Something New on the Horizon

Back in the eighties and nineties I wrote some poetry but life gets in the way.  Recently, an invitation to a local poetry club meeting came to my email.   It was purely by accident that I received the email, but I attended.  This sparked something down deep in my soul.  The ideas started to run around in my head until I put them down on paper.  

One day I sat down and wrote a list of memories from my childhood.  It amazed me how the writing flowed through my keyboard onto the page.  The poems and stories alike are from life experiences.  As I write each story or poem, I am brought back to that day and time in my life.  It has given me such a pleasure to share these memories with others, especially if that someone was the subject of the story or poem.

Hope others have enjoyed reading them as much as I have enjoyed writing them.

Check out my new writing blog.  "Through The Fog a Writer's Journey" at the link below.

https://recollectionsandmore.blogspot.com/


Also here is a link to my art blog:  "Halmay Galleries"

http://halmaygalleries.blogspot.com/


Please like and subscribe.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Original composition from my photo.  First large format 17x22 inches, Watercolor, Strathmore 400 lb cold press.

Scene from Village of Folsom, Louisiana

It’s Beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Christmas spirit has found it's way down South, thanks to a cold snap for the last couple of weeks.

Winter Snow Scene

Grandma's House

Lesson 7 

Country Scene 

Lesson 8 

Christmas Cards

Hope you have a wonderful holiday fun of friends and family.

Merry Christmas and A Happy New 

New Renderings

Have been trying to master watercolor.  These are my latest efforts.

AUTUMN LEAVES

MISTY MOUNTIANS

SUNSET STORM

 OREGON FIRES

MIDNIGHT ON THE LAKE

FARMHOUSE AND BARN

Long-billed Curlew

WASH WATER

Hope you enjoyed.  Comments welcomed.

New Artwork Efforts

Been enjoying some painting, lately, thought I would share my results.   We have had rain everyday, for the past two months and this is a good way to keep busy and dry.

This is an oil painting on a 16 x 12 inch canvas.  It took me about 8 weeks to complete.  It has been while since I picked-up my paints.  I takes getting used to again.

This is a watercolor done on Archers 140 lb hot press  14 x 11 inches.

I basically, work in oils but I have been trying to master watercolors.  It is harder, I think, especially, color mixing.   This is a portrait of my grandson Emery, when he was about 2 years old.

Hope you enjoyed my mini art show!

Watercolor a Challenge

Back to basics.  Trying to master watercolor  is at best, frustrating.   Looking for that translucent and loose feel.  More practice is needed.  Here are my efforts so far.

APPLE IN TWO COLORS

4 X 6 

Archers 140 lbs cold press

DANCING AT JAZZ FEST

16 x 11

Archers 140 lbs cold press

BRETT MEETING HIS FIRST CLOWN

16 x 11

Archers 140 lbs cold press

White Quinoa with Roasted Mushrooms and Garlic

1 cup cooked white quinoa
1 1/2 sliced mushrooms ( 1 small pack )
2 cloves garlic

Put mushrooms and garlic in small flat pan (like pie pan) roast in 350 F oven for 15 - 20 minutes.
Mix quinoa with roasted mushrooms and garlic. Fluffing with fork.  TaDa your done!
Makes 2 servings.

Quinoa Salad with Avocado

1/2 cup sprouted red quinoa
1 avocado diced
1/2 cup diced red onion
2 diced green onions
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1 med diced Roma tomato
1 tbs olive oil
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
Salt & Pepper

Add all ingredients to small bowl. Add oil and vinegar and salt and pepper to taste.  Mix well serve.

To sprout quinoa, add 1 cup quinoa to container with cover.  Rinse quinoa well about three times.  After rinsing fill container with fresh water and cover.  Let container sit on countertop overnight.  In morning rinse quinoa and drain very well.  Dry out container and put drained quinoa back in and cover.  It will last in refrigerator about four days. ( This method of spouting works well with other grains as well as lentils.)

It's been a while.

A little something I did while recuperating from a broken right femur and broken left shoulder.

Tessie a long haired Chihuahua 

Tessie is my friend Diane's little baby.  She was 14 years old.  I had just finished this painting and she died of cancer the next month.  The portrait captures Tessie's beautiful dark brown eyes.  It is done in watercolors on 140 lb cold press paper.  

Something very special has happened.  

On January 9, 2016, my second Great-Grand Baby was born.

ANYA RENEE'

6.5 LBS 18 1/4 " LONG

2 HOURS OLD

PROUD PARENTS GENA & JAKE (my 2nd grandson)

ANYA AT HOME

ONE WEEK OLD AT GREAT-GRANDMOTHERS HOUSE.

That it for now.  Lots of things have been happening but it is much too much for this post.

