the baker's daughter

2011-05-23T08:40:00.000-07:00

over the weekend we put up a stake system for our fast-growing peas. it's very beautiful and--with the help of jon's expertise--structurally sound. i helped wrap the twine. i can't wait for these bad boys to be producing. all i want is to munch on crisp snow peas in the afternoon or to sautee plump snap peas for dinner. they are still a bit too expensive at the food co-op, so i'll have to wait patiently for the harvest.

in the meantime--pea shoots. any good recipes? so far, i'm just adding them to my normal kale sautee.

bookstores of new york

2011-03-18T09:18:00.000-07:00

pictured above: community bookstore, mcnally jackson (i heart this place!), and the strand
*
on the topic of new york bookstores, i was excited to see this article: ten best indie bookstores of nyc
*
i may have an exciting new book project in my future. have you heard about these bad boys?

a fine evening

2011-03-03T08:45:00.000-08:00

one evening in new york, we were out in manhattan and found ourselves with nothing planned for dinner. we hopped the L train to williamsburgh and took a long walk out to marlow & sons. dinner and drinks were fabulous. of course, we wandered into spoonbill & sugartown booksellers on the way back to the train. i love that shop. full of art books and zines and little knick knacks to pick up.

low light in new york

2011-02-25T11:52:00.000-08:00

hi there, world. it's been a few weeks, hasn't it? i have no excuse. i've tried to push myself to post more frequently here, i've developed rolls and rolls of film, i'm still pretty convinced i don't want to give this space up...but i can't bring myself to post here. please bear with me.

on our visit to brooklyn/manhattan, we wandered the beautiful new york public library at 42nd st, sitting for quite a while in the rose room. we also, as you can see above, had some great pizza.

specks of light

2011-01-31T08:44:00.000-08:00

from where i sit in this part of the world, i have to look closely to realize the sun is setting later and later each day. everything is very dark and wintery around here, blistering cold and a wash of gray, but little specks of light at 5pm or 5:15 remind me that things do change and spring does come.

2011-01-24T14:17:00.000-08:00

these shots are from a beautiful home i've spent a lot of time in. sometimes you take the places around you for granted. getting behind the camera helps me see my surroundings in a new light.
this week i look forward to the return of six rolls of film. six!
i also look forward to lighting candles when i get home in the evening, making a louisiana stew in my crock pot, tidying my room and playing more games of bananagrams (my new obsession).

2011-01-19T10:16:00.000-08:00

i've been spending a lot of time on these things this month. what a crazy experience to pack tightly into an airplane and ascend above the clouds, landing in a completely different place. i get a little claustrophobic and anxious, but it's pretty amazing to get to faraway places so quickly.

i'm back on my home ground for awhile now.

2011-01-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

on a rooftop in sunset park, ringing in the new year with a 360 degree view of fireworks all around, screaming and loud music from the streets below.

bulleit and speed scrabble in a loft in bushwick.

jon driving over the brooklyn bridge in a rental car the same as my own car, heading to poughkeepsie to pick up my best friend's dog.
**
spent a wonderful week in new york, which gave me time to think back on the year, on my life. i hope the new year is treating you well so far. one of many goals for me this year is to reconnect with this space.

days of snow, 2

2010-12-24T08:06:00.000-08:00

wishing you a warm christmas.
i'll be working until this evening, putting words and ideas in people's hands. then, a cozy dinner with my best friend and her family and tomorrow, a day full of festivities.
xoxo

days of snow, 1

2010-12-21T23:31:00.000-08:00

happy winter solstice

2010-12-20T10:43:00.000-08:00

the sun came out for my birthday yesterday, which was just about the best gift i could receive. that, and being with my beloved family and friends. these days are always gray and overcast, with a small break of sun if we're lucky.
december has been full of festivities and they aren't over yet. i'm so grateful for being social, but i could use a little solitude amidst these parties. right now i'm looking forward to a trip to new york for january 1.

2010-12-17T07:26:00.000-08:00

the end of the meal at kurtwood farms
i'm hoping for a lot of these warm scenes this weekend. it's my birthday on sunday!

this weekend i will:
make a list of important things i've done in my life
go out to a birthday brunch with my parents
bake and cook and clean
make cocktails
give and receive gifts
listen to a lot of good music
play pictionary
eat a big bowl of pho
sleep in
find some new boots
be with people i love

happy friday!

2010-12-16T09:20:00.000-08:00

a few shots from kurtwood farms, while waiting for a scrumptious homestead meal that was fed to a table full of booksellers. more shots from the meal to come tomorrow.
in the meantime, i can't stop thinking about this paris map bag.

one hot night

2010-12-14T09:36:00.000-08:00

pratt fine arts center hosted an open house called 'one hot night' and we went to see metal working, glass blowing, bronze casting and more. jon might take a blacksmith class from them.

did you catch this story about indie bookstores on npr today? it's important.
i'm really excited about pomegranate bistro's new cookbook, fried chicken and champagne. it is beautiful. (oh! and also only available through independent businesses. if you are out of state, you can order directly through the company).

december 9

2010-12-09T07:32:00.000-08:00

life's been a bit too hectic to get down to the lake by my house recently. i miss it.
right now i'm reading nicole krauss' great house. she has been high up on my favorite authors list for some time now and this new book only secures her position. her novels have so much depth and history and emotion, i can't tear myself away.

december 7

2010-12-07T09:56:00.000-08:00

scenes around the house and the 'hood
these shots were all expired kodak gold 200, pushed to 400. i don't think i like the look of it pushed up an iso--a little too bright and saturated.

i can't believe hanukkah is almost over. i've been enjoying the ritual of lighting candles nightly and watching them drip down to nothing. i'll have to continue the ritual with beeswax candles through december. i'm not ready to let go of the light.

happy tuesday

december 2

2010-12-02T07:32:00.000-08:00

just a few outtakes from my friend nicole's beautiful home. she's constantly weaving together those scrap-paper mobiles. i want one hanging in my home!

happy december and happy hannukah. we lit the first candles last night and read the latke who couldn't stop screaming. i'm planning a big hanukkah meal/celebration soon. even though i'm not too big on frying food, hanukkah is all about celebrating light and oil, so a lot of food gets fried.

i'll leave you with some recipes i've got on my mind:

chickpea latke

porcini mushroom latke

autumn apple doughnuts

orange scented jelly doughnuts

2010-11-30T08:40:00.000-08:00

those of you in seattle will know that these photos are a bit outdated. the leaves have since been soaked and stomped down by rain and last week's bout of snow (yeah, we had a big snow last week that is now pretty much completely gone).

i can't believe tomorrow is december. don't tell anyone, but i'm sort of dreading gift giving this year. don't get me wrong, i love giving gifts in general, but there is so much pressure to have a gift by a certain day that it takes the fun and magic out of the whole process. i can get pretty consumed by finding the perfect thing for people and i'm not really up for spending a lot of money right now. last year i committed to buying all my gifts from locally owned stores or handmade artists and i am going to stick to that plan this year. i'm sure i will find my inspiration soon...

cooking up a storm

2010-11-27T11:11:00.000-08:00

i did a great amount of cooking this week, not only for thanksgiving but also for a few dinners with friends. our thanksgiving meal this year was so memorable, with lots of family and lots of homemade treats. i helped my grandma in the kitchen on thursday, roasting and basting the turkey and i made the apple and pumpkin pie the night before. it was bliss to be able to have a hand in our meal and to spend such good time with my grandma.

this weekend we are on a little 'getaway-in-the-city', house sitting for a friend on the other side of town. it is good to get some time away. hope you all are eating well and enjoying the weekend.

