Wicked Good Tea and Other Goodies....

It's not often I'm tempted to keep a piece of my work instead of selling it - if I did that, I'd eventually have to get a "real" job, and I love this artsy life too much! But I must admit it's sometimes hard to part with the tea pieces....

Like dog and cat people, and journey and destination people, I think there are also coffee and tea people. And while I do love my vanilla lattes, for the most part I fall into the latter category.

There's something truly magical about a good cup of tea - it warms, it soothes, it relaxes - just a few sips can change your whole perspective....Which is exactly the feeling I was trying to convey with the latest eBay offering, a witchy tea box. I hope I've succeeded. ;)

I've also been busy these past few days with creative pursuits of the culinary variety...

Friday's project was a fresh peach pound cake with apricot brandy glaze....


And last night found me staying up 'til all hours blanching, cooling, cutting and freezing a large batch of summer sweet corn. This is an annual project, and I admit I grumble about the time involved, but come January, I'm always soooooooo glad I froze so much of the stuff. :)

I'd like to say the latest domestic kick extended itself to houscleaning and organizing, but I'm afraid the place still looks like the art explosion. ;)

Ah well, one thing at a time.....

It's approaching midnight as I type this, and if I'm not careful, I'll turn into a pumpkin, so off I go. But not before wishing everyone a happy and creative week ahead!

I'll be back very soon with photos of works in progress....

♥ Carolee

Kitchen Witchery

Being a bit of a foodie (or at least as much of a foodie as a vegetarian can be) the kitchen has always been a magical place for me. Like painting, cooking is a creative endeavor; something done with lots of love, and a wish not only to nourish but to nurture family and friends...

We're fortunate to live in a place with some of richest farmland and freshest produce in the country, which makes cooking even more of a pleasure. So every once in a while (like this morning) I take a break from the painting to visit one of the local farm markets and pick up provisions. Here's one of my favorites, just a couple of miles away....


This is the view of the main road from the parking lot. Check out the old water pump in the front yard of the house across the street. It's one of my favorite houses - whitewashed, with a bright red door, and sit sits right on the Conestoga Creek...

Oops - sorry, getting off topic, hehe. Back to the market....

Although they weren't on my list, I just couldn't resist these blueberries - the plan is to freeze them for smoothies, but I may just have to set a few aside for blueberry muffins. ;)


And the green beans - yummmmmm....steamed crisp-tender and served with a splash of lemon juice.


And watermelon - summer's perfect food! I found a recipe for watermelon salad I've been dying to try, with feta cheese, cucumber, cilantro and red onion - almost like a watermelon salsa.


And finally, a post about Lancaster County farm markets and local food just wouldn't be complete without showing you a local delicacy - the whoopee pie.


Two cake-like cookies filled with a shortening and sugar concoction sure to send children bouncing off the walls for hours. Now, what I'm about to say is sacrilege, but I really don't understand the appeal of these things. Unless you're like, five years old or something....Can't say that too loud around here though - disliking whoopee pies is like, well - like disliking scrapple, or red velvet cake (also guilty!)... But to get back to my original point, the produce in this area is truly amazing.

Well okay, and the snickerdoodles. ;)

I also have to share, with the spirit of kitchen magic in mind, I painted another kitchen witch piece this week! I'm loving the plum, turquoise blue and sage green combination....

This one is listed on eBay now, on just a three day auction. Look for more kitchen witchery as autumn approaches - a witch's pantry is waiting in the wings too. :)

That's about it for now.....Back to the kitchen I go (thought I was going to say back to the studio, didn't you?!) Actually, we're hosting a little gathering tomorrow, and I'm baking a batch of chai-latte cupcakes for dessert. Easy to carry around outside, and no need to wash dessert plates, hehe.

However you're spending it, I wish you all a magical and creative weekend!

♥ Carolee