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Okay…… I set out to make this lamb cake. A neighbor, Dorothy Waddell, used to make us a lamb cake every year for Easter when I was young. And she carried out the tradition for my daughter every year as she was growing up. She passed away quite a few years ago and her husband gave me her lamb cake mold so I could continue with the tradition. I had the cake molds put away and never attempted to make this until this year. I guess that I figured all of the hours watching “Ace of Cakes”, “Cake Boss” and a few other cake bake off television shows would have prepared me. It didn’t seem like it would be that difficult. Well….. it probably wouldn’t have been if I knew what the heck I was doing! Dorothy would place the finished cake, covered with coconut shavings to look like lamb fur, on a plate surrounded by Easter grass and sprinkled colored jelly beans around it. I had this vision of making one to surprise my family with this year and make some extras for my neighbors. Apparently, this was not going to happen. Here is what I got…

The head fell off and half of the cake broke into three pieces. I tried to glue it together with butter cream frosting, to no avail. It just kept becoming more and more of a crumby mess. All of the coconut in the world could not have covered up the mistakes and I didn’t even begin to add jelly beans! Is it just me or does that lamb cake mold look like it is laughing at me? There was no way that this would or could sit upright.

First of all, the cake was too moist, I think that I was supposed to use bundt cake mix. I don’t even care what the mistakes were that I made, actually. I only wish that I would have made a red velvet cake to complete the road kill look of this sad, sacrificial lamb cake.

~ Happy  Easter ~  ( Damn Lamb )

This morning I woke up to a new, adorable light over my kitchen sink. My hubby is a Handyman and is forever surprising me with things around the house. Our kitchen and home is filled with a plethora of hippie funk, or in other words, it is a hodgepodge of cool things that are given to us from the hearts and hands of family, friends and clients.  Years ago I painted a few of our favorite words on the walls above our cabinets. It surrounds our kitchen with wonderful vibes.

About a month ago I was thrilled to find that one of our kitchen doors had been replaced with this plantation shutter, french door.  “When one door closes, another one opens…..”

Although, I drool over fancy estates with stark, crisp spaces I don’t think that I could ever live in a house like that. I am just too much of a bohemian with my recycled, reused, renewed preferences and pieced together lifestyle.

~ HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS ~

Oh, did I mention that I love Arcosanti? Ha! Another day trip with friends last Wednesday proved to be just what I needed to renew and gather inspiration. I have watched this Utopian Community change and grow over the past 30 plus years and it never gets old or dull. I feel so fortunate that it is only a one hour drive from my driveway to theirs. Whenever I need a boost or a getaway, that is where you can find me. Thanks to great friends who are always willing to drive me up there now that I am no longer able to drive (you know, the brain surgeries….. same old, same old story).

Click here to watch the slideshow.

On Third Avenue slightly south of Roosevelt in downtown Phoenix  sits a charming, little park with a most fabulous art installation called “a desert garden”. I have driven by this a million times and finally satisfied my curiosity after all these years to stop and check out the art in this park. I knew that the artist behind it was Suzanne Klotz and she is one of my all time favorite artists EVER! I was fortunate enough to connect with her and get the story behind the sculpted and mosaic art monuments. She told me that an architect who lived in the historic neighborhood, Margy Christi, wanted to donate something to the community and she funded and organized the project. It was a three year long project. A man by the name of John Armstrong fabricated the sculpture. He constructed the entire form: welded the rebar, poured concrete forms and the concrete base.  He did all the work at his studio and then transported it to the park. Artist, Suzanne Klotz, with the help of her former ASU student Linda Kiepke, made the glazed pavers that were bought from a Phoenix brick yard. They worked together on the glazed tiles for about two years in Suzanne’s studio. During the last year of the project Suzanne and Linda worked with the children from Kenilworth Elementary School and the kids made designs with the glaze on the pavers and then they were fired and included in the piece.  In a gracious email reply Suzanne wrote, ” At the time when I applied for Margy’s competition I lived around the corner at 5th ave. and Fillmore. So, I knew the area. At that time there were quite a few homeless people sleeping in the park and it was considered an unsafe area. Kids liked to tear it up, however possible.
To prevent kid-vandalism I got kids from the area involved in the tile workshops. To help the inebriated get a foothold on where they were I put a tile street map of the area on the base of the palm tree. For safety reasons the initial idea had to involve safety factors, such as nothing to hide behind.”

