Tuesday Tinker - ArabesqueArtsByDarcy

Darcy started cutting paper with both scissors and an art knife many years ago. Then she moved to Taiwan where she taught English, learned Chinese and was exposed to many fine examples of the Chinese art of  paper cutting.


After moving  back to the United States in 1989,  she settled in Illinois working as a librarian.  While there, about four years ago, Darcy started to play with polymer clay and opened her Etsy Shop. About a year ago she also started to do off loom beading.

Click here to see more of Darcy's work.

FROM ME, DAVY LETTERCAT - THE FREETHINKERS TRAVEL KITTY

i wrote a letter to ann - texstyletextures -  because ... well here's a copy and the letter she wrote back. yes, i know we are living in the same house but she does go to work and i do nap quite a bit during the day.

'lo tex,
i was looking at all the photos you have on flickr with gretchen in them and i didn't see one of me. its 'cause i'm not a doggie isn't it.. i've tried to be a good kitty so could you take at least one of me. maybe you could even send it to aunt martha so she could put it on the team blog. maybe you might even tell her how much help i've been in the sewing room and how i helped you in the garden.... well, maybe that last is pushing it, but if you didn't want to write a lot you could give her a list of some of the things we've done together and she'd write it up. don't tell her i told you this but if you don't tell her something she might just make something up and there's no telling how that will turn out. just saying....
your friend, 
davy

Dear Davy

So sorry you didn't find any pics of you and Gretchen. Don't know what happened to them. But you and I know that Gretchen liked you just fine. Rmember the time I came home from work and found her tasting you? That was fun, wasn't it?

Thanks so much for keeping me company in the sewing room. I think you enjoyed riding on the thread spools. And I know the Indian Princess was happy to have company too.

Remember the day I found you climbing the vines on the ceresus cactus. You had a great adventure in the jungle didn't you. I did get a little bothered by the Tarzan yells though.

How about the day when I came home and found you playing dress up in my shoe closet? Just a little embarrassing.

Anyway I am glad you came to stay with me and I am sure that you and Pinky will have great fun in Texas. Enjoy the flight.

Ann

and now i'm off to texas. bye bye mississippi. i sure had a lot of fun.

The Recipe Corner - Forest Fruit with Basil

Our first recipe is a very simple one. It's a basic mushroom dish that can can be eaten by itself or combined with other dishes such as rice pilaf or as an addition to stew. I usually use wild mushrooms such as Wine Caps but, unless you know what you're doing, you are better off using fresh mushrooms from the store.

Stropharia rugosoannulata "Wine Cap"

Olive oil

Butter

3/4 Cup Red onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 Cup dried Basil

1 1/2 Cup chopped mushrooms

In a non-stick pan, warm a tablespoon each of olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add to that the red onion, the garlic, and the dried basil. Sauté for about 2 minutes. Now add  the mushrooms and sauté until onions are transparent and just starting to brown.  You may need to add a bit more oil. 

Serve hot or add to any other dish you are making. If you make up a large batch, you can be freeze some of it and then have them on hand as needed.

From AuntMartha.

Let's Get Down to Business, by Dryw