I enjoyed a blast from the past as I peek into canning booklets from Ball and Kerr companies dated from the 1940's. Did you know Ball is celebrating 140 years of canning this year? I'm celebrating a week of canning that has produced quite a lot for our pantry. It's amazing how blessed we are with zucchini and pickles. In between making refrigerator pickles and discovering new ways to use zucchini. I also canned some chicken for some chicken broth and chicken soup that is shelf stable. I also enjoyed time in my garden harvesting some onions and a couple of potatoes, hanging out with my kitties while my husband takes down a tree. Starting week 2 of #everybitcountschallenge of 2024, I invite you to sit back and relax. Welcome!

This past month has been hectic which only serves to remind me to slow down and smell the flowers…so I did. The garden has kept me very busy, not to mention getting a new roof. Now with a new green metal roof I feel like Diane of Green Gables.

The weeds, mostly crabgrass, has been out of control and the grasshoppers have devastated my marigolds. They eat them down to the stems almost overnight. I replanted a row of marigolds and in less than a week it look like an apocalypse scene. I learned they also like yarrow and did a real number on them too.

Despite the setbacks I tried to find beauty in everything that grows in the garden. I even had to admire the grass seed heads in the morning sun. I was rewarded with two visits from some winged friends. Have you ever seen a baby hummingbird? Or a hummingbird moth? I caught both on camera for a sneak peek at our pollinating friends, some honeybees and a bumble or two.

Summer Canning

I started the canning season off with three delicious salsa recipes. Peppery Pear Salsa on page 214 of The Complete Book of Canning by Ball set the stage. I had 10 organic pears in our produce basket this last time and what better way than to make some salsa!

Next I did a combination of peach and pear salsa that also featured tomatoes in the Summer Salsa recipe on page 202. I’m learning when to pick the jalapenos for the best level of heat. These were picked early and some didn’t yet have seeds, and the ones that did were mild yet. The next batch will have some sizzle!

The third salsa was the Peach Salsa on page 215 of The Complete Book of Canning. I’ll try to find links to these recipes for you to try. I didn’t find these particular recipes on their website but I did find this page of canning recipes for you to check out.

I managed to complete a couple of watercolor paintings, a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle and bake some Blueberry Zucchini Bread on the days it rained. It rained a lot these past couple of months. Now for some summer sunshine to make everything grow and bloom!

In the meantime, I am enjoying the summer and the garden. How’s your summer so far? Slow down and enjoy it while it lasts!

The art news these past few weeks isn't what creatives want to hear, Instagram training AI with artist's posts, Adobe's Terms of Service that are hogwash, and Windows Recall grabbing screenshots from personal computers. I share my solution and the animations I've been working on, learning more every day. I share my feelings about autism and what it means to me personally. Make sure to watch the video until the end, you don't want to miss meeting Mr. Crabby and friends.

Recently I enjoyed new discoveries, celebrations and contests are all part of the excitement as I treated myself and followed my dreams. Week 4 of the Artist’s Way pushed me out of my normal comfort zone and landed me in bliss. I found my passion and found a way to express my passion. I found a magnetism that didn’t involve EMF but attracted me nonetheless. I’ve found joy.

Don’t wait for the things you’ve always wanted…go after the big brass ring! Focus on what you want and go after it. Life is to short to sit on the sidelines.

Today I share week #3 of The Artist’s Way and get outside into the garden for some much needed sunshine, fresh air and playing in the dirt. I never did grow up or tired of getting dirty when it comes to gardening. My artist date this week was spent dreaming of midsummer and getting the flower garden ready for the season. I had company, as usual.

My painting this week may seem unusual but it fit right with the theme of week three in The Artist’s Way. The topic discussed this week is anger and how it fuels us to do better. I realized that unfulfilled dreams can make a person crabby and how it relates to your relationships with others.

I had a revelation during the week and I challenged myself in a big way! I can’t wait to tell you about it in my next video. I hope you enjoy hanging out with me in the garden in the meantime.