xoxo

there is a space

2010-11-19T15:58:00.000-08:00

art and history combine! the old INS building in south seattle has been converted into artists studios and one weekend, inscape arts set up installations throughout the building. i have to say, it was a little creepy to walk into the old hospital ward and the detainee sections. but i'm really excited about how the building is being put to use. and some of those installations just blew me away. so much energy.

fall walks

2010-11-15T21:15:00.000-08:00

i'd like to spend all my time looking for pretty leaves and clearing my head on crisp fall days.

i'd like to be okay with giving up some control in my life and relinquish myself to things that come and go.

how is fall treating you?

remnants

2010-11-09T09:23:00.000-08:00

fall morning light
remnants of halloween
slow quiet sundays

that's what these pictures remind me of

rustic soap

2010-11-04T09:05:00.000-07:00

growing things farm makes some of my favorite soap. it's handmade and coarsely cut into colorful squares with bright, beautiful scents. i've actually had to take a little break from buying it after a spurt of excitement sent me home with a bagful of handmade soap that we went through all too quickly.
for awhile i only bought their peppermint scent, for the love of feeling my pores open up and refreshed with fresh minty smells. but now i've tried so many other scents, all made with essential oils and the raw ingredient itself. cinnamon, lemongrass, anise, clove, eucalyptus--they're all nice.

if you are in seattle, you can find growing things farm at the ballard sunday market and the u. district farmer's market.

2010-11-01T09:53:00.000-07:00

these shots are from my dad's mamiya that i've been playing with off and on. it's a beautiful medium format slr and in many ways functions similar to my 35mm pentax, but the shots have so much more information on them. it's very heavy to carry around and it makes me sad to take 16 shots and be done with a roll. i've been spoiled off of 36 shots. at any rate, i am lucky to have a completely different camera to play with when i want to.

tomorrow is election day here in the states and it's a big race for washington state. our successful and wonderful u.s. senator of long tenure is opposed by someone with a lot of money backing them. the race is close and i'm hoping that washington state knows the importance of health care, schools, women's rights, veterans rights, small businesses and protected land for wildlife. it's scary out there. vote vote vote!

take a look at this beautiful video: i remember, so i'm voting

october 28

2010-10-28T09:09:00.000-07:00

apple season

2010-10-25T23:14:00.000-07:00

apple season is winding down and this year all i was able to do was buy a bag full of apples at the market each saturday and eat them whole for afternoon snacks or cut up after dinner. no apple pie, no cobbler, crisp or cake. there's nothing wrong with an apple, straight-up: juicy, crunchy and sweet. but there is also something special about sprinkling cinnamon and sugar on them and putting them in the oven. can someone share with me their apple adventures so i can live/bake vicariously through you?

**
right now i can't stop exploring yak films. dance groups from across the world film videos of their dance in different spaces and upload it to yak. it's sick in the best sense of the word. i love turf feinz and the girls in ghetto blaster.

also, i came across this cool stop motion wedding. i'd like to get into stop motion one day.

this weekend i used stephanie's recipe for sweet potato biscuits, but i used leftover butternut squash in place of the potatoes. the color of these guys make me so happy.

such good moments

2010-10-19T10:09:00.000-07:00

t these pictures are a quick transport back to summer, with low lights, stone fruit treats, and warm evenings. sometimes it seems like life is best enjoyed in feasts, like a feast of desserts made for a birthday (six total).

this october has certainly been a feast. very busy and very social. in between long hours, new faces, and lots of talking and listening, i've had time to enjoy the crisp fall air and beautiful sun we are having. this weekend, instead of getting in the car, i took long walks to get to where i needed to go. we're making soups and chili and steaming squash for a week of lunches. coffee is easily poured. i'm soaking it all in and letting myself live in the full, abundant moment. and when everything feels too big and too fast, i curl up and watch glee or the office. things will come in moderation soon, but for now i am letting myself feast.

2010-10-12T08:37:00.000-07:00

enjoying the last bits of summer through my meals.
soon will be squash soup and roasted brussel sprouts. for now, i'm mixing up a fresh cabbage, carrot and bell pepper slaw and stirring eggplant into my stir fries and thai curries.

i hope for my posts to be more regular soon--october is a busy busy month and i have yet to get a few rolls developed.

2010-10-06T08:25:00.000-07:00

two belle's buns to share.

this week is packed with good stuff. tonight a good friend of mine is reading parts of her fiction-in-progress at a neighborhood library. funny, i got the evening off from work (where i would be hosting a book reading) in order to attend a reading. i'm not really that one dimensional, i swear.
at work, we have late nights with david rakoff, robert reich and more.

i'm gathering negatives from new photos of mine that i like and making an installation to participate in a friend's art show and silent auction.

are you participating in the 350.org global work party on sunday? it is a powerful project and i'm still thinking up ideas of what to do.

that's all for now. hope some sweet treats make it your way.

big day

2010-09-30T22:37:00.000-07:00

i love my friends. we threw a big bash for jon's big birthday the last weekend of august and all our good friend's came out to enjoy the sun, live music, lots of treats baked by me, and each other.

good morning

2010-09-29T08:53:00.000-07:00

*bottom photo film*
i am not a morning person. i've always had a hard time leaving the warmth and coziness of my bed and as the days get shorter and colder, i find it even harder to get up early and get going. what i do love about mornings is the quiet. most days i start work late, after the rest of my house has been up and showered and gone. i find myself waking up to the front and back door closing as jon and my housemates venture out into the early morning work world.

i love these hours by myself. moments of perspective and solitude. i slowly get dressed, i open the curtains and make my breakfast and eat it at the table looking out at the yard. i catch up on the internet or finish a chapter in my book. i make a phone call. i put on lotion and some days makeup.
in a busy world, moments of quiet are so important. they are worth getting out of bed for.

2010-09-27T07:32:00.000-07:00

i'm back! i needed to take some time away and come back with a new look and new perspective. and now i feel very refreshed and excited about this space again.
i hope you aren't sick of produce shots, because i just can't help myself. i know i have many more pictures from the farmer's market sitting on rolls of film that i haven't developed in weeks. maybe these ones here will make up for the fact that i never followed through on taking pictures of my weekly csa. it's already so much work to pick it up, unpack it, store it properly and eat it all that i just couldn't get myself to stop and take pictures between all that. forgive me.

some things i've been thinking about lately:
low-top rain boots for seattle winters. (i can't decide if i like the men's or women's better)
brian's autumn mix
apple torte with breadcrumb hazelnut crust
watches

that's all for now.
happy monday!

carrot cake

2010-09-14T09:54:00.000-07:00

hi there.

i'm still working on the layout here. my goal was for my pictures to be bigger, but i have work to do on the proportion of everything. i couldn't stay away too long, though, so bear with the mess while i share a recipe today.

i've been so in love with all the different carrots varieties this summer. i find myself buying purple carrots most weekends at the market just to slice them open and revel in their beauty. they are purple on the outside and bright, contrasting orange on the inside. it is fabulous. last night i made my favorite carrot cake recipe with a mixture of orange, purple and yellow carrots. this recipe is my dad's, it is extra moist from the pineapple juice and it is perfectly textured with coconut and a mixture of raisins and walnuts. last night i made a point of making this machine-less. if you're in need of some simplicity, this recipe is easy to do make with just a bowl, wooden spoon and box grater.

tom's carrot cake (with some anna notes)
1-1/2 cups sugar (this time i used 1 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup brown)
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs

1-3/4 cups flour
2 tea baking soda
1/2 tea salt
3/4 tea cinnamon

3/4 cup drained crushed pineapple
1/2 cup drained pineapple juice
1 cup coconut
3 cups grated carrots
3/4 cup raisins or toasted walnuts
(sometimes i do one or the other, sometimes i do a blend of both)

mix the sugar, oil, and eggs in a large bowl.
in a smaller bowl, mix flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
add dry ingredients to oil mixture and mix until just smooth.
add the remaining ingredients and mix until incorporated.

pour into a 10" cake pan or two loaf pans that have been buttered or sprayed with spray oil.

bake at 350 until top is firm (i had to call my dad and beg for an estimate on when i can look for the top to be firm. it ended up taking 45-50 minutes with the cake pan. if using loaf pans, i'd check it at 30-35 minutes)

this cake really doesn't need all the frosting of a normal cake, it is dark and colorful and beautiful on it's own and it is certainly rich and flavorful enough. if you were to add icing, however, i recommend the smitten kitchen maple cream cheese frosting.

enjoy!

under construction

2010-09-12T22:02:00.001-07:00

doing a little remodeling around here.
be back soon.
**

bbq

2010-09-08T08:04:00.000-07:00

no words today, just summer barbecues.

