tink makes art

Bethaney, Jeremy, and Ben Swanson

One of the greatest people on earth, whom I’m blessed to have as one of my closest friends, is Benjamin Swanson. His mother, Bethaney Swanson, discovered she had colon cancer a year ago, and after 6-months of surgery, radiation, and chemo, she was doing very well. Recently, however, the doctors found the cancer spread to her lungs and chest walls. She will be undergoing more chemo and CyberKnife radiotherapy, a series of treatments that costs $40,000 and is not covered under her insurance policy. Friends, families, coworkers, and strangers are rallying together to help provide financial support to the Swanson family. Bethaney and Jeremy have two sons, including Ben, and a daughter. If you would like to contribute to the Bethaney Swanson Cancer Fund, please make checks payable to the Bethaney Swanson Medical Account and send to the following address:

Sharon Brannan, CPA
161 N. Main St.
Williston, FL 32696
(352) 528-6558

If you’re in Jacksonville, Florida on June 8th, you can also support the Bethaney Swanson Cancer Fund by attending the Personnes, The John Carver Band, and Gator Ghost concert. Sure to be a good time!

Prayers are also welcomed!

Poster by Brittany Norris (another friend!)

To piggyback on my last post about books, my favorite bookstore of all time – with Chamblin Bookmine in Jacksonville, Florida coming in a close second – is the Strand in New York City. Wooden bookshelves, LOTS of books (2.5 MILLION or 18 MILES of new, used, and rare books), a maze of a building (3 floors) with never-ending nooks and crannies, and rich history (family owned since 1927!). I have to pop in when I’m in the city…

It’s where books are LOVED!

When my uncle was in town a few months ago, he took me to see the Oscar Nominated Animated Short Films at the Carolina Theatre in Durham (A historic theater that shows movies and hosts concerts. A must go if you live here and have never been!). I, along with everyone else in attendance, fell in love with The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, which, with no surprise, won the Oscar. It captures the beautiful, amazement of books.

Happy Monday! How about these gluten-free cocoa pancakes to start off our week? YUMMY!

Recipe and photo via ATX Gluten Free.

Ingredients:

• 4 oz. brown rice flour
• 3 oz. sweet sorghum flour
• 1 oz. tapioca starch
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 8 oz. water
• 2 eggs
• 2 oz. extra virgin olive oil
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder

Instructions:

Measure dry ingredients using a kitchen scale, place all in large bowl. Add salt and baking powder. Whisk to aerate dry ingredients. Add in egg, water, olive oil and vanilla. Mix until ingredients are combined and smooth. Preheat skillet to medium-high heat. Make sure it is warm before adding oil. Add cooking oil and pour pancake batter onto skillet in small circles. Cook until golden brown on edges, there will be bubbles around the edges also, and flip to finish cooking, about 1-2 minutes. Serve warm.

Well, folks. This year is the year. I will be doing something I’ve always wanted to do: a triathlon…a sprint triathlon. I’m also considering doing my second half-marathon. I just had so much fun last year. I start my training this week. Wish me luck!

What have you always wanted to do? Make this year, the year…

J.Crew brought up an interesting fashion question on their Facebook page: Colorful socks—chic or geek? Could be a fun way to add some color this Spring and Summer…or could be Steve Urkel front and center. What do you think? If you’re thinking chic, you can purchase a few lovely pairs at JCrew.com. If you thinking geek, disregard this post…

First, James Dean is sexy on his bike.

Second, I love this film by Andrew David Watson about Adam Cramer, owner and mechanical technician at Liberty Vintage in Philadelphia. Adam revives vintage motorcycles and believes greased-stained hands are few and far between because “our can-do American spirit is being lost.” “Our children don’t know the difference between a flat-head screwdriver and a Phillips; and if  they did know the difference, they wouldn’t know what to do with it anyway.”