The Woods & The Water

Finally got my camera cord situation sorted out, so here are some photos from the recent trip to LaPush. Though every year the elements batter and alter the face of this area, it still feels familiar each time I visit--and it is always beautiful.

Covers

Covers is an online collection that is "dedicated to the appreciation of book cover design." I'd read less than half of the books displayed on the site, but after admiring all the fantastic graphic design I wanted to go out and buy just about all of them. I know people tell you not to, but I can't help myself: sometimes I do judge books by their covers!

Mona Kuhn

As I was unpacking and finding homes for my art books in the new apartment, I looked through one that had somehow been forgotten for a while and remembered how much I love the work of the artist, Mona Kuhn. Looks like she has two new portfolios coming out soon: one of work from Brazil and another from Venice--can't wait.(Images from Mona Kuhn's 2002-2008 France Portfolio)

Cakes & Camera Cords

Wooh, back from the coast and mostly moved into the new apartment! I'm already in love with the new place and the trip was very nice--as soon as I find my camera cord (which has been tragically misplaced in the craziness of the move) I will be uploading photos. The infamous grey skies/never ending rain/oppressive clouds trifecta that the LaPush area has sadly become known for (thanks Twilight) gave us a break and we had good weather, though the surf was so high for most of the trip that we barely had room to walk along the beach!
Also, I forgot to mention that a couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to win Alyson's book giveaway and am now the happy owner of Sarah Magid's Organic and Chic: Cakes, Cookies, and Other Sweets that Taste as Good as They Look. I haven't baked anything from it yet but perhaps I'll christen my new kitchen this weekend by trying to make one of the gorgeous-looking cakes. Thanks, Alyson!

Peaceful Insanity

It's almost moving time! Tomorrow the truck is coming, our furniture is being delivered, and both families are heading in to town to help. I cannot wait to have everything set up in the new place, but this whole moving process is insane right now.
After the move, on Sunday I'll be heading off on a family vacation to the Olympic Peninsula (the above photo was taken there last year, at Rialto Beach). This is the first year that the boy will also be coming along, so I'm super excited (and maybe a little nervous?). Here's hoping the weather is nice and it's a relaxing trip. I'll be back Wednesday--hope everyone has a lovely weekend!

Summer Songs

I've been listening non-stop the last couple of days to the newest album by Throw Me The Statue, Creaturesque. The best word I can think to describe it is "shimmery." It's full of bright, jaunty, straight-forward pop songs that are perfect for summer. Though our living room looks like a bomb exploded in it since we are in the midst of packing up the apartment to move on Saturday (!!), all I want to do is turn this album up loud and dance around in the warm weather.

Jeffrey Campbell Class Booties

I'm thinking I might get a pair of these Jeffrey Campbell Class Booties. I really need a new pair of shoes for the Fall that I can dress up for work in the office but that aren't too fancy or formal. I think these would look great with a skirt and tights, or simply tucked into skinny jeans for a more casual look. I love the narrow pointed toe. The feel I get from these boots is Victorian Era Lady-meets-60's Bob Dylan...weird, but also wonderful, eh?

Summer Squash and Corn Chowder

My boy's coworker has been giving us so much squash that I didn't know what to do with it. I finally got down to business last night and, after not finding a recipe I completely liked online or in my cookbooks, I more or less made up this one. It was delicious, tasting sweet and spicy at the same time. I'd love to make it again--now, bring on the squash!

Summer Squash and Corn Chowder

1 pound yellow summer squash
2 ears corn
3 shallots
3 garlic cloves
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin (more to taste)
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Dash of cayenne red pepper
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cups vegetable stock
3 tablespoons butter

Wash and chop squash crosswise into 1/2 inch thick pieces. Shuck corn and cut kernels from cobs. Chop shallots and mince garlic.
In a large soup pot, combine squash, corn, shallots, garlic, olive oil, and spices, and cook over medium heat for ~4 minutes. Stir in vegetable stock and simmer the mixture until squash is very soft, ~ 15 minutes. Using an immersion blender, puree the mixture until semi-smooth (chowder consistency). Stir butter into mixture until it melts and is blended evenly.
Serve warm, topped with plain yogurt. Serves ~2.

