While I love to cook meals, I’m not much of a baker, probably because I don’t usually eat baked goods. But I can rise to the occasion if requested.
blondies
Images
for lynne
I was so pleased when my dear friend Lola introduced us to Lynne, and even happier when they married in 2012. A few years later, baby Ella joined the family (her birthday card will appear on this blog next week). Happy birthday Lynne! We all love you!
Rhus integrifolia
Lemonadeberry is native to these parts; we have a LOT growing on our block. It occurs in both chaparral and coastal sage scrub communities, enduring heat and windy conditions well.
The fruit are eaten by many birds, and the nectar feeds both birds and butterflies. The berries make a pleasingly tart snack if popped in the mouth right off the bush, and sucked for their juice. They can also be dried, then soaked in water and heated to make a kind of hot pink lemonade.
dragon talisman
I found a somewhat cool website called From Old Books. It’s not an elegant site—I know there are similar but better ones out there—but it‘s worth having a poke around if you‘re interested in old imagery. I liked a certain dragon woodcut, so copied it into my sketchbook. Then I had a play around making a digital collage with some of the other images on the site.
at Red Cross
I was at Red Cross to give whole blood, but the phlebotomist let me know that I would be an ideal candidate for platelet donation. Maybe next time, I said, knowing that it involves the immobilisation of both arms for two hours. In the recovery area, this bald poster child added her persuasion. So yeah, next time🩸.
topo chico
Apparently this Mexican mineral water has a “cult following” 🤷🏻♀️
sewing day
Sewing one‘s own clothes is usually more expensive than buying fast fashion*, but there are ways to keep the costs down, like harvesting fabric from thrifted items. When Goodwill hunting, I look for large sections of cloth, unbroken by seams, preferably in natural fibres like linen. Maxi dresses, robes, and sheets are good sources. Or, if your name is Maria (my middle name is a variant), there’s always curtains.
*Leaving aside the environmental and human costs of fast fashion.
beet
Beets are so fun to paint in watercolour, with those luscious jewel tones.
Ventura River estuary
I had a lovely morning at the estuary with the Channel Islands Nature Journalers. The fish noticed the osprey before I did!
Peucetia viridans
I spotted this beauty in the house; after catching it for some closer observations and ID, I released it into the veggie garden. Maybe it will hunt cabbage white butterflies—one can hope!
hashiworks 