Written by When I was a kid, coming in from the colder weather was a treat, mostly because of the hot cocoa waiting there. This was made extra awesome, of course, with the addition of little marshmallows on top. I never got quite this many marshmallows in my drink, but that would have been awesome! In the moment, at least, until the sugar coma hit, and not really so much for my mother who would have had to endure the horrors of a little boy on a sugar rush high. Philippe made homemade hot chocolate once last season and it was delicious so I’m hoping this will serve as a reminder to try it again this season. He didn’t add marshmallows and made a yuck face when I asked about them, reminding me once more that our upbringing was quite different. He made the same yuck face when viewing my doodlewash tonight, and though it’s a very quick one, I hope that was just his disdain for this version of the drink in any form. And my childhood hot chocolate was really just hot cocoa that came in a pouch, marshmallows and all. They were tiny and shortly after being magically reconstituted would melt away again, much like Frosty the Snowman, but it was still a really fun treat!
In truth, looking at this concoction now, I can sort of see Philippe’s point. It seems like a perfect lesson in excess. But that’s precisely what makes me smile. Why simply add one little bit of goodness when you can just as easily dump in a handful. It’s this line of thinking that makes me feel super lucky that I’ve found someone like Philippe to balance my overly impulsive nature. While it’s wonderful to chase every dream possible, it’s equally wonderful when someone who loves you tells you to just slow it all down a bit and take a step back. Sometimes, with a bit of polite redirection and other times with just a yuck face. A little signal that reminds me to look before I leap and take each little moment in stride. As artists, we can spend quite a lot of time in our own heads, so it’s nice to invite someone else inside every now and again. That extra layer of perspective is a wonderful gift. It’s the same gift we get when whenever we share what we create online. A mixture of what people say about it and what isn’t said at all. It all provides such a fabulous bit of insight to our creative journey.
I adore hearing the comments that people have on what I make. Sometimes they’re glowing and, other times, ripe with touches of criticism. No matter what, I adore each one! As I’m sketching stuff each and every day, and writing, or rambling, about what comes to mind after, I’m always so appreciative when people take the time to comment. And you’ll find that I always take the time to comment back, because, wow, that’s so cool you did that! And also, because these posts are nothing more than conversation starters in the end. I never tell the full story, just the piece that came to mind that day. For that richer, better story, I rely on all of you. As my own memories mingle with bits of yours, we together, are creating a beautiful connection. An illustration of life that’s made complete by the stories that it evokes. I’m not sure if sketching conversation starters will ever land me in a gallery, but I’m still incredibly happy enjoying where it’s brought me today. But it’s fantastic to remember that as each of us shows up each and every day, sketching stuff, we make the world a touch more beautiful, with marshmallows on top.
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About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Aureolin, Vermilion, and Indigo (my “Vintage” Trio!). Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen with sepia ink in an A5 Hahnemühle Watercolour Book. Want to purchase a print of this doodlewash? Send me a note with a link to this post, and I’ll add it to my shop! |
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Okay! I love hot cocoa from scratch. And I like two regular size marshmallows. But if we are out of the jet puffed sweetness that is marshmallows, then I settle for a nice dollop of whipped cream. Because, come on, whipped cream goes with all dessert and chocolate things!
haha! I agree, Lisa! 😃💕You should know me well enough by now to know that I’ll try to pair whipped cream with just about anything! lol YUM!
I love hearing about Philippe’s reactions to American food traditions. He’s so wonderfully European. I prefer my hot chocolate made with dark chocolate, and without marshmallows.
Hehe… and Philippe would agree with that recipe! 😉 Yeah, he’s totally Parisian and therefore a bit of a food snob, but I would be too if I grew up with actual cuisine instead of Lean Cuisine! lol
I’m sure Philippe’s reaction was to the marshmallows because your cup of cocoa is awesome. He’s missing out on the marshmallows too, because the lovely thing is when they’re half-melted and mix with the chocolate and you get that thick texture that’s like nothing else!
Thanks, Sandra! 😃💕 I agree! It’s a wonderful combo! Perhaps this season I’ll woo him into trying it. I’ll probably still get the yuck face, but at least I’ll get to enjoy my marshmallows in the experiment!
Marshmallows! Everything is better with marshmallows on top! (Maybe not okra – nothing could make okra palatable. Even goats don’t eat okra.) My mom used to make a cooked fruit casserole that began with a box of dried fruit – apples, prunes, apricots, pears, not sure what else. She’d soak the fruit in water, then pour into a baking pan and bake for an hour or so, making a kind of jam or jelly. Then she’d open a big bag of giant marshmallows and cover the entire baked dish with them, pop back into the oven for 10 minutes or so till the marshmallows were tinged golden brown and serve. YUM! I’m sure it was as unhealthy as it sounds but I loved it. (I see that look of disdain on your face, Philippe. You don’t know what you’re missing. Hee hee hee.)
haha! I just read your description out loud to Philippe… I got “hmmm… yum” as you talked about the dried fruit, and then when the marshmallows arrived… yep… yuck face! lol 😉 Love it! He smiled and laughed as I read the last bit of your comment, but I doubt that means he’ll be trying it.
Ohhh marshmellows yes! The best is to put it all in the microwave and watch the marshmellows puff up into delightful cream. I don’t know why you think having your work shown in a gallery would be amazing. What is amazing, is your work is sent around the world for “everyone” to see every day. Thank you for sharing it!
Aww thanks so much! 😃💕 I agree, having your work shown all across the world is far better! And anyone can DO it! hehe And yeah, I still love marshmallows whether Philippe does or not! lol
Writing and rambling…with marshmallows on top! (K)
hehe!! Always! 😉 Thanks, Kerfe! 😃💕
Oh my, my very favorite….the dark chocolate the best, but I will take any good cocoa drink and this one looks amazingly delicious.
Thanks so much, June! 😃💕hehe… I agree… any kind of cocoa drink is awesome!
Charlie said: “As artists, we can spend quite a lot of time in our own heads, so it’s nice to invite someone else inside every now and again.”
The goldest of the gold.
May your world always be blessed ‘with marshmallows on top’.
Thanks, Sarah! 😃💕 And thank YOU for accepting the invite to jump inside my head every day. hehe… I know it’s a rambling place, but I’m thrilled that you find something interesting there!
It’s an oasis.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE marshmallows on my cocoa..and your work is wonderful…I wish I could snap my fingers and have some right now…I know each year they come out with toasted coconut covered marshmallows…what a thrill for me to get a bag of them..
Yay! A fellow marshmallow lover! Thanks, Winna! 😃💕 They are sooooo good! And toasted coconut? That sounds awesome!
Nice doodlewash, Charlie ! I have never tried hot cocoa with marshmallows on top…However, I have dipped the marshmallows in melted chocolate and given them to my daughter who took some of them for her friends. My daughter loves these marshmallows…
Thanks, Anita! 😃💕 Yeah, I think marshmallows and cocoa are a perfectly wonderful combo, but Philippe disagrees. hehe That just makes me want them more! I’m just a little boy! lol
Ah yes, thanks for bringing back memories. Neighborhood kids and cousins ice skating at night on a home-made ice skating “rink” (2×4 frame draped with plastic and filled with water to freeze). Afterwards the adults gave us hot chocolate made from scratch, and baked potatoes cooked in a bonfire on the frozen ground. Good times. How special it all was. In later years, I kept those packets full of powder (with the tiny marshmallows that melted) in my desk at work – they never could compete with the real stuff.
Oh wow! I adore that memory! 😃💕 That sounds like a perfectly wonderful time! And yeah, the powdered stuff can’t ever compare to the real thing!