Author: Laura Segil

JPaws Glass and Wood

Lynda and Peter Tartaglino live in Sequim with their 2 great danes and 2 sphynx cats, Jessee, Jaymee, Jonesee and Joee = JPaws the name of their studio.  Lynda’s passion is designing and making fused glass art.  Peter spends his time in his woodworking shop. They are our Featured Artists this month! Be sure to check us out on First Friday Sequim

Lynda has had a lifelong love of glass.  She started collecting pieces over 40 years ago from different artists and started her own studio when she and Peter retired.  She now enjoys her love of glass on a daily basis in her small studio.

Lynda started her glass journey with a torch making custom glass beads.  She then moved on to fused art glass work.  She specializes in hearts and small framed art but also makes glass boxes, mushrooms and jewelry.

Most of Lynda’s pieces are made using Bullseye glass as it offers a variety of beautiful colors and options.  Creating glass art is such a passion of Lynda’s and she loves being able to share it with others.

Peter is a woodworking hobbyist who has been an active woodworker for the past 18 years.  Since his retirement in 2012 he has made woodworking a full-time activity.  Peter earned a Certificate in Furniture Making from Cerritos College, Cerritos (Los Angeles County) California.

Peter enjoys using different domestic and exotic woods for his projects.  The variety of mediums allows him to learn the differences and challenges of each species.  To date he has used over 30 various species.  These aspects are demonstrated in his variety of work which includes but are not limited to medium to small jewelry and storage boxes, cutting and charcuterie boards and cheese/cracker boards.

We hope you enjoy their story and art as much as we do here at La Petite Maison Blanche!

Courtesy of Panier des Sens.com

Lavender, known for its calming scent and delicate purple flowers, has a rich history deeply rooted in the Mediterranean region. Revered by ancient civilizations like the Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians, it held various symbolic and practical uses.

The plant’s name derives from the Latin word “lavare” meaning “to wash,” highlighting its historical role in cleansing rituals. The Egyptians, for instance, used Lavender in their embalming process, and the lavender flower was often associated with purification and healing.

The Greeks called it « Nardus » after the Syrian city of Naarda, and it was mentioned in their literature and medicine. Lavender’s therapeutic qualities were appreciated by both the Greeks and the Romans.

During the Roman era, lavender became a symbol of luxury and relaxation. They used it to scent baths and clothes. Lavender’s popularity spread across Europe in the Middle Ages, where it was used for medicinal and culinary purposes and became a symbol of cleanliness and refinement.

Today, lavender is cultivated worldwide, with countries like France, Bulgaria, and England being renowned for their lavender fields. Lavender’s popularity endures, with its essence widely utilized in aromatherapy, cosmetics, and culinary ventures, showcasing its timeless allure and versatility.

Embracing the Beauty of Lavender

Lavender has undoubtedly earned its place in the realm of cosmetics. Its numerous benefits for the skin, coupled with its delightful aroma, make it a sought-after ingredient in a wide range of products. From lavender-infused lotions and creams to shampoos and perfumes, there are countless ways to incorporate this magnificent herb into your beauty routine. Whether you enjoy the relaxation it brings or the rejuvenation it offers, lavender is sure to enhance your self-care rituals.

Learn About the History of Lavender in Sequim!

How One Small Town Became the ‘Lavender Capital of North America’ (treehugger.com)

We have combined two of our favorite products, Moonstruck Hot Cocoa from Portland, Oregon and Mount Mansfield Pure Maple Cream from Vermont to create a truly decadent hot cocoa, combining cinnamon, maple and of course, chocolate.

INGREDIENTS

• 4 tbsp Moonstruck Cinnamon Milk Chocolate
• 8 oz hot milk
• 1 tsp Mount Mansfield Pure Maple Cream (for the mixture)
• 1 tsp Mount Mansfield Pure Maple Cream (to drizzle over the top)
• Heavy cream whipped into stiff peaks
• OR your favorite marshmallow for topping

INSTRUCTIONS

• Add chocolate and milk together until combined.
• Stir in 1 tsp maple cream.
• Top with whipped cream or marshmallows and drizzle with 1 tsp (or more!) maple cream.

