Canio

Do you keep a pen and paper by your bed? It's very handy. I started doodling this thinking it was me in a fun hat and then ... it was Canio! Oh my gosh. Wait a minute ... am I CANIO? That big circle on the left is not supposed to be an ear, by the way.

Old Journal

Meandering a bit ...

Sketchbook Challenge

Here's a little video I did for The Sketchbook Challenge. I enjoy these games and my students like them as well - from kids to teens to adults. Games like this are great for loosening up and training your eye. As you watch the pen move across the page, you begin to learn to control it. It's great practice!


Here's the finished drawing. I used pen, and then black ink and a brush. You can read more here on the Sketchbook Challenge blog.

Relax and have fun with this idea. Or make up your own drawing game and share it in the comments! Wouldn't that be fun!! Yeah! Get to drawing.

Nudge 14, The Grid and two soup recipes

This is a bit more than the usual 5 minute Nudge but - what the heck! - it's a holiday week.
Ah yes, the grid. I love grids (what's not to love?). And I like messy, free-hand grids best but you may like rulers so go for it. I used a Derwent watersoluble sketch pencil (dark wash) and my waterbrush). I'm cross-posting this with more detail over at The Sketchbook Challenge. Two birds and all that ... yeah, ahem, it's a holiday week, hiccup.

We had a soup night here tonight. Split Pea with the leftover Christmas Day ham bone. Really, it doesn't get better than this ... Unless you want to have the Butternut Squash soup with ate with the ham on Christmas Day. Both recipes are here.

My Split Pea Soup (adapted from the back of the bag of split peas and The Moosewood Cookbook)
Ingredients:
Bag of dried split peas
one diced large onion
4 sliced carrots
2 celery stalks (with leaves, if possible)
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 quart of good chicken or vegetable stock (the kind in the carton)
Ham bone (if you have it)
2 Bay Leaves
1 small can of tomatoes
about a quarter cup of red wine
1/4 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp thyme
sesame oil
loads of pepper

Saute the diced onion in olive oil till soft. I add a bit ole pinch of kosher salt at this point. But if your stock is salted, don't add too much.
Add the carrots and celery and saute a bit. Add crushed garlic.
Add the ham bone (with ham on it) and split peas
Add the chicken stock and about 2 cups water

Bring to a simmer and let it go for a bit until the peas are mushy or smooth - whichever you prefer.

Remove the ham bone. Take the ham bits off the bone and add it back to the soup with
the wine, the tomatoes (chopped) the thyme and sesame oil and pepper. Cook about 15 minutes more.


The Butternut Squash Soup A Sippin' Soup

large onion, diced
butter
Butternut Squash (I get the package of already cubed squash, it is about 1 1/2 lbs.)
Chicken stock, quart
salt and pepper
nutmeg
a little half & half or cream if you have it

Saute the onion with a big pinch of salt.
Add the squash and the stock and simmer until the squash is soft. The stock should just about cover the squash
After the squash is cooked, blend the soup in batches in a blender (or use that awesome blender stick)
  (Be careful blending the hot soup in a blender! Remove that plastic circular handle thingy on top of the cover and put a dishcloth over the hole. Don't fill the blender more than 1/3 of the way.)
Blend til smooth. Return to pot
Add S and P to taste and a nice grating or pinch of nutmeg.
Stir in a dollop of cream (or half & half) if desired

Love ya' all! Happy New Year

Teens Journal Summer 2010

{Abington Free Library} This summer, we did some drawing and watercoloring. Yes, when given some instruction and confidence, folks can learn to draw. Even you.

What's On My Desk

{Playfull-ness}