Monthly Archives: January 2015

Live With An Open Heart

January 31, 2015Deep Thoughts and Musingsbe vulnerable, brain-heart connection, Britta Wetteskind, emotions, happiness, heart opening exercise, imagination, open heart, thoughtssz1044

Have you noticed that when you become aware of an idea that hits a nerve at a particular moment, you find that idea popping into your thoughts often? And….. it seems the universe draws information to you that expands on it? It’s like driving down the freeway and every other billboard has the same message for you, some right in your face and some very subtle so that it takes some time before you realize what you’ve just taken in.

I’ve been thinking so much lately about being vulnerable.

I was flipping through Instyle Magazine and saw a quote attributed to Jessica Chastain that caused me to stop and think. She said, “You have to live with an open heart all the time–that’s how you’re going to have connections with people.”

Is that even possible? To live with an open heart all the time.

I think of “being open” as being open to new ideas, new perspectives. That seems like a brain function…..not a heart function. Although there is a brain-heart connection. The brain cannot live without the blood the heart sends to it. I’m no scientist; but, it seems to me that our thoughts, our emotions and our imaginations are all intertwined.

Britta Wetteskind shared this on facebook. I love it. Try this heart opening exercise: “Imagine that there is a light in your upper chest near your heart, growing brighter and brighter, radiating. Breathe slowly and deeply, filling your lungs with air. Now let the light have a nice steady glow, like the glow you see from a candle, only much larger. Let it become more radiant and begin to surround your whole body. That’s it, the sensation you’re getting in your chest is all right, that is your heart opening. Now imagine sending a beam from this glowing area to someone or something you want to share love with. There you go, that’s love.”

These thoughts may seem a bit disconnected to you; but, the message I received and the message I share with you is that being vulnerable…..or…..living with an open heart, will allow our thoughts, emotions and imagination to enable us to experience happiness. Think about it.

The Yellow Rose

January 29, 2015Beauty of Nature, Deep Thoughts and Musings, Watercolor Paintingsart, artists, inspiration, lightning strikes, pinot noir, The Yellow Rose, Watercolor paintingsz1044

Several days before Thanksgiving, I bought some beautiful yellow roses to use as centerpieces on the table. It took a couple of days for them to unfold. Slowly they made their way from compact buds to full flower. I kept taking pictures of them, moving them around in the sunlight. With each move, the light bounced around and kissed the petals in a new way and cast intriguing shadows. Wow! They were inspiring!

Since I’ve started blogging, I’m taking a lot more pictures…..of everything. It’s as if I’ve got to somehow document everything I’m doing. At first, when I noticed this, I thought it would wear off or at least slow down. But not so far. In this case, I’m glad I did. It’s fun, for me, to see how The Yellow Rose progressed.

This is the finished The Yellow Rose. January 22, 2015. Watercolor 22″x30″

I often wonder just what it is about a subject that inspires the artist, the writer, the sculptor, or the inventor. I’ve had friends tell me that an idea “struck” suddenly…..out of the blue so to speak. We use so many phrases like let’s brain storm to come up with an idea. You know, blue meaning sky, ether; storm…..weather, electricity, lightning, thoughts. Then there’s the whole light thing. It’s light and lack of light that defines shapes and how we see them.

Actually, what we need to fully investigate these deep thoughts and musings is a glass of wine and a few philosophical friends. Probably a Pinot Noir.

Quilts-Roosters

January 27, 2015Quiltsartists, needle turn applique, quilt art, quilters, quilts, roosters, scrap quiltssz1044

I’ve talked about how much I love chickens, eggs and flowers. Then there are the roosters. What is more majestic? They strut. They crow. They’re flashy. How can they be otherwise. They’re feathers have an iridescent quality and they’re so dramatic. This quilt is named “Brainiac: He’s So Bright!”

This one is “Himself” He is so self important. Not just because he’s won awards but because he rules the roost. Everyone knows it. Well, everyone who’s lived with a rooster.

Quilts – Chickens And Eggs

January 25, 2015Beauty of Nature, Quiltsblue bells, chickens, eggs, lillies, purple daisies, quiltssz1044

In the summer, chickens are at their best when they get to wander around in the yard. They peck around among the flowers and sometimes lay eggs there too! Their clucks are very appealing. The way they shake and ruffle up their feathers is so much fun. I even love the way they separate into their own paths and then suddenly converge on each other and fuss…..like kids in the school yard.

I love themes with chickens, roosters, eggs and flowers. I can’t resist popping them into a quilt or painting. The chicken gathering her own bouquet (above) is in the center of this quilt and the four corners have these little egg-lilly vignettes.

These two (above) are also gathering flowers. They have totally different taste though, as you can see. There is a magnetic quality, in my opinion, in flowers and eggs. They’re both fragile but contain inestimable power. They’re both mystical. They both feed the soul.

Join The Blogosphere!

January 21, 2015Deep Thoughts and Musingscommunity, how to start a blog, ideas, It's Because I Think Too Much, join the blogosphere, Michelle At Play, share, talentssz1044

Have you been thinking about blogging? Do you have ideas you’d like to share?
Do you have talents you’d like to develop by joining a community of like-minded people. Blogging is a great way to express your ideas and talents. And…..it’s a great way to get feed back from others.

