Monday, August 22, 2011

Hiking in the Poconos

We had a relaxing and adventurous weekend in the Poconos.


My Sweetheart & amazing Pup


Hickory Run State Park on the "Shades of Death" trail.


check out these Mushrooms!


I loved the colors of the moss growing on the ancient tree trunk.


Happy Monday.....Its feels like a fresh start and I am looking forward to a week full of creating.
xo, Laura

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Puttanesca - yum!!

My husband and I joined a wonderful CSA in Philadelphia this year. Our CSA is unique in the fact that farm is located on the grounds of a High School right down the street from our house in the city. If you are not familiar with the concept, CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Our CSA is run by Weavers Way Co-op and the students of Saul High School which centers learning on the Agricultural Sciences. Every week we get a share of the freshest organic, locally grown vegetables.
This week we received cucumbers, basil, arugula, eggplant, squash & a boat load of TOMATOES!

With all of the tomatoes we received this week I decided to make a home made pasta sauce. As I started sauteing the garlic, I noticed that I had most of the ingredients on hand to make a Puttanesca Sauce. It tasted so savory & delicious, I thought that sharing the recipe would be good due to the abundance of tomatoes out there in peoples gardens right now.

Here is what you will need ::
Tomatoes {!!}
Onions
Olive oil
Garlic
Capers
Basil & oregano
S & P
Red pepper flakes (adds the heat)
Kalamata Olives
& Parmesan cheese
and anchovies (which I did not have on hand, they are optional)

First, I sauteed the garlic and onion in olive oil.
then, I added the tomatoes that were cut in to chunks..
Next add the spices and capers.
Let it all simmer up.
After simmering I add the kalamata olives {I like them to keep their true flavor}.
Spoon onto your favorite pasta ......
Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and Enjoy.

In keeping with the way I like to creatively cook.....just use as much or as little of each ingredient as you like. Spice it up according to how you and your family will enjoy it. Add or delete any of the ingredients.....Make it your own!




Thursday, July 28, 2011

Feathers



For the last several weeks I have been finding feathers on my walks.
They just appear when I least expect them.
Have you been finding feathers too?



Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Have you heard of Crispy Kale? It's my new favorite Summertime snack !!


A while back one of my best friends sent me a recipe for Kale Chips
& I have finally made them!
Kale is so yummy and healthy, you can taste the vitamins
and feel them running through your body.

All you have to do is
Wash and spin the Curly Kale.
Tear into small pieces.
Toss with olive oil.
and Sprinkle with sesame seeds and salt.
Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes.
Then munch!

I didn't have time to bake and take a photo the Kale after they became chips.
Keep in mind
they are not so pretty, they just taste amazing!
You can also add your own twist with Miso, garlic, pepper and more.....

Some of my friends from the Blog~o~Sphere Think Tank are also sharing their favorite Summer recipes.......
take a look and start to cook!

Andes Cruz: http://www.andescruz.wordpress.com
Brad Severtson: http://hammeringoutaliving.blogspot.com/
Kathleen Krucoff: http://mysticalmythicalmetalwork.wordpress.com/
Barbara Donovan: http://barbaradonovan.blogspot.com/
Shannon Koochin: http://thebassplayersdaughter.blogspot.com/
stephanie clark: http://thethinkingsofacoldweathergirl.blogspot.com
WATTO: http://www.wattoonline.com/news

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Mama Bird in 14k


I recently had a request to make one of my Mama Bird necklaces
in 14k gold.
This necklace will be a gift from a Mother to the wonderful Nanny who has cared for her son since he was a baby.
It will be an extra special gift because the family is moving soon.....I hope that the thoughtfulness of the gift brings the recipient joy & when she wears her necklace that it serves as a reminder of her time with the family who I am sure will miss her greatly.

Before the necklace flew off to Chicago, I took a photo.
I will be making a few more Mama Birds in 14k, look for them in a few weeks here.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

One of my Favorite Quotes

May's topic for the Blog-o-Sphere Think Tank Group....
What is your favorite quote?

