Part I

My parents are originally from Philadelphia.
They spent their 2-week honeymoon camping in the Pacific Northwest.
A few years later, they picked up everything and moved across the country to Seattle.
This is one of the main reasons they moved: the Olympic Peninsula.
We've been visiting each year in August for as long as I can remember.
The boy has come along the last few years, too.

This visit to the coast celebrated 31 years of marriage.


Congratulations, Mum & Dad.

A few more photos from the last time we went across the mountains, just developed now.
I loved talking to the boy's Dad about his dahlias.
Next year he will stake them up,
but they looked beautiful to me.
Maybe next year I will add a dahlia or two to my apartment garden.
With the tomatoes, it will be a forest on my patio,
& no one will be able to get in my door.

Another walk, this time around our neighborhood.
We made friends with some huge blackberry patches,
and they turned out fingers wine-colored.
We'll be back soon to pick more:
those berries have cobbler plans in store for them.

An evening walk.

We talked about how unusual this summer has been--so chilly and grey.
But we remembered all of the summery things we managed:
all the time spent outside, all the weekends away, all the summertime traditions.
We decided it has been a good summer,
just a different kind of summer.

Over the weekend we took a quick trip up to Vancouver for this exhibit.
It was completely wonderful.
There was a small Vuillard painting that I kept coming back to.
I'd never seen it before, but it was beautiful--and so tiny, just about 4"x7" or so.
It all made me want to go back to the Musée d'Orsay itself (my absolute favorite art museum).

In the front yard of the summer cabin neighbors: an oversized teapot full of marigolds and a total of 11 garden gnomes (that I could see).

This is what I call excellent landscaping.

Film from the weekend.

There's something glorious about the temperature outside being the same as the temperature of your body.

Makes me feel like I'm in love with the world.

So I've made two peach pies.
And a peach pandowdy.
Also, a peach compote to go on some chocolate cake.
And I still have exactly (I counted) 16 peaches left!

I had to switch from sweet to savory sometime.

Pretty Peach Salsa

+3 large peaches
+1/2 red onion, finely chopped
+1 jalapeno, diced
+1/4 cup chopped cilantro
+splash of fresh lime juice
+salt & pepper

Cut peaches into small pieces--I didn't want my salsa too chunky so I chopped them fairly fine, but it's up to you. Add onion, jalapeno, cilantro, and lime juice, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Allow the salsa to sit for at least half an hour. Serve chilled with fresh tortilla chips (and perhaps mojitos? That's how I'll be eating my salsa this weekend!)

I've had a few questions about what types of cameras I use.

For digital shots I use a basic Canon Rebel XS with just the kit lens.
For film I use either a Nikon FM (35 mm) or a vintage Minolta Autocord (120).
When shooting film, I use a variety of different kinds--
generally I go with whatever is cheapest!

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Cocos Lovers - Awake You Loon

Another bit of film (120 this time).

I love purple shadows.
I usually notice them in the wintertime
but here they are.
Maybe that's why I love this photo.

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otchipotchi
Mocchi Mocchi

Some film photos from the weekend.
The break from digital is still boggling my mind--
in a good way, I think.

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Black Swan

Photos from the weekend will have to wait until I can get them developed in the next few days.

These peaches (purchased on the way home from Eastern Washington) are what I hope will occupy a good deal of my time this week.

I've been playing around with film again.
I feel so out of practice! I've somehow become such a digital girl.
When did that happen?
Not sure how I feel about it.

I shot two test rolls to make sure my funky Minolta still works.
Also, to try out a new lab.
They are just bits around the apartment, nothing special.
But they are my first rolls after a long hiatus, so they seem special to me.

I think it's time to pull out the 35mm Nikon next.
Maybe this weekend?
We are heading across the mountains.
Hopefully it will be relaxing.
What are you up to?