Help [ME] Ronda

The Little Things

Andrew snuck into town last week.  He didn't have vacation days but managed to get a few days off at the end of May and a few at the beginning of June.  We had a lovely week with him and managed to get some home chores done.  It was also great to have him home for Anthony's graduation party.  In looking at the last 3.5 years of this lifestyle (and 20 years of being a pilot's wife), i realized a few things. 

• the small things really do count
• i'm pretty handy with tools & have my own tool box i love
• water heaters should be emptied & refilled yearly (see below) and i know how to do it
• skype & facetime (and the internet) helps us stay connected
• every thing happens when he's "out of town" -- (trees falling on the driveway, washers backing up, water heaters leaking, furnaces going out, bears trying to break in, etc)
• it's important to have a list of trusted handy man for such occasions
• it's ok to ask for help & people are wonderfully kind souls (insert me crying when a church member asked me if i needed help with our sprinkler system)
• time for myself is important to recharge & rejuvinate
• standby travel is cool when it works but often stressful
• he terrribly misses the every day life stuff 
• meal times with the whole family are ever so lovely
• as is morning tea/coffee on the back deck with your husband even if you are both absorbed in whatever you are reading
• the kids like to attribute things i have done for them to him.  i know it's only because they miss him
• but it does sting a bit when they do, thankfully andrew will say "that was your mom"
• time is precious, every second is important, so really try to appreciate the little things

 

 

Look Up

Are you one of the 39 million views on this video poem? 

Sometimes when we are meant to hear things, it comes at us in different ways, as if to say "notice me, notice me."  This video was first mentioned to me by Alexi.  My kids have grown up with technology.  Alexi can barely remember the sounds of dial up internet. She texts so fast you barely see her thumbs flying, and she's very attuned to social media.  So i thought it was interesting she brought this video to my attention.  Then at Anthony's graduation ceremony the Principle invited the kids to take a selfie (Word of the year last year) before she mentioned this video.  Her speech to the kids was a cautionary tale about using technology but also knowing when to put the phone down and Look Up.  Two mentions in less than a week.

i am grateful for all the technology we have.  Really grateful.  It connects me to Andrew on a daily basis.  i cannot image not being able to get in touch with him.  i also believe it connected me to people across the globe whom i would never get the chance to meet if it hadn't be for the internet.  But i also know i need to set my phone down sometimes, Look Up, and just enjoy the moment.  

What are your thoughts on this video?

 

 

The Art of Gardening: Planning

On a previous blog post, i touched lightly on my veggie garden adventures.  There is so much to learn & do at times it can be overwhelming but i found that after being immobile for so long, my brain longed for the challenge.  

Some things i learned:

• Planning should start in January (research, planning, buying seeds)
• Garden gloves are great to protect against cedar
• Spreadsheets are really great for organization
• Talking with friends about gardens helps generate ideas
• Many hands make light work, mostly
• Gardeners have their own lingo: Biodynamic, Hardening Off, Compost Tea, Cold Box, etc
• Wanting an artsy garden is totally ok and don't let anyone tell you it only has to be functional
• you can grow A LOT in a small area (goodbye rows, hello sq ft garden)

i started off my adventure by picking up a book (All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew) and contacting my sister-in-law Kari who has grown successfully in the area for a few years now.  i brought my legal pad to our tea get together, ready to gleam some of her wisdom.  i knew i needed to start with a list of things my family eats on a consistant basis and filter out things that might be difficult to grow for a first timer.

i should note that i am not really a first timer as my parents owned greenhouses when i was 7-8 years old.  We also had gardens when i was a little older but i haven't had a vegetable garden in years.  So in a way, i am starting from scratch.  

