Keeping it Real

Flippy and Mandy don't go to the cottage on weekends with the migrating masses of city folk jetting up the 400. They live at the cottage. They have managed to do what so many people spend their lives working toward - keeping it simple. Before their son was born Flippy and Mandy made it their weekend warrior mission to turn a once tired little cottage into the lakefront oasis they happily now call home. No matter how cold it is outside, you can always bet that inside you could parade around in shorts thanks to a stoked fire and a busy oven (the contents of which are always mouthwatering!) Soon enough, Mandy and Flippy will be moving up in the world as my dear friend completes her PhD and takes a fancy job in a faraway fancy town. So, in the spirit of remembering a simpler time I thought it was a good idea to record a few memories of life in their wee cottage, with their wee son, when they were successfully perfecting the art of Keeping it Real.

xo

 

 

verb : to passion

There's a reason why the word passion requires the preface "to be" when activated as a verb - because passion is not something we do, it is something we are. Jeffrey and Jamie should indeed be considered gurus of passion. They live in the triumvirate artist-teacher-student and have inspired others to do the same.

In this house, there are no labels for artists. Anyone can be anything and their home is a museum of their philosophy. Their paintings adorn the walls, instruments lay poised for the picking, craft supplies collect on the window sill (as we speak an impressive collection of bag fasteners are awaiting their creative fate at Jamie's hand), a new soundtrack plays in the background of every visit, a Lego city sprawls across the garage - the house is teeming with creative passion. And the girls are bustling bees that even mom and dad have trouble keeping up with.  

                  

With the announcement of pajama time two sets of little feet skip up the stairs and passion of a different kind unveils itself. 

Without a doubt, love is itself an art. 

an interactive art of sharing, finding and generating passion

 that requires you to know your subject if you are to improve. So many of us forget that to be good at what we do we have to practice. If we try hard enough we become what we practice.

 

If that eye could talk - I think that's what it would say.

   

recipe for jarred tomatoes

I wouldn't try it if I didn't have a clue. It takes over 100 tomatoe plants to feed our hungry family each year and a whole summer of garden work to grow them. Making jarred tomatoes is an art and its hard to replicate the seasoned masters. Happy to play helper, we gathered at nonna and nonno's house to get the job done. There are a few things you really need for a task like this. They include:

1. a sleeping baby

2. a cool, crispy morning and a willing crew

3. one bossy nonna

4. a good enough reason to take a break that will satisfy the bossy nonna

 5. tomatoes.... lots and lots of tomatoes

6. over 170 years of combined experience,

 7. fresh basil, salt, an arsenal of mason jars and a hot fire

and VOILA! ... an Italian staple to get us through the winter.

next up.... vino!