Magical Fireworks on Magic Island

Jon & I were in Oahu all last week for a wedding. Jon was a groomsman and I was a bridesmaid. For some odd reason, the powers that be paired us up to walk down the aisle together. I dunno why... I'll post pics when the photographer completes all the post processing.

The above photo was taken at Magic Island in Honolulu, Hawaii, during a cookout at the park with the engaged couple, wedding party, family, and friends. I didn't lug the tripod along on this particular outing so I shot sitting on the grass with my elbows on my knees, trying to keep as steady as possible, while shooting at 1/3 sec @ 5.6.

As far as our time in Hawaii goes...the week itself was pretty awesome: 20 friends in a gigantic house--complete with a pool and hot tub--two blocks from the beach.

Good times.

I Model Armani

What good is life if you can't have a little fun? This photo cracks me up! Props to my friend, Jayme, for taking this stellar photo of my short modeling career at the Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, Hawaii last week. The look on my face could've been better but I was about to bust out laughing. You should've seen the shoppers cracking up as they walked past the window. Ah... So great.

Spinach & Goat Cheese Phyllo Triangles

Good grief. With all the recipes I've been trying lately my beach bod is fast disappearing. The lemon ricotta muffins I made were quite scrumptious, but not something I'd make all the time. These spinach triangles, however, are absolutely a winner. Most recipes call for feta cheese but I used plain goat cheese from the fabulous Costco (such a fantastic price for goat cheese!)

I've made them 3 or 4 times in the last month (that's a lot for me). I even got a "Those are really good" from my fantastic & hardworking husband. Which I don't hear often, though not because I'm a horrendous cook, it's just that I'm not the healthiest cook around...(wink!)

These keep in the fridge and re-heat really well. With that said, I give these ultra-savory spinach & goat cheese phyllo triangles Two Forks Up.

Tazo Passion Tea

I love this tea! I've loved it for years. I love it hot, I love it cold. I absolutely love it with sugar and I definitely don't like it with honey. Yum Yum Getcha Sum.

Giada's Lemon Ricotta Muffins

I made these muffins yesterday with a recipe off the Food Network from the fabulously engaging Giada De Laurentiis. These are her lemon ricotta muffins with--you guessed it--fresh lemon and ricotta cheese. The dough was so thick and gooey I thought the end result would be closer to a scone, but they turned out super moist and absolutely fluffy. Amazing. Everyone loved them! Giada not only has a winning smile, she has winning recipes as well.

And check out that gorgeous blue plate. Aren't they fabulous?! My sweet husband bought a set of four square salad plates. He knew I'd like them. He has great taste and a great eye for color.
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And then a shot of some moody muffins before they got all pretty and colorful on the set.

Photographer Andy Batt

Andy Batt, Therese Gietler, Melinda Holland (Good to see you again. Those were sweet outfits, by the way.)

From opening night of photographer Andy Batt's Portraits of the World Famous March Fourth Marching Band. The exhibit includes 70 black & white, 17" x 22" prints of the March Fourth Marching Band of whom some of the portraits can be seen behind us in the photo above.

In the same way that I love people watching, I love looking at a series of portraits. Photography creates a portal into human life and it was a privilege to see how each individual chose to interact with the camera and photographer. The lighting and dark background added unity to the show yet each portrait was extremely engaging and unique.

The exhibit is up at Nemo Design in Portland, OR until April 28, 2008. Go see it. The work is truly captivating. If you like Richard Avedon's portraits, you'll like this exhibit.

Oh. And buy some of Andy Batt's work. For a slideshow of the exhibit and to buy 2 or 3 or 70 of the prints, go here.

For the rest of his portfolio, go to his website: www.andybatt.com

Sweet stuff. All hail the Battster.

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Oh, and here's a video from the folks at Nemo Design detailing Andy's show. Thanks to Therese for hooking me up with the link.

