Winsome Wednesday- 9/19/12 Montecito, CA

I{HEART}ART:  Inspiration: OCEAN

I do love the ocean. Below are a few coastal themed pieces I have painted...

"Garden by the Sea" art by Tina C. Wells

"Montecito Coast" art by Tina C. Wells

"Dolphins at Play" children's mural, art by Tina C. Wells

"Starfish" art by Tina C. Wells

"Seahorse" art by Tina C. Wells

JOURNEY: Montecito, CA

September is one of the best months of the year. The weather is warm, sometimes too warm, and the crowds have gone home. There are a few more days of summer to be enjoyed (officially, fall equinox is September 22). I was fortunate enough to visit one of my favorite spots this week, and soak in a little time at the coast.  My sister and I took a quick trip to Montecito, the lovely little coastal village, just below Santa Barbara. I suppose it is my favorite spot because of the years of wonderful memories at Westmont College, (my alma mater), nestled back in the foothills of the Santa Ynez mountains. 

Montecito Coast

Channel Drive, Montecito

Eucalyptus

agave and bougainvillea

agave by the sea

The Montecito coastline is gorgeous. Standing at the wall at Butterfly Beach, the landscape is layered with beauty, the ocean speckled with the Channel Islands, the famous

spanish Biltmore with its terra cotta roofs, Santa Ynez mountains behind, giant palms, towering eucalyptus trees, agave, bougainvillea, roses, and succulents galore. This morning I had a rare treat; as I was on my ritual morning run (so happy to have a change of scenery) I approached the Biltmore wall and noticed everyone was looking out into the water, where a pod of dolphins were making their way through the surf. They looked close enough to touch. Magical. 

photo by Peter Nijenhuis

After my run, I walked to Jeannine’s Bakery where the coffee and homemade pastries are divine (not to forget the best ever eggs benedict, but I am saving that for tomorrow). Morning complete.

I took a drive up to Westmont, a small, Christian liberal arts college. The drive takes you through the hills of Montecito, thick with old majestic trees and magnificent estates. A flood of remembrances runs through me and take me back to the years I spent here.  Sunlight and shadows, natural stone walls, the rich mountains, curly wrought iron gates; it is an exceptionally beautiful place. Better still are the deep and lasting friendships that were made here.

Westmont College, Kerwood Courtyard

Westmont College, Italian Fountain

Before I get lost in sentiment and long strolls down memory lane, I want to tell you about a few of my favorites in Montecito, should you ever venture up the coast. There are several options of where to stay. We have chosen the more economical path at the Coast Village Inn. It is small, cottage-like inn with adequate rooms, but the best part is the location. While it is not the Four Seasons Biltmore with its divine oceanfront setting, the Coast Village Inn is located right in the heart of the coastal village of Montecito (vs. the upper village on East Valley Road), where there are great cafes and shops, and a five minute walk to the beach. If you are looking for something a step up, the Montecito Inn down the street is very charming, with a very good restaurant, and colorful history. 

Seahorse sign in Montecito

Coastal Village of Montecito

Coast Village Inn, Montecito

OK, let’s talk food. I already mentioned Jeannine’s Bakery, but here are few others:

Cava: oozing with charm; delicious and interesting food from south of the border

Los Arroyos: lovely patio, good Mexican fare

Montecito Cafe (at the Montecito Inn): fresh fish and steaks, well priced.  Save room for the Coconut Cake- to die for!

Tre Lune: fresh, fantastic Italian food (I have heard they have a great breakfast too).

Upper Village: 

Pierre LaFond: Market, coffees, pastries, deli. Diet tomorrow and have a Farm Cake today (dark chocolate and cream cheese muffin).

Plow and Angel: Appetizers, drinks, and more, in a cozy setting, located at the San Ysidro Ranch (where the Kennedy’s honeymooned).

Tre Lune, Montecito

And that is just Montecito...don’t get me started on Santa Barbara...that will have to be another post.

Montecito on Dwellable

FEATURE: Coastal Chic Pillows, by Huckleberry Living

My very talented friend Kristin Rinehart of Huckleberry Living, Designer of Fine Spaces, has created a line of decorative pillows. They are being featured in several boutiques, and also available directly from Huckleberry Living.  Each pillow cover (removable and washable) features coastal chic fabric over a poly/down blend pillow. Two styles, available in 2 sizes.

