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 Nasturtiums have a lovely minty flavor
Nasturtiums and Pansies are wonderful additions to your veggie garden!  They'll add hits of gorgeous color to your plots and Nasturtiums will even ward off many pests.  Best of all…

They're also edible!

Flowers in the Viola Family, such as Pansies (and Violets) have a faint minty flavor.  The flowers and leaves of Nasturtiums have a peppery watercress tinge.  Toss their brightly hued flowers on top of a salad or include as a pretty touch on an al fresco dinner plate.  

Two simple ways to Live Beautifully!

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Pot of Pansies, Quick, gestural watercolor on Winsor Newton Paper 
(Click image for better, larger view)

Our recent warm, sunny weather and a case of spring fever inspired a trip to the city and this quick watercolor of the busy streets.  (16″ x 12″ on Winsor Newton paper)

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We were on the edge of our seats guessing at the winner in the dessert round on Chopped, when our power went out.  Heavy, wet snow had been rapidly accumulating to the measure of about 6 inches per hour so we weren’t terribly surprised.  But wait, what was that orangey-blue-red glow flickering outside?

Our entire yard, then neighborhood, lit up in 360 for as far as the eye could see… what the heck was going on?  Was our roof on fire?  What should we do?  We soon realized the five minute mega light show was courtesy of two fallen power lines.

Followed by a very cold and uncomfortable three days without power.

Should one be taking anything for granted, there’s nothing like the absence of life’s basic necessities to put things back into perspective:-)  So I dedicate this post to light!

I love the warmth and coziness various lighting options provide.  Carrying on a tradition from childhood, we enjoy eating by candlelight every evening at dinnertime.  Tiny stained-glass night-lights pave the way in the kitchen and upstairs near the guest room.  Wintertime window candles and tiny lamps cheer up otherwise dark corners at night.  For parties, I light tons of miniature glass votives on all the windowsills and transoms, and I add hurricane lanterns going up the stairs for ambiance.

There are infinite ways to utilize lighting creatively within your decor.  Here are a couple of my paintings (watercolors on Winsor Newton paper) and photos illustrating a few fav’s from my home.

 

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