Lifeguard Stand on the Oregon Coast

A blustery day on the Oregon Coast. Lots of wind and sideways rain. This shot reminds me of my photo hero's work, Joel Meyerowitz. Fantastic photographer. I'd say he's legendary. His work on Cape Cod stopped me in my tracks. His entire portfolio is incredible but it was his work on Cape Cod that first caught my eye. Meyerowitz's stunning seascapes and documentation of life in all its idyllic quietness gave me a better understanding of what it's like to just live. To just experience. His images are simple yet complex and they arrest me with such a compelling strength.

Oh...I am at a loss to describe the power of his images. I can only strive to see and create as he does. I think I got lost somewhere along the way and started photographing lightly and without thought, forgetting how much Meyerowitz's work inspired me.

Eggplant Parmesan & Asparagus

Just some new yuminess I've been working on. Um um um...!!! I love asparagus. And I love a good eggplant parmesan. Although I styled the top layer of cheese and parsley, I must give thanks to Chef Jon for cooking the eggplant and arranging it so nicely with the initial layer of sauce, parmesan, and greens. YUM.

The Utility Closet

This photo was taken a few months back at Franklin High School in Portland, OR. I dare say it's the sweetest looking utility closet I've ever been in. Well, it was actually more of a small room; a large walk-in closet if you will.

I love photographing old schools. I just told a friend yesterday that one of these days I'm going to go back to my old university and spend a week or two going through all the buildings and photographing all the unique spots. I've wanted to do this since my first year of college but never quite had enough time...or didn't make time...hmm.

Nevertheless, I'll add it to my project list...which is already eight feet long.

Happy Leap Year!

Might as well get that out because it'll be another four years before I can say that again with gusto.

The Change Mug That Made its Way Home (sort of)

In early January I was standing at our dresser in the master bedroom putting away some socks and other folded laundry when I glanced at Jon's glass mug full of change sitting atop the dresser.

As long as I've known him he's had that mug, full of change, sitting on top of the same dresser. He had it at his place when we were dating, then it moved (along with the dresser) to our first home after we married, and now there it was, sitting on top of it's old buddy, the dresser, in our home in Washington state, twenty minutes from Portland, OR, home of the Rose Festival.

I don't know what prompted me to read the mug. It's just one of those things in your home that you get so used to seeing you hardly notice the details.

My eyes opened incredulously as I saw clearly for the first time the words "Portland Rose Festival."

What? I had to laugh. Who put those words on there? Surely it hasn't always said that.

I later mentioned to Jon, "Hey, you know your change mug says, 'Portland Rose Festival' on it."

"Really?" He had to go and take a look for himself and then gave a prompt "huh" once satisfied.

"Where did you get it?" I asked.

"I dunno. Somewhere in Colorado. Maybe. I dunno."

I don't know where Jon got the mug or how it ended up several states away from Oregon, but here it is, eight years later, twenty minutes from home.

1965 Polaroid "Swinger" Camera

This little commercial is too catchy and nostalgic not to post. It stars Ali MacGraw and the Polaroid Swinger Camera.

Polaroid announced on February 8, 2008 that they're ceasing production of instant film. Although there's something captivating about the jagged and painterly edges of a photograph taken with Polaroid film (with those those terribly intriguing yet telltale circles), I'm only slightly sad about this. I remember playing with an old black polaroid camera when I was young. Ah, childhood...Wish you could've been here just this second as I flipped through the pages of my mental album, viewing all the polaroids of the family from ages ago. ...Baby pictures... Mom and all the girls in the family playing dress-up, Mom and Dad before I was born...

And still recently Jon and I were in a thrift store before Christmas rummaging through ancient electronics tossed on a metal shelf when we found an old Polaroid Camera with film still in it. Granted, the film was light leaked but for some inexplicable reason I just had to have it. The chemicals had long since dried, leaving random bubbly designs on the front and back of each Polaroid. We eventually left after deciding there was nothing worth buying but I left that thrift store a happy girl with three little mysterious Polaroids tucked under my arm.

Well, goodbye Polaroid. There are ways to recreate things digitally, but I imagine it'd be hard to recreate something as tactile as the real thing.

And so the digital age moves on.