The Power of Art

August 6-7 will be Art Love Magic's "Girl Show" at Life in Deep Ellum.

The interesting thing about "The Girl Show" is that it is all female artists. The interesting thing about Art Love Magic is their ability to bring people together and make something magical amazing happen through the power of art.

This Friday night is a preview for Girl Show at the Mokah Art Gallery (part of Life in Deep Ellum). 2803 Taylor St, Dallas, TX 75226 (214) 651-0633. This isn't the same as the event, but if you are interested in seeing what you connect with before the actual show (or if you are booked next weekend when the Girl Show takes place), it is a great time to check things out.

Vacation

This week we took our first ever family vacation that didn't involving piling in a car and driving twelve hours to see other family.

We took a cruise to Mexico. And, we had a lot of fun.

We did it on the cheap. Carnival Cruise lines (which though fun has quite a bit of "cattle car" to the embarcation / disembarcation process). And we all four shared a stateroom. (But, hey, we only slept there.)

By far, my favorite places weren't on the ship--they were the ports of call. We spent a day on the beach in Progresso at the Hotel Reef Yucatan--which was exactly like a Corona commercial. In fact, if I ever go back to do the Mexico beach thing, this hotel would be my place of choice. Progresso is fairly undeveloped and the hotel was quietly beautiful. (Though there was plenty of party atmosphere when the all inclusive drinks started flowing.) We went snorkeling at three different reefs in Cozumel with the same tour company that hosted Progresso. (Explora, is the name and their team was really wonderful.) It is amazing to put your face with mask on in the water and see that there is a whole magical world beneath you.

Of course the best part was the "us four and no more" factor. With adult children, we don't get a lot of "just us" family moments anymore. It was nice to be in each other's presence. And to get a few silly pictures with all of us--thanks to a passing tourist who offered--that didn't involve one of us playing photographer.

Since Chase works for AT&T, he warned us about the costs for using your cell phone on a cruise ship ($3 min/$0.50 txt), so we dutifully turned them off. Though it was a true vacation being completely off the grid--what we didn't count on is how much we use cell phones for coordination between ourselves. Which meant there was quite a bit of challenge when we didn't think to plan out where/when we were meeting each other when we did things separately. If we ever do this again, we definitely have to sort that out. Walkie-talkies? Post it notes?

When things are more than they should be...

Karen in our San Diego office has a glass heart on her desk. It was done by a local artist and her husband--knowing she loved it--bought it for her at an art fair.

Everyone who passes by her desk--oblivious to the story--comments on the beauty of it. Picks it up. Holds it.

A simple, colored piece of glass.

I wonder if sometimes there are more to things than what there should be. As if some part of what the artist was feeling when they created it, or the husband was feeling when he bought it, or Karen was feeling when she received it doesn't remain attached to it somehow.

My friend, Barbara, talks about vibrations. (Yes, I know, we're walking on the edge here.) But the reality is that all matter has some vibration to it in the molecules. (Living things have more than non-living things.) And we could follow this trail all the way to scripture saying that God spoke the world into existance and that sound is vibration, but really, this isn't a dissertation.

What if there is more than there should be with objects? We've all been in places that made us feel creepy--even when there wasn't a particular reason to feel so. We know clutter can sap our energy and make us feel overwhelmed. What if it also works in reverse? Can happy beautiful things--like Karen's glass heart--make other people happy too? Is that why book stores feel so universally wonderful?

Random thoughts to be sure.

Soul Maintenance

After a day of running flat out (on top of weeks of running flat out), Michele and Karen in our San Diego office took me up to see the view on top of Mt. Helix.

There is something amazingly realigning about that type of beauty. The stone steps of the ampitheatre, combined with random outcroppings of desert flowers, and Karen's son's exuberant joy in discovering new places from which to jump made for a really great evening.

Of course, this morning, I'm up on Dallas time. But, I also feel rested.