Sea Life Pillow by Huckleberry Living

Ocean Coral Pillows by Huckleberry Living

Ocean Coral Pillows, by Huckleberry Living

Large 24” Pillow: $125-

Medium 20” Pillow $95-

Contact Kristin for inquiry or purchase at:

kristin@huckleberryliving.com, or 619.481.0227  

SIMPLY CREATIVE: Wrap it Up!

I love specialty wrapping. I hate it when I run out of time and grab the nearest gift bag and tissue. This was a birthday gift for my cousin, and the wrapping was inexpensive and easy. I used white butcher paper to wrap the box, burlap “ribbon” from Michael’s, a sprig of rosemary from my garden, and a drop of glue-gun glue to attach the shell to the top. I found the scalloped tag in a multipack in the Michael’s $ bins, added the painted initial and attached it with some brown raffia. 

RECIPES: Hot Crab Dip

Easy, crowd pleasing, hot crab dip appetizer:

INGREDIENTS:

8 oz crab meat, drained (fresh, frozen, or canned)

8 oz cream cheese, room temp

4 TBL chopped onion

1 tsp horseradish

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

2 TBS milk

Mix together and bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes

Serve with crostinis or crackers

Winsome Wednesday 9/12/12

I HEART{ART}:  Inspiration:  Baby, Oh Baby!

“Elephant Love” 24”x24” Acrylic on canvas

NURSERY #1: TORI

This lovable elephant was painted for my niece, Tori’s nursery. My sister found a fantastic bedding set for the nursery, and that set the tone for everything.  From there, she and I chose colors for the walls (from her hospital bed...more about that below); three walls would be grey, and an accent wall in a deep rose. An amazing rug with a huge heart in all of her chosen colors was then added to the mix.  The color scheme and the heart rug then led to the idea for the painting. 

NURSERY #2:  AMANDA

I have painted many nurseries and kids rooms, and I must say that it is so much fun.  I love the wit and whimsy that can be in a child’s room. Below is another nursery, that has grown with age. This was originally painted for my cousin Joshua, but several years later, their family adopted a baby girl (Amanda) from Africa. I remember Heather’s call to me, “Is there anything we can do to Joshua’s murals to turn it into a girl’s room?” As you can see in the photos below, the monkeys are now “dressed up,” and flowers, bows, and other pink touches were added.

NURSERY #3: LONDON

The last featured nursery art is a triptych I painted for my sweet friend Kristen, who was pregnant with boy #3, to be named London. I knew she had a wild animal theme in his room, and I couldn’t stop thinking LONDON ZOO...

RECIPES: Coconut Cream Cheese Cupcakes

My niece, Tori, just turned one! My sister had a delicious spread of hearty appetizers for the family that was gathered to celebrate the wondrous first year. She asked if I would make Coconut Cream Cheese Cupcakes for the occasion. But of course...

OK, so, I cheat...I use a box mix.  I do, however, doctor it up.  In fact, I highly recommend the cookbook called “The Cake Mix Doctor” by Anne Byrn.  She has lots of recipe twists for the average box mix.  

For the cupcakes, I used a basic white cake mix, following the package directions, except substituting milk for water.  I cooked them in pretty silver liners in a cupcake pan, but reduced the heat to 325 and cooked them a minute or two less than the given range on the box (example, the box said 18-22 minutes, but I checked them with a toothpick at 16 minutes, and ended up taking them out at 17).  This is a little trick I learned from my friend Kristen.  When the cupcakes are slightly under baked, they are moist and better. 

The frosting is what really makes these cupcakes sing! 

Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting

1 pkg. (8 oz) cream cheese, at room temperature

1 stick (8 TBS) butter, at room temperature
3 3/4 powdered sugar, sifted
1 tsp coconut extract
(Sweetened Flake Coconut for the top)

Mix cream cheese and butter until combined.  Add powdered sugar a little at a time until well incorporated.  Add coconut extract and mix on medium speed 1 minute, until fluffy.  

I put the cooled cupcakes in the freezer for 1 hour and then frosted them (so much easier to frost frozen cupcakes).  After frosting each one, I dipped the top into a bowl of sweet flaked coconut. I added a small bunch of pink hydrangeas from my sister’s garden for a final touch, and then layered them on a tiered dish.  

Best enjoyed with a glass of champagne!

