Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Tree heads
Last month, my mom and I went to Lassen-- we took a few nice hikes, admired the vast natural beauty, and did a lot goofing around. Here, we are tree heads. We walked topped with this fine greenery nearly all the way down the mountain, saying 'hello' to other hikers as we passed. Silly. Dorky. Happy.
Mom started it off with this stylish and perky cap, made of some evergreen.
I joined the party after finding this large branch. It blocked my view a bit, but when the wind blew I heard the most amazing rustle! And it smelled great :)
* Did I mention that these photos were taken in June??? In California??? Who knew there'd be so much snow ?!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Cake, Kitty, Milton & Magic
Just a hodgepodge post with the highlights of this week...
CAKE
This is my lovely, lop-sided cake. Basic yellow cake, with strawberries baked in, and a blueberry & cream cheese filling. I thought it helped my co-workers get over that 3 pm slump, but really it only gave everyone a sugar rush that, when over, caused the office to crash and get really tired... cake!
KITTY
Oh, Obie! You're so darn handsome, posing there against your little pillow. I just want to smoosh you and kiss your face! But why, sweet kitty, can't you do this at night? Instead of your constant nocturnal scratching and thumping against the closet door...
MILTON
That's me-- a close up of me holding out my magenta "save the manatees" shirt that I've had since I was 12 years old. But something's different... I'd just gotten splashed with water as I was cooking dinner. I went to tell Matt.
"Matt," I said. "I've just gotten splashed with water as I was cooking dinner!"
"See?" and I held out my shirt as proof.
"Weird," Matt replied, eyeing the proffered evidence. "It looks like a sea horse. Or a dragon."
"Wha--?" Confused, I walked over the the full length mirror and gave myself a look. There across my hot pink tee, was a sea horse (or dragon) where there was none before.
I named him Milton. I took his picture. He has since dried and gone away...
MAGIC
Here we are, a self portrait. We are on out way out the door to have a fabulous night at the Magic Castle with Scott & Rachelle. I tried to lift the shadow over Matt's face (caused by his hand covering the flash) and instead I blew out the whole shot, but I kind of like it this way. It reminds me of pictures my parents used to take of us growing up.
I wore a fabulous long lace coat to the Castle that I have been wanting to wear somewhere for years. I think it gave me a slightly crazy look- like Miss Havisham from Great Expectations. And I wore purple heels, to match Matthew and his purple shirt. He's so handsome ;)
Oh, and in the background of this picture you can see one of our favorite pieces of art- given to us from the artist himself, Mr. Patrick Blake!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Let the moving begin!
Last night, Matt picked up the keys to our new apartment and we are starting to schlep boxes of our most prized possessions (and other such junk) across town. Well, we're not actually moving across town, more like 2.5 miles away from our current residence. Regardless, it feels like a significant move and we are excited to learn the secrets of our new (old) house.
In the past, Matt and I have crammed moving into a day or two to avoid paying rent on two places for very long. Circumstances surrounding this move are quite different, mainly because our new landlords seem totally awesome, and we are able to spread the move over a week and a half.
This gives us plenty of time to go about our transition in a smooth and organized manner... but of course, it's us and we're neither smooth nor organized! We have half-packed boxes stacked in our kitchen, heaps of stuff to separate into 'keep' and 'give-away' piles, and Sherpa can't resist sleeping in any newly uncovered nook or cranny, so he pops up in the most unexpected of places. All in all though, it's our easiest move to date, so far.
Can't wait until we are all settled in- then I will share some of the amazing details of our new place! But for now, it's back to packing...
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Long blonde braids
I have no idea why, but I have this affinity for blondes. And today, I am liking this long-necked braided blonde beauty by Texas artist, Normal Engel.
By Norman Engel
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Happy Birthday Papa!
Happy birthday to my favorite Papa! Wish I was there to celebrate with you!
*love*
Monday, July 18, 2011
Fun with tinting...
While on my trip to Mt. Lassen with my mom, I took two pictures of a bird sitting on a tree. The bird was backlit and the sky was cloudy, so the pictures came out looking like silhouettes. One I imported them into my iPhoto, I started to play around by adding tints- very rudimentary stuff, I know. But it makes such a difference! Now I can't decide if I like them better with a cool blue tint, a warm yellow tint... or just in their original state. Any opinions out there?
 |
| original: bird sitting |
 |
| original: fly away |
Our first harvest!