We talked about the beds, the soil, composting, and what grows relatively well in this drought climate.  After our chat, she sent me a ton of resources for this area including all the local farmers markets.  i went home and created the art of Gardening pinterest board to further collect ideas.  The visual organization really spurred me on to keep on planning and honing in on what i wanted my garden to be.  

i also called my friend Jessi to ask her about her garden, to chat through my ideas, and to help me solidify my plans.  Talking to these two gals proved to be invaluable to me.  Jessi really gets my needs to for it to be "pretty" as well as functional.  Kari really wants me to be successful and encourages me in so many ways.  After much thought, i decided i wanted to start with 5 raised beds for my "square foot" veggie garden.  i also decided that i was going to turn this side yard into a cottage/veggie garden area, implementing it in phases.  i walked the yard & sketched the area with my plan so i could really visualize the area coming to life.  It can still change but i have a basic plan.  i asked my father-in-law Phil to build these raised beds i found on Sunset.  Their plans were very concise and sturdy.  We decided to use Cedar wood for the beds for their sturdiness & longevity.  However i will say that gloves are a must for i cannot tell you how many splinters i have because of the wood!  i decided to make the beds 3 ft x 6 ft since i am short and my reach isn't very long for the "normal" 4 ft beds.  

Phil & i staked off the area i wanted to the raised beds to go.  It is another great way for me to visualize my garden area coming to life and the perfect time to change my mind.  The boys & i removed the grass from the area while Phil built the boxes.  Once we figured out that a hoe was the best way to break up the roots, the grass came up fairly easily.  Digging the holes and leveling the beds took some work but we knew it would be better in the long run if we took the time for this.  Jacob & Anthony were amazing and worked really, really hard. 

and then came the soil.  

and many wheelbarrow trips. 

and sore muscles.

but the beds looked so pretty filled with the soil.  

Now that the beds were now in place, i really had to work hard on narrowing down the types of plants, the variety of plants, & how many i needed.  With all that i had to learn their growing season, whether to start from seeds or transplants, watering, plant care, etc.  This is where that Square Foot Gardening book really came in handy with a detailed plant index in the back of the book.  i decided early on to make it an organic garden so i hunted for organic seeds & transplants.  Local farmer's Markets were the key for me and i found some amazing plants.  

What i didn't find in my search was a good plant profile sheet to keep track of what i wanted to grow.  So i created one for myself and tailored it to my needs.  i have ideas on how i am going to track my veggie garden progress & mistakes.  i will share all those ideas with you soon!

 

 

Collective 5: Summer Reads

Summer for the Northern Hemisphere is just around the corner.  Time of travels & summer vacation/holidays, beach time, playing at the park, and of course summer reading.  There's nothing like cracking open a book and losing yourself in another world while soaking up some rays of sunshine.  i have been compiling my list of reads for this season including some classics.  i would share a few books i have read with you to add to your list.  Maybe you have a few you would like to share with me and my readers as well! 

Have you read Veronica Roth's Divergent Trilogy yet? This dystopian series where "one choice can change you" is a captivating story.  i really liked how it made you look at society through the choices you make.  A very interesting read.  If you liked Hunger Games, you will love this series too.  i have to say the art work & typography on these books really drew me in.  i especially love the cover of Insurgent!

Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal is a quick non-fiction read that will make you want to write about your own life.  There are gems in her words too like: "there is a specific kind of talking that occurs between two people who are engaged in the creation of art...This banter, this art speak, is nonsensical, meandering, intimate, and purposeful."  It made me laugh out loud in certain places at the truisms of daily life.  

John Green's The Fault in our Stars is such a good read.  i don't want to give too much away.  i am the kind of reader that wants to wrap myself up in a book and let it unfold in my mind.  i don't want people telling me too much and i despise it when back covers give away the story.  So all i am going to tell you is that it is an easy read, told from a great perspective, and will have you up all night trying to finish it.  

Graceling, Fire, and Bitterblue by Kristen Cashore are a YA (Young Adult) series of companion books.  They aren't sequentional necessarily but do tie into each other as they take place in the "Graceling Realm."  i think Fire is my favorite but i reserve the right to change my mind.  Again these are easy reads with strong female leads in each book along with some really enjoyable other characters.  

