old school 'post'

Doing the right thing and not being sure of it and getting a bit of payoff and proof. holding onto faith and trusting in the heart. in love. trish

unsolicited messages

when so needed~

the blessings of a generous

warm heart

touching gently

the pieces of pain

to remind me there is

so much

still.

i bake for people

Cookies for the boys. Dinner for my over worked girlfriend. Lunch for a long distance friend. Care packages for my miles away son. My favorite time is in the early morning (middle of the night for some!) when the birds are still slumbering, my boys are curled under covers and the kitchen holds nothing but potential.

I do it for those on the receiving end of course, but even more so for myself. I admit it; it's a completely selfish endeavor~

Satisfaction comes on two levels: I get to spend time in the kitchen-creating, experimenting, playing and thinking. Being here is as much fun as splashing in the hot wax in the studio! There is something so very yummy in putting ingredients together and coming away with a finished, tasty delight!

I also get the personal jazz of sharing with the people I care about in my life-letting them know, in this small, tasty way, that I am thinking of them. Great pleasure comes in hearing your child's first stirring include an 'mmmmm mom-what is that smell!'. In packaging up the latest batch of scones and dropping them inside a neighbors screen door. In receiving a text 'thank you!' from a friend eating your paella with a glass of red on her back porch.

I bake for people. in love. trish.

Milk Chocolate Florentine Cookies

1/2 c butter (I've even used 1/4 c olive oil and 1/4 c silken tofu-don't tell the guys!)

2 c oats

2/3 c sugar (I use honey or sucanat)

2/3 c flour

1/4 c corn syrup (dark is yummier)

1/4 c milk

1 tsp vanilla

2 c chocolate chips (melted)

Melt the butter in the microwave and cool slightly. Add oats, sugar, flour, corn syrup, milk and vanilla-mix well. Drop spoonfuls onto foil-lined baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Flatten a bit with spoon or spatula.

Bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes. Cool completely before removing from foil.

Spread a thin layer of chocolate onto the flat side of half of the cookies. Place another on top, creating a sandwich. Allow to cool or refrigerate to speed this along! Eat them people!!!!

misfiring

Don't you hate it?! Things are going smoothly...moving along at a comfortable clip...flowing into each other at a reasonable pace...one part of life speaking fluently to all other parts of life. Everything is making sense. Career, family, friends, self, social and home are fluidly flowing. Then they're not. Just like that things begin to fall away. The grasp you thought you held on all things real is apparently loosely rendered and bits of doing, holding, having, loving, fall to the floor. We are reminded of our humanness once again.

In faith and hope, we stoop to pick up the fallen parts. Some shattered, some cracked, some, gratefully, no worse for the wear. With these bits we stand up, straighten our suit, regrasp the everlasting parts of ourselves and gently smile. All is not lost. The pieces most necessary, most worthwhile, most authentically you remain. Firmly hold them and begin a new day. in love. trish.

out of the park

I know a boy who has always wanted to play for the majors. Hit a home run in Busch Stadium and live the exhilarating rush of this competitive fulfillment. Like many with similar desires, even with the full engagement of talent, time and energy he did not reach the ballpark in time to play the game. It can be hard to accept-not being able to see a passion lived through to home base. Yet, one has to ask why it seems to end before its time? Is it truly a passion unfulfilled, or can it be that its destiny is found in a new ballpark? Perhaps the desire to hit one over the fence is being realized in a different field.

Onlookers can see that he has gone further, lived higher and reached farther than any baseball game or major league contract could ever take him. He still burns to live at the top of his game; catching every pop fly hit into his zone. He's simply become a free agent holding position on many teams. Through relationship building in business, faith, family and love he has managed to put the man out at second, create a double play to first and hit not one, not two not even stopping at three, balls out of the park. A tremendous drive to live authentically in his passion persists at every base he turns.

Keep score on your days Aspen. Watch your ERA improve in your moments of authentic feeling, connecting and being-simply because you are still living your unique passion; just re manifest in love of people instead of the game. blessings. a beautiful thing~in love. trish

in my kitchen

Solitary island oasis?! Uninhabitable desert island?! NO! A lovely yam having its own way in my cupboard. in love! trish

we can only feel as high as we do low

I struggle with tears today~it doesn't happen often, although it may appear I've spent the entire summer in this state! Truly, I've come to live most days in a much more goose bump filled way. But occasionally, today for instance, the tears well. The limbo state of being that has been life with Conner is coming to an end. He has made the choice, really the only choice available to him as he sees it, to begin life anew in Michigan. Unfortunately this means being under the direction and control of his father. That in and of itself is not the main rub.