Simple Vegan | Juicing

Many years ago I got into "juicing." The idea behind it is that it allows the body to absorb more natural vitamins and phytonutrients than we normally get in our standard American diet.

The thing about juicing is that the juicer is everything, and while you can get one at a mass merchandiser for around $40, centrifugal juicers are typically monsters to clean. And if it takes 30 minutes to make juice, you simply won't do it.

After tons of investigation, I settled on a Champion juicer. I bought the professional grade online about seven years ago and as it turns out, it was a great decision. It is easy to clean--which means it gets used. (The Champion is a "masticating" style juicer.)

Today, I made a favorite: carrot, apple, ginger. There's no recipe. You sort of have to experiment to find what combination you like. I use about four big carrots, an apple and an inch of fresh ginger. Sometimes I put lime in it.

Another favorite is beet, apple, ginger. (After drinking a glass of it, you feel amazing!)

So, if you are thinking of "getting into juicing" start saving your pennies. The professional grade isn't cheap, but it is well worth it.

Made me laugh out loud

I loved this from XKCD. Made me laugh. Might make you laugh too.

Simple Joys | Bubbles

Bubbles are magic.

And there is something worth pondering that a few pennies worth of soap can create little fragile rainbow spheres that float.

A few years ago, I bought a pretty little glass jar for my back porch that I keep stocked with bubbles. A couple of wands with welded-copper circles sit beside it so that this magic can break out any time.

I highly recommend the practice.

Calling the Lurkers to Come Out and Play!

Okay so we're halfway through the year, and I bet you weren't expecting this. Soooooo....lurkers....How are you doing on your year's theme?

To recap, this is what you said back the first week of January:

David-the-Artist-Pastor said....Otro dia, otra aventura!
Big Tea said......Wubbba, Wubba, wub. Do Wop a do.
Happy said.....confidence.
Ashley said....hope.
Nancy-the-Insightful said....Trend and Fit.
Shannon-of-the-Six said....Follow Through
Robin-the-Artist said......Consistency
Floyd-the-Sidekick said....Onward, with feeling

Mine was "believe" and I thought it was fun that I found the whole word sitting staring at me in a store one day a few months ago. (I spraypainted it black and put it on my mantel. It was a funky moss color.) And oddly enough, the theme has played out in my life and thoughts. It has definitely been a year of challenging my beliefs and spending time in examining what I truly believe in.

So...those of you lurkers who played at the first of the year, chime in with an update. And, if the idea is new to you, start now and let us know. There is nothing more magical about January than July.

Simple Vegan | Greek Potato Salad

One of the things I've missed since giving up dairy is potato salad. I was pretty excited when VegNews posted this one on their website. I made a minor adjustment in leaving out the spinach. The results are surprisingly tasty, and best of all it was the perfect thing for me to take to Crosspointe's old fashioned church picnic.

Greek Potato Salad
1-1/2 pounds new, fingerling, or red potatoes
1/4 t salt
1/4 cup fresh basil, julienned
3/4 cup marinated artichokes, chopped
2/3 cup red peppers, finely chopped
1/3 cup pitted kalamata olives, chopped
1/8 cup pine nuts, toasted

For the vinaigrette
2-1/2 T red wine vinegar
1 t Dijon mustard
1-1/2 t agave nectar
1/2 t salt
Freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons olive oil
1/8 cup pine nuts, toasted


1. In a large pot of water, add potatoes and salt. Bring to boil, then lower heat and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender when pierced. Drain potatoes.
2. Using an immersion blender in a small bowl, blend vinaigrette ingredients.
3. While potatoes are still warm, cut in halves or quarters. In a large bowl, toss gently with vinaigrette. Add remaining ingredients and mix. Serve warm or chilled.

Mmmmm....I will definitely be making this one again. A new summer staple.

When opportunity strikes...

I've been carrying a harmonica in my purse for the past six months. When asked why, I always give the same answer...because someday, I'll run into someone who can show me how to play it.

As it turns out. Today was that day.