Ok so Flow isn't a book technically, it's a magazine.  It is a really amazing Dutch magazine filled with so many great articles and features.  The magazine is broken down into 4 sections, Simplify Your Life, Feel Connected, Live Mindfully, & Spoil Yourself.  It feels more like a book than a magazine.  Flow is very creatively designed including fun fonts, different types & textures of paper, and always has extra items.

Extras like banners, cut & paste illustrations for your inspiration boards, Alphabet Postcards, Window Clings, Cool Envelopes, etc.  It's so much fun to open up the magazine and find inspiration for all parts of my life.  Flow International now has 5 issues (only 4 available for purchase) out and i treasure each of them like a book!  It's a great magazine to add to your summer reads.

Do have any books you have read recently?  Please feel free to leave the name & author in the comments so we can all share!

 

the next chapter

It just seems like the other day Anthony was born.  He was absolutely perfect from his milk chocolate brown eyes to his chunky cheeks.  We had a wonderful time growing up together, filled with laughter, explorations, and lots of thinking on things.  

As he grew so did his personality, quick-witted and oh so funny.  His inquisitive nature started right from the beginning and grew every day too.  It seemed like the years were flying by, elementary school, middle school, and then into high school.  

His freshman year was Alexi's last and we watched her graduate & move on to University.  i knew from her experiences that his High School years would fly by.  

and here we are again.  Andrew & i are proud of Anthony, so very proud.  It's hard to believe he's graduated and ready for the next chapter in his life.  

 

a Call to ART

Before i begin this post, i wanted to let you know that i am switching to Feedblitz.  If you subscribe to this blog via a reader, you will need to switch your feed over to: http://feeds.feedblitz.com/rondapalazzari I really hope you want to continue subscribing.  If you do, simply:

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i apologize for any inconvience!  Thank you for being a subscriber to this blog.  I really do appreciate your support.  

Human trafficking breaks my heart and weighs heavily on my soul.  The story of the Nigerian girls is just one such story of many.  So how can you or i help?  

i have a piece in the works and will have it up for auction to help raise money for girlrising.com, a global campaign for girls' education thanks to Jessica Sporn's action. She has been organizing the whole event.

On May 15th, i hope you will join me & so many other amazing artists (including Jessica Sporn, Nat Kalbach, MaryBeth Shaw,  Kristen Powers, Marjie Kemper, Lesley Veneble and Judy Shea, to name a few) for an online auction, which starts at 7AM EDT and ends on May 17 at 3PM EDT.  You can bid on mine or the other auction pieces and help spread the word by sharing the above poster & this blog post wherever you can.  Use #bringbackourgirls in all your posts.  Thank you!

Sandi Dailey said...

Congratulations Ronda!!! I told you that you would be "famous" some day!!! I am extremely happy that you were chosen to be featured in this book -- you so deserve it with your artistic talent. I actually posted two pictures, one in my "Books to Get" and the other in my new "Mixed Media" section (I have so many of your designs saved on my hard drive that it was time to start pinning them to share with the world). Here is a link to my board:http://www.pinterest.com/sandi_jones/

Sandi email me your address!  Thank you to all who entered.  Stay tuned for i will have another book & journal soon!

 

The Art of Pen Pals: Now Open for Registration

Letter writing is almost a lost art these days.  With all of the technology today -- internet, emails, instant messages, & texting, it's so easy to drop a note to someone.  Don't get me wrong, i think it's completely awesome that i get to know people across the globe through my computer.  But I miss the days of waiting on the postman delivering a letter.  There is something so gratifying about opening up the mailbox and finding an envelope addressed to you.  I still have friends that send me notes from time to time and it's the best feeling in the world to see that little envelope of handwritten words just for me. 

The third session of The Art of Pen Pals is coming in May. This class is open to worldwide participants.  Please note that if you sign up you may have to pay for postage to mail these letters internationally.  The handwritten letters must be postmarked by the 20th of the month beginning in May.  If you are considering signing up, please make sure you are willing to consistently mail out your letters on time.  

The Art of Pen Pals is now open for registration on my Website.  Once I have 20 participants, the class will be closed.  You have to be registered on my site first before you can purchase the class.  Website Registration is free and fairly simple--plus you get a free Introduction to Stencils class.  Once you are registered on the website, you will be ready to purchase the class. i look forward to having you in my classroom!

