Dear Friends,
I love the last few weeks of
summer. My birthday is this month on the Autumnal Equinox
(the 23rd). It’s my personal new years day, a time I
take to reflect on my projects and plans being sure to
include time for fun with my family
and friends. The
legendary artist, Leonardo da Vinci said, "Every now and then
go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to
your work your judgment will be surer."
Testing dessert recipes has a place on my list of fun things to do, but its time for a change before I get too plump. This month my recipe for you is the little-black-Patagonia-sports-dress of dinners, a quick one-skillet dinner I named Santa Fe Chicken Rice. Its quick, easy and depending upon how you garnish it, suitable for camping, school nights or a casual dinner party.
Delicious fresh food that is artistic and inventive inspires my cooking. A wonderful chef, my friend TR McCrystal recently commissioned a painting of his wife and children. It’s titled, Jen’s Garden. The painting illustrates the rich and happy life they’ve created, and it’s also the name of their restaurant, Jen’s Garden, in Sisters, Oregon. Stop by for a wonderful meal and check out the painting while you’re there.
You can see a
couple more of my paintings beginning the 21st at Onda Arte Latina Gallery in Portland, Oregon.
Allan Oliver, the owner and curator is exhibiting a
retrospective of five years of gallery artists. Included is
my painting, La Sirena / The Mermaid. The image is inspired
by my summer spent learning to surf. The mermaid is strong
and iconic and represents the beautiful changeable face of
the sea. Completed this month, she also reflects the reality
of seasonal changes both in my life and the larger world.
