I'm coming to see you!!!

Dear City Mouse,

I am writing you with the great news that I really got two tickets to go visit you!!!!

I'm out of my mind with excitement.

I finally get to see your new home, your food truck, and the bustling city of Portland.

For so long now, I have imagined what it is like.  I have so many clear pictures in my mind, like those you paint when reading a novel.  I'm so curious to see what it's really like, so eagerly anticipating 

seeing you.  

I have new classe to teach coming up, and I've been playing with new mediums.

As you know I avoid all two dimensional art, and I have a fear of the flat, blank, white page.

I was away with Paul alone at his cabin for a couple days.  We had a great time, and really needed to connect.  I brought a big bag of supplies to create some art, since I have a drawing and painting class coming up.  I needed a fresh outlook, so my students wouldn't sense my fear and doubt.  I was just playing on drawing paper, and I'm very pleased with my result.

I was thinking also, about a friends post about growing old and remembered a conversation we recently had.

Think back to when you were 14, 16, 18, when your body was in its prime. 

I always felt like my belly had too much pooch, even when I was matching and breaking the females weight lifting records.

I could run hard, jump far and practically fly. I was invincible.

Did I feel beautiful? Not really.

I was confident, and knew I had beautiful qualities, but always matched them with my imperfections.

Sometime after having kids, and feeling pretty old I found a photo of myself in a bikini.

I really was baffled by it.

How could I have looked that way and felt so self conscious?

At the time I found that photo, I would have gladly rocked that body. I thought,

"I must have been crazy to have not appreciated this."

The other thought that occurred to me was that in 20 years I would be finding a photo of myself in that same stage, and be thinking the same thing.

That thought really resonated with me. I made a sort of pact with myself to just let go, and appreciate what I had because in reality, it was only downhill from there.

Since then I have discovered the beauty which comes with age. Wisdom, confidence, intelligence, patience, self love, and all the beauty that comes with it is such a gift.

I can honestly say, that I feel far more satisfaction in making something beautiful, than worrying about weather I am.

Sincerely, 

Country Mouse.

Hiking with Genevieve

Dear City Mouse,

  I have started hiking with Genevieve.

We have been going up Pratt and down Fox Canyon trail.  The whole loop takes about two hours.

  I have been so much more active now that spring is here.  I have been spending all my free time working in my garden.

I think about you the whole while.

 

  I know you must be so busy with your move, but send me some before photos of your new house!  I can't wait to see it, and I imagine you will make it wonderful.

I wish I were there to help you.

Love,

Country Mouse

Strawberry Basil Spinach Salad

Dear City Mouse, 

Thank you for all your encouragement.
I want artichokes now after seeing that photo. I can't tell you how much I love them.

I have fallen off the wagon and consumed entirely too much sugar, wheat and alcohol this holiday season. I am really wanting to get myself back on track.  I just made this salad for a snack.

It really should include goat cheese but I didn't think to buy any.  

We have been enjoying some real rain finally and the kids are doing very well.

Strawberry spinach basil salad

Ingredients:

Spinach, washed and dried

Chopped strawberries

Raw pecans

Diced fresh basil

Goat cheese

Balsamic vinegar

I love and miss you, 

Country Mouse

   

Rain and Artichokes...

Dear Country Mouse,

I absolutely LOVE the ornament! You should sell those, they would be appreciated by so many people and add a little fun and color to a Christmas tree. Seriously.

I am on a week off from the truck, which you would think would put me in the best mood possible, but instead I am finding myself trying to tie in loose ends, one of which is to apply for passports. Aghh, I am such a procrastinator when it comes to those kind of details. It always feels like a run around when dealing with the DMV or other agencies that process paperwork that has to be so incredibly precise.

As I mentioned last letter, it has been raining everyday. I like it, it adds such a calm to the world. I took the dogs out this morning because there was one of those really bright, high-cloud downpours. I thought we could walk and play in it, but of course it stopped the second I got outside. I did however come across this beast of an artichoke plant. I wish I had caught it in bloom earlier this year—I bet it was magnificent. It's quite a bit bigger then the pictures portray:

Anyway, love you and miss you!

XXOO
City Mouse

Feliz Navidad

Dear City Mouse,

    Your recipes are so wonderful and your food truck looks so cool!

I wish I was there with you now.

   I made this Dia De Los Muertos Christmas ornament for my favorite customers from the pub. They have a pink tree with an all Day of the Dead theme, so I know they will love it.

   I made the skeleton sculpture from Sculpey clay over wire with a skull bead for the head. I was thrilled when I found the tiny wood coffin at Michaels and painted it with acrylic paint.

   I will photograph some other ornaments and send you photos soon.

I hope you have the Merriest Christmas.

I love and miss you all.

Love, Country Mouse

Making Stockings from Sweaters

Dear Country Mouse,

Missing you and wishing we could play together soon.

I am writing you a quick post because I thought this project I've been working on might be right up your ally. I've been making stockings from sweaters. Pictures to explain themselves:

Sending so much love!!!


City Mouse

Vegan Sweet Potato and Lime Soup Recipe

Dear Country Mouse,

Oh my gosh it is so dark and rainy up here. I do love it, but seriously it is rain, rain, rain right now. I'm trying to send some of this dripping, wet, goodness southward, but I have yet to succeed.

Your succulents are so wonderful! How fun to find the old pieces of ceramic-ware to turn into pots. Come spring, I think I will do that with a couple of my cracked tea pots I've been holding on to.

I made a nice sweet potato and lime soup today. Just note, I kept it vegan for the sake of some of my regular customers that I was expecting, though it would be lovely with chicken stock instead. You'd think my food truck was vegan as lately all the recipes I send you tend to be vegan. But truth is, as you know, we are far from it. 

Vegan Cream of Sweet Potato Soup

Bake at 400 degrees for about 45 minutes or until soft:

2 lbs sweet potatoes

In a decent size pot sauté for several minutes:

1 teaspoon safflower oil

1 large sweet yellow onion chopped

Add and continue to sauté for several more minutes:

2 cloves garlic chopped

Add and simmer for 20 minutes:

4 cups vegetable stock

Once the sweet potatoes are cool enough to handle, peel and blend with:

1 14-ounce can coconut milk

Continue to blend adding the soup stock and add:

2 limes zest and juice

3 tablespoons molasses

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon salt or more to taste

1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon black pepper 

Return to the pot and bring to a desired temperature.

Also, I liked it with tabasco and  fresh parsley or cilantro on top. 

Anyway, I love you to pieces! Thanks for the cool idea on plant pots, I will be on that soon.

Hugs and hugs again,

City Mouse