Two Weekends Ago

Because I have been so slack in posting since last week, I owe you some good shots. Rest assured these are not them. But I love the movement. Someone should try to have a sturdy hand while shooting in a fairly dark church, is all I'm sayin.

Getting to the Altar


Mr. & Mrs.


You can completely tell I'm going a little bonkers trying to catch up - I'll be putting up lightroom'd versions of these shots within the next 24 hours. For now, I have to get out of my house and go shop.

Let there be Light - Around the House

Soon, I'll have to pack up all of my things into boxes, put the boxes into a truck, drive a whole 1.5 miles-ish and empty the truck and unpack the boxes. I'm SO looking forward to it. No. Really. Because it will be over and then I won't have to think about it anymore.

And when I've finally done all the packing and unpacking, I won't have to hit my head on this light every single day.

Details

Ahh, the little blessings in life.

Serial, not breakfast food

When the weather isn't so pretty I stay inside a lot. And when the weather isn't so pretty for several days in a row, I get antsy and shoot random things around the house. A new series of odd photographs can be borne of such times. Witness Exhibit A:

Jewel Keeper

Aquatic Life, again

A couple weekends ago, I made it to the Vancouver Aquarium for the first time after living here for over a year. I know! It only took a year! SO impressive!

I was enchanted by the sea otters. The adorableness with which they swim around and snack on pieces of fish is unmatched by any other living being (in that aquarium) and after a couple weeks, I have nearly stopped reciting "I WANT ONE!" Nearly, but not quite. I never knew that they can break ginormous hunks of ice into edible little pieces and who knew they like frozen water for snacks? And, also? Toys! Those little guys are so smart!

There was one Beluga Whale that made bubble rings to play with, which I consider to also be nearly unbearably cute. He was very good at smashing a bubble ring with his tail, as well. Oh and later? I found out that he's good at splashing everyone standing above the pool! One a rainy day! I'm so sad I wasn't there with all the rest of the wet people. So sad!

Jelly-bean


Crush


Slippery little Fins

If you have good taste, you'll want to make these RIGHT NOW

So, I've been a MIA lately. Sorry about that. I got a little swamped with being out of the house and also, had some entertaining to do. That's right. I had a guest. And it was a guest with brains. The best brains in the world. She thought she would buy tartlet tins. To make Lemon Tartlets with. It was the best idea she's ever had in her whole life and I love her to pieces for it. The tartlets idea was so good, that in the 5 days she was here we made them TWICE. Because we lurved the tartlets so.

Lemon Tarts with Vanilla

Lemon Tarts with Vanilla

Recipe (both shell and filling) stolen shamelessly from Epicurious:

Tarte au Citron

There are different ways to make a lemon tart. At Bouchon, the French Laundry, and Per Se, we use a sabayon method, in which the eggs are first cooked with the lemon juice and sugar over hot water, then the butter is gradually incorporated — an easy method that results in a consistently good lemon custard or curd. The crust is made with sweet and nutty pine nuts, which I think are the perfect balance for the rich, tart custard.

Makes 8 servings.

Butter and flour for the tart pan
1/3 recipe Pine Nut Crust

Lemon Sabayon
2 large eggs, cold
2 large egg yolks, cold
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
6 tablespoons (3 ounces) cold unsalted
butter, cut into 6 pieces
preparation
For the crust:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Generously butter and flour a 9-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom and refrigerate it while the oven preheats.

Remove the tart pan from the refrigerator. Use your fingertips to press the chilled pine nut dough evenly over the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Trim off any excess dough.

Bake the crust for 10 to 15 minutes, then rotate it and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until it is golden brown. Remove the crust from the oven and let it cool while you make the filling. (There may be some cracks in the crust; they will not affect the finished tart.)

For the sabayon:
Bring about 1 1/2 inches of water to a boil in a pot that is slightly smaller than the diameter of the bowl you will be using for the sabayon. Meanwhile, in a large metal bowl, whisk the eggs, yolks, and sugar for about 1 minute, or until the mixture is smooth.

Set the bowl over the pot and, using a large whisk, whip the mixture while you turn the bowl (for even heating). After about 2 minutes, when the eggs are foamy and have thickened, add one-third of the lemon juice. Continue to whisk vigorously and, when the mixture thickens again, add another one-third of the lemon juice. Whisk until the mixture thickens again, then add the remaining lemon juice. Continue whisking vigorously, still turning the bowl, until the mixture is thickened and light in color and the whisk leaves a trail in the bottom of the bowl. The total cooking time should be 8 to 10 minutes.

Turn off the heat and leave the bowl over the water. Whisk in the butter a piece at a time. The sabayon may loosen slightly, but it will thicken and set as it cools. Pour the warm sabayon into the tart crust and place the pan on a baking sheet.

Preheat the broiler. While the sabayon is still warm, place the tart under the broiler. Leaving the door open, brown the top of the sabayon, rotating the tart if necessary for even color; this will take only a few seconds, so do not leave the oven. Remove the tart from the broiler and let it sit for at least 1 hour before serving. Serve at room temperature or cold.

