainy day
:: many morning runs
:: i am constantly reminding myself that with each new season there is a shift in rhythms and new routines settle in
:: must learn to be okay with change... it won't be forever
:: here is to summer...

day 30 :: piecing it all together

HOT DAMN!! I DID IT!! I made it through all 30 days of Picture Color!! Yeehaw!!

I am so looking forward to telling you about all the adventures I had this month. We'll be back to our regularly scheduled blogging soon.

day 29 :: sunrise, sunset

day 28 :: the color of happiness

day 27 :: going back in time

day 26 :: watch for whimsy

day 25 :: heavy metal

day 24 :: the library of color

shh... don't tell him... but, i think he is getting more handsome by the day. don't you?

day 23 :: the meaning of color

day 22 :: inspired by color

day 21 :: ambient yellow

day 20 :: corrugated color

day 19 :: the color of calm

day 18 :: what's your shade

day 17 :: the color of light

i am feeling light in more ways than one today... my manuscript for rustic wrappings has been sent to my editor!!! champagne to celebrate!