Tag Archives: veggie

“Chef at the Farmer’s Market” Scarf Selling at National Department Stores

                  Fun news – my Chef at the Farmer’s Market scarf is the latest design to be offered by the Christopher & Banks department stores!    Many, many thanks to Christopher & … Continue reading

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Lotus Root Magic!

I am trying to bring art into my cooking, and always enjoy finding a new and beautiful food. Especially a healthy one. My husband and I ventured into a new restaurant, and the primary vegetarian choice there was something called … Continue reading

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The Vegetable Garden is PLANTED!

Admittedly, I’m later in getting the veggie boxes done this year than ever before – in large part because my world of art has been unusually demanding – but I’m glad to say the veggie boxes are now fully planted. … Continue reading

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What Home Made Compost Looks Like When You’re Finished, and How to Use it!

I was invited to a lovely tea today and saw the sweetest garden, filled with creativity and whimsy. We came to the subject of composting and what finished compost should look like when it’s ready to use. It’s basically black … Continue reading

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Butterfly Magic!

We were taken to a magical butterfly adventure at Butterfly Wonderland in Scottsdale – so worth seeing! Kudos to Butterfly Wonderland for making such a great, beautiful and educational butterfly sanctuary. There are many volunteers there that teach you things … Continue reading

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On Hounds, Crop Report and More

It’s been too long since my last post – we’ve had harvests of tomatoes, grapes, a few cherries, strawberries, apples, and Asian apple pears. Our doughnut peach tree has hundreds of green peaches, so looking forward to a luscious harvest, … Continue reading

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Making Garden Gold: How to Compost

Nicole has happily been composting for her organic garden- which she loves because it eliminates so much waste that otherwise would be lost in a landfill, and turns everything from coffee grinds, eggshells, and unwanted veggie leftovers into precious nourishment … Continue reading

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Spring is HERE and the Garden is ALIVE!

It’s absolutely glorious outside!  Spring is here, the fruit trees have more flowers than ever, we have a few twittering bird tenants in the nesting boxes, and the veggie garden is planted!  -And yes, I know, the tomatoes will take … Continue reading

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Great New Rain/Gardening Boot Released! NEW “Chef at the Farmer’s Market” Boot!

                      M. Nicole van Dam’s artwork “Chef at the Farmer’s Market” joins Nicole’s other licensed images and has been transformed into a lovely new rain and gardening boot! The colors … Continue reading

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-of Fancy Pens and Pretty Papers

At last night Creativity Central, first we enjoyed a sneak peek of our now completed and assembled (but not yet framed) last Creativity Central project, entitled “Sea Scape”: “Sea Scape” by Creativity Central  Many thanks to all the Creativity Central … Continue reading

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Newly Released Limited Edition Artworks on Their First Exhibit

A few weeks ago, M. Nicole van Dam got another call for an exhibit of her artwork – since there are already so many exhibits of her artwork going on concurrently, this meant releasing a Limited Edition series for several … Continue reading

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Vegetable Garden Painting “Nature’s Kitchen”

My vegetable garden painting is done – I’ve named it “Nature’s Kitchen” in homage to my husband’s quip that when we harvest veggies for dinner we are going “grocery chopping.” It’s very similar to my garden – except maybe a … Continue reading

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Nicole’s Impressionist, Artsy, FUN rain boots and garden boots now for sale on Amazon!

Nicole’s rain boots and garden boots have been selling in shops and websites for a few months now – and Nicole just got word that these lovely boots are now also on Amazon. If you look at the Amazon site, … Continue reading

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The Veggie Garden is Planted!!!

This is such a miraculous time of the year. The garden boxes transform from barren to full of hope; the yard is all a-twitter with birds – even our blue bird houses have residents (but not blue birds!). As last … Continue reading

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On Bluebird Houses, “Grocery Chopping,” and our Black-Headed Grosbeak

My husband has been hard at work – harvesting today’s crop, making me smile, and putting up two blue bird houses, and being all around wonderful! I have seen a few bluebirds – beautiful red-breasted Western Bluebirds – in our … Continue reading

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Two Best Buds – Our Bourke Parrots (aka Bourke Parakeets); Our Female bird gets the munchies!

These two birds have come a long way since they first met. Now they can share the same cage, and when they do, they are very sympatico. Here are some little glimpses into their world: Here is some footage of … Continue reading

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On Bourke Parrots (Parakeets) and Organic Vegetable Gardens

Well, it’s very common for the Bourkes, after they’ve been out for awhile, to fly back to their cages, and frequently they play games – each one flies into the other’s cage, for example. Well, today our happy little Bourkes … Continue reading

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Today’s Harvest!

It was glorious in the garden today – a slight cool breeze, warm sun on the shoulders, just wonderful.  I harvested a cheery pile of colorful rainbow Swiss chard, sweet grape tomatoes, and aromatic fresh basil.  Tonight I’ll saute it … Continue reading

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Our Princess Bourke lays FOUR eggs, and another GLORIOUS day in the Garden!

First, the big and yet not big news.  Our little Bourke parrot has laid four eggs, and she is quite proud to show them off. Of course these eggs are all unfertilized, so her quest to hatch them is sadly … Continue reading

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Blissfully Peacefully Perfect Moments in the Garden this Morning

It was just lovely in the garden this morning.  Birds all a-twitter, my 120 pound Leonberger and 10 pound Chihuahua/Pomeranian/Papillion happily and comically by my side – you can’t look at these two dogs together and NOT smile: The garden … Continue reading

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