Yesterday was a proud day. The day that Matt and I got to feast on the fruits of our labor. We harvested our first tomatoes! We ate something that we actually grew ourselves! What a treat!
Here I am picking! Oh, so Happy!
And here it is! Such bounty!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
3 Billy Goats Gruff
Here's another story I heard as a child- this time, it was my grandfather I remember telling me. I always felt sad for the troll... (Click here to see my post on another story, 'The Little Match Girl'
A Folktale retold by
S. E. Schlosser
Snippity-snip, snap and swill,
The tale begins upon a hill…
The air was crisp and cool. The sky was an endless blue. The green meadow grass swayed in a gentle breeze. And Big Billy Goat Gruff was bored.
"I am tired of eating in the same old field every day," he told his brothers. "I want to eat in the meadow on the far side of the stream.
"Ohhh no, Big Billy Goat," said little brother. "We cannot walk through the stream for it is too deep and too fast. We would be swept away!"
"And we cannot walk over the bridge," said middle brother, "because there is a big troll under the bridge who will gobble us up if we try to cross it."
"I am not afraid of the troll," said Big Billy Goat Gruff, tossing his bold head with the huge round horns. He stamped the ground - once, twice, thrice - with his big hooves. "Let him try to eat me! We shall see who wins the fight!"
"But we won't be there to see," said Middle Billy Goat Gruff practically, "Because Little Billy Goat Gruff and I will have been eaten."
"Not so!" cried Big Billy Goat Gruff, dancing around the meadow excitedly, his large hooves making holes in the mossy turf under his feet. "I have a plan!"
The three billy goats put their heads together and whispered for a long time. Finally they broke the huddle and all three of them trotted across the wide meadow to the narrow bridge that crossed the fast-flowing, deep stream in the ravine dividing their meadow and the one on the other side.
Taking a deep breath for courage, Little Billy Goat Gruff stepped onto the rough wooden bridge. Trip-trap, trip-trap. His little hooves made the bridge spring up and down a little as he moved carefully forward.
A pair of huge round eyes peered out from the darkness under the bridge. "Who's that trip-trapping over my bridge?" rumbled the troll. A big hairy arm reached out from the darkness and huge fingers gripped the rail beside Little Billy Goat Gruff.
"It's just me," said Little Billy Goat Gruff in a very small voice. "I am the teeny-tiniest Billy Goat Gruff, all skin and bones, going over to the meadow to make myself fat."
A second huge hand joined the first on the rail. "I am coming to eat you," said the troll, his voice rumbling so deep that it shook the whole bridge.
"Eat me?" asked Little Billy Goat Gruff, shaking from head to toe, "I am too little. Not even worth a bite for a big troll like you. You should wait for my middle brother to come. He is much bigger than me."
This made sense to the troll. Why go to all that bother for one small bite of Billy Goat when a bigger Billy Goat was on its way?
"Gerroff my bridge then," the troll roared, slipping back down into the darkness underneath. "And don't come back here until you are big and fat!"
"Yes sir," said Little Billy Goat Gruff, trotting off the far side of the bridge in triumph and heading up into the wide-green meadow above. The plan was working!
When Little Billy Goat Gruff reached the top of the hill, Middle Billy Goat Gruff stepped onto the rough wooden bridge. Trap-rap, trap-rap. His medium-sized hooves made the boards of the bridge spring and sway under his weight as he moved forward.
A pair of huge round eyes peered out from the darkness under the bridge. "Who's that trap-rapping over my bridge?" grumbled the troll loudly. Hairy arms reached out from the darkness and huge fingers gripped the rail beside Middle Billy Goat Gruff.
"It's me," said Middle Billy Goat Gruff in a very medium-sized voice. "I am the Middle Billy Goat Gruff, all skin and bones from the winter. I am going over to the meadow to make myself fat."
Two blazing troll eyes over a long, twisted nose glared at him through the rails of the bridge. "I am coming to eat you," said the troll, his voice rumbling so deep that it shook the whole bridge.
"Eat me?" asked Middle Billy Goat Gruff with a laugh. "Why do you want to eat me? I am all skinny from the winter. Barely two bites for a big troll like you. And my bones will get stuck in your throat and make it feel all scratchy and horrible. You should wait for my big brother to come. He is huge! Much bigger than me."
