My Christmas Baking Tradition

My domestic skills are, sadly, quite poor. I avoid the kitchen at all costs unless it involves washing paintbrushes! I do have one baking tradition though, and that's making dog biscuits at Christmas time. Don't tell the pups, but the ingredients seem "edible" for humans so I often sneak a few for myself. :)

Today I gathered up the requisite ingredients (improving a bit this year), stopped at Dollar Tree for some baking trays, and dug out the old cookie cutters. With the Carpenter's Christmas album providing some background festivity, we got to work.

'We', of course, being relative. :)

The kitchen sharks...

...always hoping I'll drop something on the floor!...

Well, I'll never win a 'pretty cookie' baking contest (unless I was the only contestant of course), but no matter...

The taste test...and...

 

....APPROVED!

We hope you and your family have a yummy & blessed Christmas season!

~Jen

Molas and Musings

It's funny how much tastes can change over time. When I was younger, I just loved photo-realistic art and was the pickiest eater you can imagine. Now I adore folk art and will eat anything put in front of me. :)

This summer, I bought five beautiful molas in Panama. These are the biggest two--I had them custom framed at Michaels-- my favorite souvenirs from the trip! They are applique and embroidery, and although I tried to figure out how they were made so I could give it a whirl myself, I just couldn't. I've hung one in my studio and am trying to figure out where to put the other. I bought them in Panama City, but they were made by the Kuna Indians of the San Blas Islands.

There's something about folk art that makes it come alive for me these days. It seems much more vibrant and "real" than the most photo-realistic painting I can think of. How is that? I don't know.

Anyway, I'm trying to get back into the swing of blogging and drawing regularly, since it's been a crazy year at the office and life kind of got away from me. :oP I'm trying to explore how to use color and the style of folk art in my work, when I normally lean very tight and realistic. I wonder, is it right to fight against my natural style? Or is the difficulty a kind of growth?

Something to ponder for the day. :)

~Jen

Panama

I feel like the past five months of my life have been consumed with PANAMA! My two BFFs and I took a trip this summer and since January it has been plan, plan, plan. Many years ago I read about the cloud forests of Panama, near Boquete, and this piqued my interest so much--and of course the crazy engineering marvel of the Canal- I told myself that if I ever went abroad again, it would be to Panama. Well then my friend Trace convinced me to go to Peru and I really got bit by the travel bug! This August- my dream came true! We went to Panama!

View of Panama City from Metropolitan Park

We spent 4 days in Panama City & surrounds, seeing Casco Viejo, the Amador Causeway, hiking Metropolitan Park and Soberania National Park, visiting the Miraflores Locks, birdwatching in Gamboa and kayaking the Canal in Lake Gatun. We explored the city from the touristy bits to deep into the inner city. We binged on any traditional Panamanian fare we could find!

Boating past a ship on the Panama Canal

Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal

Amador Causeway, Panama City

Church in Casco Viejo, Panama City

Kayaking trip along the Canal into Lake Gatun's beautiful waters!

Kuna Indians selling their beautiful appliqued Molas (I couldn't resist... I bought 5 on the trip!!)

Basilisk on one of Lake Gatun's islands.

A Diablo Rojo in Panama City

Panama Viejo, the original city settlement.

Beautiful morning overlooking the canopy at Soberania National Park.

Trapiche, a restaurant with traditional foods... we couldn't resist the Fiesta Platter! 

Chestnut Billed Toucans at Soberania National Park

View from our hostel in the El Dorado neighborhood of Panama City

After  packing 4 days full in Panama City, we took an overnight bus from Albrook Bus Terminal overnight, across the country, to the city of David and then up to Volcan, a small mountain community near the border of Costa Rica. We spent another four wonderful days at Mount Totumas, an ecolodge high in the Cloud Forest. It was incredible!

Not sure, but I think this might be a Green Crowned Brilliant?

Silver Throated Tanager

View from Bellbird Lodge

Lots and lots of Howler monkeys! :)

Glass Winged Butterfly

Our cabin at Mount Totumas

Puma track on the trails near our cabin

Me and the BFFs next to a 600 year old wild avocado tree!

Sulfer-Wing Parrot

We also spent a day in Boquete, visiting a coffee farm and seeing the village, before heading back to Panama City for our flight home. What an adventure! I wouldn't ever label myself as a confident traveler- I hate to fly, have a lot of anxiety being away from home- but seeing the world and how other people & cultures live is a true Gift. It's also a big kick in the pants for my creative spirit, which I hate to admit has been rather dejected lately--AND for re-learning the Spanish that has been fading from my mind since I graduated from college many moons ago--!

I will always treasure this week with my friends, the amazing things we saw and the crazy things we did en el pais de Panama!