watercolor painting on paper - I love the smell of fresh cut citrus. As I was swinging on my creaky swing set under our deliciously fragrant lemon tree, I decided that I wanted to be an artist. On that mild spring day at 4 years old I was certain that I had my life figured out. It has been often said that home is where the heart is & in turn, the kitchen is the heart of the house. Typically, it's where you hear the best celebratory news & sometimes the worst. Most of our cultural & social gatherings are centered around food. You can tell a lot about a person from their kitchen & the ingredients that they choose to nourish their body & spirit. I always make too much food because I want to make sure that everyone has enough. I have been cooking and baking since I was a kid, it brings happiness, comfort & a sense of accomplishment when a recipe turns out right. I baked chocolate chip cookies with my grandmother the day before she passed away. She was the type of woman that usually baked bread with every meal & could go in to your fridge & throw together a satisfying meal from the most meager of ingredients. I miss her dearly.