Portland Weekend Extravaganza

I keep rolling the memories of Portland over in my mind--there were so many lovely things eaten, seen, experienced and shared that I feel both rich and grateful. From macarons and other decadent treats at Pix Patisserie, to a stroll in the Portland Rose Garden, to a delicious dinner at the Vista Spring Cafe, to an evening walk around the grounds near the Pittock Mansion, to the outrageous Multnomah Falls on the drive out of Oregon, to the alien-looking turbines on the hill above the Maryhill Museum, it was a fantastic trip!

Polaroid Film Reborn

blurrywindy by danske

Polaroid film is being revived! I was so sad to hear a year or so ago that Polaroid was finally going to discontinue production of its film and cameras, but The Impossible Project has purchased all of Polaroid's old equipment and its factory and they have begun creating a new and updated version of analog instant film. Can't wait for it to come out--looks like it'll be available sometime in 2010?

Maryhill Museum of Art

Ansel Adams, Trailside, near Juneau, Alaska, 1947

Oh my goodness, my weekend vacation adventure to Portland, Oregon was absolutely lovely! Pictures will follow soon for sure.

On the way home yesterday afternoon we drove a little out of our way to see the stunning exhibit of Ansel Adams: Masterworks at the Maryhill Museum of Art. The Museum was very unique--small and eclectic and really in the middle of nowhere, but sweet just the same (complete with peacocks wandering all over the grounds). The exhibit, however, more than made up for the long drive. Adams' work in person is just spectacular--I kept wanting to press my nose up against the glass on the photographs to see the incredible detail as close as I could!

The show is up until September 13, and I heartily recommend it.

Grey Skies

Isn't this cool? I have a feeling I will be checking this site for my weather updates from now on. Sadly, it's been super grey and chilly this whole last week, so very unlike the typical golden August days we usually get. I'm hoping the sun and warmth will come back soon--as much as I love Autumn in Seattle, I'm not ready for summer to be over yet!

Dace Fall 2009

The new Fall lookbook for Dace is just lovely! Such rich colors--perfect for a crisp and cool Autumn day.

Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity

I gasped at my computer screen when I stumbled upon these photos of an installation by Yayoi Kusama that was up at the Gagosian Gallery in New York this past spring. The work is titled Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity. A multitude of white lights were hung throughout a darkened room and reflected off four mirrored walls. A shallow pool of water in the center of the room further reflected the lights, and visitors to the gallery stepped out onto a small dock to experience the piece all around them. I so wish I could have seen this exhibit! I am not always a huge fan of installation art, but this one looks dazzling gorgeous. I love how you can see the darkened shapes of people from where they block the lights from view.

The Magician's Book

I recently finished The Magician's Book: A Skeptic's Adventures in Narnia by Laura Miller. It was so validating to read about another person's attempts to reconcile the love they felt as a child for C.S. Lewis's great stories with what they later felt as betrayal upon discovering the not-so-hidden Christian themes of The Chronicles. While I didn't agree with all of the theories Miller proposed, it was certainly a well-researched book that I'd recommend. What comes through clearly in the quotes Miller selected from Lewis's letters and journals is the sincerity of Lewis's joy in all things ancient and magical and wondrous--and that's worth reading the book for by itself.

On Old & New (+ Whales)

I picked up the keys to the new apartment yesterday, so it is officially ours! We'll be moving in in the next couple of weeks, so now that means packing up everything in our current apartment. Though it has certainly been a student-y place in a student-y area, I think we've done a good job of making it sweet and cozy in the two years that we've lived here, and it feels strange to contemplate all of our belongings shuttered up in boxes. I am excited to move, but I will always have fond memories of this first place.

Finding a home for my whales in the new apartment will be one of the first things I do.

Down From The Mountain

I finally got around to sorting through the (~250!) photos of my weekend at Mt. Rainier. It was one of the most refreshing vacations I've ever had. The weather was lovely, there were flowers everywhere, we took gorgeous hikes, shared several delicious and decadent meals, and just generally relaxed and reveled in the beauty of the place. A truly glorious time.

Summer Tomatoes 2009

My little city balcony garden has been so much fun this summer. The plants grew twice as big as the ones I had last year, and produced three times as many tomatoes! I have so many right now that I don't know what to do with them. Unfortunately, I think my tomatoes are finally succumbing to the mealy bug problem that has been plaguing our plants lately (it is so hard to get rid of the pests!) so they will have to be retired soon, but they had a great run. I've loved how they turned the view out the living room window into a green tangle of leaves, and there is nothing as sweet as a tomato you grew yourself.