Hello and Happy Friday....I can hardly believe we will be going into May.....I have been working harder than ever planting and taking care of plants. I am so excited for this year of planting with my back pain and fibromyalgia I have masterminded a total new plan....as of now its working out considerably great. I have planted many of my peppers, and tomatoes in buckets and huge pots. I will post a pic soon they are huge now already and I have baby tomatoes on them.....makes me proud to see. I have been working on cleaning up the art studio....wow what a mess. It is extremely hard to clean up when you have an exuberant creative mind. I clean a little then create a little...then ask myself "WHY" why do I have all these art supplies.....the creative mind can be too much at times. I am soo very thankful I have it though. Any how on to the painting......it was definitely different for me.....when Bruce saw it he said "Alrighty dighty" okay like what is he meaning with that??? He just kept saying "this is not you"....well sometimes you just got to go with the flow....I had fun so whatever. If you would like to find out about the Donna Downey workshop go HERE the original inspiration of this work came from Karen Schnepf
My boys liked it a lot Dusty even said "that is awesome" so much depth
Keep Moving Forward
I get so busy and run out time then the sun starts to go down almost too late to get a nice pic of the whole layout then the next day it rains....which is perfectly fine with me it makes me hurt more but at least I can fill up my rain barrels to water all my plants with. We have four 300 gallon barrels and one 1200 gallon water tank we catch all the rain from the greenhouse. So like I said rain is good!
If you would like see the rest of the weeks go here to each week for a peak
These are 7 and 10 gallon cloth bags which I have almost 50 of them as you can see my tomatoes are rocking it...
My mom found this awesome apron and gave it to Bruce for Christmas one year
All the planting has been transpiring
This row has all peppers I planted outside of the high tunnel
This is one of the boys favorite meals
Chicken and Broccoli casserole I made a video on how I make it
I have been getting orders on my Etsy page which has been are only means of income it hasn't been a lot but I AM SO VERY THANKFUL for the orders and I appreciate the messages, notes and feedback I have received on the Etsy page and other social medias. Thank you everyone who has ordered we all greatly appreciate you!!!
Please do visit my Etsy store
https://www.etsy.com/shop/LeafLoveSoaps
Well it's actually Friday morning at 1:30 am I can't sleep so here I type. Hopefully you are staying safe and well.
Wishing you a great weekend.......stay happy and healthy.
Wow can you hardly believe I got another painting done despite the extra workload?? Well, yep I did since I haven't had as many orders and the farmers market to prepare for my workload in that aspect is much slower, but I have been forever busy with plants, greenhouse, goats, and the homeschool life. Our life on the farm is a stay home life anyway so not going anywhere other than to make deliveries one day a week its work as usual here. So when I can I sneak up to the third floor of my house (as I haven't opened up my paint porch yet this spring) and paint. However after this week I actually have to clean up my space before Bruce starts bitching about it. I have stuff all over the floor and on the table and boxes of markers, paint pens, paints all the hoopla that goes with a mixed media artist. I certainly enjoyed myself with this one as this is totally freeing. I did sooooo want to do a face though as that is what I love. I am loving the flowers though. So springs like too. It is 11;15 Bruce is still working on the taxes and I am listening to Beethoven and typing up this blog. It was super hot today I did all the work outside while Bruce and Colten helped Jr., the bees are certainly loving this weather. It was windy and when it is windy you seem much more tired while working in the wind??!! Kinda just wears on ya. My plants are all doing awesome I so need to start digging holes....talk about getting callous on your hands....this is the time of year for that. Well on to the painting....this one is way off from Donna's but since its springtime...Easter this weekend....I was feeling the flowers and the quote by Aubrey Hepburn "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow." To me what a perfect quote for our uncertainties at this current time. I have talked with other farmers and they have told me that folks have been saying they planted a garden this year (well or getting ready to start) so this is exciting to hear. I know the seed companies and loving it!!! I always sell (or should I say sold) a lot f paints at the market each year. I say sold due to Covid-19 since we have no shows or markets at this time. I seriously need more orders on my Etsy store. I not only miss our customers, but my market family and all my friends. The girl is the girl who has planted the garden and as the quote goes..........
by Claude Monet.
