Tuesday's Quote

"Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud."

-Maya Angelou

Today's art journal page came together quickly.  Some days all the pieces fall into place very easily and JOYFULLY too!  

The following pictures are close-ups of individual words written atop rectangles cut from a magazine photo of a blue sky with puffy white clouds.  Cutting apart a picture and making a mosaic can create a wonderful background. 

Be

A

rainbow

iN

someone

ELSE'S

cloud

My dear friend Lora gifted me with fluorescent oil pastels and this quote and art journal page is a FUN way to say THANK YOU!!!  I am so fortunate to have Lora and many other "rainbows" in my life.  By sharing what I do and learn in my ART explorations here, I hope to spread lots of rainbows myself...

natural light bench top view :)

Have you thanked your rainbow(s) lately? 

I ask the question mostly to remind myself to spread peace, love and understanding whenever I CAN. 

Have a sparkling day ALL!!! 

JOY journal

Joy journal

I really, really enjoy making journals.  For this one I recycled corrugated cardboard for the covers and used lace, tape, mono prints and paper from my stash to put it all together.   

new pages

more pages

As I ate breakfast this morning, the sun warmed my spirit and made me feel so peaceful.  That is what this art journal page is ALL about.  

Page #1

All over the page, with various pens and markers, the words JOY and HAPPY were scribbled. 

Happy and JOY

Over happy and joy went a layer of Gesso.  

Gessoed

1st the page had been too blue and now it was stark white, so I broke out acrylic paint, cosmetic sponge and my which way stencil.  I got waaaayyy too much paint there.  love the bubbles though :)

Spring green acrylic paint

Then filled in the arrows with spring green paint.

which way stencil

Finally added Dylusions ink (lemon zest), a light spray, over the entire page.

This sunflower doily with more spray inks mimics this morning's sun.

Also on page: french vocabulary word, old map piece, tickets, washi tape, and photo.  

Tranquille

That's page one in my JOY journal and I look forward to FILLING this one up with  happy, joyful goodness!  

Peaceful

I don't usually put photos of myself into my art journals, but this one just spoke JOY and HAPPY and PEACEFUL.  It's a JOY journal after all...Do you include pictures of yourself in YOUR art journal pages?  I hope you'll consider it now.

Happy Earth Day!

Jonquils 

Life springs forth all over the place and although I am NO gardener, I actually planted much of the flowers seen here. 

violets

Nature has a way of decorating that I may not think of, but find pleasing.  Violets growing between rock wall and driveway, is a wonderful Spring surprise!!!

mighty oak tree

Way up high, just beneath the sky, oak buds reach for the sun...

flowering bush

Don't you think EVERY day is EARTH day?  I DO!

Grape Hyacinth

The smell of hyacinths is a welcome treat in early Spring.

Bluets

Wild flower wonders abound here in our yard.  Such a welcome treat after a long, cold Winter.

Dandelion

For me, dandelions are a symbol of life, love, and perseverance.

Newborn Rhubarb leaf

Isn't this leaf amazing, all curly and so many shades of green?  What thing(s) symbolize SPRING for YOU?

Facing 50

Sometimes when I look in my mirror, I don't recognize the person looking back at me.  I was getting crazy critical of wrinkles, age spots and sagging eyelids  so I started taking self-portraits in order to face myself.     

I am actually NOT dreading 50, I FEEL great and have a lot of energy and enjoy getting as much out of each day as possible.  With these pictures, I've come to accept this aging face.  LOL   

  

I love this picture!  There's this theory around here that I CAN'T wear hats, but  I am rocking Jeff's bowler, here...  

Having props makes the portraits more fun and at first I hid behind them...

But now, I don't mind standing up front.

Or having some fun...

My niece Karen took this great picture 

A great reunion with Karen and her husband Brad at our house was a joyous time.  At this stage in life, I am striving to embrace the beauty of the moments and avoid self-criticism.  

After being without my car for almost a month, I am glad I took the time to capture my elation.  Happy, happy, joy, joy! 

Fifty is just fine with me, actually 50 is FABULOUS!!!

Is there something you NEED to face?  

Granola recipe for YOU!

In recent days, I've had several requests for my granola recipe...

I hope you enjoy it.  

Coming soon a recipe for homemade protein bars, I've got to make another batch with the correct amount of honey this time.  My first batch was a bit crumbly, BUT really tasty good!  

Peace,

Donna

Step 1- On a rimmed baking sheet, combine oats,
almonds, coconut and sunflower seeds

Step 2- Drizzle with maple syrup and canola oil.

Step 3- Sprinkle with cinnamon and vanilla.

Step 4- Bake for 15 minutes, stir,

bake for 5 to 15 minutes more. 

When it starts to smell really good,

then it's usually done!  You want ingredients

to be golden brown. 

 Step 5- Add dried fruit(I used cranberries), let cool. 

Step 6- Store in an air-tight container for up to 3 weeks.

Step 7- Enjoy!! (with milk, yogurt, soymilk, almond milk or fruit.)

Great Granola

4 cups rolled oats

(not quick cook)

1 cup almonds

1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup maple syrup

2 Tablespoons canola oil

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (optional)

1 cup dried fruits

(raisins, cherries, blueberries, cranberries)

cinnamon to sprinkle atop granola.

1/2 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees 

  

My recipe is modified from

Real Simple, April, 2010 issue.

I've been playing around with granola recipes for several years

and this version seems to be a winner with my family. 

For breakfast 1/3 to 1/2 cup is a nice serving size for me.

*Note-granola is a filling, satisfying breakfast or snack and

  may be addictive.

It smells really good while its baking and cooling too.  What are

your favorite breakfast foods?  Would you be willing to share? 

Enlighten me, please!