2010-09-06T11:02:00.000-07:00

this weekend i've been doing a lot of catch-up reading on books i wanted to finish over the summer. i read through the art of the story, edited by david halpern, which features some of today's greatest writers from all over the world. reading through that anthology helped me get a taste for some people's work i haven't had a chance to read (margaret atwood, raymond carver, t.c. boyle, lydia davis) and it also pointed me to work by some of my favorites that i'd never seen before (edwidge danticat, patrick chamoiseau, colum mccann).

i finished the last in the hunger games series. have you followed some of the craze over it? yeah, it's pretty addicting and the perfect example of book candy.

now i'm onto a short story collection by aleksandar hemon. his earlier novel lazarus project hit me so hard and i have a feeling the stories in love and obstacles will do the same. (bonus, lazarus project has amazing photographs by velibor bozovic scattered through it).

anyway, books are on the mind. i'm eager to meet more inspiring authors this fall and hopefully share with you some things i've gleaned.

2010-09-02T18:20:00.000-07:00

i was lucky enough to get one boat ride in this summer. we went up to my great-aunt's cabin on the water and took a row boat out about 20 feet. the boat was lopsided and we ended up sitting backwards in it to level the weight. jon was rowing backwards, the wind was blowing and rocking us, and i was frantically trying to get some shot without dropping my camera in the water. so, even though it was actually sort of stressful, i'm still glad we got a little boat time.

a new seattle company called urban bee shows how they gather their hives and extract honey:
video (sorry, it's a link to facebook. they don't yet have an external website)

september

2010-09-01T08:27:00.000-07:00

september is...

apples and honey
the new year
harvest
a fast
crisp
family dinners
darker
socks
pears
plums
last bits of tomatoes
a wedding
a birthday
more tea and music and candles in my home

and for you?

light in my house

2010-08-31T08:50:00.000-07:00

i'm clutching onto summer light wherever i find it. after a beautiful weekend, today is a rainy, stormy day and i'm left faced with the reality that summer--though it never really even started this year--is almost over. i have neko case's magpie to the morning on repeat, singing "don't let this faded summer pass you by."

with all my wistfulness and forlorning, i do feel like i did most of what i wanted to do this summer. we had a big party this weekend with all of our friends in our backyard. i made desserts and lit candles in bell jars when the sun went down. i picked blackberries in my grandma's front yard yesterday and boiled up peaches with water and sugar to put over yogurt all week long. here, see my progress on my summer list. i'm pretty happy with all i was able to do.

with that, september begins tomorrow and i will be here with a september list. no more whining about the end of summer. just confidence and contentment in the next changing season.
a bientot...

port townsend

2010-08-30T09:02:00.000-07:00

(i meant to post this friday, but got too busy. this is the last of my olympic peninsula guides)

port townsend

-on our last day of vacation, we got up early, packed up camp, said one last good-bye to the spit and headed out of town. with time to kill in our day, we decided to stop at one of our favorite little towns, port townsend. breakfast at salal cafe is a must. they will serve you eggs in any way you can imagine--frittata, omelet, scrambled, poached--all with yummy and fresh goodies on top or inside. i'm not always up for a plate of eggs, so instead i went for a tofu scramble with spinach, tomatoes and parmesan. so good. we warmed up on their back deck that has a greenhouse cover.

-wandering around the strip of town doesn't take too long, pop into small locally owned stores to get the flavor of the town or to find a special treasure to take home. i found a great deal on recycled glassware so i picked up a bowl for the kitchen.

-the wooden boat center in port townsend is beautiful! so many handcrafted boats with lots of style and care. we had fun looking out onto the water and watching the boats.

-we got into town too early for a beer, but i can't talk about port townsend without mentioning the port townsend brewery. on other trips, we've sat at the bar and ordered tasting samples of all their beers. they do a fine job at just about everything. go there.

a guide to the olympic peninsula: dungeness spit

2010-08-26T12:32:00.000-07:00

dungeness spit

after a full day of drizzle, we were so happy to pack up our car and drive out sequim, the "banana belt" of the peninsula (the area is called that because it is always drier and warmer than any other parts of the northern peninsula). we stopped at my all-time favorite grocery stores, sunny farms and reserved a spot at the dungeness spit campground.

-before walking down to the official dungeness spit, walk along the bluff overlooking the strait of juan de fuca and take a look at canada. if you stand there long enough, cruise ships and barges will pass by.

-the dungeness spit is a wildlife refuge and a $3 donation is required to journey down to the beach. it is absolutely worth it. the small hike down is scattered with signs about leaving no trace, disturbing no animals, taking only pictures and leaving shells and sticks where you found them. these signs are a great reminder of our impact on our environment and they made me wish signs like this were all over.

-bring binoculars, you might spot birds you've never seen before.

i was so happy to be in a warm spot with lots of visual inspiration: the shapes and lines of the seaweed and the grass in the wind, the smooth rocks and the bright flowers.

one more day of olympic peninsula pictures and then i'm done. things are picking up around here and i'm getting a bit nervous for fall, but i'm throwing a party for jon's birthday this weekend (it's a big one) and i'm excited to celebrate the end of summer with good friends.

guide to the peninsula: hurricane ridge

2010-08-25T08:42:00.000-07:00

hurricane ridge
-you can't go all the way out to heart of the hills campground without making the extra trek up to hurricane ridge. it is 12 miles from the campground and takes quite a long time, but you will never regret it. just go slow on those corners! the fog was so thick at camp that we were nervous to not see all the beauty at the top, but as soon as we rounded the bend to hurricane ridge, the sky opened and beautiful mountain tops appeared.
-get out of the car and take in the panorama view of the top of the olympics. the mountain air is so fresh and crisp, mixing with the scent of sweet smelling sage and mountain flowers.
-the visitor center is worth a trip, if not for all the history and ecology information, then to check out the old signage--black and white pictures and mid-century fonts.
-here is the place to pack a picnic. take simple sandwiches and eat them on the benches with other visitors, overlooking the view.
-finally, mosey around on the trails past short mountain trees, leftover snow, deer and wildflowers, slowly taking all the beauty in.

a guide to the peninsula: elwha river

2010-08-24T08:20:00.000-07:00

elwha river

-from heart of the hills campground, take lake dawn road out to the elwha river. the road won't be marked well and it won't be paved for part of the way. you may see clear cuts and a make-shift shooting range, but you'll also see homes nestled along the lake and forest and meadow. and no other cars.