The Art of Possibilities as a garden has endless possibilities. When I am gardening I am definitely quite lost in a haze of unreality. The sun shining on my face and back I love it!! It all just makes me HAPPY.
If you would like to go find out more about the workshop go to Donna's Website or this class exactly go to 48Weeks
I can hardly believe I have made it to 21 weeks (well it only took six years) lol no that's just me too much other stuff to do.
You can see the texture its all just aahhhh!
That so wonderful quote by Aubrey Hepburn I so remember watching her movies when I was a kid my mom always loved those movies. Shirley Temple was my favorite back then. One of my favorite movies from the earlier movies was Errol Flynn.
The sun has a lot of texture too I also used iridescent paints but you can't tell much like this.
The whole layout in the book I had originally forgot to post this but now I am updating.....its Friday night now. Still makes me happy to look at!
Take care.....and have a great weekend!!!! 🦋
The art of possibilities is a stencil by Donna Downey too
I wanted to share these pics that came up in my Timehop the other day which is so funny because ti was exactly the day I did a majority of this painting well on that day in like 2013 which was also April I went to Donna Downey's for a workshop and that is where my all time favorite artist Mindy Lacefield and Dina Wakley and the boys got to ride in the limo which was a huge deal!
Cody, Colten, Colby, Cooper, and Dusty seven years ago. I can hardly believe it we had gone up to Hendersonville so I could be in the workshop oh what great times.....love love and miss those days.
Look at the boys riding in the limo they still talk about it. Donna invited them to ride along to the restaurant.
It was a very long limo
here at the restaurant where Donna even paid for their meals....what a wonderful person to think of them too.
These were some of the art we worked on while there the girl I actual had to close my eyes to draw....yeah close my eyes it was a really different ...
Donna and me
Mindy and I
Dina and Donna
Me and Dina Wakley
This was another one of my paintings I did their was once my phone cover and I still sell this as a post card at Zazzle.com
Irish Soda Bread is one of the boys favorites I made them this week
It is always a big hit here
I hope everyone is staying safe and well. I miss seeing everyone at our markets I cannot say that enough. Please everyone take care and enjoy your upcoming weekend. It is technically the beginning of our spring break this week coming so the boys won't be getting any school work delivered this coming week. The school and the cafeteria and bus drivers have absolutely done an amazing job during this stay home executive order. I am so very PROUD of them!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICES. YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!!!
Hello and welcome as we all are facing so many uncertainties in these unusual times, my heart goes out to everyone as I know each and everyone of you, your lives have been disrupted or completely turned upside down. I want you to know I am SOOO VERY THANKFUL for our health care workers, our teachers, lunchroom workers, bus drivers, sanitation workers, grocery store workers, truck drivers, our chefs, cooks, tasks force, FEMA, our fearless governors, and so many more that I failed to list.....THANK YOU!!!!
THANK YOU ALL!!!
I thought when things were changing so radically and there would be so much more time to reflect on things that matter most.....however I didn't think of all the anxiety that would come from all of this....being an empath I feel others pain. I put myself in their position and think about what they must be going through at this moment in time and before you know it I am overwhelmed with anxiety, fear, and somewhat panic. I have been staying busier than I thought possible, one our orders have picked up since we are unable to attend the farmers markets and the shows. We sell out of eggs quick, several have came to pick up their honey and other goodies. I have been selling more and more of my Etsy Store stuff.....SO GLAD!!! Here is the link
Helping the boys with their school work has added on extra work for all moms...and dads...and grandparents so I understand that. I can't thank the school teachers enough for getting all the work to us and having to learn new ways to instruct children.
I have been making more videos too for my YouTube Channel which has been fun sharing some of my knowledge.