Bouchon, 2004
by Thomas Keller

Add two vanilla beans to lemon mixture and one vanilla bean to the crust mixture for the vanilla impact. Also, use one additional lemon for more kick. And the browning in the oven is not needed - the 60 minute cooldown is.

Now go! MAKE THESE.

I'm SO attracted to shiny things, Long Version

To carry on with the travel stories, I'd just like to say I'm so much less neurotic than you think. As proof, allow me to state that, like fish and every other woman on the planet, I like shiny things. (That's the best I could come up with after two days of contemplating a good way to justify the crazy that I put up here a few days ago. That's all I've got, okay?) In order to put this whole post into perspective, allow me to revert to my childhood and before even that for a little bit.

I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. My father was a civil engineer who had a hand in the building of the TransBay Tube, among several other things but none of which are as cool as the tube. Upon completion of the tube, they did a few things to celebrate. They minted a commemorative coin, and they also allowed the engineers and whoever else was involved in making the longest underwater tube for rapid transit in the world walk across the Transbay Tube before the trains were running. (Otherwise it would have been called "chicken" and not a walk of celebration at all.) I have that coin, and my parents were among those people to walk the 3.6 miles across the San Francisco Bay at a depth of 135 feet (at its deepest). We have, somewhere in the mounds and mounds of STUFF (OMG SO MUCH STUFF) in my mom's house, a picture of something related to the planning and perhaps even the surveying of the tube which is essentially a photograph of a red tracing line across the bay at night. Its gorgeous. I'd ask for details and clarification, but my mom, she didn't really know much the last time I asked, and my dad wouldn't be able to answer me either for entirely different reasons. Now, let's keep in mind that this is the historical bit; this was all before I was born.

Bauble of historical interestTaken on June 9, 2007, 1:26pm
Freehand, 1/200s, f/4.00, 200mm, ISO 100

Now, before I get to the good stuff, keep in mind that I have not lived in the SF Bay Area for the past 6 years. I have not even lived in the country, but that is neither here nor there. Prior to moving away from the area, I had not been on a BART train in approximately... 10 years? However, in the last 6 years, I've had the luck of living in places that seem to like the concept of public transportation. Some of them (those crazy Austrians, to be precise) are exceptionally good at the public transportation system. And I mean, WOW. REALLY GOOD. Good enough to almost forget about the fact that they like to BEAT, BREAD, AND FRY everything they eat. (Except the rocket that goes on the side of the breaded meat, of course!) Oh, and also maybe think about forgiving them for the whole thing about the stores only being open during normal working hours (when, yes, everyone is AT WORK) and also - NOT ON SUNDAYS. It's that good that I could consider the forgiveness, but then not quite get there emotionally.

Back to the red-headed-step-child that is the American way to do public transportation. During the 70's, and the following few decades, the public transportation system has made history and on a more boring scale it has also seen extensions around the Bay Area. The trains are somewhat automated and were among the first to be so in the US. They suffered a lot of problems during the first automation phase, which is unsurprising considering the operators were NOWHERE NEAR THE TRAINS. Anyways! The lines have no nicknames (no Circle Lines or U1's in SF!). The seats are also (seriously) the most padded public transport seats I have ever sat on. Ever. In my life. The seats have cushion. Bouncy cushion. They aren't plastic or garish orange seats with blue spiky velour coverings. They're boring beige-ish with blue cushions - pillow-like even.

Additional lines have been added to the system over the 36 years of operation. The most notable and recent extension in the BART train lines connects the international airport in San Francisco to the rest of the grid. There are three tracks that run through the station at SFO. Two of these tracks carry trains. The other one is a landing lane and a takeoff runway for alien spaceships with bright (and also SHINY!) indicators along the perimeter.

Runway 1
Taken on May 22, 2007, 3:38pm
Freehand, 1/30s, f/4.00, 70mm, ISO 100

Thankfully, the contractors realized that some people are afraid of aliens and their spaceships. Those scaredy cats can stand in one general area to avoid the Martians or whomever is scheduled to be landing/taking off while waiting the LONGEST TIME IN THE UNIVERSE for a BART train.

Not the third rail!
Taken on May 22, 2007, 3:39pm
Freehand, 1/30s, f/4.00, 73mm, ISO 100

See and the reason I took SO MANY FREAKING PICTURES is because I turned 50 while waiting for the damned train. That's 20 years of time passage there folks. TWENTY YEARS. I paid over 7 dollars with the intent of traveling eastwards for about 30 minutes and all I got for that price was the pleasure of sitting there for two decades going blind with boredom.

Shiny floors
Taken on May 22, 2007, 3:41pm
Freehand, 1/30s, f/4.00, 154mm, ISO 100

But, hey, the shiny floors and windows were ace!

