radio silence

sorry about that. I've been trying to really finish this history book, get another painting done, complete the most important parts of my summer to-do list, all while continuing to step up my exercise program (three days of yoga a week, darn my lazy self, DO IT), and de-stress because - for some reason - everyone around me keeps telling me that I'm stressed out. The really disconcerting thing here is that I don't *feel* like I'm stressed out. Which either means I'm giving off some weird vibes that should be corrected, or else I'm actually fairly stressed and I can't even notice it. I worry that the latter has great potential for truth, because Cassidy has this awful little habit of being right about these sorts of observations, darn him and his psychology degree.

So yes. But in the meantime (this weekend, and perhaps further), I've been grounded completely because the back pain I've been having finally drove me to a chiropractor. I have a long appt. for Monday (in which I really hope to get some serious adjustment, there wasn't much today and I am disappointed). However, today's initial visit produced a diagnosis of a sprained secrum which has resulted in standard sprain treatment: icing, wrapping (don't get me started on this secrum belt I have to wear 6 hours a day), and of course, not moving. Which pretty much translates to, lie around all day. It's only Saturday and I'm insanely bored. AND I'm not working on those things I really needed to get done, which is doing nothing for this elusive stress level I seem to be transmitting.

argh. So. A quick peek at something I completed a couple weeks ago, before I head back to bed to - what else? - lie down while icing my secrum some more. I fell in LOVE with a Natalia Barilli piece I saw in my September Lucky magazine (under the "Best New Designers" feature): a leather-wrapped pearl necklace. Since I had scrap leather, leather needles, and an old faux-pearl necklace (from my 8th grade graduation 13 years ago, no less) on hand, I simply tore the old necklace apart, restrung, covered the pearls, and covered the original clasp with a leather bow. Neat! We'll see how well it holds up - there are a LOT of holes in this leather and it's under considerable pressure, given how tightly I wrapped the pearls - but at least I didn't drop $300 on the sucker.

alright. I'm feeling that lower back start to burn, so I'm off to silence the beast. Hopefully, it won't take me so long to post again. Trust me, there are plenty of projects a'brewing.

take care!

the poet

the poet. oilbar and pencil on canvas. 30x40". 2007.

Isn't it amazing what a bit of raw umber will do? final photo. I like to let them dry on the wall - that way, I can finally put the easel away and reclaim some floor space.

an afternoon

Okay, I had some black/blue/white background laid in - and brief pencil outlines - but at 2:30 today I started in on this. About 5 or 6 hours later, done. Nice little digression from the big piece I'm working on. I made it from a still taken from a production (8 Life Lessons from Mort and Mindy) that a friend of mine directed this spring in a new play festival. It had some positively beautiful staging elements, including this scene at the end - where Mindy and Death are both dead in a white pool of salt, with a deep blue light surrounding them. My friend had asked me if I would consider painting a scene from her play as she had so many really poignant shots, and I really liked this one - but I didn't tell her anything about it. Instead, I managed to get HER to run the errand to get the board (tee hee) that I worked on, then worked in secret. I demanded she come over and play games tonight and wasn't she surprised to learn we'd really invited her so that I could give it to her? I nailed a hanger on the back of the board, so it's all set.

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"Mort and Mindy" (for lack of a better title), Oilbar, pencil, and acrylic on unfinished board, 12X15 (I think? I forgot to check.)

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cheers!

finally!

some things are coming together around here. And I say, it's about time! This is - obviously - the finished coat that I've been working on. It took me a while to finish as I was nervous about doing the buttonholes, nervous about cutting into it to shorten the sleeves, take up the hem, tame the collar. I'm happy to report that I'm completely satisfied with the end product. I opted to skip pockets, but we'll see if I stick with that. I have about a half yard of this wool/cashmere coating left, so I could definitely add some if I decide that's necessary, but for now I'm of the mind that they would just really interrupt the lines.

here's a close-up of those buttons. I did splurge a bit on the buttons, as I've come to realize that quality trims and details really add a lot to a garment. Plus, with the gift of these three yards of coating, I wasn't spending much overall on what turned out to be a really nice item. Thanks to my brother - the first person in my family to take my fabric request on my birthday wishlist seriously. Thanks, David!!

Almost done with that painting that's been driving me crazy. This week. I keep saying that, I know, but this time I really believe it. This week. Summer's rolling to a close soon - I'm meeting the chair next week to talk about my diagnostic exams and continued thesis prep while he's in Europe for fall quarter, and buying the book on play analysis that I want to read before I TA a class on it this fall, etc - and it's nice to see more of my personal projects come together with it.

as summer wanes, a summer treat

Not that summer really ever wanes in Santa Barbara, but I did awake this morning to a remarkably darker bedroom (this is a good thing. Normally, the blinding light and heat of the summer sun wakes me unpleasantly). It would seem the sun's southward movement has earned us some respite: it has to rise over a taller bit of the hills that flank this narrow valley before breaking into our morning routine, which means we're getting less of that intense white light (and really, 7am is too early for that!) and more lovely sunrise colours. I love waking at sunrise. I also love it when this doesn't necessitate getting up too early. =)

In other news, I FINALLY tried out my first summer pudding. Isn't it gorgeous? Oh, and so delicious. We ate a quarter of it last night, and that was with restraint. This dessert captured my imagination in middle school when I saw a recipe in a friend's mother's magazine of Victorian living (yes, I've always been a bit attracted to fussiness). For a kid with allergies to eggs, dairy, and fat, summer pudding offers a solution to the cravings of the sweet tooth (if you don't serve it with whipped cream, of course): it is, essentially, 8 cups of barely cooked berries (just five minutes with some sugar and the juice and zest of one lemon, to get the juices of the berries going) which are layered with bread in bowl or pan, weighted, and refrigerated for 8 hours. That's really it. I could eat this all day. In fact, in the heat of high summer, I often survive on berries and water-rich vegetables during the daylight hours, as it seems to be the easiest thing on my poor stomach.

