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Saturday, January 28, 2012

A Few Points for Your Saturday Night

IMG_2459
(one)
Did you know I'm crazy for color?
We're talking knock down, mad hatter, singing in the rain crazy for it.  I think that's why I've needed a crisp white home and studio - someplace to de-stimulate while I splash chroma about.
One might call me a chromaphilliac conquistador - an explorer sent into global territories to conquer and collect color.  Ah HA!  
IMG_2479
(two)
I had a dream last night wherein I wore some sort of french maid outfit and poured champagne for an extraordinarily wealthy couple who had several of my paintings on their walls.
No idea.
But I'm pretty sure I looked good, so at least there was that.


(three)
I snapped this photo of my little girl last week - my little girl who is getting her big girl face on so fast.  Right now she's passed out on her bed making dreaming barking noises that sound like a manatee burping.  All underwater, bubbly and warbling.
But what I'm really thinking about is how proud of her I am.  I blame it on our horrid neighbor dogs, but she's had some fear issues to overcome with new dogs.  We've been working so hard, training so intensely, and today, for the first time at the dog park, Freyja had FUN.  Like playing, rolling, chasing other dogs, open mouth grin, sparkles in her eyes, fun.  I can't tell you how huge my heart felt watching her romp.

Intensity...
(four)
It is with hesitating key-smacks that I tell you I've discovered dairy is one of my food sensitivity culprits.  I'm not terribly sensitive, but I would give up a pinky toe for the ability to eat as much cheese as I desire.
This is probably not true, but I feel a bit melodramatic about the whole thing.  The good news is that wheat is A-OK so I'll be back to my loaf baking in no time at all.  Kick out the jams!

(five)
Last year was a terribly slow year as far as books consumed; I read more shorts and essays and how-to's than anything else.  This year my goals include more fiction and thusly, I may start a new book tonight.  "Lacuna" by Barbara Kingsolver.  Have you read it?  What did you think?

(six)
I'm off to pull together dinner, put some Michael Jackson on the speakers and shake it all over this kitchen.
Shamone Baby!

~ Umber ~

18 comments:

CM said...

I really agree with you and your love for splashes of color. That doggy is so cute too!

Brittany said...

what a cute post. :) you make me smile.

UmberDove said...

Caity - She's SUCH a sweetie pie, it's rather impossible to NOT fall for her!

Brit - xox

MrsLittleJeans said...

I knew that about you and I too feel that way...love your dream...I had a weird one too but not so exciting...I kept saving a data file to my head in pdf format...love the pooch face, the ring, glad you are back to bread making...I had a long day of work and now I have a belly full of pizza...xx

pencilfox said...

love:
your doggie.
your colour.
your shakin'.
you.
xx

Joyful said...

What an absolutely stunning ring. I wish I had long fingers *sigh.

Your puppy is so cute. I'm glad she is getting over her fears and is now having fun :-)

I got something in the mail from you today. It made my days. Big hugs <3

a blog about the little things said...

I, too, am sensitive to dairy, but I have found that goat's milk/cheese isn't an issue. I've even heard that milk from a different breed of cow can sometimes be tolerated, too. I learned a lot at my local cheese shop! I also found that "Rice Slices" (by Galaxy Foods) are a surprisingly tasty substitute. I use the American flavour myself, but they have Cheddar & Mozzarella too.
Freyja = sweetest face! I, too, love it when my Gracie does her bubbly boofy sleeping barking sounds.

Jenni @ NotReallyAFarm said...

That ring is *stunning*!

I've read The Lacuna, I owned if for months before I picked it up, then picked it up about a hundred times before I got to the end of the first chapter.

Once I got past the first bit though, I did nothing else but read it for days.

It's one of those books I'll be able to read over and over, and there'll be something new every time I think. Hope you enjoy it!

Jenni x

UmberDove said...

C - Ah, that's so good to hear! I LOVE goat and had already planned on giving it a try.

Jenni - How funny - I bought a copy of Lacuna aboooooout 5 months ago with a stack of other books, ALL of which I've now read. So good to know!

lynsey said...

Girl i'm a sucker for colour too, which is probably why i'm going to adore enameling when it finally comes around in class.
Your puppy is adorable, those big bright eyes, LOVE!!
I have the dairy thing too, I'm loathe to it, no cheese aaaahhhhh!! or Starbucks Toffee nut Latte's, I have to confess I dip into these still all too often, and I'm good for nothing the next day (sigh)

Sierra Keylin said...

I have loved seeing a bit of your world through this blog, your pictures are always filled with such rich color and life energy! Thanks for bring the beauty of blues and greens to my eyes through the screen...Also that ring is HOTTTTTT!

essess said...

Try putting coconut oil on your toast instead of butter, its actually quite delicious and its even good for you too! My family has been using it in place of butter for frying eggs and putting on toast for years.

UmberDove said...

Mmnn... good thought! I just bought my first jar of virgin coconut oil and have been putting a bit on plain brown rice - tasty!

jordan said...

don't feel badly about mourning the loss of dairy....i slobber bawled when i finally decided to listen to my body and cut it out. i still miss cheese and real yogurt...though so delicious coconut milk yogurt is a reasonable substitute! let me know if you need recommendations for good substitutes!!
xoxo

The Noisy Plume said...

Ok....this is going to come off as slightly backhanded..........but I'm glad I'm not the only one with gator skin for hands. HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!! :) 'Tis the season.

Also, I've seen you dance.
It is a gorgeous, gangly, daddy-long-legs-terror to behold.
Come back.
Hooligans and The Nash miss you.....all night long.
Me too.
xx

Sara said...

The Lacuna swept me up like a dream. One part history and three parts magic. A perfect Kingsolver. It will have you craving the sensuality of food. It was a gift for my birthday last year and I lapped it up in barely more than a day.

Carrie said...

i need colour, it makes me sing, with permanent double vision details are hard but colour, oh i love it!!! still i can't live in white space - my studio is rarely used because right now it's too blah!
We're looking for a sister for Maggie, be thankful i live a million miles away - little Freya is adorable!
no dairy! unbareable! but the dancing - oh yes - you can shake it!

Anonymous said...

I just came to terms with my lactose intolerance last month (it was hard to tell because I hardly go a day without dairy!)-- do you know what about dairy is problematic? Lactose? Casein? Milk allergy? You might be able to tell by the symptoms, if you haven't figured out already. If you're lactose intolerant, yeah, goat and sheep's milk/cheeses might be okay (though I've heard conflicting things), yogurt (especially kefir) because of the active cultures, butter doesn't seem to bother me much (mostly just fat) and a good ghee like Ancient Organics (or one you make yourself!) should be totally free of lactose and casein.

I've thought at times I'd give my left eyeball for a big block of gouda, but feeling happy and healthy is totally worth the food loss, right?