This made good sense to the troll. Why go to all that bother for one bony, medium sized Billy Goat when a bigger Billy Goat was on its way?
"Gerroff my bridge then," the troll roared, slipping back down into the darkness underneath. "And don't come back here until you are big and fat!"
"I'm off then," said Middle Billy Goat Gruff, trotting to the far side of the bridge in triumph. He headed up to the wide-green meadow above and joined Little Billy Goat Gruff at the top of the hill. Then both of the brothers peered down at the bridge to see what Big Billy Goat Gruff was going to do.
As they watched, Big Billy Goat Gruff stepped onto the rough wooden bridge. Stomp-tromp, stomp-tromp. His huge hooves made the boards bend and give protesting creaks under his massive weight as he moved forward.
A pair of huge round eyes peered out from the darkness under the bridge. "Who's that stomp-tromping over my bridge?" roared the troll. He sprang out onto the top of the bridge in a single leap. Big Billy Goat Gruff narrowed his eyes at the large, hairy troll. "It's me," he said, lowering his huge head so the curved horns were pointed at the troll. Then he charged.
Wham! Big Billy Goat Gruff slammed into the troll. "Arrrgh!" screamed the troll as it was lifted clean off its feet and thrown way, way, way up into the air. The troll landed head down on the bridge, making it shake and rattle from top to bottom. Big Billy Goat Gruff stomped and tromped on the troll with his huge hooves until the troll was smashed flat on the wood boards. Then he tossed him into the raging stream with his huge horns and the troll sailed down the ravine and out of sight, never to be seen again in those parts.
And Big Billy Goat Gruff went up the hill to join his brothers in the meadow. All summer long they ate the lovely green grass in both meadows until they all grew quite fat. And they walked back and forth over the troll-free bridge whenever they wanted.
Snippity-snip, snap and snout,
This little tale has been told out!
Source
More versions here
A Folktale retold by
S. E. Schlosser
Snippity-snip, snap and swill,
The tale begins upon a hill…
The air was crisp and cool. The sky was an endless blue. The green meadow grass swayed in a gentle breeze. And Big Billy Goat Gruff was bored.
"I am tired of eating in the same old field every day," he told his brothers. "I want to eat in the meadow on the far side of the stream.
"Ohhh no, Big Billy Goat," said little brother. "We cannot walk through the stream for it is too deep and too fast. We would be swept away!"
"And we cannot walk over the bridge," said middle brother, "because there is a big troll under the bridge who will gobble us up if we try to cross it."
"I am not afraid of the troll," said Big Billy Goat Gruff, tossing his bold head with the huge round horns. He stamped the ground - once, twice, thrice - with his big hooves. "Let him try to eat me! We shall see who wins the fight!"
"But we won't be there to see," said Middle Billy Goat Gruff practically, "Because Little Billy Goat Gruff and I will have been eaten."
"Not so!" cried Big Billy Goat Gruff, dancing around the meadow excitedly, his large hooves making holes in the mossy turf under his feet. "I have a plan!"
The three billy goats put their heads together and whispered for a long time. Finally they broke the huddle and all three of them trotted across the wide meadow to the narrow bridge that crossed the fast-flowing, deep stream in the ravine dividing their meadow and the one on the other side.
Taking a deep breath for courage, Little Billy Goat Gruff stepped onto the rough wooden bridge. Trip-trap, trip-trap. His little hooves made the bridge spring up and down a little as he moved carefully forward.
A pair of huge round eyes peered out from the darkness under the bridge. "Who's that trip-trapping over my bridge?" rumbled the troll. A big hairy arm reached out from the darkness and huge fingers gripped the rail beside Little Billy Goat Gruff.
"It's just me," said Little Billy Goat Gruff in a very small voice. "I am the teeny-tiniest Billy Goat Gruff, all skin and bones, going over to the meadow to make myself fat."
A second huge hand joined the first on the rail. "I am coming to eat you," said the troll, his voice rumbling so deep that it shook the whole bridge.
"Eat me?" asked Little Billy Goat Gruff, shaking from head to toe, "I am too little. Not even worth a bite for a big troll like you. You should wait for my middle brother to come. He is much bigger than me."
This made sense to the troll. Why go to all that bother for one small bite of Billy Goat when a bigger Billy Goat was on its way?