Have a great day and a fantastic week creating!

I’ve been working on learning how to add more texture to my watercolor paintings as I work on a bald eagle, rooster and a castle door. Feathers provide interesting texture and in my case some iridescent colors. Join me as I experiment with salt, burnishing tools, metallic paints, pen and ink and have fun!

This week I started a transformational journey by reading the book, The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron. This book takes you on a 12 week experience of finding out who you really are and who you really want to be. The purpose is to rediscover your younger child and what makes your soul sing…or paint. The book is for anyone who enjoys being creative, or anyone who wishes they could. The purpose is to get reacquainted with yourself and understand the passions that make you feel alive…and happy!

I also discovered another book by Claudia Nice, Creating Textures in Pen and Ink with Watercolor. I’m looking forward to studying more of her techniques and today I combine a tutorial by Louise de Masi for the Castle door and go a step further with some of Claudia’s textures for wood grain. I still have a long way to go before I get it just right but I think it adds a lot to the piece.

An update on inks and what I’ve learned and mistakes I’ve made. I’ll find a purpose for even the mistakes. I never let a mistake go to waste…I learn from it. Remember my art is like an experiment and since I have no expectations, I am never disappointed in the outcome. It always teaches me a lesson.

I hope you are having a wonderful and blessed day wherever you are. I’m providing links below to the books I mentioned in the video. I make no commissions from anything I post, I am merely sharing in case you are interested in getting a copy for yourself.

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

Creating Texture in Pen and Ink with Watercolor by Claudia Nice

Thanks for watching! Please share this video with your friends and family and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss out.

Today I enjoyed exploring new mediums that include new nibs, new inks and even metallic watercolors. Join me as I learn composition, swatch and a whole lot more.

I’ve got my new pacemaker and am healing nicely. Just shy of one month and this video was filmed days after the procedure. I should be good for another 10 years and/or 100,000 miles now.

I’ve got more coming…so make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out.

Thanks to Louise de Masi for her tutorials that keep me busy learning. She’s such a great teacher and her tutorials, including the rose, the hairy dog and the tree. You can find all her tutorials and more on her website at LouisedeMasi.com

Today is the last episode for The Lone Zebra podcast and I wish you blessings to all of you. I invite you to use the talents that you were blessed with to share with the rest of the world and make your life the one you want to live. It is up to you to create your future for you and for your children.

I will continue to share my art videos, every two weeks, so stay tuned! I thank you for being a part of The Lone Zebra podcast and I hope you learned something to help you be the healthiest you possible. God bless you!

Mast Cells United: A Holistic Approach to Mast Cell Activation Syndrome

by Amber Walker

Two years of full-time research and over 500 pages of information about MCAS!

Faith and Hope

Living for over six decades with these chronic issues that doctors seemed to know little or nothing about often left me feeling defeated and with little hope. I found my courage and my strength through my faith. I found these daily devotionals by Sara such encouraging words that I hope reach out to you too, wherever you are and whatever you’re going through.

A Daily Devotional for Discovering a Meaningful Life in Christ by Sara Daigle.

Finalist in the 2019 TopShelf Book Awards, Women of Purpose offers 100 days of scripture-based devotions for an intentional and abundant life rooted in Christ.

Music

for The Lone Zebra is provided by my subscription to Epidemic Sound.

Today’s featured song is In Pursuit of Happiness by Gavin Luke.

Musical Interludes that are features for the show are parts of the following songs:

Your Grace by Station Story (Theme Song for the podcast)Shaving Grace by T. MorriCome Be With Us by JoyspringThe Paper Birch by Johannes BornlofOur Early Years by David Celeste

I hope you enjoyed the show and share it with a friend! I’m not on some of the usual podcast platforms due to censorship that would not allow me to share the truth. I hope you will help me by sharing this podcast with your family and friends that you care about. There are many people out there struggling with chronic illnesses that can benefit by listening to some of the tips I share.

Thanks for listening to The Lone Zebra! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Featured photo by Millo Lin on Unsplash