Look, we're almost through the old crap

So I've eliminated about 5,000 pictures from last month that I had intended to upload but then never got a chance to because DAYUM that'd be a lot to upload. All that uploading would have interfered in my grilling and cooking and drinking time. And let's just all agree that that would be disastrous. There is no need to interrupt drinking time. So, look at me, I'm down to about 4 pictures left. They're the worst of them all. I thought everyone's eyes could use a little assault. So, yeah. You're welcome!

How about a vacation - there's one right behind this door! 10 points if you can tell me what's on the other side. 1,000 points if you have a photo!

Open ThisTaken on March 6, 2007, 4:27pm
Freehand, 1/80s, f/4.00, 27mm, ISO 200

If a vacation doesn't sound like you're cup of tea around this time of year - and let's face it, some people like to work all the time and don't believe in vacations - how about something to wet your whistle?

Stupid interruption for a little known factoid about that phrase "wet your whistle" from a website.

Wet your whistle

Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim or handle of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. Wet your whistle, is the phrase inspired by this practice.

Stupid interruption for a little known factoid about that phrase "wet your whistle" from a website now over.

Here, have one. God knows I can't drink anymore of this stuff for the next hour if I'm going to drive that car.

Ta Kill YaTaken on May 5, 2007, 8:31pm
Freehand, 1/60s, f/4.00, 200mm, ISO 400

(Pssst! I don't have a car. And I was mostly kidding about not having a drink for the next hour. I'm subscribing to the beer, water, beer, water, beer, water, etc. philosophy, except substitute "coffee mug of vodka" for beer. And it's water's turn.)

Recap, The only day of the year where I sip tequila

There's really not much to recap from Cinco de Mayo yesterday. I made tacos from scratch, guacamole from scratch and bought tortillas because who makes those from scratch? (And if it's you, can you send me the recipe please? Thanks!)

And then there was the one drink I had with tequila in it because I'm terrified of tequila coming back to say hi to me. Those college years really put me off. So I finished my terribly eventful night of watching movies with gin and tonics and vodka and tonics. Clear liquor - I can get on board with that whole idea.

High ClassTaken on May 5, 2007, 8:29pm
Freehand, 1/60s, f/4.00, 200mm, ISO 400

Is the reason I am terrified of the agave juice because I've only had Cuervo and Olmeca and all the other similarly classed tequilas? Because, somehow, I feel like I need to get over the fear.

I'm dashing out the door, but here. Look at my cat.

Isn't she cute?

SnoozerTaken on April 26, 2007, 5:00pm
Freehand, 1/20s, f/4.00, 159mm, ISO 100

Computers, Cats, and Seats

My cat likes to sit on computers. Witness.

ThroneTaken on April 24, 2007, 2:16pm
Freehand, 1/30s, f/4.00, 70mm, ISO 100

Form a line

So I guess its a bit obvious should one look at the previous posts on this blog that I'm one for photographing things like nature and my cat and endless boatloads of flowers. You know, things that you could generally find inside and outside a city. I like mountains and trees and greenery, too. I love buildings. Old ones. I don't live in a place where there are old buildings. Not anymore. But I live in a place where there are very interesting shapes and delicate decor. That's not to say that there are great shapes and fabulous decor in my place of residence. Oh, no no no. Just the city around me.

The Beginning Taken on April 14, 2007, 4:48pm
Freehand, 1/20s, f/4.00, 94mm, ISO 400

Black OutlinesTaken on April 14, 2007, 5:05pm
Freehand, 1/1600s, f/4.00, 70mm, ISO 800

Inventive, no, not really. But cut me a little slack. I was in the middle of quenching the Great Thirst.

What happens after a dozen hoegaardens, some gin an tonics, a bottle of champagne, 17 glasses of water, shots of vodka and I think some wine

I rented the 70-200mm L lens before buying it. I rented it on a Saturday. And then I walked down the street from the rental place, spotted a restaurant with a patio, and sat down to have some beer. I was not alone, and I think over the course of the next 10 - yes that's TEN - hours, 4 of us consumed enough beverages to quench the thirst of a small country. Like say, the size of England.

I was a bit wobbly when I took these pictures. I have no idea how much, or what exactly, I had consumed the previous night, but I do know that my consumption included various things like beer, wine, champagne, vodka straight, gin, tonic, vodka and orange juice (I could have dreamt that part.) and some more beer. About a keg of beer, a keg of hoegaarden to be precise. So be surprised along with me that I was able, with perfectly good daylight here, to keep a steady hand and get these shots of my kitty being utterly adorable. (Considering I was still drunk.) Hopefully this also explains the ISO.

SnackingTaken on April 15, 2007, 11:00am
Freehand, 1/400s, f/5.00, 70mm, ISO 1600

Model Taken on April 15, 2007, 11:01am
Freehand, 1/250s, f/6.30, 70mm, ISO 1600

Wut? Taken on April 15, 2007, 11:34am
Freehand, 1/4000s, f/7.10, 140mm, ISO 1600

Oh and then about an hour after these were taken, I got into a plane that has flotation devices instead of wheels and flew around the city for a while. So in case you were wondering, a flight in a float plane does indeed sober you up right quick. It does not, however, cure hangovers. In case you were wondering...