Chilled Summer Soup: A Recipe

My friend Ande is a talented lady.  In addition to her fabulous folk art (you HAVE TO check out her blog), she is a wonderful cook. She made a chilled soup to sell at the Farmer's Market and I tasted it and fell in love. Now I have the recipe (and you do too).
Enjoy!

Tina

chickory: Chilled Summer Soup: A Recipe: Chilled Summer Soup What to do, what to do with the handful of squash and cucumbers in your garden? I was in Atlanta one weekend and wen...

A 3Day Request

My friend DJ got me started with Susan G. Komen 3Day walks a few years ago. I created my Pink Heart shirt to help her raise money to walk and then I crewed for DJ and her sister Cheryl.  My daughter Abbie was on the 2012 Washington, D.C., youth corps and now is planning to  walk in honor of DJ and Cheryl and in hopes that none of her friend have to deal with loosing a mom, grandma, sister, aunt, father, or anyone they love to breast cancer. Both DJ and Cheryl are breast cancer survivors. Both DJ and Cheryl are heroes to me.

Currently Cheryl is fighting cancer again. She wants to crew the 2012 Atlanta 3Day. Below is DJ's letter to the 3Day Coaches. I hope they can find them a spot.

Hi,

My sister Cheryl Carter was just put on the waiting list to crew for Atlanta. I want/need to share with you what is happening, and perhaps you can help facilitate this.

Cheryl is a BRCA gene Survivor, diagnosed in January 2009.  Her diagnosis led me to learn that I too had the gene.  Cheryl had the double mastectomy, total hysterectomy, chemo and radiation. I only had the surgeries, but we are both survivors. We are both three time 3 day walkers. Cheryl also crewed the past three years in Cleveland. (Security - rode a bike!)   In 2009 she walked 47 miles in Cleveland (our first 60 mile walk) while on her 7th week of chemo. She was the Cleveland media ambassador that year as well.

Currently, Cheryl's cancer has returned with a vengeance and has metastasized everywhere.  She was given a 12-18 month prognosis in January, and is currently on a clinical trial.   Her one wish was to walk every city before her time was up.  There is no possible way for her to do that while on this trial due to some restrictions, so she is seeking to do just one more walk.  She chose Atlanta because we were raised there, and many of her friends will be walking for Cheryl this year.

Neither one of us registered to crew until today because, frankly we were in a state of denial and overwhelming stress.  Now, however, Cheryl's focus on the future is more clear and she very much wants to work this Atlanta walk.  I would need to be with her, so I am asking you to please oh please find two crew spaces for us in Atlanta.  We can do anything, just let her be there. 

I created a video about her and the three day back in 2009.  It's only 3 minutes long if you want to see it

Please Keep DJ and Cheryl in your prayers.  I'll keep you posted on how things turn out for Atlanta!

Tina

Photo Collage Fun!

Today I decided that it was time to update my website banner. BUT, I forgot how I did it so after spending about 45 minutes trying to figure it out I made a photo college.  I like the college.  I like it a lot.  I just don't like that I can't remember how to make a new banner!

Happy Saturday!
Tina

Reflections on the Athens Indie Craftsravanganzaa

This past weekend I was privileged to be a part of a new to me show.  The Athens Indie Craftsravanganzaa.  I was surrounded by a variety of talented artists and craftspeople. I met numerous new friends, and was inspired by a fellow vendor to blog about my shows.

One thing I want to say before I begin is that I learn something new at each show. This weekend I learned that I need to be personally responsible for packing the sunscreen.

So, here is my first post show blog!  I hope you enjoy it.

My booth was in a wonderful location with a small creek running behind it.

My Mom, known to many as Nana, got to join us for this festival. She was a trooper and endured a crowded hotel room, HOT weather, and a lack of good walking paths.

The vendor who inspired me to share my thoughts on my blog is Wayne from Whispering Willow. He makes wonderful soaps, lotions, and more.

This is Wayne from Whispering Willow

You can visit his website by clicking here to learn more about his products! Wayne and his wife often are on the road to different festivals therefore I did not get to meet Julia.

My festival neighbors were The Green Cricket and Argentum.

Here I am standing with Cricket.

The Green Cricket can be found at Etsy.  Click here to get to her store.Cricket had some amazing re-purposed sweaters, children's clothing, and painted birds (you can see the birds and the pants in the background.)

My other neighbor was Terra from Argentum.  She had amazing silver jewelry. This was just her second festival and I hope she continues because her wares were pretty cool!  You can check out her Etsy site by clicking here.

Terra is sitting down (she is also wearing one of my tie dye cool tie necklaces.)

 I look forward to my next show at the end of May in scenic downtown Blue Ridge, Georgia.  Come see me on Saturday, May 26!

Tina

Rocks, Rubber Bands, and Things

I taught Fantastic Tie Dye at John C. Campbell Folk School at the beginning of April. I had a WONDERFUL class. All 8 of my students were excited to learn to tie dye and they all inspired me to do more.  We started out as strangers and ended up as friends. I like that!

While getting read for my class at JCC, I read about artists who use rocks, marbles, and other found objects to put designs into fabric. I decided to try it out (and so did several of my students.)

First, I gathered my rocks.

Then I got my presoaked scarf ready.

