I made it through the entire day without turning on the AC. It was ever so slightly cooler today, and a few trips out of the house (story-time at the library in the morning and the farmers market in the late afternoon) really helped. I hate running the AC unless absolutely necessary. As a one income family, we can’t really afford to run it every day like I have been doing this week.

Today was market day, and as usual, we did good. I always feel like a queen when I return home and unpack all my goods. With all the beautiful veggies it was easy for me to decide what to make for dinner tonight. Last week I discovered The Forest Feast (okay, go check out that site and return to mine. Isn’t it gorgeous?!!), and I am obsessed. I made this farro beet salad for dinner (using barley instead of farro, because that is what I had) along with red roasted carrots and some seeded multi grain bread I bought at the market. Both recipes were delicious, though next time I will use half the cinnamon on the carrots, to suit our taste.

That beautiful site also convinced me to break out my watercolors during Lucy’s nap today. I have been painting for years, but haven’t done much since she was born. I started in acrylics many, many years ago and moved to oils after taking some painting courses. I was quite happy working oils, but when I got pregnant I quit oil painting because of the fumes. I decided to try working in acrylics again, but hated it. I bought some water colors around the same time hoping I could learn to use them. Sadly I was a bit too intimidated to try. Well, it has been ages since I painted anything. Oil painting is far too time consuming for my lifestyle today, so I had kind of given up the hope on making art. After I  stumbled upon that site and saw her beautiful watercolor illustrations of food it all made sense to me. I already know I can draw simple things like food (um, that is pretty much my favorite thing anyway), I’m sure I can paint it. Maybe I know nothing about working with watercolors, but I don’t have to create a masterpiece right away. Painting simple things like fruits and veggies seems like the perfect way to ‘break into’ watercolors.

I did the avocado above while Lucy napped today, and really am so excited to paint some more. Watercolors are confusing to me after working in oils for so long, but it was so much fun making this simple image–I really can’t wait to sit down and play around with paints some more.

Any other water color painters out there? If you have any helpful tips I would love to hear them.