Next time, I think I'll reduce the 3/4 c. of sugar to 1/2 or even 3/8. Not that I don't love the flavour - it is, spot on, perfect and completely addictive - but I think I would feel less guilty about eating it all day long if it was a bit less sweet. I also think this would be a fantastic birthday cake for a child's party. Fewer refined sugars, and plenty sweet and fresh. I can't wait to have a slice later today.

before I go

heading out on vacation early tomorrow morning (we're leaving at 6 or 7am-ish?), but my recent silence hasn't been due to forgetfulness! I've been busy - but mostly with schoolwork reading. Before I go, however, I have a few pretty moments from late to share - and a work in progress. But not that painting, it's driving me nuts.

The Zaca fire is raging to the north, threatening homes and landmarks like Cold Spring Tavern. Some days, it snows ash and the light turns orange and the very air smells like burning. This was one of those days.

the strange sleeping habits of the Cassidy. =) He spent a morning balancing a stiff pillow on the narrow edge. We're still not sure how he did this, but I dashed for the camera ... and it fell about a minute later.

a healthy garden has insects, right? A big ol cricket or katydid or something showed up one day on the lemon verbena. He was so neat I had to stop my yoga practice and snap a shot.

my healthy garden has also attracted little frogs! I first saw this brown-spotty guy hanging out on my jasmine a week or ten days ago. This morning, I found a little green one and a brown-spotted one on the leaves of a neighbouring sage plant. This soil used to be rock hard and completely bone-dry. These days, it's mulched, composted, watered, healthy, and apparently, attracting friends. hurray!

and finally, I haven't just been working on my thesis reading. I found a use at long last for the 3 yards of cashmere-wool coating that my brother David gave me last year for my birthday. This - yes, this - is the work in progress: I still need a few more buttons, and to do some hem work and add pockets. But really, that's not too much. Thanks to the cover of Anthropologie's August catalogue for the inspiration!

well, I still have packing and cleaning to do, and maybe even some furniture moving, cos we're doing a major room swap, and I wanted to get one more piece of the puzzle in place before we leave. We'll be heading up the coast to Ashland for three days of food and plays with my family, and then another trip down the coast. I'm going to see Big Sur and the Redwoods for the first time in my life! Hurray! =) Though we are seriously having trouble with the prospect of leaving the kitten for five days. *sigh* poor thing. We are sure going to miss her.

well, all for now. Safe travels if you - like me - are on the road next week! cheers!

my submission

I'm shooting for Girlfriend of the Year - or so it would seem! I needed an excuse to get out of the house, and bringing the boy his lunch at work seemed like an excellent excuse to see him and get some exercise.

So how's this for a bicycle-delivered lunch? We have a warm roasted pear stuffed with gorgonzola and broiled to gooey-ness, alongside lamb's lettuce and baby greens dressed with a balsamic shallot vinagrette and freshly crisped bacon. And because he feared that would not be quite enough to get him through the day, in the back is a tupperware of vegan (no eggs!) yam-sage gnocchi simply dressed in some olive oil and herbs from the garden.

Now, before you get the impression that this was a lot of work, the salad is leftover from last night - I just had to rewarm the pear, toss fresh greens in leftover vinagrette, and brown some bacon. The gnocchi is from a huge batch we made about two weeks ago. We froze leftovers and then bagged them up in individual portions so that we could have instant dinner whenever we needed.

By the time I'd put it all together, I was heartily wishing I hadn't been such a pig and insisted on eating my leftover pear last night - as dessert with my pinot noir. Oh well. We'll definitely be making this salad again, especially when autumn arrives. And just for you, here's the recipe below:

Pear and Gorgonzola Salad with Bacon:
Pears (1/2 pear per salad), cut in half, cores removed
1-2 Tbl. butter
Gorgonzola cheese (figure 1/2 oz - max - per salad)
Greens - arugula, lamb's lettuce, spring mix, whatever you like! (we even included some romaine last night!) - two generous handfuls per salad
Bacon, 1-2 slices per salad.

For Shallot-Balsamic Vinagrette:
1/2 c. olive oil
1/4 c. balsamic vinager
1 medium shallot, minced very fine (use a food processor if you'd like)
2 tsp dijon mustard
salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Cut bacon into bite-sized chunks, and brown over med-low heat in a heavy saucepan, about 15-20 min. Drain on paper towels when done to remove excess oil.

While bacon is cooking, melt butter in another heavy saucepan. Add pears, cut side down, and cook over medium heat until browned, about 10-15 min. When pears are brown, place on a baking sheet or roasting pan, cut side up. Sprinkle pears with salt and pepper. Place in oven and bake until tender - times vary, ours only took 5-10 min.

Meanwhile, make vinagrette: whisk all ingredients together in a mason jar or tall glass until combined and thick.

When pears are tender, remove from oven. Turn on broiler. Stuff approximately 1/2 oz of gorgonzola cheese into the hole from each pear's core. Place pears under broiler until cheese is melty - approximately 2-3 min.

To serve, place greens in a large bowl. Add 1 - 2 Tbl. dressing and toss by hand to coat. Use more dressing only if needed - this will keep the salad light and the flavour of the greens will come through. Add bacon bits and toss again. Place one pear half on each plate and mound greens beside it.

this recipe only slightly adapted from Gordon Hammersley's "Bistro Cooking at Home," perhaps my all-time very most favorite cookbook ever.