SIMPLY CREATIVE: Baby’s 1st Birthday, Favors

As I write this segment, it is hard to believe that one year ago today, my sister was in the hospital, and had been for a month.  Twelve weeks before her due date she was put on hospital bedrest, with hopes she could stay there as long as possible before her November due date.  Many women in this position only last a few days, but my persistent sister made it four weeks. There is a huge difference for a preemie born 8 weeks early, versus twelve. The short end of a long story is that tomorrow is Tori’s birthday, and you can’t even imagine that this beautiful, big, bubbly baby could have been a preemie at all.  Her formal name is Victoria Grace, and she is indeed victorious through God’s grace.  

Tori, the Belle of the Ball in her party dress

Annette and Andrew, Tori’s parents, decided to have a family baby dedication facilitated by a close friend who is a pastor. We also celebrated her first miraculous year of life, her first birthday.  Annette chose a color scheme of pink, magenta, and turquoise.  She took an adorable photo of Tori (all dressed up in her color scheme), and glued it to some specialty note cards she had found with elephants on them. I added her full name under her picture in my best fancy hand. During her pregnancy, Annette had put together a compilation of songs for Tori. She decided this would be a great gift to give everyone at the dedication. This is a bit of a trademark for her and she’s very good at it; she’s been ‘mixing music’ since high school. We put the CDs in the note card envelopes and attached the note card to the magenta envelopes with a turquoise ribbon.

And a good time was had by all...

Winsome Wednesday! September 5, 2012

I{HEART}ART: Inspiration: ARIZONA

"Arizona Memories", 10"x10" mixed medium on canvas, by Tina C. Wells

We took a memorable trip to the mountains north of Phoenix this summer, where the weather was cool, and the forests full of wildlife (read more below). This piece is a canvas painted with acrylic; several photos and writings were added with decoupage, and then retouched with paint. The end result is an art memory board that combined special parts of our trip into a single art piece. It captures the hundreds of butterflies we saw in the meadow in Buck Springs, the aspen grove where Kenny carved his initials, and the deer we saw leaping through the forest. I would like to create new boards for upcoming trips, and make a collection to be displayed together.

Spinach Quiche

A few weeks ago, we were "GLAMPING" in the Arizona mountains. Quiche was a wonderful way to start the day, especially with fresh fruit, enjoyed by a morning campfire and cup o' joe. While we had a ham and cheese quiche camping (below), I wanted to share a spinach quiche recipe with you that is a favorite of mine.

Spinach Quiche

Start with a lightly baked pie crust in a 9"pie pan (recipe below)

1 box frozen chopped spinach, pierce box and microwave for 5 minutes

Drain THOROUGHLY

Combine spinach with 2 TBS chopped green onions, 2 TBS butter, and sauté, then cool 

Beat 3 eggs, 1 1/2 cups half n half, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1/2 tsp pepper

Mix with cooled spinach sauté 

Place 1/2 cup shredded gruyere cheese on bottom of pie crust

Pour egg/spinach mixture over cheese in pie crust

Bake preheated 375 oven for 25-30 minutes

Pie Crust

3/4 cup Crisco

2 cups sifted flour (sift then measure)

1 tsp salt

1/4 cup ice water

Mix flour and salt, then work crisco in with dough cutter; slowly add ice cold water and gently mix with fingers. Do not over work the dough. Divide dough in half and roll out half between two sheets of 15" long wax paper (freeze other half for future use). Refrigerate dough 10 minutes before placing in 9" pie pan, pulling off one sheet wax paper and placing dough in pan, then carefully removing top wax paper from top with knife and fingers.  Crimp edges. Pierce bottom and sides multiple times with a fork to prevent shrinkage. Bake at 400 degree preheated oven for 7 minutes before making quiche recipe above.

ENJOY!

Journey to Arizona’s Beautiful, Wild Elk Country

You might wonder why we would travel to Arizona in August.  Surprisingly, just 2 hours north of Phoenix, 7,500 ft. in elevation, you find yourself in the woods, where afternoon thunderstorms are standard.  We are “glamping” with my husband’s brother and sister-in-law.  I call it “glamping” because I have been on the truly rough’n it kinds of trips with a tent, no running water, or bathrooms, etc. (I was, of course, decades younger when I did this).  We are camping with a trailer and generator that provides warm showers, a small kitchen, a bed and bathroom.  But the real glam, for me, is that we are not in a campground on asphalt with hook-ups to water and power, and a campground bathroom (the other kind of camping I have done); we are truly in the woods.  There are no numbered spots and reservations... you can just pull off on an old logging road in the national forest and make camp. Amazing!  There are hundreds of miles of these roads, and a person can seek out as much solitude as you like.  We are not so far out that we see no other signs of life, but far enough that we have tons of privacy, and it is wonderfully quiet.  We are tucked between the pines, the ground is covered in grasses, wild flowers, and the ever present yellowy-green ferns.  Whoever was here before us has built a swing from a pine tree branch and a perfect fire pit.  Terry and Stacee (brother and sister in-law) are amazing hosts and very generous with their gear and toys.  They have 2 ATV’s (all-terrain vehicles) for back woods, off road exploring. Camping with us are Stacee’s cousins, and our son Kenny, age 8. This place is 8 year old boy heaven, full of sticks, and stones, and old elk bones. 