If you said yes, then get going. What are you waiting for? If you’re tech savvy, jump in. If, like me, you have no idea how to start, then google “how to start a blog”. I was guided to godaddy.com for my domain name and from there to wordpress.com for my blog site. They both charge a small fee. They’re both easy to use and enormously helpful.

The domain name, the name of my site, was a hurtle for me. But, gradually, I realized that I’m so often in the fry zone (trying to learn something new and it fries my brain), or the worry zone, or the creative zone (where I get lost in some right brain pursuit), or sometimes just “zoned out”. So here I am in my own little zone: Sherrie Zone. Give a lot of thought to your blog name.

You may have an idea of what you’d like to write about but think no one would be interested. Holy Cow, there are about 7,000,000,000,000 people on this planet and over 2,000,000,000,000 use the internet. (That’s billions…..did you register that?). The people interested in what you have to say will probably number in the millions.

My advice is talk like you’re telling your best friend what you have to say. Don’t worry about grammar. I mean try your best, but don’t sweat over grammar, just do your best to communicate. And….use your own vocabulary…..don’t try to sound like someone smarter than you are…..be authentic! (That’s a phrase we’re hearing everywhere these days).

Give enough explanation so that you’re sure you’ve made your point. Give enough description so that your reader gets a mental picture.

There are people in big cities, small rural towns and on isolated islands that are having similar challenges, similar feelings and some may even offer you information you need to have greater insight into your own life and business. I am constantly amazed at the people who are willing to help.

I recently became aware of a great blog: itsbecauseithinktoomuch.com. I like it so much because it’s obvious Adiel is sharing her passion with us. And…..it’s obvious she’s having fun doing it! She has a feature: Shop My Closet. It’s so much fun to check out all of her fashion picks. She works for Poshmark. Check them out too! That’s Adiel 2nd from the right.

Another blog I enjoy is michelleatplay.com. Michelle shares thoughts that have me regularly saying “AMEN”. She shares her life…..warts and all. She doesn’t shy away from the ugly or the problematic. And, she shares insights and coping mechanisms that can benefit all of us. I check in with her every day. On Sundays, she serves up Michelle Church. It’s worth attending.

When I was encouraged to blog, I was told just start with a thought for the day….everyday. I’ve discovered that is such good advice because just starting is the key. Once you start and begin to get comfortable with the mechanics, the experiences and ideas you’ll have just keep coming and you’ll get more and more excited to share them. Come on, join the blogosphere!

Go-To Chicken Curry

January 20, 2015Go-To RecipesChef Hai Fitzgerald, chicken curry, coconut rice, Major Grey's Chutney, Practice Makes Automatic, Purple Rice Blend, Thyme & Seasonssz1044

My Go-To Motto: Practice Makes Automatic! This is one of those recipes with few ingredients and simple cooking steps. If you like your curry hot, sprinkle some pepper flakes in during the simmer stage. I usually keep mine mild to please those in my family not into hot and spicy. But things have been changing and the vote tonight was throw in more pepper flakes.

Go-To Chicken Curry

6 chicken breasts/thighs
salt, pepper, 2 T. curry powder

2 T. each butter and olive oil
1/4 cup finely chopped onion

1 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup chopped almonds

2 tsp. cornstarch
1 cup heavy cream
chopped parsley

Cut chicken into 1/2″ strips and liberally season them with the salt, pepper and curry powder. In a heavy skillet, heat oil and butter until hot over medium-high heat. Add the chicken strips and onions and saute both until lightly browned. Add the broth and almonds, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 25 minutes.

Mix the cornstarch and cream, pour over the chicken, stirring until it comes to a boil and thickens. Take off the heat and serve with a sprinkle of chopped parsley.

It’s great with rice and lots of condiments: chutney (my favorite is Major Grey’s), shredded coconut, banana slices, peanuts, slivered almonds, finely chopped green and red peppers, raisins, etc.

If you like to play with your rice, try heating a 2 T. coconut oil in your sauce pan on medium heat, then add 2 cups of rice, stir it around til hot, 3 to 4 minutes, and each grain is covered in oil, add 1 cup of chicken stock and 1 cup of coconut milk, bring to a boil and cover…..not tightly, slightly askew. Turn heat to low and let simmer 15 to 18 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed into the rice. Fluff with a fork. I like crunch in my rice, so I toss in a handful of chopped almonds.

Now…..if you enjoy something different and absolutely scrumptious, I suggest you try that same rice recipe with Chef Hai Fitzgerald’s Purple Rice Blend. His menu is written on a chalk board…..a big chalk board. It’s what’s fresh that day. His Salmon, Prime Rib, Steaks and Stir Frys are to die for (I left so much out).

He often looks you over, sizes you up and suggests to you what you would like. Do you want it with the creamiest polenta, the fabulous garlic mashed potatoes or fresh vegetables steamed right in front of you…..that is the question. In fact, if you are lucky enough to get there when there are empty seats at the counter (I think there are only seven), you can watch him and his sous chefs prepare your food right in front of you.

