We have left Istanbul at the brink of spring. Our last days there were full of warmth, and fresh colour. 

 In our little apartment, we had the funniest little oven. It is the bowl looking contraption in the corner. Every apartment we stay in requires that we change how we eat and cook. Not only do the ingredients change as we travel from country to country, but the tools and utensils are different in every apartment. This little oven was an adventure, and I have to say that I wasn't totally convinced it could do anything more than dry out a piece of meat. Surprisingly, our little oven-in-a-bowl made us some great meals!

 Lovely husband made these rice stuffed tomatoes, and then broiled cheese on top. What a way to use up dregs from the kitchen! I was so impressed.

 I tried banana bread - and it was delicious! (Even the third time around. It was that good).

 And it roasted vegetables, and chicken and whatever else you need! I am learning to keep cooking very simple, but that simple doesn't mean boring. Every meal seems like an adventure when you don't know the ingredients, or the tools, but we always make it work!

Inspired by Beauty - Mosaic Art

I recently decided that I wanted to serious about learning Illustrator. Lynda.com is a great resource - and worth every penny if you commit to using the videos. They are professional and teach you the important stuff.

Here is my first creation. It needs a lot of work still, but I am pretty happy with how much I have learned in such a short time. My wonderful husband pointed me in the right direction when I was stuck, and I figured out a couple of different ways of making shapes. I also learned about how the colours you see in the photo, may not be the colours that are actually there!

Inspired by the mosaic floors of the Vatican Museum.