-drive out to the elwha dam and walk around. stop by the river and watch it rush along. notice the parts of the river that go faster, that bend, that are still.

a guide to enjoying the olympic peninsula

2010-08-23T07:42:00.000-07:00

a guide to enjoying the olympic peninsula

(northern edition)

ferry

-from seattle, you have two ferry options. i usually choose edmunds to kingston on the way out to the peninsula and bainbridge to seattle on the way home. if you go to the peninsula often enough, you'll start getting a feel for what routine you like best. or, better yet, try to do a different route each trip!
-get up on the deck quick to snag yourself a window seat, or spend the whole trip at the bow of the boat, feeling the wind and watching the waves.
camping in olympic national park
-we chose heart of the hills campground this time around, which is at the northern entrance of the olympic national park. from port angeles, you take a long winding road through forests, until you find the campground securely tucked away in old growth trees. it may be foggy or clear or drizzly. (one day i'll do a south, east and west edition of camping in the national park, but that will require more traveling)
-when you get there. set up your tent, breathe in deep and enjoy the quiet.

quick dip

2010-08-19T22:44:00.000-07:00

i've been a little distant, haven't i? so sorry about that. august is getting away from me and i'm seeking to grab it and hold on tight and enjoy. i finally got lots of film back, so i am ready to replenish this space. i am ready for more inspiration and more sharing. and i will admit it, i am nervous for fall.

next week: shots from a weekend of camping in the olympic national park.
here's to making the most of it all!

summer skies

2010-08-16T08:34:00.000-07:00

moon out, sun down, bright sky, long evenings, hot nights, cool nights, drizzles and breezes. this summer has seen a bit of everything, but i'm really grateful this weekend was hot and blistering. i needed to feel a good hot summer day before september. yesterday, i brought a bunch of peaches and plums home from the market and washed them to enjoy all week with yogurt or milk or on their own.

happy day to you.

a walk

2010-08-12T08:55:00.000-07:00

i love hanging out with fellow film nerds! one very hot day, molly and i met for drinks and a photo walk. we talked books and restaurants and cameras and we snuck into a beautiful church. she thought the building in that last photo reminded her of london.

oddfellows

2010-08-10T09:30:00.000-07:00

some shots from a few different trips to oddfellows cafe. i like their farmhouse/americana design and sort of wish my house looked more like that. we are back from a long weekend of camping and beautiful sights. it may be awhile before i get my film back, but i'm hoping for great things on those rolls. washington state is so beautiful.

tonight i'm hosting an event with new york times writer, paul greenberg. his new book, four fish, is about sustainability in fishing practices and traces the path of common fish we eat. here's a review. i usually eat more fish during the summer, so i am especially interested in hearing how i can make smart choices when buying fish.

have a good day!

markets

2010-08-05T09:03:00.000-07:00

i've been enjoying the beautiful colors of all this summer produce, the vibrancy is so inspiring. we got purple carrots this week, with a deep purple color on the outside and orange inside. they are some sort of opposing color heaven.

i'm happy to be back with some holga shots, too. it's been awhile. these were the first three on my roll, before everything got really foggy and out of focus. maybe there is a reason i don't shoot with my holga as much...

i'm off for a long weekend. see you on tuesday!

67 miles south

2010-08-01T23:00:00.000-07:00

i was so happy with how my pictures from my trip to olympia turned out, that i couldn't bear to break them up. instead i am inundating you with a whole lot of pictures. isn't the land my friend lives on beautiful? a big garden, and goats and chickens, and greenhouses and more.

happy august to you, i'll be back later in the week with an august list.

july 28

2010-07-29T08:04:00.000-07:00

these are some photos from a day trip out to whidbey island. the northwest is full of so much beauty, sometimes i feel like i could go anywhere around here and i would land in a little heavenly spot. soon, we are going to take a long weekend and i can't wait to sleep in a tent (something to cross off my summer list), take deep breaths, build a fire and star gaze. i loved hearing all the beauty coming your way, thanks for sharing.

i finally updated my current inspiration links. i hope you'll take a look over on the sidebar, there is some good stuff going on. i have more photos from mini-trips to share with you soon. until then...

meals outside

2010-07-27T08:38:00.000-07:00

what is summer for, if not for meals outside? we've been sitting on our back patio for dinner and staying until the sun goes down. when the sun reaches a certain point on the horizon, a range of mountains appear perfectly back lit and in shadow. our alley is filled with golden and pink light.

what kind of beauty are you enjoying lately?

july 26

2010-07-26T07:55:00.000-07:00

no words today, just pictures of seattle construction.

it's monday, welcome back the week.

summer table settings

2010-07-23T08:47:00.000-07:00

i am looking forward to going into work today because i have a new project starting up and it involves an interview with this funny food writer and his wife, an all-star school librarian. sitting down with a recorder and interviewing someone is a first for me, so i am a bit excited, anxious, and nervous. i have a little relief because my new project includes an interview buddy, also by the name of anna. we're going to have a blast! and i'll let you know when we feature the interview.

speaking of feature, i was invited by sheri to participate in the stir's summer inspiration series, all about table settings. i had a lot of fun putting my setting together and i've really enjoyed reading about all the other table settings featured this july. go take a look, it is a great collection! (and thank you sheri)

we've got canning in the works this weekend. hope it's a good one for you.

oaxacan

2010-07-21T10:17:00.000-07:00

one sunny day i accompanied my roommate to a oaxacan festival called guelagetza, that is celebrated yearly. i loved the beautiful colored flags against the bright sun and it was a lot of fun watching people dance and play music, eating mole, and meeting new people.

a few things i'm enjoying lately:

summer in seattle through allison's lens

sauteed snap peas with the prfect mix of salt, butter and garlic

saveur magazine, especially their market issue

this photo. (i might have to play with patching two photos together)

summer is rushing along

2010-07-19T17:23:00.000-07:00

sometimes it is hard for me to come back to this space after the weekend. during the week it is a place of regeneration and inspiration, but then i take a few days away and forget how to come back. i find i just have to hold my breath and dive in.

today is a black and white sort of day. i am reflective and quiet and thinking about mid-summer. i get so nervous for summer to fly by without me taking full advantage of it. but i will, and i have. my party on friday was everything i hoped it would be. lots of ladies hanging out in my back patio with good drinks (the leland palmer and hard limeade) and good fresh food. this weekend we had a day trip and a big family gathering.

i have to share with you these words i read by my friend, shari. this is just how i've been thinking lately...

summer is rushing along like the creek that runs through the center of my village. i keep meaning to stop and photograph it. the creek, that is. if only we could photograph the rushing of time.

menu planning

2010-07-15T09:22:00.000-07:00

tomorrow night i'm having friends over for cocktail hour in my backyard. i've had a lot of fun planning the menu this week, but menu planning is always something i meet with mixed excitement and terror. i'm the type of person to get so pumped about researching an idea, that i end up finding a million ideas shooting off from my original one and feeling overwhelmed by all the options. for example, i decided to have my cocktail hour be simple, fresh and inspired by summer's seasonal bounty. i have a lot of ricotta in my fridge, so i figured i would make crostini spread with fresh ricotta, deviled eggs, fresh vegetables and homemade ice cream for dessert. simple, right?

while looking for a solid deviled eggs recipe, i found 4 spreads that i could use with the crostini, all completely unrelated to ricotta. then i thought ooh! i'll make that leek tart i just learned how to make. and i'll make pasta salad! and i really should bake something with that ice cream, shouldn't i? and then i realized none of those go together, i didn't have any vegetables in my supposedly simple spread, and i was thinking way too big for my budget. i ended up deciding on a vegetable platter with this dip to go with the crostini and deviled eggs. to relinquish some control and decision-making pressure, i snuck out of work on my lunch hour to the wallingford farmer's market and let whatever was fresh and good looking dive into my bag to be used on the veggie platter or to be stewed and spooned over ice cream. i ended up finding beautiful thumbelina carrots, a round orange carrots that i've never before seen. i also got fresh rainier cherries and bright yellow string beans. shopping at the market was a great way to clear my mind and really stick to my plan. after all that fuss, i know my cocktail hour will be bright and beautiful, and that's all that really matters.

strawberries!

