August Already??

Wow how this summer is flying by!  We are planning a trip to Italy in the Fall and that is taking up some of my mental space.  I have been diligently but slowly working on my painted designs and am loving my current theme...Mermaids.

This croque is a peek at the fun I am having!!  I am playing around with the idea of making greeting cards with some of my newest design bits printed on them, stay tuned for that, may be new on my Etsy shop!

Our vegetables are growing nicely; tomato vines are full with all GREEN tomatoes.  I can't wait till they start turning red...  I made my first batch of (not classic) Ratatouille.  I added capers and olives and a splash of balsamic just for something different...it was delicious.  If you have never made it before, rent the cutest movie of the same name and download the PDF of Julia Child's recipe, watch the movie while you cook "Julia Style", and when finished get some crusty french bread, and enjoy your feast!   And the perpetual weeding has been a crab grass fest this summer!  Speaking of weeds here's a new one for me.  How am I going to weed up on my chimney!!!

I am also enjoying a fun Summer read.  It is called Sacre Bleu: A Comedy D'Art by Christopher Moore.  It is funny and a twist on so many famous painters in France in the 1800s,  spurred on by Vincent VanGogh's sudden death.  Friends, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, and the fictional Lucien Lessard are trying to find out what happened to their friend Vincent and how a demented little man called the Colorman (who sells all the famous artists their paints - like crack) might be involved.   They are joined by the likes of Monet, Manet, Pissaro and Whistler.  It is very funny.   And though while I an painting PINK in the studio I am thinking BLUE in my head, so Blue things keep popping out.
Exhibit 1: Blue Berry Pie. 

I love pie, I am very good at pies, and today I made a pie from very local blue berries.  Have you visited the foodie website called Punchfork?  It is my favorite and my handle there is PieGirl.  Here's their assortment of Ratatouille recipes.

I am going to get back down to my painting table so enjoy the post and have a great day.