SOOOOOOO AWESOME! I found it fascinating to learn a little about the behind the scene action that was involved. Our mayor at the time, Terry Goddard, awarded the project with the Governor’s City Improvement Award. It had a lot to do with the cleaning up of that area that is now a thriving artist community and home of high dollar real estate. It started with making art a priority in this local, small park. If you are ever in the area get out of your car and take a walk around. You may still see a vagrant or two hanging out, but, it has absolutely come a very long way. Personally, I am grateful and mindful of the artists and people who take the effort to enforce a positive change through art in the community. It makes a huge difference when people in a neighborhood, especially involving the youths, work together creatively.

To check out Suzanne Klotz’s website CLICK HERE. She is a fascinating artist with a resume miles long. I wish that someone would write a biography on this amazing talented woman! I’m dieing to read it!!

When I grow up I want to be like her.

A friend gave me a box of lemons and I spent part of the afternoon squeezing them. I meant to squeeze them yesterday, but the day flew by too quickly. My friend lives near Sun City, a beautiful retirement community of 55+ elders. I LOVE “old people” and their citrus trees! HA! Did you ever notice how the elderly always seem to have some kind of citrus abundance thing going on? At least that is the way it appears to be out here in the Valley of the Sun. It cracks me up. I can talk because I am definitely “over the hill” and sliding down the backside of the mountain into the sunset. My elderly neighbors ~ I call them the “O.G.’s”, for original gangsters ~ all seem to have a lot of fruit trees, mostly citrus. The orange blossoms fill the air with the most heavenly fragrance this time of year. The cool thing is that everyone is eager to share their bounty. Usually I turn away the big bags and boxes, but figured that I would be a little more recession minded and see what I could come up with as far as this citrus situation goes. So, I hand squeezed the lemons and got about 5 cups worth of juice. I didn’t realize how far lemon juice can go and how little is needed to make lemonade. Tomorrow I plan on trying my hand at some lemon tarts that I figured I could give to my neighbors and family here. I’m guessing that I can make quite a big batch of them. I seriously have no idea where the lemon juice thing will take me but I am certain to enjoy the adventure. I will keep you updated. If nothing else, I had a zen moment squeezing lemons and I enjoyed that very much. The whole process was very fun, I felt like a little old grandma with my enamel ware and glass juicer. Thoughts of the women who came before me with their vintage kitchens ran through my mind. I could imagine sheets and clothes hanging on a line outside and tall sunflowers blowing in the breeze along the garden fence. I was taken to another time in a different world of my own into what I come close to calling perfect. The best thing this economic freak out has done is drive many of us to simpler ways of living. It is delicious.

Of course, the remainder of the lemons and tonight’s dinner all went into the compost, ready to do it’s thing. Life is so good when at it’s most basic levels.

Home again, Home again, Jiggity Jig!

Another BEAUTIFUL morning at the Farmer’s Market in downtown Phoenix. The best place to find organic, locally grown fruits, vegetables, fresh baked artisan breads, organic fresh eggs, and everything that you could possibly need for your body and soul are all available at the Saturday Farmer’s Market. It is also a great gathering place for like minded people, as well as the best place to gather information on a wide range of topics. I love supporting local farmers and artisans. It is the healthiest choice all the way around. So much better than patronizing the big supermarkets and throwing money at mass produced items that have little nutritional value and waste resources through production and shipping. Meeting the people who grow your food and make the products that you put on your body and in your home is a much more delightful experience.

Fresh eggs are sold so quickly that you must get there as soon as it opens and in most cases you must put your name on a list for your eggs that you can pick up the following market day (Saturday). Today we were lucky to find one organic farmer who had a few eggs left. They sell for $5 a dozen and are well worth it.