Here is one of my videos I did this week I made forsythia jelly it made five jars and I sold all four jars this week alone. One jar Bruce had to have as he always says this is "my favorite" honestly they are all his "favorite" my eyes roll!!! He even said he was going to plant a 100 more.....
LOL
Anyway back to the painting....this was week 20 of the 48 Weeks Journaling Workshop if you want to find out more about this workshop go HERE Donna had said in the video that "inspiration was from Karen Margulis her Hollyhocks" you can check Karen out HERE you will absolutely love her work.
Also if you like to see the rest of the weeks I have painted go below
This week was a challenge at first as sometimes I get in my mind I just can't paint flowers as you may know I like to paint people or faces. So at times when I start painting flowers it seems I get in this slump like It just isn't looking right and then I keep at it and finally I get it....AHHH which in this week I certainly enjoyed the process and am so glad I got to paint in the my journal. SO VERY GLAD I GOT TO PAINT!!!!!
The texture the brightness the whole meaning of the painting....love it!
Hollyhocks
The whole journal is getting so thick
The other side of the journal
The full layout as you can see how large the journal is
I made buttermilk with fresh raw cow milk
I made buttermilk pancakes with chocolate chips one of the boys favorites now if I had added bananas too that would be their all time favorite. I also made butter from the raw cows milk
I dehydrated celery so I could add to my soups since I haven't been able to get my celery on a regular basis
Dusty working on school work while on the Covid-19 schooling at home program
(note the sauerkraut in the back)
This beautiful flower in bloom that my dear friend Aylene gave me last year has come back with many blooms this year such wonderful gift!!!
The tomatoes I planted are doing amazing you can see how all my plants are doing
We finally had our corned beef
I have been making bread like everyday....of course the boys love it
As you can see we have been staying busy and working hard. I also have been trying to keep up with the news to keep us informed.
Hello again as you know now we are all facing and living in unprecedented times. From lockdowns, to containments, quarantines, self-quarantines, rationing, limited supplies, no where to work if you fall outside of the essential personnel. Airlines, cruise ships, hotels, trains, any tour guides, recreational activities such as gyms, have all had to close or limit to essential needs only. Our medical staff are in high demands and are strained, along with our hospitals and the need for critical equipment. We have all faced uncertainties, but this is a silent unknown unforeseen circumstance, that we are all facing with no certainties known for our future. Every person on this planet is in this position. What we all need to do is remain calm and take heed to recommendations and safe distances, sanitizing, excessive hand washing, and frankly stay PUT!!! No one can know who has it or where it will show up......PLEASE folks stop going places unless it is absolutely NEEDED!!! I totally get it!!! But seriously do you really need to go shopping for furniture right now, the FedEx driver told us they have been delivering furniture and shoes....etc. yes I can understand you moved or something or your only pair of shoes and a hole. I have talked to some folks and they tell me they out shopping for decor........I'm like SERIOUSLY!!! PLEASE FOLKS TAKE THIS SERIOUS!!! Think of your family members or others. This is no game....stop playing golf, stop having game nights with other families. You health depends on it!! I see these thing going on....and frankly its ludicrous. Oh and the beaches.......HELLO we are in a PANDEMIC!!! Stay off the beaches stop sharing hookah pipes, or any other forms of resectional needs keep it a PERSONAL use only!!!!!! I have seen these pics of YouTube which has been my only form of information or my mom sharing texts to me. Bruce and I have always been preppers being we have prepared ourselves for those HARD times. However with all our shows cancelled until further notice. Being farmers and feeding folks we face uncertainties to face we have been selling our eggs weekly to a grocery store and some honey last week I took him 22 dozen eggs and he called the next day to tell me he had only four left, he is a very tiny tiny store in Va. Beach but we are so thankful he has stepped up to help us with our extra products, since we have no markets. I will continue all my efforts to grow and produce what we can here to meet demands we have been selling our elderberry syrup and pickles, jams etc. If I have to I can bake or even make dinners to be delivered out of my USDA and CS Inspected kitchen. Like in war times "back porch dinners" when needed one family might of feed many just from dinners from their backdoor.