We arrived Friday morning, and after setting up camp, we went for a long ride on the ATV’s.  We rode the logging roads, with some stops along the way at lakes and caves, all the way to the Mogollon Rim where we took in the gorgeous view.  We got back to camp in the late afternoon and enjoyed some wine, fruit, and cheese under the canopy as the rain gently came down around us.  When the showers subsided, James and I went out again in search of elk, but no luck, just free range cattle here and there.  Earlier in the afternoon, we spotted about 8 deer leaping between the trees- so lovely! We came back to camp to a beautiful campfire; and after our meal, we made s’mores, of course.

Mollogon Rim

Kenny with his Dad and Aunt Stacee and Uncle Terry

After a night of thunder and lightning, morning showed no signs of rain. One of my favorite parts of camping is coffee around a morning fire.  This was followed by a delicious breakfast of quiche and fresh fruit, an excellent start to our day.  After James and I had our ritual daily run, greatly enhanced by the scenery, we had some “Hunger Games” training! My husband is an archer...OK, I think he is incredible at it...he would argue this, but really it’s true.  He has been pulling a bow string since he was a kid, and is now training our son in the skill of archery.  Today will be my first lesson.  Kenny has a compound bow, which is fairly technical.  I will be making my “Katniss” debut with a traditional recurve.  My son and I had a 5 shot competition...he, of course, won.  While I have a way to go in the skill department, I really enjoyed trying this and would love to do it again.  

Katniss Training

We took another beautiful ride on the ATV’s, this time to the rim of Clear Creek Canyon. We took a short, but extremely steep hike to get a better look at this amazing canyon with rock walls of 1,000+ ft. How do I even begin to describe this?  Enormous, colorful rock formations that create a canyon in which a beautiful creek flows.  This is the home of big horn sheep.  God is an amazing artist!

Back at camp, we enjoyed Stacee’s “secret recipe” white chicken chili with corn bread and margaritas.  The smell of the campfire is wonderful, made of fallen pine branches, and pine needle kindling. Talk about aromatherapy. My son was having great fun adding more pine needles and watching them go up in flames- boys! We could hear a pack of coyotes not far off as we sang campfire songs and ate s’mores (I can’t say no).  Alas, a warm shower (my kind of camping), and...zzz.

We certainly made the most of our last day.  We took a 60+ mile (round trip) ATV ride.  We drove for about 12 miles through the pines until we reached the Rim Road.  It is aptly named as it winds along the Mogollon Rim.  We stayed along the rim for about 15 more miles with the most inspiring views, rugged rock walls, pines, and fallen trees, all in the Coconino National Forest.  This ride is breath taking, and I mean that literally; there are many spots where about a foot off the dirt road is a straight drop down, who knows how far. Incredible. 
We turned off the rim road toward Buck Springs where my husband spent his childhood hunting and camping. We stopped and took a long hike through Buck Springs to the remains of an old trapper cabin mingled in an aspen grove. We stopped for a brief picnic and long enough to carve Kenny’s initials in a large aspen, as James and his dad had done 35 years ago in the same area.  This place is so peaceful and gorgeous, I wanted to linger longer.  Kenny was busy catching butterflies, grasshoppers and horney toads.  The sky was full of huge billowy clouds, that kept teasing us with rain that never really came.  Buck Springs has a beautiful meadow with dense forests on either side.  There were signs of many elk all around, but mid-afternoon is not the time of day that they come out in the open. If we were only going to be here in this spot in a few hours, we would likely see a large herd.  We hiked back to the road, and eventually home. Happy.
And a good time was had by all...  

Thanks again to Terry and Stacee, who generously shared this experience with us, and put in many hours behind the scenes making it such a memorable trip. We love you.