2010-07-13T15:23:00.000-07:00

i don't know if i've ever experienced strawberry season so thoroughly as i have these past few weeks. it all started with a pint we got in our csa. it was full of perfect little sweet strawberries that were so beautiful one day and then turned mushy and moldy the next. with our second delivery of strawberries, i realized the best thing to do was to not try to savor and elongate the season, but to dive full force into it and use up the 'fleeting' strawberries in every way i could. here's a few examples...

two individual strawberry cobblers and one gluten-free strawberry crisp.

straw and cherries macerating in sugar, vanilla and balsamic vinegar

early-morning strawberry hulling for a fourth of july dessert

and right before time ran out, i sliced and layered strawberries on top of foil to freeze for a later day.

a quick getaway

2010-07-11T22:51:00.000-07:00

a few bits and pieces from my weekend. i went on a quick trip to the farmland, forest and rolling hills of rural olympia, wa. it was just the relaxing time i needed. there will be more pictures to come when i get my film developed.
this week i have a lot of projects going on and i'm working hard to stay organized - keeping lists and schedules for myself and enjoying the process. i will be rewarded with an end-of-the-week backyard happy hour i'm hosting on friday. i just whipped up some sweet cream ice cream in preparation. (by the way, to make sweet cream ice cream, you just make vanilla ice cream without the vanilla flavoring).

hope you have a good start to your week.

fridays

2010-07-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

fridays are for relaxing, good friends, good drinks, good food and good laughs. a couple fridays back, six of my favorite people trekked down to south seattle and filled a table full of amazing mexican food at huarachitos. have you ever had huaraches? they are homemade corn patties, with delicious vegetables on top. the deck of haurachitos was so colorful, with it's multi-colored umbrellas and vibrant plates. this friday i am meeting a special new friend for drinks and a photos walk. then i'm off on a mini trip to visit another friend. hopefully i will get a little reprise from this heat wave we are having. (90 degrees in seattle?!) it should all be very fun and relaxing.

hoping the same for you this weekend.

young ones

2010-07-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

a good friend is in town with her 2-year-old and i've been able to spend a few days with them. it is so much fun to be around little kids, and it is even more amazing to be around kids whose parents are your close friends. i have a feeling i might start knowing more little ones of close friends as time goes on. we played on the slide and waded in a wading pool and had lots of laughs.

adrienne and selah, come back soon!
*p.s. that blurry photo was accidentally with my bulb setting--it turned out pretty cool.

the perfect summer salad

2010-07-06T11:19:00.000-07:00

one of my favorite ways to get creative in the kitchen is with seasonal salads. in cooler months i pull together beets and oranges and cranberries and hazelnuts on top of hearty greens. for early summer and late spring, i reach towards colorful vegetables and tender greens to lighten up my dinner plate. there are a few important components to making a seasonal salad - greens, toppings, and dressing. here's my completely versatile and malleable recipe for a summer salad:

leafy greens
light, tender greens go crazy in early summer. there are so many types to choose from, so instead of narrowing it down, i try to throw in as much as possible for a lot of variety. i like a mixture of head lettuce (butter lettuce, green oak lettuce, red oak lettuce), leafy salad mix, and flavorful greens (mustard greens, spinach, arugula). our chard has been really beautiful in the garden, so i throw bits of those leaves in sometimes, too. wash and spin or pat dry all your lettuce, put your greens in a big salad bowl and tear or leave leafs whole, depending on preference.

toppings
this part is so fun! work by what's in season and what colors make you happy. i choose easter egg radishes because they are red, pink and purple, young carrots add a sweet crunch, and spring onions for extra flavor. add fresh herbs like basil, chives or even mint and - my favorite - edible flowers.
whereas in winter i grate carrots, in summer i cut them on a diagonal for maximum flavor and a big crunch. cut the radishes in half moons and chop any mixture of sweet onions, chives, green onions or garlic flowers. throw all these goods on top of the lettuce.

dressing
everyone has their favorite dressing and i usually tend towards a simple vinaigrette with mustard and honey. here is a shallot vinaigrette that i recently tried from olaiya land catering that was just perfect on top of a bed of lettuce. the recipe she gave is all approximate because dressing should be made to taste.

sherry vinegar (about 1/4 cup)
shallots, finely minced (about 2 tbs)
dijon mustard (about 1 tbs)
coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
pinch sugar
best-quality extra virgin olive oil (about 1/2 cup)

mix all ingredients but the oil. add oil in thin stream, whisking until emulsified. taste and adjust seasoning
makes 1 cup

really, you can pull anything together and call it a salad. just harvest what is fresh in your garden and experiment with new things at the farmer's market, and remember to get creative!

july

2010-07-01T23:32:00.000-07:00

happy july! maybe i say this every month, but july sure came quick. i'm a little nervous to run head on into summer (could be because summer weather is slow coming this year), but i'm also excited for all our summer plans that seem to be coming together nicely.

instead of a july list this month, i am going to write a summer list. of course, later in the summer i'll have to update the list because there is always more to fit in.

this summer i want to...
harvest and eat everything i grow (well, i got a little lazy on the harvest in the end. brocolli went too long in the sun and came out bitter. there are still more potatoes in the ground)
~~sleep in a tent~~
~~go on a long car ride~~
swim ~~(does going on a boat and putting my feet in water count?)~~
lay in a grassy field (greenlake, i love you)
picnic
~~read on my porch~~
~~have cocktails in our backyard~~
~~barbecue~~
~~try new recipes~~
~~cook seasonal food simply~~
~~freeze surplus produce~~ (blueberries, apricots, strawberries. check.)
~~bake strawberries, bake peaches, bake blackberries~~
~~can and pickle~~
pick huckleberries
go on bike rides
~~frequent the farmer's market~~
~~make ice cream and sorbet~~
~~tomatoes!~~ (keep 'em coming!)

~~eat outside~~
~~enjoy friends~~
~~enjoy family~~
~~commute by bus, foot or bike more often~~
~~wear shorts and skirts and sandals~~
~~wear sunscreen~~
see the ocean
~~watch august sunsets~~

...wow, that could go on forever.
any plans for you this summer? leave them in the comments or leave a link to your post about it.
enjoy!

**
p.s. picture is of our edible flowers, i threw them in a delicious salad!

summer csa

2010-06-30T15:17:00.000-07:00

it's official, our summer csa is in full swing. we got our first delivery last week and devoured every part of it by the time we picked up our second box last night. this year we are sharing our csa between four people so it is much easier to finish all the wonderful produce boistfort valley farm gives us than it was when just jon and i shared it last year. it may not sound like a big problem to have too much produce, but imagine a big head of fresh lettuce starting to wilt in your fridge because you couldn't eat salads fast enough. loosing food is never fun.

my challenge to myself is to: 1. eat all our produce before it rots 2. make some fun and new recipes with our vegetables as well as find ways to throw produce into all my basics and 3. (this one is the best) take a picture of our csa every week, in some form. i like the idea of documenting how the season slowly develops with what is ripe and harvest-able.

this week, i snapped what was left of last week's box.
feel free to email me if you have questions about community supported agriculture.

chocolate ventures

2010-06-28T10:22:00.000-07:00

good morning! there have been some exciting new projects in the works for me and one of them is my dad's new chocolate truffle company. i am helping him and his business partner get off their feet and get their amazing hand-crafted truffles out into this chocolate-loving world. seattle chocolate lovers, look out! soon, i will update with more information about where to find their truffles and even what you can do to help spread the word. to all you non-seattle chocolate lovers, there will soon be a way for the chocolates to travel to your home. get ready!

