November Approaches!

Hello friends.
Tonight is Halloween, and most of you are undoubtedly gallivanting around town - hopefully all being very safe and having tons of fun.
Originally we had plans to go out tonight, but ended up making pizza and relaxing here at home. Win.

Things have been busy lately! I got a new iMac (Yay for new computer, Boo for being even poorer than before...ouch) and am still transferring all my docs/photos/etc from my recently deceased PC. I'm also upgrading to CS5, which is the main reason for my break in posting. Soon, very soon!

In the meantime, check out a few of these photos from a recent family session I did with local photographer Mary Banducci. She has such a sweet little family. :)

The Great Pumpkin

This weekend we busted out our mad pumpkin skills - and by that, I mean MR shamed me once again. He has such incredible patience with projects like this, and he's not afraid of a challenge. Back in college he started the tradition of carving Composer Pumpkins - Bach was the first and this guy is the latest. Personally I think he looks more like Professor Quirrel, but whatever.(MR is at school at the moment, and I can't remember Mr. Turban Head's real name...but when I get the real deal I'll update.)

  MR gets to business.

 Check him out!

 I like painting more than carving so I decided to embrace the challenge of a multi-colored chevron pumpkin. It was long work, but fun. Until...

Most of the paint ended up coming off with the tape...

 I'm just calling it vintage finish. Yeah, let's go with that. 

Aside from religiously watching Hocus Pocus, carving/painting pumpkins is the only Halloween tradition we like. (Really, corny and old school, Hocus Pocus is where it's at. LOVE it.)

Do you like to carve or paint pumpkins? Or neither?

Autumn is HERE

VIA Pugly Pixel

1. I am wearing my downy patagonia gear full time.
2. The air smells faintly of fireplace smoke and pine trees.
3. There is a basket full of pumpkins on my front porch - just waiting to be carved.
4. Today I started on our Christmas Card design!
5. I've taken up knitting again - time for another scarf. :)

What are y'all doing to celebrate fall? I'm not into Halloween (on my walk this morning I saw a house adorned in severed doll heads. Um, no thank you.) but I'm getting excited about the colder weather and wearing even more scarves. Trader Joe's opens in less than 10 days which means yummy tea, Peppermint Joe Joe's and other festive delights. Lots to be excited about!

For the Salsa Queen | Tomatillo Salsa

Today is my Mama's birthday. This year she would be turning 54! Crazy to think about, really. It's been 8 years without her, and with this month being Breast Cancer Awareness month, she is especially on my mind.

I love and remember so many things about her, but one thing that stands out to me and many others was my mother's affinity for making killer good salsa. She was an amazing cook - so imaginative and creative - and she really shined when it came to recipe writing. Her salsa was her own creation, something that was never the same twice. To honor my mama, here's my own adaptation - a seriously delicious recipe for Tomatillo Salsa. If you haven't ventured far with tomatillos, you are missing out! Easy to prepare, delicious to savor. We found our basket at the farmer's market this weekend and I knew salsa was in our near future....enjoy.

// TOMATILLO SALSA // 

adapted from Simply Recipes

Essentials: 

Basket of Tomatillos (approx 1-2 lbs), roasted

1/2 Cup Cilantro Leaves, roughly chopped

1 Large Tomato, chopped

1/2 White Onion, diced

2 Medium Jalapenos, diced

Salt to taste

Remove husks from tomatillos. Cut into chunks and broil until lightly charred. 

Add all ingredients to food processor (or blender) and pulse until well combined. Refrigerate for a few hours to allow flavors to meld.

Serve with tortilla chips and chicken tacos.

The Roys

Awhile ago my sister in law asked me to design her some Family Values artwork, and today I was inspired to make something similar for Matthew and I. 

This piece is more about classic Roy things than family values per say, but I love that looking that this so wholeheartedly reminds me of us and our little family unit.

