Author | Lightnews

Janna Scarpella-Straub @jannamagpie.bsky.social · 6h

I used this drawing as an example in both my 6th grade and 9th grade art classes to practice different color theory skills. #edusky #arteducation #teacherlife #artteacher

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Janna Scarpella-Straub @jannamagpie.bsky.social · 7d

I don’t know why I did this but I kind of like it. #sketchbooktour #dailyart #artsky #acrylic #pomegranate

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Janna Scarpella-Straub @jannamagpie.bsky.social · Sep 3

My day job is being an art teacher. Mostly I draw things I’ve drawn before in demonstrations and the like but yesterday I demonstrated a perspective exercise for the first time and I’m actually proud of how it turned out. #arteducation #teacherlife #geometric

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Janna Scarpella-Straub @jannamagpie.bsky.social · Sep 1

Brown butter apple pie is my pie for September ‘25!

#whatscooking #piesky #pieofthemonth #applepie #homemade

Janna Scarpella-Straub @jannamagpie.bsky.social · Aug 17

Have you seen my latest newsletter? This week I’m talking memoirs!

TLC is a Modern-Day Sideshow

Memoirs are reality shows in book form (only way better).

open.substack.com

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Janna Scarpella-Straub @jannamagpie.bsky.social · Aug 16

My August pie - lemon icebox pie with a graham cracker crust. Very easy and delicious. #pieofthemonth #pie #homecooking

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Janna Scarpella-Straub @jannamagpie.bsky.social · Aug 15

One thing I do to be a bit thrifty and to make sure I’m feeding my family well is whenever we buy rotisserie chicken, I turn the carcass into bone broth. #homecooking #bonebroth

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Janna Scarpella-Straub @jannamagpie.bsky.social · Aug 7

I’m often guilty of laughing at my own jokes but I feel like my blog post from this week is particularly funny.

#bookreviews #booksky #bookcritic #readers #beachreads #summerreading #substack

Beachy New Releases

for all of your summer reading needs

open.substack.com

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Janna Scarpella-Straub @jannamagpie.bsky.social · Aug 3

We’re hanging out at the park on a beautiful August evening. It rained earlier so it smells so good. #petrichor #summerevenings #slowliving #august

Janna Scarpella-Straub @jannamagpie.bsky.social · Aug 2

Well it certainly looks rustic! Here is my July 2025 pie, only a day late - a peach galette. #apieeverymonth #pie #homebaked

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Janna Scarpella-Straub @jannamagpie.bsky.social · Jul 30

This week’s article is up!

open.substack.com/pub/jannasca...

Three Books that Changed My Brain Chemistry

For better and for worse

open.substack.com

Janna Scarpella-Straub @jannamagpie.bsky.social · Jul 26

Making cherry brandy! #traditions #homecanning #cocktails

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Janna Scarpella-Straub @jannamagpie.bsky.social · Jul 17

My best books of 2025 (so far!)

Best Books of 2025 So Far

The year is more than halfway over, so this week I’m going to do my best books of 2025 so far.

open.substack.com

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Janna Scarpella-Straub @jannamagpie.bsky.social · Jul 12

I’m thinking of doing some folk art in my house. I made this design for my office doors. What do you think? #folkart #homedecor #doordecor #cottagecore #diy

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Janna Scarpella-Straub @jannamagpie.bsky.social · Jul 9

Hey everyone! I’m dabbling in book reviews. Here is my first post on Substack!

open.substack.com/pub/jannasca...

Summer Reads - July 2-9, 2025

It’s July, which means different things for different people.

open.substack.com

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Janna Scarpella-Straub @jannamagpie.bsky.social · Jul 7

Sometimes it helps to focus on one small thing that you can control. Today I cleaned and repaired my noodle board and topped it with a bouquet of harsh false goldenasters in a milk glass vase and everything is just a tiny bit more cheerful at Sunhaven Hollow. #wildflowers #cottagecore #homedecor

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Janna Scarpella-Straub @jannamagpie.bsky.social · Jul 5

We don’t even go anywhere on the 4th of July anymore. We just sit in our driveway and watch our neighbors set off the fireworks they bought in Wyoming. #july4 #independenceday #fireworks

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Janna Scarpella-Straub @jannamagpie.bsky.social · Jul 5

I started these petunias outdoors in this container from seed and not even two months later, they look amazing! #flowers #summergarden #containergarden

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Janna Scarpella-Straub @jannamagpie.bsky.social · Jun 20

Reminder: Don’t cross picket lines!

Safeways in Colorado are going on strike. If you see people standing outside holding signs, go do a different store.

Working class solidarity is important!

Janna Scarpella-Straub @jannamagpie.bsky.social · May 11

Here are some meals I’ve made for my family recently. Swedish meatballs, leftovers, marry me chicken, and lohikiusaus (salmon and potato casserole). #whatscooking #familydinner #scratchcooking #madewithlove

Cranberry sauce, potatoes, and Swedish meatballs on a dinner table

Plates containing various foods - chili Mac, potato soup, potato salad, pasta with cream sauce, raw vegetables, and cheese, pickles, and deli meats.

A large bowl full of chicken in cream sauce with sun dried tomatoes over macaroni.

A plate containing Finnish salmon and potato casserole and shredded carrot salad

Janna Scarpella-Straub @jannamagpie.bsky.social · May 10

Lots going on lately at work and in life. But today, I matched with the #wordlebot. I don’t know why this is so satisfying.

#wordle #nytgames

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Janna Scarpella-Straub @jannamagpie.bsky.social · Apr 24

I made a political cartoon based on a tweet by Ethan Linehan.

#politicalcartoon #funny #politicalhumor #politicalmeme

Janna Scarpella-Straub @jannamagpie.bsky.social · Apr 15

Here’s my #noaistarterpack - imperfect and 100% human, just like me. #artsky #noai #humanartist #humanart

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Janna Scarpella-Straub @jannamagpie.bsky.social · Apr 12

It’s Art Show and testing season, and this year I’m also trying to get some seniors across that graduation stage in a month. But I’ve still found some time to work on a silly little painting project. Can you guess what it is? #artsky #edusky #arteducation #painting #wip

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Janna Scarpella-Straub @jannamagpie.bsky.social · Apr 6

We’re celebrating my son’s birthday tomorrow and he wanted an ice cream cake. Unfortunately, he can’t have regular dairy, so I decided to make a dairy-free version. It looks very rustic but it seems to have come together well. Hopefully it will taste good! #what’scooking #baking #momsky #cake

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