Mud House Year

Mud House Christmas Eve

I know that Christmas has come and gone and we are well on our way in 2013.  However, my next few posts are dedicated to our wonderful Mud House Christmas.   This is the first moment I have had to sit down and organize my thoughts but Christmas was just too much fun to let slip by without sharing!Christmas in the desert does not offer the anticipation of snowfall and sleigh rides but it is lovely and festive none-the-less.  At the Mud House, we share distinctive and charming traditions, some of which have been handed down through seven generations of my family here in the desert southwest.  For example, whimsical tin ornaments and sweet brass angels collected in the border town of Nogales by my grandmother, Mema,  (and later by me) grace our tree and mantel.Other traditions are more recent and some are new this year such as gingerbread tee-pee making with Chef Amanda at the Ritz at Dove Mountain.  One of our oldest family traditions began when my great-grandmother, Bammi,  first served flat enchiladas on Christmas Eve.  Family lore maintains  that Bammi actually created the recipe and later shared it with a lady down the street. This lady eventually opened  a little restaurant,  El Charro, which now has several locations and is celebrating its 100th anniversary.  Flat enchiladas, now widley known as Sonoran enchiladas, have been on El Charro's menu for a century.   They have been served on Christmas Eve in my family for longer than that. This photo does not do them justice but the contrast between the colors of the red sauce, green olives and white and yellow cheeses make them especially festive.   

My family celebrates Christmas on Christmas Eve.  We gather at one of our homes and share a wonderful dinner of Mexican food.  This year our celebration began on the porch of  the Mud House with sparkling sangria. We then enjoyed a buffet of flat enchiladas, frijoles, green corn tamales, tortillas, and fresh salsa.   The tables were set with rose bowls, mason jar candles, and individual kits to make Christmas Eve hot chocolate .This year we introduced a new tradition which may or may not take hold.  Everyone was asked to bake and bring a batch of cookies.  These cookies served the double purpose of being treats for dessert and for a cookie exchange.  Guests took them home in red Chinese take-out containers.   All the cookies were delicious and so creative!  We even had some reindeer cow-pies (thanks Greg!) However, rumor has it that some of the cookie makers were not too thrilled with their assignment.   Also, we ended-up with way too many cookies so maybe next year we will ask for one batch from each family rather than one from each person. As always, it's the little things that make our gatherings so special.  Rumor also has it that next year we will be doubly blessed yet again with more little things.

At the end of the evening,  guests were guided on their way by the warm glow of luminarias and sparkly white lights festooning dried mesquite and century plants.

Thanks to every single member of my dear family who helped make this evening so much fun.  My next few posts will share some recipes and more details about our Mud House Christmas Eve. 

As a side note, Pinterest Wednesday will return soon.

 

Pinterest Wednesday

I took a little break from blogging over the holidays, but I'm back.  I will soon be posting about our wonderful Mud House Christmas but I wanted to share something fun for Pinterest Wednesday.   I especially love this cheesy snowman for so many reasons:  My daughter made it;  I love cheese;  it's adorable; it's whimsical; it's delicious; and I love cheese (yep, I said that twice).   He was too cute to eat and too delicious not to, so everyone just kept nibbling from his back until he was almost hollow.   We followed the recipe with only some minor changes in cosmetics, including using roasted red pepper for the scarf and mouth.   He comes to us from  Betty Crocker, so mosey on over to find the recipe.  

He is easy to make, easy to customize,  so yummy, so cute,  and so so cheesy.

He gets 5/5 Prickly Pear Margaritas.
    

