I have to say, filming our chickens is addictive. Photos are great, but video captures their movements and sounds, which is one of the most appealing things about them! First let me share with you some photos of their newly built coop. I was amazed as my DH built the whole thing with no plans at all. Just him and and some wood, nails, and a circular saw. You can see the nesting box here, before the lid and sides... Read more

We have CHICKENS! Can you tell I’m excited? We’ve been thinking about getting chickens for years, but it’s finally happening. Our wonderful friend Martha hooked us up with a flock of 5 lovely ladies. We’ve been getting wonderful eggs from her for years now but we were ready for our own. Last weekend while my DH was building the coop, my youngest kept asking, “Are there chickens yet!?” like they would magically appear somehow once the structure was in place.... Read more

Just wanted to share this pic my DH snapped of me. I was weeding out the garden where the peas and early lettuce was, and I accidentally pulled up this bad boy, the largest turnip I’ve ever grown. Too bad it wasn’t closer to our Ancestors celebration, I’d carve it up to scare the bad spirits away! In other exciting news, our little urban farm will be expanding to include livestock by the end of the week. I don’t have... Read more

Here’s another small canvas I’ve been working on. It’s inspired by Picasso’s painting Blue Nude: I used to have a poster of that in my dorm room in college. I like his better, but that’s okay. I’ve been thinking of copying the old masters, just to see what I think of the process. Still nothing much is happening till the kids go back to school. Right now life is revolving around them. We have so little time left until school... Read more

So I’ve given in again. It’s a disturbing trend. It’s an obsession, I’m telling you. At first I only did it once in a while, just when I really needed it. I’ve adjusted to it though, become accustomed to the fragmentary nature of the experience. It’s like coffee. First you only need a cup of that dark bitter beverage, then two, then before you know what happened, you’re drinking half a pot in the morning and another one in the... Read more

Jurate 8″x 8″ acrylic and vintage paper on canvas If you’re interested in purchasing her, please contact me at dandelionlady(at)comcast(dot)net Thanks. Read more

Every day we’re bringing something in out of the yard. The photo above shows yesterday’s harvest, herbs and cucumbers. Later we picked some peppers and zuchinni. In the foreground are the blackberry leaves for stomach upset, in the middle is mullein for breathing issues, and the flowers are calendula, which I use for skin and fungal issues. I find one of the tricks to using herbs successfully is learning how to process them effectively. I took this photo today. The... Read more

I am actually finding some time to work on creative pursuits, just not as much as I’d like. However, I can’t complain at all, life has been filled with good things. Friends old and new, huge bonfires, intimate campfires, beach time with my girls, all kinds of wonderful summer fun. I’ve got my time filled ahead of me as well. Birthday cakes need to be baked, trips scheduled, we’re having to choose between events because there’s just too many good... Read more

I pulled out my papers and started cutting on Saturday to finish my small painting. After affixing them with matte acrylic medium, I adjusted a couple of things on my lady, focusing on her hands and arms, which needed the most work. I worked more on my mermaid painting, adding shadows and some depth to her body, and defining her face with shadow. Hands continue to be challenging. It’s one thing to realistically sketch a large sketch of my hands,... Read more

Or at least that’s what it felt like yesterday, with a huge blue sky above me and row after row of fragrant strawberries all around me. I forgot my camera for that, but I did remember to take a few photos of the fruits of my labor. After we picked strawberries we all came back to my house and the my girls and my friends three boys all had a great time while we chatted and prepped strawberries. It was... Read more