At a Glance...

This past weekend was filled with family & friends.  It always reminds me of how blessed my life is.  Though like most, i have my fair share of trials & tribulations, i am surrounded by love.  Always a good thing isn't it?

Friday night was Anthony's senior prom.  Cheyenne & Anthony asked me to take photos before their dinner.  We, the kids, Cheyenne's mom, & a  very special guest trekked out to our favorite park to document this special date.  Cheyenne looked radiant and you know i am partial to my handsome Antman.  i captured some really great natural moments between these two.  

Yes, Julie was my very special guest on Friday.  She was in Colorado filming Mixed Media Workshop with Jenn Mason.  If you haven't seen previews of their antics on Instragam, it's worth checking out.  We always have a good time when we are together and i always feel refreshed & renewed by our conversations.  

 

 

We went to an opening art exhibit at ArtHaus titled Carte Blanche.  Michael Gadlin, my art instructor & mentor, along with two other artist worked collaboratively with Ron Hicks & Darrell Anderson.  It was fun to walk around with Julie and hear her take on things.  She has a distinct point of view that always challenges the way i see things.  I absolutely love our stimulated conversations.  

Dinner was at the Populist also located in the RiNo district of Denver.  It had a cool vibe of communal dining, almost as if you were sitting around the hearth room table.   The outdoor patio looked inviting but i think it shall keep for warmer nights.  i think Julie & i both loved watching the waiter retrieve wine from the uber cool hole in the floor, other wise known as a cellar.  It was a sight to watch.  

Dinner was tasty and dessert was even tastier.  

Saturday morning was spent on the deck enjoying the beautiful morning and picturesque views but the weather didn't last the day.  By that evening the rain was falling and most of the day Sunday was spent with swirling snowflakes.  Hello Spring in Colorado.  No worries, in true Denver fashion, the snow has already left us thanks to our warm sunshine.  

But i do love the excuse of snow to hunker down with a cup of tea or cocoa and spend the day creating.  i can tell you, after an art filled friday night filled with wonderful conversation, i felt opened and inspired.  Such a lovely place to be. 

it's time & a recipe

i have been progressing but some days i still tire out.  it's been slow going but i see a change.  i feel like each day, things get better & better.  i shared with you my struggles with Trigeminal Neuralgia but there are more to my trials & tribulations.  i have had many other symptoms including digestive issues that my doctors couldn't figure out. The head pain had to be tamed first. My family physician suggested i seek out complementary medicine to help solve my issues because he didn't want me to be on yet another pill. Neither did i! I found an acupuncturist who also holds a master in chinese medicine. After our very thorough and comprehensive first appointment, she laid out a plan for me to help reduce the head pain and then work on my other health issues.  

Each appointment isn't just an acupuncture appointment but we also work on nutrition and lifestyle changes. After the head pain started receeding it was time to work on some digestive issues. She asked me to start by picking one, gluten or dairy/lactose, and elimate it for at least two weeks with no cheating. For me it seemed easier to give up the gluten than to have to give up my Chai teas. i have been gluten free for almost a month now and my digestion system is getting back on track. While i don't have a casein allergy, it does appear i am gluten intolerant. At first the change was a little difficult, now i find myself reveling in the challenge of making gluten free food, including the above flourless cake. If you tell me i cannot have good gluten free foods, the stubborn little girl from childhood says, "just you watch me!" 

 

i have been for a long time now a big supporter of homemade & frozen versus boxed/canned goods but i knew there was more i could do. Having so many pain and health issues, it was finally time to make some more changes. Jennifer tells me that things shouldn't be done in extremes and i agree with her. So my approach to changing some habits has been to do it slowly so that it becomes a lifestyle change and not just a fad. One of the things we decided was for me to shift to Dr. Weil's anti-inflammatory food pyramid. It's time to choose a healthier me, for me & for my family. We are doing this together. They aren't gluten intolerant but since i don't bake with flour anymore, they are making a shift to mostly gluten free. We decided to put in gardens (more on that later) this year to help with my our lifestyle changes. The kids are actually excited about this addition and have been telling me what veggies they want planted and how they want to help. It's quickly become a family project which helps ease the transitions. Week by week i add something from the food pyramid into our "diet" and try eliminating something we don't need. i ask myself: have i had this many servings of [insert food item here] and try to compensate if i haven't or praise myself if i have.  