When I am fully recovered from these broken bones, I will write more.

Until then, God Bless!

"Eat to Live" Breakfast

Healthy and Tasty 

Simple and Delicious!

Ingredients:

1/4 cup Old Fashion Oats (uncooked)
Juice of 1/2 Orange
1 Tablespoon of chopped Walnuts
1 Medium Banana chopped

Mix raw Oats and Orange Juice and nuts in small bowl, microwave for 45 seconds.  Mix in copped Banana.
Serve  with remaining 1/2 of orange and sliced Peach.

Options: Use any fruit or nut combination you like.

Enjoy!

Microwave Meat Sauce

1 large serving or two average servings

Ingredients

4 oz. Beef ground

1/2 cup Picsweet Seasoning Blend, Frozen onion, pepper, celery and parsley

.5 tsp Garlic

2/3 cups Crush Tomatoes

1 tbsp. Italian Seasoning

1 tsp. Parsley, dried

1 tbsp. Parmesan Cheese, grated

Directions

In a small glass bowl, mix all ingredients but use only half of the Parmesan cheese.  Cover with a dish and cook in microwave for 5-6 minutes, makes about 1 2/3 cups of meat sauce.  Serve over pasta.   Sprinkle the other half of the Parmesan cheese on top. 

Nutrition facts per serving:  WW Points 4

Calories: 188.9 Total Fat: 11.3 Sodium: 321 Carbs: 8.6 Dietary Fiber: 1.5 Protein: 12.5

New and Old Paintings

Here are a few paintings I have been working on the past month.

Original 

This was  15 minute painting.  It is done in watercolor.

I was trying to achieve a fluid movement since the topic for March was "underwater".

It was not submitted because I did't quite like it.  I'm working on another one, we'll see.

This is a screen capture off Google maps the March topic was "Slovenia."

I found this woman on a bus and thought she would be a great subject.

This painting is done in oils.  I have de-cluttered the shot to achieve  better portrait.

It turned out pretty good.  Unfortunately, I could not submit it because she was in Croatia not Slovenia!  

 Llica 10000, Zagreb, Croatia     

What!!!!!!!

This is a 2' x 3' oil painting of my first grandchild, Brett.  I cannot put my hands on the photo.  I'm reworking it  bit to give it more detail.   I painted this when he was two years old (he is now 28) .

 That's all for now.  Hope you enjoy.

I'm on a roll, thinking up all sorts of fast and easy recipes that make one or two servings. They are loaded with Protein and low in calories.

Here is the latest:


Microwave Tuna and Noodle Casserole

Ingredients

1 cup Cooked Pasta, linguine

1/2 cup Tuna, Canned in Water, drained

1/2 cup Campbell cream of mushroom w/ roasted garlic

1 tbsp. chopped Scallions, raw

1/2 cup Great Value Peas & Carrots, Frozen, and Drained

1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce

1 tbsp. Parmesan Cheese, grated

1 tbsp. Bread Crumbs Panko

Salt & Pepper


Directions:

In small bowl, mix tuna, cream of mushroom soup, Scallions, Worcestershire Sauce (you can add a tbsp. or two of water to loosen up the soup). Spray a small shallow baking dish with cooking spray, add 1/2 of pasta, sprinkle 1/2 the Peas and Carrots, pour half of the soup and tuna mixture over this layer. Repeat to use up remaining pasta and Tuna mixture. Mix Panko and Parmesan Cheese together (this will prevent clumping of the cheese). Sprinkle cheese and Panko on top. Cover loosely with a dish (to let out steam- do not use plastic wrap) and cook in microwave for 5 minutes.

Nutritional Info  WW Points 5

Calories: 210.0  Fat: 2.9 Carbohydrates: 31.6 Fiber 1.5 Protein: 14.7

TaDa!!  Very tasty, if I do say so myself.

Joined Weight Watchers last week,

tired of fighting this on my own.  In an effort to stay on this program, I have come up with some quick and easy recipes.  Although, the internet is loaded with similar recipes, I altered them and scaled them down to fit my needs.  Hope you enjoy and find them helpful.

Microwave Lasagna

Ingredients:

4 oz. Ground Beef (80/20)
½ cup diced canned tomatoes
1 tbsp. Italian seasoning
1 tbsp. Dried Parsley
1 tbsp. Parmesan cheese
Salt & Pepper

3 Tbsp. Fat Free Ricotta cheese
½ cup frozen spinach or other greens ( thawed and drained)
2 tbsp. diced canned Tomatoes

½ cup shredded 4 cheese mix (made with 2% milk)
2 sheets Lasagna noodles (pre-cooked type)

Directions:

Combine ground beef, ½ cup tomatoes, Italian seasoning, parsley, Parmesan cheese and salt and pepper in bowl, in another small bowl combine greens and Ricotta cheese.