Anything Whimsical, Anything Colorful, Nashville Edition

                                                 

Oh my goodness, oh my gracious.  I've found a new artist to love.  Anyone who knows me, knows I love birds.  And you know how much I love colorful, whimsical art.  I walked into this funky little place called Cake Vintage around the corner from my hotel and there, on a shelf above the register, were several mini portraits of the most fanciful, wise, and whimsical birds I have ever seen.  My jaw dropped and I just stared.  The gal behind the register told me that the artist firmly believes that if birds can make their own nests, well, then, they can certainly make their own hats. Sounds completely reasonable to me.  In fact, I can't think of anything more logical.  The longer I stared, the more I fell in love with these birds.  Each had its own hat, its own personality, and the expressions on their faces told me everything I needed to know. 


 The artist is Vicki Sawyer and she paints things other than birds.   

                

But the birds are my favorite.

Here are some of her comments, copied from her website:

"When I was a little girl, my grandfather taught me how to identify the plants on our walks in the woods. My mother’s childlike joy in even the simplest things taught me to be visually aware. From my dad I received my love for birds."

"Shortly after moving to Tennessee, I went for a walk and thought, 'If birds could build nests, then they could make hats.'  This whimsical notion has been the inspiration for many bird and animal portraits."

"I want my work to evoke feelings of peace, joy, and often humor." 

I was struck by how much Vicki's philosophy regarding art mirrors my own.  In my original "Anything Whimiscal, Anything Colorful" post I said this,  "I am inspired by art that supports a lighthearted, energetic, and carefree atmosphere... Their color and energy touch something deep inside of me, sparking joy and peace-of-mind."  I also said this about Chris Bubany, one of the local Arizona artists whose work I love, " Her designs are charming, colorful, and quaintly humorous. " 

Vicky Sawyer creates whimsical, colorful, joyful, peaceful, humorous, dignified, wondrous birds.  I love her birds. She is having a showing of her original work this weekend in Brentwood, TN.  I'm going.  

                                                                                       

                                           This one is called Armando.  Of course, I love his prickly pear hat.

I emailed Vicki and asked her if I could write about her and use some of her pictures.  She wrote back right away and gave me permission to use her art on this post.  Thank you, Vicki!  To learn more about Vicki and to see more of her remarkable art, please visit her website by clicking here.   You may also order many delightful items showcasing her art at zazzle.com/vickisawyer.

I've said it before but I will say it again.  I stand in awe of gifted artists who have the ability and talent to create such lovely images.  What an incredible gift to bring such joy, beauty, and humor to this world. 

 

 

Anything Whimsical, Anything Colorful

One of the first things I wrote when I created this blog was something about myself  for the "About" page.  This was tough because I couldn't think of anything special to say.  I am not particularly gifted or unique. I'm just kind of "regular."  I'm a wife, mom, sister, daughter.  I like to cook and garden.  I love my dogs.  Nothing too extraordinary.  Among other things, I described myself as loving "anything whimsical, anything colorful."  Nowhere is that characteristic more obvious than in the local artists whose works I love and keep in my home.   I am inspired by art that supports a lighthearted, energetic, and carefree atmosphere.   

I love being surrounded by warmth and color so you may have caught brief glimpses of works by Barbara Gurwitz, Chris Bubany, and Melissa Vinikoor in some of the photography I have included in my posts.  

 Barbara paints bright, colorful, contemporary landscapes inspired by the desert southwest.  The first time I saw one of her paintings I was struck by her daring use of color,  effortless whimsical style, and the sheer joy I felt just looking at her art.

 

Chris Bubany is a local  artist who designs and produces ceramic tableware.  Her designs are charming, colorful, and quaintly humorous.   I keep her lovely serving dishes displayed on my counter-top and use them for special occasions.

 

                                   
Melissa Vinikoor is a fairly new artist who paints bright, fanciful, floral motifs featuring an occasional sparkly bauble and whimsical creature.   Intense use of color and simple patterns bring Melissa's paintings to life.  

I am grateful to Melissa, Chris, and Barbara and I stand in awe of those who have the ability and confidence to create such lovely images. The beauty of this art enhances the natural warmth of our mud adobe walls, making this house a home.   Their color and energy touch something deep inside of me, sparking joy and peace-of-mind.