above are pictures from their kitchen. the lighting may be bad, but it's a really cool space to be in. see that fourth picture down? a picture on the side of a fridge? that's me rolling out my first baguette! take a closer look.

vacated

2010-06-25T08:58:00.000-07:00

hello there. it is already friday and i have hardly been here all week! i've sadly been out of the habit of snapping pics and taking my camera with me everywhere. but i'm itching to get back behind the camera and click the shutter. soon, i hope, i will have a new wave of things to show you. do you go through ups and downs of interest in your hobbys? i'm afraid i do that with a lot of things. for example, i spent the past three weeks devouring a string of books. my energy and interest level in reading was very very high and now i can't get sucked into anything but bon appetit. so it goes...

so, the boarded up houses in these photos are evidence of big changes in seattle. these houses have been on a main corner for as long as i remember and now they are vacated and will soon be demolished. what will go in their place is a light rail station, making a larger part of the city accessible and convenient by public transportation. it will be interesting to see the changes in the neighborhood as this happens. for now, though, these vacated houses have a slight beauty to them.

and, since i promised to follow up on my event with anthony bourdain--i am here to say it was amazing. he rocks.

a sweet lunch

2010-06-22T09:16:00.000-07:00

a couple weeks back i had a sweet lunch with tara at the place i seem to always be talking about--volunteer park cafe. it was a beautiful day and we had delicious blueberry mint lemonades. tara is such a sweetie!

today i am meeting anthony bourdain! i can hardly believe it. i've met a lot of high profile people over the past two years, but for some reason he seems a little out of my reality. i also get to spend the whole day with him as opposed to just a few hours in the evening. i'll let you know how it goes.

also today is the first day of our summer csa. i am contemplating snapping pics of my csa goods every week to see the change as the summer progresses. that might be fun. all i know is today we are getting two pints of strawberries!!

now i have to go before i add any more exclamation marks. i can get carried away.

summer solstice

2010-06-21T08:42:00.000-07:00

happy longest day of the year! yesterday we were really turned around. the sky was low and gray the whole day as if it was january, but it didn't get dark until 9pm. i'm hoping summer will truly be here soon. my basil plants hope so, too.

to celebrate summer, hop on over to words to shoot by. there are a lot of great summer triptychs there.

have a good monday...

pin it forward

2010-06-17T08:55:00.000-07:00

hello! today i am participating in pin it forward, a fun mashup up put on by sfgirlbybay and pinterest. i've had fun playing around with pinterest, but i haven't gathered nearly the amount of images that i had hoped. i'll consider this 'home tour' just the beginning.

and so, a bit of what home means to me...

cozy bed sheets and comforters, simple and classy kitchen towels, a full and organized pantry with whole foods, shelves and shelves of books, the dining room table as a centerpiece for the home, chalkboards...these are all small pieces of what makes home home. go to my pin it forward page on pinterest to see more images and the beginning stages of my pin boards.
if you are interested in pinterest, i have a few invites to pass on. let me know and i will send you one. i've enjoyed using it as a visual bookmarking tool.

for more pin it forward, check out global atelier tomorrow to see what home means to her.
image credits: 1. fog linen 2. emmersonmade's home via design*sponge 2. blissinateacup
**
i'll be back soon with regular posts.

summer visions in my head

2010-06-15T08:53:00.000-07:00

summer is quickly approaching here and i am ready for it. i've started daydreaming about little road trips and camping and star gazing and popsicles. we got a big bag full of oranges from jon's family, grown off their tree in california, and i am freezing the juice on a tip from tara. we will use the frozen orange juice later for summer drinks, popping them into tequila or seltzer. i'm also excited about freezing tonic, something molly wrote about in my new favorite book. i'm scheming up different sorbet flavors and, in anticipation for our summer csa, i'm thinking about all the different things to do with lettuce. this time of year i still feel the ingrained adrenaline rush of freedom dangling in front of me, yearning to run free as if i had a summer break. i don't have a summer break, but i am determined to not let that stop my fun. i even bought shorts! and i am pulling out my summer dresses! yes, i know this summer will be just right. with canoe rides and hikes and picnics and...so much possibility.

sights of minneapolis, part 2

2010-06-10T09:36:00.000-07:00

on sunday we spent the day with julia. it was a beautiful day to saunter around uptown minneapolis and talk and get lunch and look at the neighborhood and garden spy. come along, i'll show you our day.

julia took us to tao natural foods for coffee and sandwiches. we sat outside under a pretty tree and got a little respite from the sun. i had a southwest wrap with beans and rice and salsa, jon had a tempeh reuben and julia had grilled cheese. also, we met at magers & quinn bookstore and i couldn't help but pick up a book.

walking along back streets, we peered into people's yards. i spotted a huge pink chair (that picture up there doesn't really convey how huge it was). minneapolis has been popping up on lists for best bicycle cities in the nation. they have a great web of bike trails and it is so flat, i sort of wish i could have transported my bike out there for the weekend.

after a quick downpour, the sun came back full blast, so we headed down to the lake. we sat in a nice grassy spot, looking onto the water. julia snapped some awesome polaroids.

it was so great to meet julia and to get to know minneapolis better. watch out julia, i'll be back soon!

sights of minneapolis: part one

2010-06-09T09:26:00.000-07:00

the midwest is flat. i visited minneapolis for a big family gathering and we did a lot of driving to and from family affairs. we did a lot of sight seeing from highways and we of course went on a family history tour; neighborhoods different parts of my family live or have lived. i really loved seeing the horizon so far off and i loved the big expanse of sky. it was a refreshing change to my rolling hills and mountains point of view. i have gone to minneapolis often to visit my dad's family, but the more i go the more i realize i don't go often enough. it really is such a sweet place. and my family is so sweet, too.

minneapolis also has a lot of lakes and on sunday, jon and i met julia and--among other things--sat by lake calhoun for a good long while. i'll have more to share from my meet with julia tomorrow.

june 8

2010-06-08T10:04:00.000-07:00

i'm back from minneapolis and not quite ready with pictures or words. why not reminisce on lilacs instead?
**
also, i just caught sight of these helvetica cookie cutters via sacred lotus. aren't they classy? and the card society is celebrating 4 years with 15% off. i look forward to my package every month.
**
i hope to catch you up with my trip soon. in the meantime, check out the cute picture julia snapped.

off i go

2010-06-04T08:13:00.000-07:00

i'm headed out this morning for a long weekend in minneapoli. going to see family, going to explore the city and going to meet a new friend. while i'm en route, i thought i would leave you with this poem i came across (that has nothing to do with traveling and more to do with life and language). wish me luck!
**
Note

Remember how the naked soul
comes to language and at once knows
loss and distance and believing

then for a time it will not
run with its old freedom
like a light innocent of measure
but will hearken to how
one story becomes another
and will try to tell where
they have emerged from
and where they are heading
as thought they were its own legend
running before the words and beyond them
naked and never looking back

through the noise of questions

--W.S. Merwin, Shadow of Sirius

shop local outtakes part two

2010-06-03T10:45:00.000-07:00

hello. here is more from the shop local ballard project i worked on for a friend. most all of these shots are from one place, bop street records. it was too cool in there to not go crazy with my camera. even though i think the store would have looked great on film, i'm glad i could use my digital and shoot with abandon. and i'm glad i could see if the light was right instantly. (don't worry film, you're still my number one). the first shot is a cool stamp and engraving shop and the last two shots are from the people's pub.