Spray a small shallow baking dish ( about) with cooking spray add the 2 tbsp. of diced tomatoes on bottom of dish, add 1 lasagna noodle, add half of the beef mixture, add ½ of the green mixture. Repeat with second noodle, beef and greens, press down gently to make sure no void areas .  Sprinkle ½ cup of shredded 4 cheese mix on top.

Cover dish with a plate or some other cover so it will let the stem escape.  Cook on high for 8-9 minute until noodles are tender. Makes 4 servings

Nutrition facts per serving:  WW Points 4

Calories 165.8 Total Fat 8.8 Sodium 145.6 Total Carbs 10.5 Fibr 1.5 Protein 10.4

Microwave Bread Pudding in a cup

Quick and Good!
Minutes to Prepare: 5
Minutes to Cook: 1-1.5
Number of Servings: 1

Ingredients:
2 slice Bread, reduced-calorie, wheat
3 Tablespoons 1%Milk, skim or reduced fat
1 Egg
1 Teaspoon Stevia
1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract or Almond extract
Cooking spray

Directions:

Spray cup or small bowl . Make sure to coat bottom and sides. Chop bread into small pieces. In another bowl, mix egg, milk, Stevia, and vanilla and beat until foamy, (if you are using Banana add to this mixture and mix well and smash up a couple of pieces of the banana). Add bread to this mixture and fold to coat bread. Pour bread mixture into greased cup and microwave for 1 minute to a minute and half. Serving Size: 1 Calories 137

Nutrition facts per serving:  WW Points 4

Calories 162   Total Fat 5.5   Cholesterol 188   Sodium 171  Total Carbs 13   Protein 10.3

If you use a small Banana about 6" long add 72 calories.

This was made with the Banana!

Hope you enjoy.

Mardi Gars has come and gone with no participation from me.  

Yesterday, it was 36 F and raining, it was fine when I was 12 years old but going out in that kind of weather is just crazy.  I stayed home and did get to see the festivities on TV, much better idea.  Today, no rain but cold.  Will Spring ever get here?

Did a loose watercolor and pen today.  It was fun.  I've been working on my color mixing, it amazes me how you can forget loads of stuff but when you pick up the old things again the brain starts to unfold and the memories flood back.

Colors are, actually, quite a bit warmer than the photo shows.  This cold weather is getting me down!

Hope you enjoy.

 It has been much fun sitting home painting. 

The weather has been running a muck and not fit for man nor beast.  Last night, I was in New Orleans and it was in the 70's as I started home across the Causeway bridge my car temp read 71 F when I exited the other end, 26 miles later, it read 58 F.  Then the thunderstorms came down with a vengeance.  I could hardly see to drive.  Today, it is in the 40's.  This weather is loony all over the country.  Is there another Mr Freeze running around somewhere, where is batman when you need him?

Discovered a new site for watercolor challenges see it here

http://community.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/group/watercolorchallenge

Their theme for February is Carnival.  There are several photos to choose from to paint.  I chose two and merged them together to make one painting.  Here is my effort.

"Carnival"

Watercolor on 140 lb, 9 x 12 rough paper.  Image is 5 x 7.

It has been one hell of a year that's all I've got to say about it for now. 

Just one highlight I would like to mention, my Grandson, Emery has return safe and sound from Afghanistan.  We traveled up to Kentucky in May to welcome him home.  It was fantastic to see him get off that plane.  Thank you Jesus!  In September, his hitch with the army was over and he is back home and working.   He is continuing to protect his country by serving for the next 18 months in the National Guard.

Emery and Monique

Emery and his dad Ray

For the last couple of days we have been having an ice storm down here, temps in the 20's.  We have had the longest and coldest winter that I can remember.  It's not that we don't have cold weather but it usually does not last continually.  Enough already!

I have found something to pass that time away that is quite pleasant.

My sister told me about a very interesting project that she has been doing.  I thought I would pass it along to you all.   It is called "The Virtual Paintout", here is the site: http://virtualpaintout.blogspot.com/


The concept is simple, a location is chosen and you use Google street view to pick something from that location to paint.  It is your choice of media used and you can alter the scene to suit your interest.  You have the whole month to complete your project and if you like you can submit up to 3 pictures.   I just started a couple of days ago so, I just made the deadline.  I can't wait to see what location is picked for February.


I have just finished my first submission for January.  It was so much fun and since I was stuck at home because of the weather what  perfect way to spend my time.

It has been a very long time since I've picked up a brush to paint and watercolor is so demanding but I do like the finish product.

Virtual Paintout January 2014 Cape Cod

Meadow on Meadow Avenue

Location link

Watercolor 8 x 10  paper

Hope you enjoy the post.