Carl-the-Famous-Theologian and Sunny-the-City-Girl just introduced me to Martin-the-Blues-Harpist. Okay, so that isn't his official title. He is actually the vice president of a Christian organization and I believe he is also a chemical engineer, but any professional accomplishment pales in comparison to the fact that he comes from the land where harmonicas are made--and he can actually play one.

Today, I commandeered him away from the church picnic to give me a lesson. And he was kind enough to help me make the leap from the discs I've been listening to to actual personal instruction.

This evening, John and I invited him back to our house for dinner, and the five of us (Carl and Sunny) shared Fourth of July fare, beers and interesting conversation.

I love serendipity.

Kaboomtown

A great benefit to working at AD is that Addison--where our offices are located--is the home to one of the best fireworks shows in the nation. Kaboomtown is rated one of the top places to watch fireworks in the country by the American Pyrotechnics Association, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal.

Each year, all of the families in our company get together for a catered dinner, then pull up lawn chairs at the hangar and watch the airshow. When it gets dark, the fireworks begin.

This year--because it was a Friday night, we skipped the catered dinner and went for something a bit simpler so our whole team would actually get the day off. I made bentos for John, Beth and I. (John's is shown. I had a vegan version.)

During the show, Bethany leaned over and said. "We are fireworks spoiled."

Yep.

Definitely.

An evening of softball

Since I have the day off tomorrow, I got to go see the Knights play tonight. So, armed with a bottle of all natural mosquito repellent and some sunscreen, John and I loaded up and went to Grapevine. It was an awesome game. The Knights got a zillion runs and creamed the other team.

Of course one of my favorite parts was that Kacie is back in town. She and Will are hanging out in Texas for the summer before his next movie begins. (Will is an effects wizard.) Kacie caught me up on the drama of their landlord who decided she no longer owned the house they were renting and blew off the foreclosure notices. She also caught me up on beach life and the joys of the dog beach--where the canine members of their family get to play in the surf. However, best of all, she and I did some surfing of our own (iPhone) so that I can find a bike like hers. (Very fun.)

Before the game, John worked on his hitting with his new invention--which is actually pretty cool. He's been working on adjusting his swing, and as it turns out, this contraption made of PVC pipe has been helping.

Afterwards, we all headed to Buffalo Wild Wings where Steve C. regaled us with his Cicada story. (Steve is the very best storyteller....Really.)

It was a great night. I love holidays.

Simple Vegan | Spicy Cold Soba Bento

I discovered Bentos through blogger, Biggie's Lunch in a Box and started packing my own. Not too long after I found her blog, I went out and purchased this three-tiered lunch box at my local Asian grocery store. Most days I pack breakfast in the top and lunch in the lower two tiers.

This time I pulled out a recipe from one of my favorite cookbooks, Marilu Henner's Healthy Life Kitchen. I discovered Marilu back in 2000 and actually followed all of the steps to her Total Health Makeover. (For a long time, my son, Chase called her "the woman who destroyed his life." He was referring to me throwing out all the dairy, sugar and junk food.)

This is a variation of the Spicy Cold Soba Noodles recipe from page 257.I've adjusted some of the amounts to make it more to my taste.

1/3 c soy sauce
1 T molassaes
2 T sesame oil
1/4 c tahini
2t chili oil (or a squirt of sriacha)
2 T balsamic or red wine vinegar
1/2 bunch scallions thinly sliced

1/2 lb soba noodles (Japanese buckwheat noodles)

Start water boiling for the soba noodles. They cook really fast (5 min) so you don't want to throw them in until the sauce is almost ready.

I heat the soy sauce in a pan then throw everything else in and stir with a wisk. (There are much more proper directions in Marilu's cookbook.)

Once the soba noodles are done you rinse them in a collander with cold water. Then mix it all together and voila.

The best part is they taste better cold the next day so they are perfect for Bento. In case you are wondering, the other container has matchstick carrots, edamame, cherries and a container with sriacha--in case it wasn't quite spicy enough.