It is more so the fact of his still persistent requirement of others to propel him forward; to provide the next step for him. He as yet lacks the ability to take the reins of his own destiny and follow his heart. It is in this fact that I struggle with tears and face a bittersweet goodbye once again.

Conner, listen. Listen to the voice of your own soul and find a path true to you. It is in there; it is there for you. You have a gift no one else can open. Find it and follow only where it leads. Go where you must go for now, but begin to listen as well. And believe what you feel; not what you are told. In love. mom.

parents, paella and patience

My parents came over earlier this summer and my 'too fab' dad cut my entryway tile so that I could finally lay and grout it. Heaven. I love getting projects done!
They moved to Mukilteo from northern California less than a year ago and what I thought could quite possibly become my undoing-living so close to the parental units after 25 years away-has become a true blessing. Never mind that my dad is 'da bomb' on household project completion! I didn't do much to help out-cutting tile is very much a one man job, but in thanksgiving, I made this for lunch. I don't think it was a even trade, but it sure was good! in love. and thank you dad :) trish
Paella
2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs (i use breasts), cut into bite size pieces
1/4 c olive oil
1 T paprika
2 t dried oregano
1 lb cooked chorizo (i use turkey italian sausage)
1 large onion, diced
1 lg red pepper, diced
4 lg garlic cloves, minced
2 c short grain brown rice
1 lg pinch saffron threads
1 t red pepper flakes
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
1 qt chicken broth
1 lb peeled deveined shrimp
1 lb bay scallops
1 c frozen peas
1/2 c chopped fresh parsley
Drizzle chicken with 2 T olive oil, sprinkle with paprika, oregano, sanl and pepper; tosst ocaot. Heat a large roasting pan or skillet on medium-high heat and add chicken and cook through. Add sausage, onions, peppers and garlic; cook until veggies are tender and sausage is no longer pink. Stir in rice, saffron, pepper flakes, tomatoes and broth. Bring to a simmer then cover. Stir and check the rice for doneness-about 20 minutes. Remove lid and continue to cook until broth has absorbed. Add water if the rice requires more liquid to cook thoroughly. Stir in shrimp, scallops, peas and parsley. Seafood should be cooked within 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy! Great as leftovers and this recipe makes enough for a CROWD!

cincinnati

I've just returned from Cincinnati. That's right, I chose to go to Cincinnati in August. First day-95 degrees, sticky humidity and Midwest good times!

I've had the great fortune to be summoned by my publisher to shoot two DVDs in encaustic techniques~A dream! A coup! An every man's fantasy come true! It nearly killed me. Don't get me wrong; I love getting the information on encaustic out there for artists to indulge in and am still in awe of the fact that I am being honored with the opportunity to be doing this-But I do not like standing in front of cameras, bright hot lights and four intense faces awaiting the spilling of my wisdom to be captured by their editing prowess. Gasp. Two days of this grueling endeavour left me drained of functional energy and yet slightly exhilarated at the realization that I pulled it off; I stood before the blank stare of the cyclopes audience and gave my best to the Lucite permanence of the video tape. I am thrilled to know the information will soon be out there~Artists will be able to use not only my book, but now one of the DVD's to get themselves around the assumed difficulties of encaustic painting. Between the book, these two DVD's and separately shot DVD in collage techniques hitting shelves after being shot in early 2008 through Creative Catalyst Productions, I am shouting to the masses my love of encaustic; putting my 'stamp' if you will, on the diversity, wonder and sheer delight of working in this medium-And in following ones' heart passion to the exclusion of simply living. in love. trish.

