painting and cooking

 When a local wine shop offered a painting class, I thought it'd be a fun

thing to do with some friends. And, bonus ~ the price included a glass of

wine. Well, we found out by trial and error that the class was not for amateurs.
 There was a printed sheet of instructions on what to draw (the outline) and what
 paint  colors to use, but the instructor did not show us how to do this. So, we winged
 it. We called the  instructor to our table a few times to ask questions, but let's face
 it, art takes  a lot of know-how, talent, and practice. We laughed, drank our wine,
 and did the best we could. This is my friend, Barb with our paintings.
Mine is on the left.

It was worth a try. I wouldn't mind practicing at home ~ or actually

taking an instructional class sometime.

Thankfully, I'm much better at cooking than I am painting. This was a chicken

and black bean tortilla soup that I whipped up off the top of my head. I had

posted the picture on Facebook and Jane had commented that I should put it

 on my blog with the recipe and I told her that I didn't have a recipe! I can see

 or taste a dish in my mind and create as I go. Much like an artist who can

draw or paint something from their head, that is how I sometimes cook.

Remember my great-aunt Sylvia that I talked about visiting at the end of

October and how her son - my cousin, Greg passed down her cake plate

and linens to me? And then I talked about finding one of her recipes 

in my mom's recipe box. Aunt Sylvia quietly passed away in her sleep 

on November 9th. How fitting that I had recently found one of her hand-written

 recipes recently...I knew I had to make her pork tenderloin last night.

While I was cooking, I was thinking of my great-aunt and could picture her

in her tiny kitchen, lovingly preparing this same dish for her family. I served

the pork with cheesy zucchini brown rice and sauteed green beans and yellow

 peppers. I find that rice is easy to "doctor up" according to your tastes. I simply

 cooked the rice according to package directions and stirred in shredded zucchini 

and shredded sharp cheddar cheese when the rice was done cooking. I added a

little bit of the shredded zucchini to the green bean mixture.

What creative endeavor are you naturally good at? What do you enjoy

doing but need more practice?

Linking up to What We Accomplished Wednesday,

 Work it Wednesday, Wow Us Wednesdays

and

Tweak it Tuesday

family gifts

 I went to visit my great-aunt yesterday. Aunt Sylvia - or "Sibo" - as we've always

affectionately called her - is now in her early 90's and has severe dementia.

Her son, my second cousin whom I've always been very close to and totally

adore, took care of his mom with no outside help up until about six weeks ago,

when he just couldn't do it anymore. Sibo is now in an assisted living facility

unlike any place I've ever seen before. Instead of your traditional nursing home

setting, this is a group of four ranch houses in a quiet neighborhood, where a

qualified husband and wife team lives in each one and takes care of the 

residents. Of course, there are medical staff that come by just about every day,

but for the elderly to be in a "real" home and have 24/7 care is so awesome.

My cousin is so happy and at peace with the care that is mother is receiving.

The last time I visited with Aunt Sibo was in August, so only two months ago.

I couldn't believe how much she's gone downhill since then. It was so sad

to see her totally incapacitated now. She slept most of the time and barely 

opened her eyes when we were there. She can't walk anymore and what little

speech she has is all garbled. Her petite frame is now just a bag of bones.

Other relatives from downstate whom I don't see very often, were there to

visit too, and at the end of our visit when the hospice chaplain prayed with

all of us, there were many tears. We were able to go out to lunch afterwards

and sat and talked for a couple of hours. Lots of hugs and gratefulness

for each other ended our visit. There is a lot of strife with other family members

over certain issues right now, and it's truly a shame. Life is just too short.

Anyway...my dear cousin was kind enough to give me some things that

belonged to my Aunt Sibo. He knows my tastes and what I like.

He was going through the china cabinet in his house and found these

beautiful napkins and dishtowels. Perfect colors for my kitchen!

 How gorgeous is this Fenton milk glass cake plate? Be still, my heart.

I could see this cake plate used for so many things, but for right now, it's

on the living room buffet. I think Aunt Sibo would be happy to know that

her things are with me and will be used with love and appreciated.

Do you have any family heirlooms from beloved relatives?