OKAY maybe enough on my soapbox but I have a lot of anxiety and stress at trying to keep many safe. I worked in the hospitals during the aids/hiv times and fears of ebola. I can remember getting a so called fax (they were not fax machines then) from the CDC on concerns of the Ebola outbreak back in 1989. So as I always say "what you don't know won't hurt you and what you do will" FEAR.
STAY CALM
So this was what I was working on before the trip to FLORIDA my first painting of Frida. I didn't actually get to finish until I got back and we were so far behind in just a few short days. Colten took care of everything while we were gone even did well with the plants that we have growing in the greenhouse, inside our house I have three full racks of shelves. I have planted extra to meet many needs this year.
I watched Donna Downeys video on the 48 Weeks workshop week #19 and I was like I just can't do another mostly black layer of painting as Bruce thinks automatically "something is wrong" my aunt even said on one of my other paintings that was majority black paint she said "this one looks like you were mad" okay I thought.......maybe I was it was my inner-self perhaps screaming....who knows. Art tells all....but as you can see I did go black with bright pops of beautiful colors.....and AN AMAZING WOMEN!! Who I have been a fan of for many many years!!! I have collected art, trinkets, and made dolls with Frida in mind. What I am saying in this painting.....is so true.....
Fridas quote "Don't build a wall around your suffering. It may devour you from the inside." is so much a personal feeling at the same time....many don't know but I suffer from chronic pain from the fibromyalgia and the spinal stenosis. Some days are better than others and I always keep going to the best I can. I feel like sometimes I build this wall. I have in the past many many times from being overweight at 300 lbs to separating from individuals due to anxiety. The list goes on but you get it! Now with what we are facing with this invisible enemy (as the President says) we all have had to build this wall in ways never foreseen. From borders closing to self quarantines to social distancing. Then I think of how when I went to all my shows and markets my friends how we embrace each other with hugs and sharing love with each other, sharing and trading items we make that has a wall around that too. As you may know for any of those who have done the workshop this was TOTALLY a U-Turn for the inspiration Donna provided week #19.
I always like to show you how large this journal is......
If you would like to see any of the other weeks look below
The butterflies really added a nice touch and as you can see they were breaking thru the wall and onto the other side. One bright shiny butterfly makes it to the sweet beautiful roses.
There is a lot of texture. The thorns on the wall for the hard times and the suffering that Frida endured, thru her paintings you will see some of the pain and some good times as well.
I was very happy with my first painting of Frida and enjoyed the process immensely. Anything creative for me is exactly what I like to do....it can help ease the pain and fears and the anxiety.
I love my work here on the farm it just is sometimes you need an art break....and it is extremely hard to come by. Today Bruce and I are making sauerkraut we have 10 heads of cabbage and it will go a long way. We make this either in November or March. It's a normal staple here. My boys love it too.
Frida Kahlo
Here is a pic of the sauerkraut from a few years ago in half gallon jars.
With Easter coming and moms and dads looking for something for the kiddos to do this was a option maybe you had already bought some of maybe you can buy some offline....I looked at Amazon and they have them online and Walmart dot com has them too free shipping over $35. See videos below.
Jet Puffed Marshmellows in the dehydrator
Dehydrating Peeps
with us not being able to have markets I have been putting more items on my Etsy store
https://www.etsy.com/shop/LeafLoveSoaps
So please my market friends if you need something please reach out to me as others have I will ship and if you don't see it listed just let me know.
We started our seed potatoes for planting
I have tons of plants ready if you need some drive thru for a dirt road side delivery. The whole greenhouse if full.
As I close for this rainy Saturday as we continue to make sauerkraut and ship items out from our Etsy store.
SAFE SAFE
STAY CALM
As Jane Davenport said QuarARTinig (make art)
A lot of wonderful people, companies, and friends have stepped up as we all work together to fight this invisible enemy.
