Dancing Northern Lights

Dancing Northern Lights

I had fun with this one.  As hard as it is to take a good photograph of the Aurora Borealis painting them in watercolor is very forgiving. 

You know you are addicted to painting when you are waiting outside of JoAnn's for them to open up so you can spend your food budget on high quality paper & brushes. 

I can live on beans & rice for a week so I can paint all winter! 

Dabbling In Watercolors

Unbelievable Waterfall

Oregon Coast

I've been working graveyard shift the last couple of months.  When I come home in the morning I watch the painting shows on Create TV until I fall asleep.  Decided to get the supplies together and give it a try.  What fun!  Some of the techniques I saw on tv sunk in and surprised me on my 3rd & 4th attempt.  My first two are decorating my office/studio walls along with the two pictured here I signed, named & shared with you.

Now that I actually tried painting with watercolors I am eager to learn & practice more.  Will still keep my night job though. 

Cedar Blanket Chest

This is my latest finished project I got up for sale on craigslist.  I picked it up at a garage sale for $40.  For sale for $100.  Had it up for $200 for a week & lowered the price yesterday.  One bite so far.  A lady is going to come look at it tomorrow.  If it doesn't sell I won't mind keeping it.  Those are my 5 y/o nephews hand prints. 

My other projects are a bookshelf I am painting camo print.  A wooden coffee table I am painting abstract piano keys with a big treble clef in black on white.  Both of these pieces I picked up free on craigslist.  I will post pictures when they are finished.

Fun winter projects!

Ice on Wasilla Lake!

Won't be long now and Alaska will be turning into an ice cube.  This will be my 33rd winter and I like to think I'm prepared for it.  I am a sourdough now.  (Sour about Alaska & no Dough to leave!) 

I got my studded snow tires on last week.  Dug out my driving gloves.  Got a cool new handknitted headband given to me.  I'm ready for another Alaskan winter no matter what.

Come along for the ride!

Brighten Every Day

Salmon Patties w/Russian Tartar Sauce

 Main ingredient: my 1/2 pound can of freshpack Copper River Sockeye with Jalapeno.  Tonight I made a quick dinner out of a can of salmon mixing 2 eggs & a cup of Panko into it.  Skin, oil & all.  Every last drop. 

I like making my tartar sauce homemade.  Went to the new 3 Bears out Knik-Goose Bay Rd. looking for pickles.  Must be the Alaska/Russian connection out there as I found Russian Style pickles that are great standing alone & excellent grated into Best Foods mayo for Russian Tartar Sauce.  Zer Gut!

This picture shows the reason I can Copper River Reds exclusively.  Look at all that oil in the can!  Copper River Sockeye (Reds) are the highest in Omega-3 fatty acids.  The Panko is used to soak it all up & the eggs to bind for patties, fritters or loaf at this point.

One can makes 3 adult size & 1 kid size pattie.  With quick white rice & steamed broccoli you got a fast, healthy mid-week meal. 

Salmon Pattie w/Russian Tartar Sauce

Weather Rock

Take One

Well, here goes a new era for the FishTaxi blog. I am now posting from my new iphone 4! With a picture of me & a huge KING salmon taken in Wasilla next to the Chevron on the Parks Hwy.

This must be where all the Kenai Kings were hiding this past summer.