Connie Herberg Fine Art
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Born to be wild and creative!

4/16/2015

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I don’t remember having an excess of toys as a child. There was one favored baby doll, a set of play dishware, a red suede cowgirl outfit complete with six shooters and a cowboy hat, a red wagon and a Nancy Nurse Doll. But, one of my favorite toys was a gun that a cousin whittled from an old orange crate. It was special because he made it for me and because I could then join the “Outlaw Gang” of cousins with their guns and stick horses.

I played endless hours outside, collecting pretty rocks, exploring the outdoors and making things from what was on hand. My imagination took me on travels and created castles from sticks and string. When weather dictated indoor activities, I brought out the crayons and paper or played dress up with a trunk full of my mother’s discarded clothes.
 
School opened new artistic possibilities with glue and scissors added to my tool box. Now we decorated shoe boxes into elaborate Valentine receptacles, made posters for Memorial Day, and decorated our classroom for Christmas. My imagination was in high gear. I loved art and all it could be. Art and I were in it for the long haul.



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The Case of the Crafty Rooster

4/8/2015

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Some of my earliest memories were of roaming the farmyard with my dog (a springer spaniel cross, named Freckles) and playing with the chickens. However, there was the rooster. He unleashed a reign of terror on me that rivaled WWII.

This rooster was a crafty devil. When the adults were around and on watch he casually scratched about, paying no attention to me. But, when they left, he lit after me and I ran screaming to the house, as fast as my short legs would carry me. Since none of the adults had witnessed the scene, they thought I was telling stories. He carried on this game for quite some time and had me terrified to venture past the front step of the house, until one fateful day.

My great aunt decided to set a trap and catch him at the crime. She sent me into the yard and kept watch from the porch. That old rooster saw an opportunity to once again scare me witless and came across the yard at a dead run. Auntie reached me first and scooped me up just as that rooster was hitting his stride. She had the proof.

Sunday dinner was chicken and dumplings. From then on, I could roam the yard without fear and life was good.



Chicken and Dumplings

1 1/2 - 2 lbs trimmed boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 large onion, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped 
1 lb carrots, chopped
4-6 Tbsp flour, depending on how thick you want your stew
1/4 cup dry sherry
4 cups (2 lbs) chicken stock
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme, minced (or half quantity dried)
2 bay leaves
1 lb frozen peas
1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
salt and pepper to taste 

Dumplings:
3 cups flour
4 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup chicken fat, skimmed from stew (alt: vegetable oil)
1+ cup milk

Saute onion and celery until the onion softens and starts to become transparent.  Add liquid ingredients, thyme, bay leaves, flour, and chicken thighs.  Simmer for one hour.

After an hour, add the carrots and skim as much fat off as you can.  Reserve the fat, just dump it right into your measuring cup and try to get at least 1/3 of a cup.  It's ok to get a little stock or thyme in there.  If using chicken fat grosses you out, substitute vegetable oil.  Also, start a large pot of water to boil for your dumplings.

Dumplings:
Combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir together.  Add milk to your reserved fat until you have 1 1/3 cup liquid.  Stir into dry ingredients, adding more milk if needed.  Dough should hold together but not be wet.  Roll out 1/8" thick and cut into 1" squares.  Boil until they sink, about 15-20 minutes.

While the dumplings are cooking, remove chicken thighs to a plate or bowl and shred using two forks.  Add back into stew.  When dumplings are done, check carrots for doneness.  If they're ready, add dumplings directly to stew.  If not, drain them and let them hang out until the carrots are cooked and then add.

Remove from heat and add peas, parsley, and salt and pepper to taste.  Let sit until peas have come up to temperature, then tuck in.

Serves 6-8.


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I am a Child of the Prairie

4/1/2015

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Prairie Wind
Connie Herberg Fine Art
 I am a child of the prairie.  I was planted and grew amid the waving wheat fields on the plains of North Dakota.  The soil there is part of my DNA.  Descended from Norwegian immigrants, I am a third generation born and raised on American soil. 

My family represents a proud tradition of honest, hard working, determined souls who were courageous enough to cross an ocean in order to carve out a new life with possibility.  It wasn’t an easy life, but they persevered where many others failed.

Mine was a wonderful childhood, filled with a large extended family and a community of caring friends and neighbors.  We lived in a small farming community tucked in the furthest northwestern corner of North Dakota.  The winters were often cold and brutal and the summers short, but the outdoors was our playground and we weren’t often deterred from enjoying it.


I Am a Child of the Prairie  by Connie Herberg

I am a child of the prairie
I dig my toes into the warm brown earth
I lift my face heavenward and drink in the sun of life
I am rooted here for all time

I am a child of the prairie
I marvel at brave crocus peeking up through cold spring snow
And wait impatiently for the meadowlark’s sweet tune
Heralding in the bright season of growth

I am a child of the prairie
I watch the gentle doe nuzzle her newborn fawn
I run barefoot in the green of tender grass
In a land that has nourished buffalo and antelope

I am a child of the prairie
Lying on my back, I watch the drifting clouds
And soar with the ever watchful hawk
Searching for his next meal

I am a child of the prairie
I may wander and explore but the prairie always beckons
I am a part of nature here
Where my roots have grown deep

And when I pass beyond the veil and shed this earthly bond
Please spread my ashes on windy plains
Where I will be at home
For I will ever be a child of the prairie

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    Author

    Creativity has been my life and I would like to share some of my thoughts, learning and fun facts with you.

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  • Welcome
  • About
  • Paintings
    • Available Work
    • Purchased Work
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  • Gallery Representation
  • Contact
  • Shows and Exhibition Schedule
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