French Hot Chocolate

French Hot Chocolate, La Chocoat Chaud, is a true indulgence and so well worth it! Unlike traditional American varieties, it’s not made from cocoa powder but instead it uses a mixture of, milk, heavy cream and real chocolate. The difference in ingredients creates an intense, rich flavor and a lovely thick consistency. 

Le Chocolat Chaud is meant for slow sipping on cold Winter nights!

INGREDIENTS

• 6 oz unsweetened chopped chocolate
• ½ cup water
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup heavy cream whipped into stiff peaks
• 6 cups whole milk

INSTRUCTIONS

• Add chocolate and water to a small pot on low heat and stir until chocolate melts and is completely smooth.
• Stir in sugar and salt over low heat.  Continue to heat and stir for abut 4 minutes or until it is pretty thick then remove from heat and allow to cool.
• Fold the chocolate into whipped cream and set in the refrigerator.  When ready to serve, add two heaping tablespoons of chocolate cream mixture to a mug then fill it with hot milk.

NOTES

Store the leftover French hot chocolate in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.  To reheat, use a microwave or a saucepan on low heat.

We are all about easy and these brownies are the best of both worlds, fudgy brownie and gooey s’mores!

Ingredients

• 1 16oz box of your favorite brownie mix
• Water, vegetable oil and egg called for on brownie mix box
• 2 cups mini or chopped flavored marshmallows
• 8 graham cracker squares, broken into small pieces
• 2+! chocolate bars of your choice, broken into small (or big😊) pieces

Instructions

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease bottom of 9-inch square pan with shortening or cooking spray. Make and bake brownies as directed on box. After removing pan from oven, set oven control to broil.

• Immediately sprinkle marshmallows and graham crackers over warm brownies. Broil with top 4 to 5 inches from heat 30 to 60 seconds or until marshmallows are golden brown. (Watch carefully; marshmallows and graham crackers will brown quickly.) Sprinkle with chocolate. Cool on cooling rack, about 3 hours until chocolate is set. Cut into 4 rows by 4 rows.

• Feel like glamming it up for Christmas?  Sprinkle ground up candy canes over the melting chocolate!

This fudge is almost too easy to make and foolproof. The best part is that you can add almost anything you want to jazz it up! In this case, I’m adding chopped flavored marshmallows…yum!

Ingredients

• 1 14 oz Can Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1 12 oz Bag Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
• Your own add-ins such as nuts, chopped or mini marshmallows, dried cherries or flavored baking chips…let your imagination run wild!

Instructions

• First line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
• Next in a medium or large microwave safe mixing bowl combine the chocolate chips with the condensed milk.
• Microwave the chocolate chips and condensed milk in 30 second intervals, mixing with a rubber spatula in between until melted.
• Once melted, continue mixing for a few minutes until a satiny finish begins to appear (this means the fudge is beginning to cool slightly) then fold in your ingredients.
• OR…you can simply leave the extra ingredients out for a pure chocolate creamy consistency.

There is so much more to do with hot cocoa powder, of all flavors, than just making a cozy cup of cocoa. How about quick and easy Hot Cocoa Cookies to accompany that cuppa?

Easy Hot Cocoa Cookies

INGREDIENTS

• 1 Box Chocolate Cake Mix
• 6 tbsp hot cocoa mix (any flavor)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 Eggs
• ½ Cup Crisco® or coconut oil
• Mini or chopped marshmallows for decorating, if desired

INSTRUCTIONS

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Mix dry ingredients together, then add wet ingredients to dry mixture. Stir until everything is wet and mixed well.
• Put in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes.
• Place parchment paper on cookie sheet. Drop balled tablespoons of cookie dough onto the parchment paper.
• Bake for 9 minutes.
• Gently press 2-3 marshmallows into each cookie.
• Bake an additional 2-3 minutes.