His restaurant is the Thymes and Seasons Market Place and Restaurant in Bountiful, Utah. His phone is (801) 386-0245. Have him ship you a bag.

I Live With Lots Of Teddy Bears

January 17, 2015Deep Thoughts and Musings, Watercolor Paintingsfamily life, teddy bears, The Good Wife, Watercolor paintingsz1044

Teddy Bears make fabulous artist’s models. They are so patient. They’ll sit there in the same pose for hours and never complain. In fact, they seem to enjoy it. They don’t need to fuss with their hair or makeup and seldom ask for a glass of water. They never make comments about how the painting isn’t a good likeness or their eyes are too close together.

Teddy Bears make wonderful family members. First of all, they don’t judge. They never leave their stuff strewn about the house. They’re good listeners and they always have plenty of time when you need to talk. They don’t talk behind your back. Or if they do…..they’re very discrete about it.

When others rush off to prior commitments just when you have a few minutes to sit down and watch The Good Wife on TV, Teddy Bears are always companionable and willing to cuddle up on the couch. And then there’s my husband. He’s the biggest Teddy Bear of them all.

The only problem is that after a while, even Teddy Bears yearn for the rowdy, hustle and bustle, of family life. The running in and out of the doors, the car and the dialogue at the fridge…..”isn’t there any orange juice?”

Do It On Purpose

January 15, 2015Deep Thoughts and Musingseyes wide open, learn something newsz1044

I was recently told to learn something new every day. “Do it on purpose”, I was told.

Depending on where and how you spend your days, some new idea could fall on you and if you had your eyes wide open and recognized it…..voila!

I was discussing the idea of keeping your eyes wide open with Izzy. She was bored and wanted to know “can we paint”? As we set up the paints and water bucket, we discussed the fact that there wasn’t enough time to be bored. There are way too many things to see and way to many exciting things to learn. Of course, then there’s always making your bed and picking up toys.

She set to work right away to illustrate this idea and I love it. She drew this on an iPad. “I was just looking for some fun”, she said.

Of course, if a new idea didn’t fall on you, where would you look for one?

Quilting

January 14, 2015Deep Thoughts and Musings, QuiltsAnna Williams, Joe Cunningham, Luke Haynes, pioneer foremothers, quilting, Ricky Tims, scrap quiltssz1044

Why would anyone in their right mind cut perfectly good fabric into a million pieces and then sew them back together again. Think of the waste! Our pioneer foremothers would probably roll over in their graves at the thought.

Well, that was downright rude, I realize. I’ve recently been instagraming with Luke Haynes. He is an amazing artist and quilter. I’ve enjoyed Joe Cunningham’s articles and quilts in magazines for years. Ricky Tims is an accomplished quilter and magazine owner, writes articles and…..his Dad is a quilter. Men are huge in quilting.

I’ve seen a lot of quilts in museums made from the usable parts from worn out pants, dresses and shirts…..even from military uniforms made of wool. Some are beautiful works of art and others are obviously inventions of necessity. Some are sewn by machine and others are sewn by hand. The stories that accompany many of these quilts are fascinating.

I was inspired by several magazine articles about Anna Williams. She lives in Baton Rouge. She and her quilter friends have developed their own art in the form of scrap quilts. When I read about how they sewed strips of fabric together and then took their scissors and cut through them…..it seemed so reckless, I just had to try it. What freedom! No worries about matching seams or corners. No worries about planning out the whole quilt before construction begins. Just the adventure of seeing how the whole thing will evolve.

The two pictures are small sections of the larger quilt.

If you’re a quilter with a ton of scraps, this is a great way to make use of them. It made me feel so thrifty!

More Polka Dots

January 11, 2015Beauty of Natureart in motion, Mother Nature, performance art, polka dots, starlingssz1044

I love polka dots. They always draw the eye. These were starlings…..hundreds of them.

It was such a moody, grey, January day. The clouds kept thickening. I thought it was going to snow. Then they thinned out and looked stretchy like maybe the sun would peek through any moment.

But an amazing thing brightened the day. Suddenly hundreds of starlings swooped down near the trees, but it was a fake out…..they veered to the side, made circle on a 45 degree angle and then slid deftly onto the branches. The first time they did it, I thought it might be some kind of aberration. I called out “come look at this…..hurry”. But, then, as if for a curtain call, they all took to the air again, flew a circle over our neighborhood and repeated the same maneuver as if it were choreographed.

There were so many on a branch that their weight forced it down, then they softly bounced up and down again. There should have been music to accompany that performance. We all stood there mesmerized for 10…..maybe 15 minutes until they made their exit en masse.

Her Majesty just crafted a performance piece in my backyard. Art in motion. I love polka dots! I love Mother Nature!

SherrieZone

Come On In!

Monthly Archives: January 2015

Live With An Open Heart

The Yellow Rose

Quilts-Roosters

Quilts – Chickens And Eggs

Go-To Chicken Curry

I Live With Lots Of Teddy Bears

Do It On Purpose

Quilting

More Polka Dots