I used rubber bands to secure the rocks in a randomish pattern on the scarf.

Next I dyed the scarf in shades of purple and blue on a green background.

The hardest part was waiting for 24 hours to open it up.  WOW, I love it!!!

My next scarf project involved marbles and a fringed scarf. Keep scrolling to see that finished project.

I liked working with the marbles more than working with the rocks.

Here is a close up of the pattern. My Mom choose a light shade of green and purple.

So, get out the marbles and rubber bands and get going!

Tina

Happy Easter!

I awoke this morning to a grand sunrise and was reminded again of what a loving God I serve.

Happy Easter friends!

From my garden, Summer 2011

My summer photos remind me of the glory of spring. Purple and orange are not colors I would wear together but they look fabulous together.

Happy Easter to you all,
Tina

Is your child prepared for Psych 101?

Check out my husband's high school psychology curriculum. You won't be disappointed! In addition to being a great dad, all around good guy, and good husband, he has a sense of humor!

Dr. Tim: An advertisement and a prop.

Tina's Tie Dye is Featured on Just A Pair of Socks

Just a Pair of Socks: Sock Post #7: Thanks to Tina's Tie Dye for these awesome tie dyed socks! These are hand dyed antimicrobial bamboo socks. How cool is that? Who would hav...

Moonfinder and Classical Astronomy

My friend Jay Ryan is a homeschooling dad. Like most homeschooling Dads, he works a full time job.  What sets him apart for the average dad is that in his "spare" time he educates others on Classical Astronomy. Jay has published several books and textbooks. He has written an email newsletter on astronomy since 2002. His new venture is the Classical Astronomy Celestial Almanack (click on the link to go to the information and order page.) Each month Jay will produce a new almanack with information about the current month. At just $3 an issue his information is completely affordable so check it out today! (just FYI - I do not get any compensation for my plug of Jay's work - it is just such a great product I wanted to tell you all about it.)

Did you know that until recently the study of astronomy was considered essential? Because I can't say it better than Jay, here is an excerpt from his January e-newsletter.

"Let me just a share a bit of the vision that has motivated me to promote astronomy since 1990.  Some people think that astronomy is a special subject for "people who like that sort of thing."  Most people consider astronomy an optional subject, even people who like it.  But as explained many times over the years, visual astronomy was an essential subject for all of pre-industrial history.  It has practical value for navigation and timekeeping, which is the God-appointed purpose for creating the Sun and Moon (Gen. 1:14).  Though a ll cultures in the world have historically used the Sun and Moon for timekeepers, the study of the sky (and of all creation) should have a special meaning and purpose for Christians  The Apostle Paul wrote:

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: - Romans 1:20.

In other words, in addition to any practical, utilitarian value, we should study the visible things in God's creation to better understand the LORD's divine nature.  Indeed, the Apostle directed these words to the unbelievers of his time, pagans who worshiped God's creatures, including the Sun and Moon.  But let me so bold as to submit that many Christians in today's generation are also "without excuse," like the pagans of old.

Americans in today's modern world live behind a comfortable wall of technology.  We have replaced the LORD's timekeepers with clocks and other gadgets.  Most of us live our lives under artificial electric light, rather than the "two lights" that the LORD placed in the sky. In so many other ways as well, our artifical man-made world has insulated us from God's creation.  

Today's modern technological conveniences are not necessarily bad things, but it can be a bad situation when we rely on them to such a degree that they displace the LORD's creation.  When we fail to observe and appreciate the visible things that God has made, we miss out on an opportunity to learn from them about His invisible qualities, His "eternal power and Godhead."  In this way, we fail to understand this aspect of our Creator, and our lives are made poorer, including the lives of our children."

So, take a few minutes to check out Jay's site Classical Astronomy and look into his books. I ordered his newest book Moonfinder in December and was awed by its simplicity and wonderful way of imparting information. The illustrations were charming - just what I love in a good book! I enjoyed sitting down and reading it to Daniel as well as just reading it to myself. Although targeted at homeschooling families, Jay's books are for every Christian student in North America. I used his Signs & Seasons curriculum with Melissa during her senior year (along with the accompanying field journal.) I learned so much (and have so much to learn still) and look forward to using it with both Abbie and Daniel. I so appreciate all of Jay's hard work!

Happy Sky viewing,

Tina

New Uses for t-shirts!

A fellow crafter sent me a link for making a scarf from a tshirt. I have a lot of tshirts so I decided to try it out.

First I got out my cutting board and some scissors. I folded my shirt in half and laid it on the cutting board.

Then I cut the top off, just under the armpit. I cut 1 1/2 to 2 inch strips to the bottom, discarding the hemmed edge on the bottom.

Here are my strips of folded tshirt.

Taking the first strip I held it in both hands and pulled it tight so that the edges rolled in towards the center. Because tshirts are a rib knit fabric, the edges won't ravel.

Continue stretching your strips until you have them all done.

Now you have a group of strips that have been stretched so that the edges have rolled inward.

Lay the rolled strips together and take a leftover piece of tshirt and tie them all together. If you are feeling really artsy make a flower with layers of tshirt and use this to tie the scarf together. I was too lazy to make a flower, so I just tied a bow (see the photo below.)

If you make a flower attach it on top of the bow (or tie a square knot.)

Wear with pride!

Tina