News — summer RSS

Labor Day weekend was spent in Door County, Wisconsin.  The first day we spent at Peninsula State Park which is woods, beaches, and of course, water.   Lots of nature and perfect weather. Lots of wildlife. Summer fun to still be had! Monarch butterflies all over the place. A family of ducks.

Last summer I did a series of paintings around butterflies including caterpillars, milkweed, and a variety of butterfly paintings in both oil paint and watercolor.   I still have a few left!  Here is a peek at the butterfly collection:  

I made lace jelly this week after picking the Queen Anne's Lace at my parent's farm in Wisconsin.   It's really fun to make foraged wildflower jellies.  Just be very positive in identifying Queen Anne's Lace because it can be mistaken for Poison Hemlock, which is fatally poisonous.  There are many sources to help one identify the safe Queen Anne's Lace plant. I got the jars at Walmart and they are cute little jars with a jewel-cut textured side.  I plan to give some away this fall or for Christmas gifts.

I've been wanting to try this spot for awhile now.  Kimmer's Ice Cream Shop has three locations.  There is one in my town, Elmhurst.  But my son and I drove to Wheaton for dinner and stopped by the Wheaton location after.  This is my caught in the rain no makeup look.  I had been picking vegetables at my parents' farm in Wisconsin earlier in the day.   Notice the death grip on my ice cream, lol.   Loving the sparkle cones available in pink or blue sugar.  I have to admit I came down with a bit of a headache after all the sugar.  I ended up not eating most of the cone.  But the ice cream was super creamy...