Ganache Japonaise Gateaux, originally uploaded by Theresa111.
Two Japonaise meringue disks are slow baked and completely dried. Dark chocolate ganache is piped with a large star tip and sandwiched in between. 10X sugar is sifted over the top. It’s so rich, the crunch of the disk and the smoothness of the ganache is a great combination.
Spring and Sunflowers, originally uploaded by Theresa111.Is it just me, or are there more of you out there, who begin things but end up never getting around to finishing them? “Why do I do this?” I ask myself. When I began this painting, I was having difficulty figuring out how to make the front side of the flower have it’s petals coming out toward the viewer. I decided to think about it and as you can plainly see, I never completed the work.
It’s not just this either. I have unfinished ideas, thoughts, song lyrics, poems, stories and inventions laid about … all of them patiently waiting for the artist to pick them up and put on the finishing touches.
I paint, sculpt, and write creatively in my head. Then I make notes, write out good intentions, place various stickies possessing these ideas and phone numbers with names, in safe spots, until I can record them on my phone, or in the still unused address book.
Justifiably, I find I can blame the Internet, and E-mail for this part, at least. They have the address book section and if you ever go into the add contact space, you will see there is enough storage for an individuals life story, let alone their email, home, business addresses. Plus there are spaces to enter all of the various phone numbers too!
The pages upon pages of printed materials from the Internet, which I never quite find the time to organize completely, hide in their own stacks hoping to be read at least once more. They very well could be cosigned to the trash bin, but only after a prolonged stay in a drawer, pile, cardboard box or one of my brief cases.
Simple enough. There is a need for an organizer. When I worked in an office, everything was, for the most part, in its place, neatly organized. Perhaps I should wave a flag, with the hopes of being rescued and that some kind person straightens out the endless papers, receipts, records and creative projects which need finishing. Or better yet, maybe, just maybe I will work on this painting again. I’ll think about it.
Brioche Parisienne Loaf, originally uploaded by Theresa111.“When are you going to sing to us again Mummy?” The young voices demanded. The children all giggled and brushed up against my long skirts. Daphne with her cascading golden ringlets, and bright smiling eyes, danced about. Her cheeks were chubby and she had small rosy lips, which were pouting. Peter, who was already tall, at the age of ten, grinned and holding his sister’s hand, agreed by chanting, “Sing to us Mother, sing.”
“All right children,” I told them. “Just let me take the bread out of the oven.” As I moved across the brick floor to take the potholders for protection, against the oven’s heat, I understand that as soon as I sang there would be pleas for my delicious bread and jam. Bread removed and set up high to cool before slicing, I could see their lips gliding over the tops of their lips with hungry anticipation.
I sat them down before me and I picked up my old and well-used guitar. I had already tuned it prior to their coming into the kitchen so I commenced strumming out their favorite song. Their rapt attention was apparent by the hushed movements they made while settling down.
I closed my eyes and in my low voice I sang out the words that they loved so well.
My Bonnie lies over the ocean … My Bonnie lies over the sea … My Bonnie lies over the ocean … Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me.
They clapped their hands and then asked for some bread.
Iceberg: Isle of the Dead, originally uploaded by Greenpeace Esperanza.As a child in grade school, I recall seeing pictures that our teacher would share. We children were always thrilled by the shapes on our spheric globes. By the whiteness of the coldest continent Antarctica, and the floating ice caps of our North Pole.
Why did the top of the earth, as I would think of the North Pole, not be deemed a continent? It would be years later before I would understand the difference. But I do recall musing about those cold places and wondering what the fuss was about the icebergs. Why was is so cold at the top and the bottom of our planet? What was the point? I would ask myself countless questions like these.
Of course years later, I see the devastating changes in our planet and the impending threat to the wildlife. The ice caps are melting and our stores of fresh water are quickly disappearing. Our rain forests are dwindling and the lush continent of Africa is fast becoming a wasteland, a place of sorrow, whereas she used to be a dark, mysterious place full of romance, beauty, robust peoples and boasted a huge population of wildlife. A short time ago, these things were true.
Today while I was traveling through many photographs on Flickr, I input the word oceans in the search bar. I felt like a breath of fresh air. I found incredible photography from people who snapped their cameras, all over our blue planet. So many of the photos were breathtaking and astounding. Some, like this photo are profound.
So, I wonder, what are we going to do? Can we all put on the breaks, be humane, stop the fighting and the cruelty? Allow the domination to be dispelled? Please ask yourself what you can do to be a kind, helpful, responsible citizen of the world. What can you do to stop abusing our planet, wildlife and domestic pets, put an end to slaughterhouse terrors and end all war? Look favorably upon the person next to you? What can you do to make a difference?
Let’s take our world back. Let’s leave something for the younger generation. I remember our parents making this a better place for we children, but what about our children? Take a look at all of the photos of our planet. She is so beautiful. Don’t let her die.
Mini French Pastries, originally uploaded by Theresa111.Today I went to see my doctor and while I was waiting for my name to be called, I sat in the waiting room and where the television usually offered light entertainment, it was spewing a horrid story of the demise of a very young girl. I quickly realized that my position, right in front of the television, was the wrong place to sit.
Immediately, I removed to another part of the large room. Now, I was out of earshot. No longer had I to endure their message of despair. What I did do was let the receptionist know where I would be and intimated I was doing so because of the television’s subject matter. She made no move to improve the sitting room experience.
Why? Why did no one change the channel? For the rest of the people waiting their turn, no one seemed inclined to move nor complain about the crime story being projected into their minds. I can barely watch the news anymore and think that many movie directors have almost desensitized us until we either endure or ignore.
What happened to responsible broadcasting and good stories? Does it matter that we are constantly being bombarded with so many negatives? I certainly believe it does.
In fact, I must insist that my husband watch the bad news and major channels, out of my hearing. He claims he needs to know what is going on in the world. But I find I need to shut it out because for as long as I am to remain here on my beloved planet Earth, I want it to be as beautiful, peaceful and kind as possible.
For kindred spirits out there, I suggest you turn off the bad news and turn on positive thinking and kind leadership. It will put your day into perspective and allow you to create something beautiful. I have a feeling that were we all busy creating beautiful things to share that our world would be very rosy indeed.
