Artist Bunny Box

Woman is born to create...in creating she becomes herself, accomplishes her destiny. Her whole life is only an initiation into her creative power. To create is not merely to produce a work...it is to give out ones individuality. Woman becomes creator when, after the numerous stages of adaptation to alien influence, she finally grasps what is really her own, what she really receives, not from men, but directly from God as a special personal message.
Jeanne de Vietinghoff

This quote resides on one side of my Artist Bunny Box

This box and others available on my etsy site.
$48.00

Vegetarian Refried Beans Recipe

Killer Refried Beans

2 c. dried pinto beans, sorted and rinsed
bay leaves
3/4 c canola oil
1 bulb roasted garlic
2-3 tsp. kosher salt
tamari or Braggs Amino
adobo powder
cumin powder
1 can chopped roasted tomatoes

Sort beans for any stones. Rinse beans and add to pot with water. Cook with cover ajar for 2 hours till soft. Add water if needed, but doubt that will be necessary.
Keep the water level about 2" above beans.
(Note:DO NOT SALT beans till they are fully cooked.)
In the meantime.......
Roast a bulb of garlic drizzled in olive oil with a pinch of thyme.
Remove bay leaves from the cooked beans. cook beans until there's very little water above the height of the beans.
When garlic is done roasting, remove cloves and mash them slightly and add to pot of beans. Mash beans in pot with a potato masher or big spoon.
Add the canola oil to the beans.
Add the undrained roasted canned tomatoes to the pot.
Add tamari or Braggs, salt and adobo.
Add 2 tsp. of cumin

The longer you can cook this down with all the spices and things added, the better your beans will taste! Keep cooking them until they thicken a bit more and serve. You can add chopped jalapenoes and serve with shredded cheese or not.

This Day of the Dead Box is available on my etsy site.
$48.00

Handmade for the Holidays!

Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high
gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods --
merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This
... year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine
concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift
giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands.
Yes there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in
a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?
Everyone -- yes EVERYONE - - gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates
from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some
health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American-owned
detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a
book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who thinks nothing of plonking down
the Benjamins on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift
receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or
driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants all offering gift
certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about
a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this
isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town
Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or
motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a
local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is
struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local artists and crafts people make stunning baskets, spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, pottery, sculpture, tree ornaments and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave
your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at
your hometown theatre.

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese
lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about
fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to
burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that
China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about
us, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow
their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our
communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.
THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.

Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion
groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in
your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations,
and TV news departments.
We are the 99%.
We can make a difference!

This is a revolution of caring about each other,
and isn't that what Christmas is about?


This post has been shared and altered along the way by those it touches.
My thanks to fellow artist, award winning basket maker Stephen Kostyshyn.