Post Update: I've had a few people inquire about custom pieces for their own families - please email me at j.roy.joy@gmail.com if you are interested. :) 

Rustic Plum Tart

// RUSTIC PLUM TART // 

  
Essentials

Pâte Brisée (I'm faithful to this recipe - I used wheat flour, so it appears a bit darker in color.)
1.5 lbs Fresh Plums, any variety
1/2 Cup Plum Jam (or another light jam - I just had a jar of plum jam on hand.)

Raw sugar, for sprinkling

Make Pâte Brisée according to recipe. Allow at least 1.5 hours for this process. 

While dough is processing, slice plums and measure out jam.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Roll dough into a large circle, 1/4 inch thick. Spread 1/4 cup of plum jam into the center.

Starting in the center, place plum slices in a large spiral until there is about 2-3 inches of crust space left. 

Drizzle the remaining jam over the top of plum slices.

Pleat sides up and over filling. Sprinkle with sugar.

Place on a rimmed baking sheet, prepped with parchment paper. Bake for approx 45 minutes or until golden brown and filling is deliciously bubbly.

Greenbluff Saturdays

All shapes, colors, and sizes.

I love them!

Art that reminded me of Maine and another mini pony.

Knapp's had sweet little goats too.

My half smile, half grimace - that pumpkin was HEAVY!

Fall raspberries...and a few blackberries.

All those raspberries....for under $4.00

A lovely Saturday spent in the crisp fall air with my sweetie. Have I mentioned how much I ADORE this time of year? :)

Markets & Mittens

With Matthew back in school full time, I'm taking full advantage of girl time. Megan and I welcomed the official start of Autumn with a trip to one of the last Farmer's Markets of the season. We were practically the only ones there, braving the cold and rain, but it was worth it. We circled around and around, picking up Red Bartlett Pears, Italian Plums, the last of the peaches and nectarines, artisan sausage, flowers and of course a couple macarons. (Thanks for asking; they were raspberry rose and rosemary; yes, they were divine.)

I am in love with this time of year. True, I am not looking forward to another Spokane winter (last one, hopefully!) where things are so frozen and dark that I rarely want to leave my bed. But Autumn brings changing colors, roasted root vegetables, my head-to-toe Patagonia gear, pumpkins, and of course Thanksgiving.....which leads us to Christmas! (And in a mere 20, yes TWENTY days I will be able to go to my very own neighborhood TRADER JOES! Yes, I'm on a daily countdown. )

This weekend I'll be baking apple tarts, carving pumpkins, reading my book, and taking advantage of the breaks in the rain by walking around South Hill with my two favorite guys.

What are you up to? 

If you haven't yet, head over here to download a spiffy October Desktop Calender - it oozes Autumnal magic. :)

We See Genius

It's crazy to think that one of the greatest innovators is now gone. RIP Steve Jobs.

Image via Life as an Artistpreneur

To the Market We Go

 I was lucky enough to spend this past Saturday with a lovely group of folks out at Belle Victorian Gardens shooting some fun pictures and video of their gorgeous French Market styled shoot. It was a beautiful afternoon spent with beautiful company. :)

The DREAM TEAM of Vendors:
Romancing the Stone Styling
Easy Dreamer Photography
Erica’s Expression Floral
Epiphany Floral
Emici Bridal
Finders Keepers Jewelry and Apparel
The Bachelor Pad Clothier
Madeline’s Café and Bakery
Sweet Frosting
Shasta Hankins Make-up
Ashley Kerr from Dimensions Salon
Pottery Barn
Belle Victorian Gardens

Roy Joy Design & Photogaphy  

Check out my preview video - it was so FUN to put together! (Or click here to view it on Vimeo.)

And Birds Fluttered Around Her

Happy October!

Happy October friends! Can you believe it's here?! May your October be filled with warm drinks, wooly scarves, pumpkin doughnuts, golden colors, honey crisp apples, lots of cuddling and that not too far off sound of Christmas carols. I'm so glad fall is here!

To celebrate my favorite season, I designed a fun freebie download - right now there are two sizes, but if you need another size, just let me know! :)

To download: Just click on photo below, open to largest size and save to desktop.

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