I’ve been all food lately, I know all you people who pop in here to check for websites, logos, and some casual chit-chat have been a little disappointed! Sorry! Summer is rough because of the farm, the child and her “gigs” and simple fact that summer is only a couple of months long here and I need to bond with my pool here and there. There have been a million other things too, but I won’t bore you with them.

Anyway…

Here is the “news”…I have a bunch of new work coming out, and one will be a new site for the always lovely Jennie Murphy of Babycakes Photography in Colorado. I have been working with Jennie for almost two years now…it doesn’t seem possible that it has been that long! She wants a fresh look for 2009 and I am thrilled to be able to work with her again. Her new work is STUNNING and I am busy putting together some ideas to best show them off. Jennie and I build show stopper sites together so I am certain this one will be incredible!

And speaking of incredible….

I just finished some updates on the Counts Creek Ranch website. LOVE this site. Allison Ballinger of Cross B Photography and her family produce some of the most amazing horses. Watching her horses grow up is like seeing the “kids” grow. If you, or someone you know, is looking for an incredible horse or very talented futurity prospect, Counts Creek Ranch is you place. Tell them Colleen sent you

I forgot how much I love designing websites. Usually by the time spring rolls around I am feeling frazzled and in need of a break. Wearing the hat of designer and developer is tough, it takes so much time. But then I leave my queue free for a month and I feel lonely for it and get excited to take on a new project.

It’s a rocky relationship, me and design, yep…a rocky relationship indeed.

Remember her? My little girl! She started high school this September! Can you believe it?!?!!? I’m proud of her for how hard she works in school (she’s homeschooled) but that is only the half of it…

Many of you know this, but for those who are new to my blog, my daughter has Asperger’s Syndrome. Asperger’s is a form of Autism. And no, she isn’t Rain Man. She’s SCARY smart, but social situations are really rough on her and her painful shyness make things like working in a team setting, following tasks to completion and group activities rough. She has been an animal lover her life, like her mom, she born saying “I want a POOOOOONNNNNNNNNNYYYYYYYYYYYY!) . We started volunteering with Stable Movements in Binghamton last April and all I can say is wow…

Three days a week now, she volunteers her time at the stable which provides Hippotherapy and Therapeutic Riding lessons for children with special needs. Many of which are Autism and Asperger kids like herself. In the span of 5 months she has blossomed and changed into this self-confident, team player who inspires me more and more every day. I could not be prouder of her if I tried. Her goal for the next five years while she finishes high school and then gets her degree in Veterinary Technology? To save every penny she makes and establish a center like Stable Movements in an an underserved, rural location for kids who wouldn’t have access to Hippotherapy or Therapeutic Riding otherwise.

Wow…just barely a teenager and I never hear pleas for “things” from her, just ideas she has to make the world a little brighter. Wow…just wow. My husband and I must have did something right along the way, although we don’t remember doing it!

Not only is she a great kid but she is also on the team that Stable Movements will be sending to the Special Olympics State Games in Rochester, NY to compete in the Equestrian program October 4th, 2008. I put together a tack and clothing fundraiser for the kids, show clothes are expensive and being a special needs family = not a lotta dollars left for things like that. Ms. Valerie Zehl of the Press and Sun Bulletin came out and interviewed one of our Special Olympians too, which was VERY exciting! You can read the article here.

…I told you it was a busy time around here didn’t I?!?!?!?

And because we are headed into cold season and Kristin Roby at the Press and Sun is under the weather I thought I would share my “secret weapon”

Zuppa diAglio fresco (fresh garlic soup)

4 tablespoons olive oil
1-1/2 cups finely chopped carrots
10 cloves of garlic peeled and smashed
4 cups chicken stock (I use a garlic stock I make and keep on hand)
1 tablespoon chopped thyme
1/2 tablespoon chopped Rosemary
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano
2 Tablespoons fresh Italian parsley chopped
salt and ground pepper
day old bread (sourdough is best)

1. heat 2 TBS of the olive oil in a 3qt saucepan; add the carrots and garlic. Cook over medium high-heat, stirring frequently about 3-5 minutes. Don’t let the garlic brown.

2. stir in the chicken stock, chopped herbs and bay leaf. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Reduce to low and simmer, covered for about 30 minutes.

3. Discard the bay leaf, and transfer the soup to a mixer or blender (I use an immersion blender right in the pan) and puree until smooth. You may need to do this in batches if you have a small blender Return the soup to the pan

4. Add the remaining 2 TBS of olive oil. Whisk in the Parmigiano Reggiano until blended. Stir the soup gently for 4-5 minutes over low heat

5. Stir in the parsley, season with salt and pepper remove from the heat.

6. place a slice of bread into bowls and ladle the soup over. A sprinkle of Parmigiano Reggiano is nice finish.

If you don’t have the fresh herbs sub dried, just use about half the amount listed. I tend to add a little of whatever white wine I have open to the carrots and garlic or a bit of sherry to the finished soup.

This is my favorite comfort food!

Have a wonderful Wednesday and do something delicious!

I’ve been volunteering my services to Northeast Ohio Autism Group for over a year now. It’s been exciting to watch this group grow into such an amazing resource. Their website has undergone changes consistently to reflect their growth, and this time we gave it a face lift too.

If you are in the Cleveland Ohio area and are in need of resources, this is your go-to group. Many thanks for all that you do NEOAG!