"Maybe our favourite quotations say more about us
than about the stories and people we're quoting."
~ John Green
A few weeks ago I came across this quote in short blog post named Wisdom by Alison "TeenAngster" ..... it rang so true to me.
While most memorable quotes have a universal appeal,
we tend to find them just when we need them.
That day I decided to participate in this months
Blog-o-Sphere Think Tank,
so that I could share one of my favorite quotes by Anais Nin
and why I connect to it.

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud
was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."
~Anais Nin

Nature has so many lessons to teach me when I pay attention......
Flowers are one of the natural wonders of the world I learn from and love to investigate & reflect upon.
When I read this quote by Anais Nin the first time, it made me think
that the blossoming of a flower is akin to becoming the best version of myself that I could possibly be.
Blossoming is a natural process, each petal revealing a part of my self.
While complex and layered, I would like to allow my blossoming to just happen freely.
No longer do I want to hold tight to old ways of being that keep me stuck. I do not want to be bound by the idea that I "should be" a certain way instead of revealing who I really am inside.
I want to continue to take the risk of blossoming.....a life long unfolding of all of my petals, that reveals my beauty.



When I add flowers to my jewelry designs, I often have this idea in mind and use flowers as a representation
of constant growth (or blossoming as a person).


:: Follow the links of my fellow Blog-o-Sphere Think Tankers
to enjoy inspiring Quotes & discussion.
:: May's participants in the Blog-o-sphere Think Tank ::


Andes Cruz: http://www.andescruz.wordpress.com/
Brad Severtson: http://hammeringoutaliving.blogspot.com/
Kathleen Krucoff: http://mysticalmythicalmetalwork.wordpress.com/
Wendy Kelly: http://www.wendykianakelly.com/
Mary Spencer: http://www.wattoonline.com/news
Stephanie Clark: http://thethinkingsofacoldweathergirl.blogspot.com/
Barbara Donovan: http://barbaradonovan.blogspot.com/
Beth Cyr: http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/
Thomasin Durgin: http://metalriot.blogspot.com/
Shaun Young: http://shaunyoung.ca/
Kathryn Cole: http://www.kathryncolejewelry.blogspot.com/
Natsuko Hanks: http://jewelrybynatsuko.blogspot.com/


more flower photos from my neighborhood....



Sunday, March 20, 2011

Coming out of my Winter Hibernation (finally)...

I have joined the Blog-o-sphere Think Tank !!
A wonderful group of artists who are blogging each month on a specific topic. The leader of the pack is Andes Cruz: www.andescruz.wordpress.com This month's topic is "best childhood/ younger years memory".
I have been thinking and thinking all month
about growing up in Miami in the 70s,
my best friends, my neighborhood...
The ONE best memory is so difficult to come up with.
I have an overall feeling that keeps popping up, it is the feeling of freedom,
just being a kid.
I grew up in South Miami, Florida, part of a family of four. My childhood home was on a beautiful lake.
As a kid I was always outside.
Swimming, riding my bike, making hiding places under trees & lighting mini bon fires at the canal's edge.
I would pack my suit case and climb one of the trees in my yard and just hang out for the day.
Just the feeling of being outside in the sunshine, playing all day is my best childhood memory.

Here is the view from my childhood backyard in Florida....



Now I live in Philadelphia. When I was walking in the Wissahickon Valley Park this week with my dog I felt that feeling again.....the one of being free, in nature. That is when it occurred to me that I try to recreate that feeling
I had as a kid.
As a grown up, I get outside and walk.
I let all of my worries go and just enjoy being.

Photos of the Woods ::




:: Creatives writing this month ::

Andes Cruz: http://www.andescruz.wordpress.com
Kathleen Krucoff http://mysticalmythicalmetalwork.wordpress.com/
Wendy Kelly: http://www.wendykianakelly.com/
Stephanie Nocito Clark http://thethinkingsofacoldweathergirl.blogspot.com/
Brad Severtson: http://hammeringoutaliving.blogspot.com/
Andrea Bell: http://feathersfreesiasandfishingtackle.blogspot.com/
Natsuko Hanks: http://jewelrybynatsuko.blogspot.com/
Shaun Young: http://shaunyoung.ca/
Pal Gooz: http://pmgart.blogspot.com/
Beth Cyr: http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/