As if I didn’t already spend way too much time on Facebook as it is…you can now find Desperately Seeking {gina} on Facebook. Stop by and say hello!
desperately seeking {creativity}
Sometimes I think the internet is the worst thing that could have happened to me. It has become a black-hole, time-sucking, pretty picture overload for me. I can sit for hours in front of this monitor with the purpose of seeking inspiration and in the end I wind up feeling self-conscience and inadequate instead of inspired. On days like today when I sit down to create {cards in this instance} I end up staring at the materials for what seems like hours waiting for an idea to come to me.
It’s not always so bleak, though. Once I start rollin’ I start feeling confident, artsy, and even good. Good at art. Good at creating. I think the hardest part is stepping away from the computer and away from all the “inspiration.”
And that’s just what I did this afternoon. It felt lovely. I spent time painting {chalkboard pots}, creating cards {Halloween}, reading {Living Artfully}, and taking notes {to jog my memory}.
The heat has finally broken here in Ark and today was beautiful. Perfect for tea, reading, watching the egrets fly over the lake, returning to Bird Island.
Ever wondered what the world looks like through the bottom of a teacup? I can’t tell about the world, but The Cove looked beautiful:
Night Owl
It is late. After one a.m. And, I am posting even though I have nothing of major importance or relevance to share. I rarely stay up this late anymore; even on days when I’m not working the next day I’m in bed by eleven, dead to the world and drooling into my pillowcase.
It is cool outside: low 70s and the first night in three months that the windows have been open and the air conditioning turned off. I worked earlier today and all evening. My feet hurt and my legs are aching. I have a headache behind my left eyeball.
It is quiet. Thom has gone to bed. He’s been down to check on me already and to lock the doors and turn off the stereo. Crickets chirp outside and I am enjoying the click, click, clickety, click of the keyboard as I type.
It is September. I’ve said all summer that I would not complain too much about the heat. It’s been the hottest summer since I’ve moved here. I was miserable last winter. It was cold. It snowed. And I am already spoiled by the usually mild winters of the South. I haven’t complained. Much. It is September. And, I am glad to see it. Fall is my favorite time of year. But, as much as I love to see fall arrive, I am sad to know that winter is not far behind.
It is time for bed now. My eyes are droopy and I can’t think of much else to type.
Goodnight, Otto {see him up there, eyeing us sideways and wondering what I’m up to?}. Goodnight, moonless lake. Goodnight, crickets and tree frogs, and tiny little spiders outside the kitchen window. Yes, I see you and sadly you will be gone tomorrow.
Goodnight, friends.
Rabbit, Rabbit
One of the most fun jobs I’ve had was back when I was 20-ish. On a whim {and an ad in the paper}I had interviewed with a nanny agency, which led to gaining an agent and interviewing with a family {the only family, in fact}. I soon was hired and babysitting two young children.
Needless to say, I watched a lot of Nickelodeon back then. There’s a little tradition I gleaned from all those hours of watching Nick Jr; something I overheard while doing dishes or cleaning up after Nick & Rachel, undoubtably.
On the first day of every month the first words out of my mouth are the words “Rabbit, rabbit.” Usually I remember while showering. According to whatever show we were watching at the time {or maybe it was Face}, repeating those words first thing would bring the speaker luck for the remainder of the month.
It’s something I do almost every month. I’ve never questioned the origin of the tradition or even it’s validity. It was just a silly saying on some silly cartoon and something fun to do on the first day of every new month. I never questioned it until I brought it up with Thom in passing earlier tonight {to which he responded by looking at me as if I had grown another head}. It’s then that I thought to Google it to see if it was a true “thing.” Turns out, it is. Who would have thought?
{according to Wikipedia}
*It is a common British superstition
*a person should say “rabbit, rabbit, white rabbit” or other variations, such as: “rabbit, rabbit,” “white rabbits” and shall receive good luck for the remainder of the month.
*saying “rabbit, rabbit” to someone else will steal their luck for the month {evil, I say!}
*the earliest know version appeared around 1922:
“Why,” the man in the brown hat laughed at him, “I thought everybody knew ’Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit.’ If you say ‘Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit’—three times, just like that—first thing in the morning on the first of the month, even before you say your prayers, you’ll get a present before the end of the month.”
*may be related to the superstition of carrying a rabbit’s foot for good luck
And, although I can not definitively say that these two little words have brought me luck any perceivable luck, who’s to say that they haven’t?
Theme Night Pin It & Spin It
I have this list started in my mind {actually, I have a bunch of lists floating around up there that never actually become ink on paper…less of a commitment that way!}. It’s a list of must-see movies. A movie bucket list, if you will.
Scarface was on that list and since it arrived via Netflix earlier this week I thought it would be the perfect movie to watch while spinning a pin; one of my very first Pinterest finds-Italian Breadstick Popcorn. What better snack is there to accompany an Italian mafia movie {stick with me here, folks. My education in movie mafias is just beginning}?
I was thrilled with my putting the two of these together until Thom informed me that the movie was not about the Italian Mafia, but about a Cuban drug cartel. After an initial panicked moment trying to quickly come up with a Cuban spin on popcorn, I realized that I know nothing of Cuban spices and went with the pin as is.
So, without further ado….
The Pin:
Italian Breadstick Popcorn via The Pastry Affair
The Recipe:
8 cups hot popcorn
2 tbs olive oil
1 tbs dried basil
1 tbs dried parsley
1 tsp popcorn salt
1/2 tsp garlic salt
Combine seasonings.
Pop corn using desired method {Thom prefers popping on the stove top so I “let” him do all the popping 🙂 }
Drizzle olive oil over popcorn and mix to cover each kernel. It’s better to do this while the popcorn is still hot. Shake seasonings over popcorn until well combined. Eat, Repeat, and Enjoy!
The verdict:
This definitely had an interesting, slightly addictive flavor. It would be perfect for small, individual servings…I can’t imagine wanting to eat the whole bowl {we didn’t}. Butter definitely would have made it perfect, although the olive oil is certainly the healthier choice.
And by the way…the movie was better than I expected. Say hello to my little friend…