my daniel time-summer 2009

Daniel comes to visit three times a year; Christmas, spring break and summer. He returned two weeks ago for his summer with me. When he left to begin a life in Michigan I knew the relationship would change. I would no longer be a daily force of care, nurture, contact and complaint in his life. But to guess at what that relationship would evolve to was beyond me. I was too busy holding onto my sense of self-a mom of four glorious boys. To grab hold of this new concept-being mom minus one son-was bigger than I could face in one pass. It's been an odd and tumultuous transition and one I do not believe I've fully evolved to or ever completely will. So much of who I am is grounded in the life of having, raising, nurturing and building these four unique beings. To turn to this new sense of self is a slow and learned process wrought with pain, anguish, bittersweet joy and a dash of pride thrown in at the end. To think, my child-and now two children-have made this life changing decision for themselves! Reviewed the losses and gains, weighed the good and bad, assessed the pain for self and others and made the decision based on these findings-and their own sense of what they need on their path. Proud?! Yes, I am. I build those lives. My hand touched each moment in their days. My love fortified their personal strengths that bring them to this place of change. Bravo for me. Bravo for my glorious boys. To your life lived; as you feel it be. The joy outweighs the pain hands down...in love. trish.

1 3/4 x1 3/4 at most!

chocolate espresso

I love to eat. I love food-when it's really good, and more so when I create it. I love the process of putting ingredients together; whether from a recipe or simply a place that 'just sounds good'. I love to meld ingredients to concoct a delicious dish; maybe I'll be the only one that thinks so, but that's okay-there are always corndogs in the freezer for finicky eaters. I love to experiment, research new ideas, try new recipes. The heart of this love rests more in baking than in cooking: There's just something satisfying in filling the house with the smell of sweet sugary delights.
My kitchen-love started in youth when a recipe for No Cook Dandy Candy became a household favorite. I was enlivened by the ability to put five simple ingredients together and create a delicious, gooey sweet treat. My mom must've sighed with a bit of relief to realize she could allow my forage into the kitchen with this one because it required no heated elements or oven gauges.
No Cook Dandy Candy soon fell victim to my own cookies, quick breads and cakes. I can remember in college, in the house I shared with 7 starving students, making cookies out of my sophomore year stand by-grapenuts. Yes, that strange, tooth breaking, nearly inedible cereal. One adverturous roomie tried one; starvation gets 'em every time. I remember finishing the batch myself-fueling me through final exams no doubt. I am a proponent of unusual flavors and textures.
I've recently pulled out an old recipe that still lives a powerful life back in Michigan. Knocking down the ingredients list from the 20 loaf batch it is written for, I recreated a loaf this week. In sharing this one, I received rave reviews of 'just the right balance of chocolate to espresso' and 'it's better than the BS version'. I'm smiling. It is a delectible. And, if you ever have a day to be alone, savoring moments of personal pleasures, take this one along for the ride. in love. trish.
Chocolate Espresso Bread
(yields one large loaf)
1/2 lb butter, softened
1 1 /2 c sugar
Cream these then add
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
cream again and add in
2 1/3 c flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 t salt
blend to smooth then mix in
1/4 c ground espresso beans
1 c semi sweet chocolate chips
Pour batter into a greased loaf pan and bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely on wire rack. I like it best cooled, but I'm betting it would be killer-good warm with vanilla ice cream melting into it for dessert...

love pain

It comes in many forms-with many degrees of intensity and for reasons we can not ignore. Pain. It's there to teach us; to identify more deeply with our inner strength and to recognize the intense joy in the opposite when we are blessed with it.

Today I have let go of someone I love deeply and loved passionately-that I will love until my last day. God gifted me 20 months of being able to call him part of my life. I believe it was with a purpose-that the pain in saying goodbye will not be in vain.

The time together, the falling apart, the final severing-all hold lessons to learn from and grow in. I will listen to them. I will embrace the messages they send to me: Coming from a place of deep truth and passionate love they will be most poignantly valued. With joy and a gentle smile I will cherish the memories as they arise and the lessons I come to learn from the experience and all that it was.

But for now, I will feel the pain. And cry. Cry to share. Cry to mourn. Cry to say goodbye. He held my hand and brought me to a new place within myself. He is one of the great ones in the world and for that I pray to God that the one for him is just around the corner, holding a sign with his name on it, smiling brightly and offering him her world.

in love. trish

ARTFEST 2010!

Come join me! http://www.teeshaslandofodd.com/artfest/classes.html
in love. trish