With all these changes, i have found lots of new recipes that still fit within the food pyramid but also satisfy my cravings like the above "Lara balls." My friend Jessi & i have been comparing garden notes and she has been giving me ideas and sharing recipes. The "Lara balls" are an adaptation of her recipe & this one she sent me.  

• 1 Cup Medjool Dates, pitted
• 1/4 Cup unsweetened Coconut flakes + more to roll
• 1/4 Cup Raw Almonds
• 1/4 Cup Rolled Oats 
• 3 TBS Cocoa Powder
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract

i blended the dates & vanilla first in the food processor before adding in the other ingredients. i added the remaining ingredients and pulsed it a few times to blend it. i laid out some parchment (or wax paper) and rolled the mixture into small balls. Some of them i rolled in more coconut which i happen to love. They are DELICIOUS.  You may not be a date fan, neither are my kids, but you really don't taste them. They just add natural sweet flavoring. i left the "Lara balls" out on the counter and my kids gobbled them up. i did tell them what was in it when i noticed them eating them and after a few moments of shocked faces, they didn't care. They decided these were too good not to eat. In fact one of the kids said, "these taste better than the brownie i had today." The best thing other than their taste is i don't feel guilty about having more than one! 

a Day at the DAM

Last weekend Alexi & i went to the Denver Art Museum, affectionately known as the DAM.  i have been slowly doing "outings" since all the illness and a small trip to the museum seemed doable, especially with a big long nap after.  She had to go for her Art class she is taking at college which just excites me.  It was a great time together as she knows my needs right now.  We also got to compare & contrast our likes as well as talk about the pieces in detail.  

The art muesum often has new exhibits and this latest one was a dream come true to me, Modern Masters: 20th Century Icons from the Albright-Knox Art Gallery.  Be still my beating heart.  Van Gogh, Gauguin, Kadinsky, Pollack, Kline, Stills, de Kooning, Motherwell, Rothko, sigh.  i have to say Alexi & I are quite diverse in our tastes.  it really made me laugh.  Despite our difference we we able to enjoy the afternoon together exploring & talking about art.  We aren't allowed to take photos in the exhibit so i purchased a book with lots of wonderful photos of the pieces.  Alexi even used it in her paper for class.  

After spending much time in the Modern Masters, we only went through a few other exhibits/halls at the Denver Art Museum. I was able to take photos in these exhibits. Here are a few that drew me in. These are a recent addition to the exhibit, Epic, drawings by Jospeh Stashkevetch. They are incredible & huge!  

The details on these are incredible.  They looked like photographs until closer inspection.  The lines of the charcoal are beautiful, the way they capture the light & dark.  You really do look like you are looking over the edge in the above piece.  Alexi and i were fascinated by these.  

This is one of my favorite paintings found in the Western Art section of the museum. Unfortunately i don't know the name of it. It is so striking, bright colors on a black background. The brushstokes are fascinating and beautiful.  

Another favorite of mine. The layers of paint to make up this mostly white & black painting is incredible. There is more than meets the eye, with layers of color under the white that make it beautiful.  

Stephen Hannock's Mount Blanca with Ute Creek at Dawn is a mixed media piece, although just a quick glance at it does not seem so. But step up and inspect it closer and you can see all kinds of things in the piece.

including pages from the Lorax

and notes about his late wife.  it is truly a piece that deserves a second look. 

This installation piece of sorts is quite intriguing. i really like how this and her other pieces are arranged. i love the strings hanging down as much as the art in the frames. Annette Messager has a few pieces in this collection and they are equally as cool.