have you had a chance to read or add to the june lists? they are great! (scroll down to comments)

shop local outtakes part one

2010-06-01T22:19:00.000-07:00

sunday, i was invited to do an impromptu photo shoot around the ballard neighborhood for my friend's graphic design portfolio. it is a project called shop local ballard. we got a lot of shots with people shopping, happy customers and unique styles. these are a few of my favorites. more tomorrow.

shops: the secret garden bookshop, annie's art and frame, ballard home comforts, the palm room

june 1

2010-06-01T09:22:00.000-07:00

june is...

barbeques
anticipation of the summer solstice
celebrating
the ice cream machine in constant rotation
flip flops and dirty feet
sunglasses
cool evenings
harvest of spring crops
creative salads (more on that soon)
a short trip to minneapolis
new skirts
late nights

tell me what june is for you in the comments, or leave a link to your blog post about it.
happy june!

end of the week

2010-05-28T08:32:00.000-07:00

oh, friday did not come too soon! i'm so happy to see the weekend near and to have three full days of relaxation. do those of you in the states have any memorial day plans? any weekend plans in general? i'm not doing much besides catching up on house-work and preparing for a short trip to minneapolis the following weekend. i've got my plane reading to plan out and that is important stuff.

hope this friday is bright for you.

book love

2010-05-26T08:01:00.000-07:00

hi there! i am stopping in today to say that i posted some beautiful book pictures for my work's blog, the shelf life. i have been doing some work boosting up our blog identity as a purveyor of book culture and ideas, and making things look pretty around there. i'm excited about this post because i got to bring a little of my flickr love into my work life.

i do hope you will check it out. maybe even say hello over there.
thanks!

p.s. this shot is of the new elliot bay book co. on capitol hill!

a nice dinner

2010-05-25T08:42:00.000-07:00

i like dining experiences that take me away and make me feel like i am in another place, on vacation, outside of my day-to-day life. i also love dining with good friends and i love the every-now-and-again splurge of a long, multi-course meal.

you know what is inspiring me today? sandra's animation. just brilliant.
also, i am pumped that in june i get to meet anthony bourdain, for his new book medium raw. seattle-ites, come out for this event!

have a good day!

farmer's markets

2010-05-24T10:23:00.000-07:00

it is a funny point in the year where spring produce is in full abundance, but our csa hasn't started up weekly and our garden is only on the verge of bursting, not yet plentiful enough to eat off of. because of this, we have made it a weekly habit to visit the farmer's market. i love watching the dark leafy greens and roots slowly give way to asparagus and rhubarb, and now to see those fade out and make room for the spring onions and green garlic. soon, beans and peas will show up and i will get a cup of ice cream as we shop around.

yesterday was a busy day, so we got to the market just as it opened, reaping the benefits of smaller crowds and first pick from every stand. i got a bunch of mustard greens, green onions and a bunch of collards then went home and stir-fried them all together with some chard pickings from our yard. lately, this type of cooking is so satisfying to me. roasted potatoes and beets are standard and i'm sprinkling chives or green onions over everything. it is all so wonderful.

happy monday and thanks to those of you who left sweet comments encouraging me through my rough week, last week.

bike to work day

2010-05-21T09:25:00.000-07:00

it's bike to work day! may is bike month and all month i've been joining some coworkers in striving to bike to work more often. some of my coworkers bike everyday, year round and others used to bike more and now are being pushed to get back on the saddle with our enthusiasm. i myself had not ridden my bike to work habitually until may started. it is rejuvenating to have this new goal for myself - to hop on my bike as much as i can. my ride is very short and pretty easy so it is a doable goal that makes me feel great. and my coworkers cheer me on.

today is the actual bike to work day, where there will be stations at heavy bike commuter roads all over the city to hand out fun goodies. i think it's funny that i'm writing this when i so recently posted about seattle transportation last week. i don't think it will be a theme, since i'm no expert just an enthusiast, but in a way it is fitting because seattle's mayor just released an initiative called walk. bike. ride. it's very cool.

happy bike trails!

trying to surround myself with happy

2010-05-20T09:30:00.000-07:00

good morning! i've had a bit of a rough week, emotionally and i'm trying to surround myself with more things that make me happy. yesterday i had a sweet lunch with a new friend and i got a sneak peek inside a new chocolate factory. it's not really a factory yet, more of a chocolate making area. i've really been enjoying all the new uploads of my flickr friends. it is exciting to see new photos pop up and i really enjoy the ongoing conversations that will come up there.

i baked a leek bread pudding because baking always brings me some calm. it came out delicious, but very very rich (and i even used reduced fat milk!). i harvested some beautiful and tender kale in our garden, then steamed it for dinner. tonight i plan on using up the rest of our multi-colored potatoes. i also plan on a long walk.

i have to work all weekend, so taking little bouts of pleasure where i can is important right now. staying calm and happy can be hard sometimes.

edible plants

2010-05-19T10:35:00.000-07:00

a couple weekends ago we finished up our garden shopping at the seattle tilth edible plant sale. every year i look forward to this sale. seattle tilth stocks so many unique varieties of edible plants that it is hard not to resist wanting to get creative in the garden. seattle tilth is also a really great resource for gardeners in the seattle area.

we ended up with a box full of eggplant, two types of peppers, basil, edible flowers, broccoverde, two heirloom tomatoes, herbs and more. jon and i rode our bikes to the sale and we took jon's cargo bike, which was able to fit our box of edible plants plus a bag of compost. it was such a fun adventure!

now the plants happily sit on the window sill waiting for warmer weather.

p.s. graham, i have more pictures of the sale for you. let's talk.

rhubarb season

2010-05-17T09:14:00.000-07:00

rhubarb season is upon us! okay, so it has been for a few weeks. but, oh! just when i think it is the end of rhubarb at the farmer's market, i see more. and so i keep buying more. usually i can't stray from my usual rhubarb compote recipe, which is so easy and so delicious (chopped rhubarb with water and some sugar, simmered for 10 min). but this year i have branched out with rhubarb cake, roasted rhubarb and rhubarb simple syrup that i put into mojitos. i have one last big bunch of rhubarb before i cut myself off and i want to ask you what i should do with it. i had originally intended to make rhubarb ice cream or sorbet this season and that is still an option.

but, i want to know, what is your favorite way to eat rhubarb? any special recipes? from simple to elaborate, bring it on.

p.s. jon took this pretty pictures of our csa rhubarb.

light rail

2010-05-13T09:16:00.000-07:00

taking a break from quotes (though i hope you enjoyed the past two, they both meant a lot to me when i first read them), i wanted to share some seattle excitement today. i finally rode on our light rail! i rode from king station all the way to the airport and it was great. living in the north end of seattle, i haven't had a chance to take advantage of this exciting new development in seattle's public transportation, which currently runs from the airport to downtown. in the next few years, the light rail will creep its way up north and finally reach me. i am excited and hopeful to see how this benefits the city and i anxiously await the day when i can hop on a train and easily travel from north to south.

the next exquisite moment

2010-05-12T08:46:00.000-07:00

trying to be thoughtful in the first brights of dawn

i am thinking, or trying to think, about all the imponderables
for which we have no answers
yet endless interest all the range of our lives

and it's good for the head, no doubt,
to undertake such meditation
mystery, after all, is a god's other name
and deserves our considerations surely, but

but, excuse me now please
it's morning, heavenly bright
and my irrepressible heart begs me
to hurry on into the next exquisite moment

--mary oliver, many miles

*transcribed from audio, so i don't know the correct punctuation or spacing

alice waters

2010-05-11T10:14:00.000-07:00

"The most policitcal act we can commit is to eat delicious food that is produced in a way that is sustainable, that doesn't exploit workers and is eaten slowly and with reverence."

