circled today

Retired Guy is still circling items in the newspaper for me to see and this morning it is me. Although my name is misspelled, I am happy to continue to show at Jeffrey Moose Gallery (since 2003).

I can taste again after a week of cold medicine. Retired Guy took me to Dick's. Yay!

Muffin Man

Our house designer, Will, introduced us to Flax Seed Muffins and we have become big fans. Retired Guy Jay has decided to trade in his King of Holiday Baklava title for Mill Pond Cottage Muffin Man. We made the first test-batch of gluten-free muffins this morning. Delicious!

Mill Pond Cottage Muffins

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease or paper-line 12 large muffin cups

1 cup brown sugar
2 cups gluten-free flour
3/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup ground golden flax seed
1/2 cup oatmeal OR 1/2 cup shredded coconut
1 tablespoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix the above ingredients together in a bowl, then add the following:

1 large apple shredded OR 1 cup shredded zucchini
2 packed cups shredded carrots
1 cup crushed pineapple (drained)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 cup chopped pecans OR 1/2 cup sliced almonds
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

Spoon batter into greased or paper-lined muffin cups. Bake 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Quick trip to Portland

With Retired Guy as my driver, we headed down I-5 early Tuesday morning. First stop, drop Annie off at the Vet for plays days and overnight boarding. On to Olympia to deliver 3 pieces for The State of the Arts Gallery Small Works Show.

Back on the road to Attic Gallery in Portland, Oregon to drop off two new pastels.

Then, on to Art-Substrates to pick up two 36 x 36 x 2 inch birch panels from Matt McCalmont in Portland. Beautiful surfaces, I'm excited to use them for large oil paintings.

Back in the car and to Portland's White House Bed & Breakfast. What a beautiful old home built in 1914. We stayed in the Rose Room. Myra took good care of us and showed us all around. It was like staying at Downton Abbey...well, a much smaller version but very nice!

A light dinner at Newport Seafood Grill then to bed on the feather mattress. Breakfast by candle light the next morning in the formal dining room and back on the road heading north to Washington and home. We stopped at the Nisqually Wild Life Refuge for a photo shoot - cut short because it was so cold. A relaxing, fun time with Retired Guy, best driver ever!

Morning One with Retired Guy

Each morning, Jay is the first one up...well, no, Annie is the first one... up and onto Jay's side of the bed to sleep for an hour. Then they both leave the bed to start the day by getting the newspaper from the box. Retired Guy has more time to read the morning news now. Here is a shot of what was waiting for me when I sat down to breakfast. Circled items are things he feels I need to think about.

1. Yes, I love Amazon Prime and even with a price increase I'll be a fan.
2. Why have we never gone to the Costco Shareholder's Meeting? I put it on the calendar for next year.

Have a great day!