I Built A Wall Of Basil

Ready for the freezer...30 1/2 cups of pesto.

When one is married to an Italian...you grow basil and tomatoes.  I harvested pounds of basil.  Most of the leaves were removed for pesto.  But I had so much that I put some in a vase and the kitchen is filled with the smell of fresh basil.  There will be more made in a week or so.  What this means to me: is in January when I can't think of what to make for dinner...pesto.  Bob is always delighted and amazed by this.

Basil, green chili, eggplant, tomatoes, eggs, and feathers.

Above is yesterday's harvest.  I will freeze the Monzano plum tomatoes and when I defrost them the skins just slip off.  I discovered this by accident, no more dropping into boiling water.  This method is much easier.  

Bantam eggs fill a bowl that I made with Bob in ceramics studio.

Thanks for reading.

Each day is a gift. Open now.

xo,

Suz

Kitchen and Coop

Tassels on top mean corn starting on the bottom.

It's the middle of August, and everything is ripening.  I picked about 5 pounds of basil, which equaled 30 cups of leaves, and a bouquet for the kitchen table.  Tomatoes and green chili are bountiful. Bob helped me carry 20 pounds of tomatoes, and about 5 of green chili into the house last night.

Cukes on the right, and basil on the left.

12 pints of refrigerator dill pickles

The "Coop Mahal" is slowly progressing.  Bob is getting ready for a show, so that is his focus at the moment.  But here are a few pics of the progress.  The large door will have the metal mesh open in summer, and cleverly hinged with a piano hinge closes in winter.  I don't know if I have ever seen a coop with a piano hinge.  We had it, so Bob used it. 

"My" door to the Coop Mahal

The chicken door to their yard. Not open yet.

 Morning mash...love those tail feathers.

The girls continue to bring daily joy to my life.  I bring my set chair in early in the morning, or at dusk for some socialization.  Many hop on my lap for lovin'.  They all preen me, and pick at my clothes. We get about 4 eggs a day right now.  They are all bantams...as that's who is laying.  Irma, the black cochin has a comb that is soooo red, that I know any day, she will be laying.

Thanks for reading.

Each day is a gift. Open now.

xo,

Suz

Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Ladies

Today my dear friend Melissa picked me up and wheeled me to the last day of the Tiffany Exhibit at the Albuquerque Museum.  Since I moved to New Mexico there have been few exhibits that have moved me the way this did.  The NYC Historical society produced the show.  I learned that Clara Driscoll was the driving force of design in Louie's shop.  I was inches away from some of the most beautiful stained glass lamps ever made.  Form and function married with bronze organic shaped lamp bases, and exquisite jeweled glass shades.   Antiques and Fine Art reviewed the show in the link below.

http://www.antiquesandfineart.com/articles/article.cfm?request=769

Driscoll designed the famous Dragonfly lamps.

As someone who makes things with her hands, I loved seeing the templates, sketches, and the studios these ladies worked in. Letters Clara wrote to her family told the story of her designs for Mr. T. and her constant need for his approval.  She, like most artists and craftspeople struggled with the daily battle of putting a roof over one's head and artistic compromise.  She churned out designs that will stand the test of time.  For me, good design in everyday things equals a perfect painting in a museum.   Some artists would argue that fine craft is not art.  I believe there is just a much art in making something useful for the home or bodily adornment.

I just ordered the above book:"Clara and Mr. Tiffany."  There was also another book that the gift shop had sold out of. "A New Light on Tiffany." Below is the Amazon link to it.
http://www.amazon.com/New-Light-Tiffany-Clara-Driscoll/dp/1904832350

Thanks Melissa, I was truly inspired.
Each Day is a gift. Open now.
xo,
Suz