Following the market, I usually visit my sister who has a small urban farm, complete with hens who recently began to lay eggs. She has been getting only one a day but soon there will be enough hens laying that I can get eggs from her. She has 10 chickens in all and is going to add to her brood very soon. That should provide us all with plenty of eggs before too long. I am in love with her rooster who we call “little Jerry”, he comes up to me whenever I visit, so I just have to pick him up and get my rooster love!

My favorite soap ever is Blackstrap Patchouli Handmade Cold Press Soap made by Emelmahae Soap Company, owned by a very lovely woman whose name is Kari Bower. Instead of a having a dope dealer I call her my “soap dealer” because I am so addicted to her soap. Patchouli is my drug of choice. Her products are organic and everything smells wonderful and is good for you.

Today is the spring equinox and on the way out of the door this morning I found a partial eggshell on my patio that apparently blew out of one of the many nests in the trees around my house, landing on my patio as a sign of the first day of spring. The air is filled with bird songs today. It is heavenly.

Life literally gave us lemons, a huge bowl full actually, and this afternoon will be spent making hand squeezed, homemade lemonade. What a perfect beginning to the new season and a great way to celebrate everything new. The flowers and trees are in full bloom, the birds are alive and well and it is time for renewal.

What a day for a daydream!

We took a Sunday drive to northern Arizona and on the way we took the turnoff to Horse Thief Basin. After too many miles on the old, bumpy, dirt road we opted for the turn to Bumblebee that eventually comes out on the backside of Mayor and runs into highway 69. It is definitely the wild west along this old road and it would have been easier taken on horseback, though. This drive reconnected me to childhood memories, as I have lived in the wild west for over 45 years, with the exception of a few years in California and wherever the wind blew. The old days still exist in these tiny, old towns although currently it is a haven for off road recreational vehicles and bicyclists. I wanted to put on some cowgirl boots, pull out my gun and have a shot or two of whiskey. But, it was just a passing scene that played out in my head. My thoughts quickly shifted to putting a crisp, line dried tablecloth topped with an antique bottle holding a sweet, desert flower bouquet on the shabby, wooden table on the old, crumbling porch.

Recent rains have brought the desert to life. Wildflowers are beginning to spring forth from the carpet of green that covers the usually brown ground. It was GORGEOUS to say the least. After a short walk and shooting few photos we were on our way to snow country. Such contrast of scenery all in one day!

Oh, joyful earth!

I had an appointment with the doctor this morning and after that was taken care of, my friend and I cruised over to the Cosanti Foundation to take a relaxing stroll through the property. Surrounded by the beauty of the structures and sounds of the bells, we sat under the olive trees immersed in our thoughts. This place takes me completely away from the hustle and bustle of the city and reconnects me with Arcosanti, where my heart always lies waiting for me to return. Whenever I have to make an appointment or run an errand I believe that going somewhere outside of the mundane task at hand always adds spice to the daily grind. It helps to time travel a little and create a beautiful memory along the way. Above, are only a few photos captured, but if you are interested in watching a slideshow with music that fit the vibe of the experience,  you can CLICK HERE.

Remember to take the scenic route the next time you have to go somewhere routine. Your heart will be happy and it will thank you for it!

Tah Dah! I met my deadline and the “En El Jardin De Frida” is hanging in the Phoenix Frida’s Folk Art Exhibition at 500 south Mill Avenue. It runs from March 5th through July 14th. It was next to impossible to take good photos through the windows of the installation and it was still in progress when I left, so no actually photos of the finished installation. Sorry!

Today I am back to making more coloring books. I have a couple of huge wholesale orders. Thank goodness for good friends ~ a dear friend is coming over to help me put these together and get them on their way. I think that I have some of the best friends in the world and am very fortunate to be surrounded by the light and love of wonderful people. One friend, in particular, is always there to lend a helping hand. She has been with me all the way through the brain surgeries and beyond. When I am feeling discombobulated, she is there to keep things going smoothly. ~ I feel a retreat coming in our near future!