Light of the Olympic Peninsula

Lynne Fearman

About the Artist

 Lynne Fearman, has been a professional artist for over 40 years and is an active artist member of California Art Club, and member of  Mid-Valley Arts League, in the San Gabriel Valley, (president from 2006-2008), California Plein Air Painters, Oil Painters of America, the American Impressionist Society.
Over the years she has garnered numerous awards for her work. She has shown her work in the Bowers Museum recently for the California Art Club’s 11th Gold Medal Show, the Riverside Art Museum, and Pasadena Museum of History, and at “Art Matters” at the Huntington Library, in San Marino. in 2021 she had a solo show at the Chaffey Community Museum of Art, in Ontario, CA.

In 2015 she received the Grand Prize at the Los Angeles Plein Air Festival. In 2016 she was invited to participate in the Washington state, Plein Air Festival, “Paint the Peninsula!”. In 2018 and 2019, she won the, Award of Excellence, at the National Oil Painters of America Convention, during the “Wet Painting” competition in Steamboat Springs and again in St. George Utah.

To see Lynne’s work, please go to Fine Art

Heartfelt & Healing

Artist and award-winning children’s book author/illustrator, Corinne Humphrey, creates whimsical paintings emphasizing optimism and universal themes inspired by her former shelter dog Rudy and now Adobe. “I paint to spread joy, hopefully providing an antidote to the stresses of today’s world with “PAWSITIVE” messages.”

Corinne works in a variety of mediums including acrylic on canvas and mixed media. Her paintings have been featured in group shows at Utah’s Art Access Gallery, Atelier, Kimball Art Center, Alpine Art Gallery, and she has enjoyed solo shows at the Salt Lake City Main Library and Ogden’s Union Station Gallery. Her children’s books have won numerous awards including a Bronze “IPPY” award for Most Outstanding Book Design and a Silver Moonbeam Award for “Best Series.”

Currently, you can view her pieces at Northwind Art’s Showcase at the Jeanette Best Gallery in Port Townsend and La Petite Maison Blanche, 213 E. Washington St. in Sequim.

Find out more about Corinne:

www.corinnehumphrey.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/corinne_humphrey

Welcome to Finding Home Farms

We are so glad you have joined us. We are Laura and Dana, and along with our daughters, we live in the Hudson Valley of New York.

Finding Home Farms is a brand built on the belief that connection and a sense of home are essential to our lives. We understand the value of gathering around a welcoming table and creating lasting memories.

Located in the picturesque Hudson Valley of New York, our maple farm, cafe, and market, known as The Sugarhouse, is a well-kept secret in the heart of the woods. As a family-owned operation, we take pride in offering the finest organic maple syrup straight from our farm to your table. Our product range extends beyond maple syrup, encompassing 100% soy candles, pantry essentials, and home decor items that contribute to crafting a warm and inviting space.

What sets us apart is our commitment to sourcing and producing all our products within the USA. From the purity of our organic maple syrup to the diverse flavors of our pantry offerings, from the quality of our soy candles to the carefully curated home decor, we prioritize excellence in everything we create.

At Finding Home Farms, we aim to make life sweeter. Our vision extends beyond delivering products; we strive to inspire and provide ideas to make opening your home to friends and family easy. Whether you’re looking to create a cozy atmosphere in your home or seeking a thoughtful gift, we offer the perfect ingredients for a welcoming home.

By choosing Finding Home Farms, retailers and consumers align themselves with a brand that values quality, authenticity, and a shared sense of home. Welcome to Finding Home Farms, we make life sweeter.

Working Hard Towards The American Dream

Finding Home Farms initially started as a blog in 2010, where Laura happily shared decorating ideas and DIY projects. While Laura was trying to figure out the world of blogging, Dana was stressed and run down doing the corporate gig. He traveled the globe in a great job, but he was never home.  In 2015, the Putnam family decided it was time to start a new path by returning to their roots.   Dana grew up on a dairy farm in New Hampshire, and his favorite time of the year was the six weeks of “sugaring” when they made maple syrup.

For 14 years, the Putnams were “backyard sugar makers,” crafting just enough syrup to share with neighbors and friends. Those six weeks were always the happiest. And now they’ve turned sugar making into a full-time career, going for the BIG dream – making a life AND a living doing what they love best – crafting maple syrup and creating a welcoming home.