--Alice Waters' philosophy, as quoted in Spoon Fed

three lemons

2010-05-10T08:08:00.000-07:00

i am excited to be a part of words to shoot by! it is a fun collaboration organized by steph parke. these lemons are my contribution to the current post. go check out the other interpretations of the word "three."

this week i have some quotes to share. things that are running around through my head and inspiring me. i'll post the first one tomorrow.

for now i will leave with a few notes from my weekend:
i am slowly falling in love with my bicycle.
we put our hot weather plants in larger containers so they can have a roomier wait on the windowsill.
i've been thinking a lot about worm bins--anyone have experience with them?
have you heard the new joanna newsom album? she's so good.
cooking with the windows open is an amazing thing.

happy friday!

2010-05-07T14:53:00.000-07:00

all i want to do is sit in a light filled spot with some tea and read. a scene like this photo above.
right now i'm reading kim severson's spoon fed and it is just knocking me off my feet. she is a food writer for the new york times and her book is about how her career developed and how food culture in america has been developing--all of this told through profiles of 8 women who are influential in the kitchen. there is so much inspiration in this book. more on that next week, where i will have a few quotes from my recent readings to share.

for now, have a great weekend. i have a lot of cooking planned.

may

2010-05-06T08:42:00.000-07:00

it's already may 6, and i haven't even done my list for the month. may, you rolled in so quick i hardly had time to think about you. here we go:

may is...
fun fun fun
hands in the dirt, gardens growing
vegetable based meals
long weekends
the first thoughts of camping
peonies, my favorite
sun sun sun
unexpected rain
late dusk
bicycles
sandals and skirts and spring coats

okay, that's my list--what's yours? share what may is to you in the comments, or post on your blog and leave a link in the comments.

little vintage bits

2010-05-04T00:09:00.000-07:00

hello. i am stopping in today to share these pretty bits from an antique store downtown. the life magazines were from the 40's-60's and so so cool. they were shrink wrapped, though, so i couldn't see all the pages of what i imagine to be amazing american lifestyle pictures.

tonight i was treated to drinks at tavern law a mock saloon/speakeasy with a historic and rich cocktail menu. their bent is that they want to make a cocktail that suits you exactly. the bartender even came over to ask a few questions about flavor preferences, which led to a cardamom-lime gimlet. floral, sour, spicy and delicious.

this weekend we biked to the edible plant sale and picked up heirloom hot weather plants: fish hot peppers, jaune flamme tomatoes, thai basil, broccoverde, the list goes on. i will be sure to have more garden details soon.

my goal this week is to catch up on everyone's blogs and say hello again.

night pix

2010-04-28T09:58:00.000-07:00

you'll have to forgive me, these photos aren't actually that great. i just kept looking at them and they kept growing on me. i like how expressions got captured, even through the dark. i also have an afinity to film photography at night. something really special about it.

i'm excited about all your comments on my secret cafe post! to go a bit more in detail, a house was set up essentially like a restaurant. they gleaned food donations (how, i don't know much about), had a fixed menu with few different options, a hostess, a few servers, and lots of cooks. on top of the actual meal there was tea, coffee, & cookies. all for sale by donation. i hope that gives you a better idea of the set up of that particular secret cafe. email me if you have more questions.

i have been having so much fun with my friend in town, i don't want it to end. we wore ourselves out last sunday going to the ballard farmer's market then walking to the fremont market. we are drinking lots and lots of coffee and we have so much to talk about. pictures are on their way...

secret cafe

2010-04-27T08:24:00.000-07:00

a few weekends back, i went to my first secret cafe. the cafe was hosted by some friends in order to raise money for a specific cause (i'm being vague, because it is secret after all). it was a house turned into a restaurant, packed with people at tables of two, four, eight. there were "servers" and "cooks" running around making everyone happy and passing out delicious breakfasts. i had the sweet potato waffle with honeyed whip cream and fruit salad. james had the same, but the dairy & gluten-free version. and jon had a tomato and feta quiche with blue potato hash browns and a carrot-beet shredded salad.

it got me all fired up to host my own secret cafe. i'm thinking about how i can incorporate a cause close to my heart and the preparation of good food in order to raise a little money. we'll see.

you're the best

2010-04-22T08:05:00.000-07:00

thank you!!
thank you for all those amazing links--most of which were new to me. i really needed that boost. tonight i am so so excited because one of my best friends is coming into town to stay with me for a week. we have so much to catch up on and lots of lazing around in the sun, coffee drinking and long walks to take. i think i'm even going to take her to this wonderful place. and here and if she's lucky, here, too.

i am going to take a long weekend and won't be back here until tuesday. you can keep up with me here, though. enjoy yourselves. and really, thank you for sharing all those links with me. i knew i just needed to ask.

got inspiration?

2010-04-20T09:26:00.000-07:00

blooms! everything in my neighborhood is so full of blossoms and excitement. i took these with that new lens i've been hinting at, which is a 28-80. i've been loving the nice range of wide angle and zoom that it gives me on my pentax.

today i am looking for some new inspiration. can you help me with that? what are some lovely blogs you can't stop reading? any artist portfolios you love? in the comments section, throw all the links you can my way and i'll get started on reading and looking at new spring inspiration.

thanks!

spring gardening

2010-04-19T09:43:00.000-07:00

the garden is in! we dug up three beds in our grassy front yard, tilled in some good soil and compost and, finally, this past week we put in our seeds and starts.

what we are planting this spring, and how

~one of our housemates put russet potatoes that sat too long in our pantry right into the ground. i have never planted a sprouting crop, so we'll see how that goes...
~green and red lettuce from starts (we are getting our fill of tending to lettuce now because in the summer our csa gives us so much, that it is not worth planting it)
~chives from starts (my favorite!)
~beets from starts
~sweet peas from seed
~arugula from seed

*we went with more starts this year because the weather has been so finicky, it was hard to know when to start.
*i missed the boat on planting my favorite flowers, which i was able to do at our other house last year. if i had planned ahead, i would have put in: dahlia bulbs for late summer, a peony plant, poppy seeds, and cosmos.

what i am looking forward to planting come hot weather

~heirloom varieties of peppers, hot and sweet
~heirloom varieties of tomatoes
~italian basil, thai basil
~mint galore! (that can probably start now)
~eggplant

*all of these, except for the mint, will have to be starts and i am going to experiment with working with a cloche until high summer heats.

what are you planting this year?

some of my favs

2010-04-15T09:24:00.000-07:00

1. Untitled, 2. {film.651}, 3. Untitled, 4. Untitled

i love these shots for their bright light and minimal color.
two articles were passed my way this week and they happened to be about two photographers whose work i really admire:
a closer reading of roman vishniac brings up questions of truth and myth in photography. fascinating.
a photographer whose beat was the world is a great review of the cartier-bresson exhibit now at the moma in nyc. makes me wish i was in new york real real bad.

enjoy!

setting up

2010-04-14T08:56:00.000-07:00

some shots from setting up my little show the other week. my open house went great! and the photos are still up to the end of april. i'm feeling the meed-week sludge and hope that today is a good day.

portraits

2010-04-13T09:03:00.000-07:00

i've been taking a lot of portraits lately and i love it. i love capturing a look, an expression and i secretly love seeing how different people act towards a camera. i like when they don't shy away and i like when they feel a little shy, but still let me take a picture. i like trying to snap the picture at a perfect time and then waiting to see what expression i got once the roll has been developed.

i think taking more photos of people also marks my growth as a photographer. i remember being really shy about a camera in front of my face (don't get me wrong, sometimes i am still shy about it) and i passed up a lot of shots i wanted to take for the sake of 'not being rude.' now i think a camera is a fun addition to a conversation or a walk down a busy street.

how do you feel about unposed portraits? as a photographer or as a person?