"Gerroff my bridge then," the troll roared, slipping back down into the darkness underneath. "And don't come back here until you are big and fat!"
"Yes sir," said Little Billy Goat Gruff, trotting off the far side of the bridge in triumph and heading up into the wide-green meadow above. The plan was working!
When Little Billy Goat Gruff reached the top of the hill, Middle Billy Goat Gruff stepped onto the rough wooden bridge. Trap-rap, trap-rap. His medium-sized hooves made the boards of the bridge spring and sway under his weight as he moved forward.
A pair of huge round eyes peered out from the darkness under the bridge. "Who's that trap-rapping over my bridge?" grumbled the troll loudly. Hairy arms reached out from the darkness and huge fingers gripped the rail beside Middle Billy Goat Gruff.
"It's me," said Middle Billy Goat Gruff in a very medium-sized voice. "I am the Middle Billy Goat Gruff, all skin and bones from the winter. I am going over to the meadow to make myself fat."
Two blazing troll eyes over a long, twisted nose glared at him through the rails of the bridge. "I am coming to eat you," said the troll, his voice rumbling so deep that it shook the whole bridge.
"Eat me?" asked Middle Billy Goat Gruff with a laugh. "Why do you want to eat me? I am all skinny from the winter. Barely two bites for a big troll like you. And my bones will get stuck in your throat and make it feel all scratchy and horrible. You should wait for my big brother to come. He is huge! Much bigger than me."
This made good sense to the troll. Why go to all that bother for one bony, medium sized Billy Goat when a bigger Billy Goat was on its way?
"Gerroff my bridge then," the troll roared, slipping back down into the darkness underneath. "And don't come back here until you are big and fat!"
"I'm off then," said Middle Billy Goat Gruff, trotting to the far side of the bridge in triumph. He headed up to the wide-green meadow above and joined Little Billy Goat Gruff at the top of the hill. Then both of the brothers peered down at the bridge to see what Big Billy Goat Gruff was going to do.
As they watched, Big Billy Goat Gruff stepped onto the rough wooden bridge. Stomp-tromp, stomp-tromp. His huge hooves made the boards bend and give protesting creaks under his massive weight as he moved forward.
A pair of huge round eyes peered out from the darkness under the bridge. "Who's that stomp-tromping over my bridge?" roared the troll. He sprang out onto the top of the bridge in a single leap. Big Billy Goat Gruff narrowed his eyes at the large, hairy troll. "It's me," he said, lowering his huge head so the curved horns were pointed at the troll. Then he charged.
Wham! Big Billy Goat Gruff slammed into the troll. "Arrrgh!" screamed the troll as it was lifted clean off its feet and thrown way, way, way up into the air. The troll landed head down on the bridge, making it shake and rattle from top to bottom. Big Billy Goat Gruff stomped and tromped on the troll with his huge hooves until the troll was smashed flat on the wood boards. Then he tossed him into the raging stream with his huge horns and the troll sailed down the ravine and out of sight, never to be seen again in those parts.
And Big Billy Goat Gruff went up the hill to join his brothers in the meadow. All summer long they ate the lovely green grass in both meadows until they all grew quite fat. And they walked back and forth over the troll-free bridge whenever they wanted.
Snippity-snip, snap and snout,
This little tale has been told out!
Source
More versions here
There are fans... and then there are FANS
It should be obvious by now, that I love Harry Potter, but maybe not as much as the next guy. These fans below bring it to a whole 'nother level. They have permanently altered their bodies because of Harry. They have labored for months to honor him. They have spent literally fortunes to own a piece of him. Kinda makes my rereading of the books seem... feeble and, well, normal. :)
Take a looksy, and then rethink who you call a super fan. (And if you are not itching to run through that enormous/fantastic/awesome corn maze, then I don't know if we can really be friends.)
This super fan is a-MAZE-ing. Yea, that pun just happened.
This guy made a video to win a biggest Harry Potter fan contest- and he makes a convincing argument
Super fan rooms
Super collectors- this handwritten copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard sold for 1.9 million... POUNDS
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Pretty Thistles
I took these photos last week on Santa Cruz island (part of the Channel Islands National Park). Even though we were in California (and it was sunny and hot!) these strong, spiky thistles made me think of Scotland (and a post I wrote last year about the iconic Scottish Thistle).
More about the Channel Islands in this past post- a truly special and beautiful place on Earth!
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