Blah,Blah,Blahg

IT'S RAINING

 
 

It's raining and I couldn't be happier.  I love, love, love the rain, perhaps, that could be because I live in a place where it doesn't rain much so it is that much more special when it does? I don't own an umbrella though, I lose them often which is strange because how is it possible to need an umbrella when you go out and then not need it when you return?  What are the odds that it never rains on my trip back, thus causing me to forget my umbrella?  I never lose my sunglasses mind you because my Godmother gifted me with a very, very expensive pair one birthday and I know that I am way too frugral to ever buy myself another pair as divine if I should lose this coveted pair. My thinking now is that I should maybe invest in a nicer umbrella so I would have more incentive not to lose it (sort of following the successful sunglass formula). There are no umbrella's in stores near me though making umbrella purchasing impossible. Okay, I fibbed there are umbrella's but they are hideous so they don't count.  I know what you are thinking, you are thinking I may need some matching rain boots as well, right?  Yeah, I was thinking the same thing....

IT'S AUTUMN SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD...

At work I am perpetually sleepy, it's odd since I have adrenaline running through my veins the entire day (my job is very deadline driven).  It has been suggested to me on multiple occasions that maybe I need to get some sunshine during my work day, being in a windowless office/broom closet for hours on end can't be good for anyone.  I usually eat lunch at my desk but have resolved to take a walk around the block each day.  I can't be gone for more than 15 minutes (don't ask) but that certainly gives me enough time to get a little sunshine and make it around the block.  Yesterday I did just that and it felt swell. I saw this little vignette of autumn on a front porch and even though it feels like the middle of summer here, it at least looked like fall. I wasn't less sleepy after the walk, I may just be in a deep depression (I hear that makes people sleepy as well). The bright side?  It's almost Friday, oh dear, I sound a tad pathetic don't I?

WET + STORMY WITH HIGH'S IN THE 80'S, WHA?

It has been stormy, cold and wet these past few days and just when I was unpacking sweaters and boots believing that the City of Angels would be in sync with the rest of fall, I found out it will be 83 degree's this Saturday and Sunday.  83?!!!  I have no idea why the weather has been so wacky, but there it is. I guess I will leave a couple of sundresses and sandals out just in case...

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE...

How lucky was I to spot a fine photo-op such as this at the Flea this weekend? I was able to take one of my birthday lenses for a spin and even though it was really awkward (everything is when you have a 3lb dog in your bag, a heavy camera and a cup of coffee in your hand) .  I am having a huge learning curve, but I still had fun practicing.

I LOVE THE RAIN

 

We had a little storm last night in the City of Angels.  It was really little (maybe 5 minutes max) but I wish it would have lasted the whole evening because I love the sound and smell of rain. The sky couldn't have been more beautiful, it was a deep blush and orange color and the air was so balmy and warm. I had to make a pit stop at the drug store to buy face wash before I could shootI (when you wear as much mascara as I do, a good face wash is pit stop worthy). I bought a product that promised to do 7 different kinds of anti-aging, plus it was on sale, I was in a word chuffed. 

I came home, shot, took a shower, uploaded my photo's and had the Fancy ask, "Are you wearing men's cologne?" Verdict? I will have younger looking skin but will smell like an elderly gentleman, is it worth the trade off? I think so. 

We are coming to an end of our Souvenir Foto School session and I am feeling blue.  I have rather enjoyed this session and was pleasantly surprised that I wasn't kicked out of class for not completing my assignments (as I have been known to procrastinate and all).  I had really great feedback from my students that they felt more creative and I have to say I did as well.  I really want this feeling to last as who knows when I will shut down from my day job drudgery and find myself in the fetal position or rocking back in forth in a corner?  I played with a new technique and I don't know if it will go anywhere but I had fun doing it.

Here's to you and me not subcumming to the florescent lights, k?

 

IT'S HOT

 

Even though it has been inferno hot in the City of Angels I have been finding hints of autumn here and there.  It has finally cooled down to double digits (92 degrees yesterday!) and I am ready as I have ever been for there to be a change in season.  It won't happen any time soon of course, Los Angeles doesn't follow the same weather rules as the rest of the country and it should probably remain warmer than I would like for a little while longer...

HAPPY DANCE, IT'S FRIDAY!

It's supposed to be in the triple digits this weekend in the City of Angels.  I don't like extreme weather conditions, but I am hoping that my garden is happy with all the sunshine and that my plants don't spontaneous combust (or myself for that matter). I was hoping to take my new (to me) film camera out for a spin, but I found out last night it doesn't work, even after the lady at the garage sale assured me it did, grrrrr. I know where you live lady and don't think I am above complaining. Seriously, if she said she didn't know if it worked I would have accepted that, but to tell me emphatically that it did, well, hmmph! She's lucky I am too lazy to make my way over there.

Saturday I am going to try to get to the beach and visit mi madre, it's always about 20 degree's cooler where she lives. It will be fun to leave my zip code for a day and she walks so slow that she never complains when I stop and take a snapshot because she is about 80 paces behind me. The relationship works, what can I say? G.G. my 3lb bunny dog and I will probably head to the flea market again on Sunday, but this time we will go earlier so I won't melt like I did last weekend. G.G. didn't mind the heat last week because she was being toted in my bag, my arms  hovering over her head as a human shade shielding her from the relentless sun, fanning her face whilst I got another bout of heat stroke and sunburn. Oh, I hope to come back in another lifetime as my dog...

Wishing you all the happiest of weekends!

MAGNOLIA BAKERY COMES TO TOWN

  

Shhhhh, don't tell anyone but I don't like cupcakes (or any cake for that matter), I feel so off trend. My Fancy on the other hand will let you know that he loves cake in all its incarnations.  I stopped by Magnolia Bakery last night, it just opened in Los Angeles and picked up some of the world famous cupcakes.  Before bed I asked him if he tried the cupcakes his answer, 'Oh, they weren't as great as I imagined".  "Really?' I asked astonished, he is the sweet expert in our household after all  I figured I would try a bite to see what the world was raving about but the person who thought the cupcakes weren't 'that great' ate them all...

Souvenir Foto::Photo Rx Actions used:: Insta-light|Paint with Light:Bright

BRINGING THE FARM TO YOU

Yesterday was a happy day, I got my first delivery of produce from these people (thanks to everyone that recommended them).  We opted for the mixed box of both fruit and veggies and I am glad we did because I can only imagine what a veggie only box would look like.  The concept is simple, the farm delivers fresh fruit and veggies to your door per your preference (we chose the twice a month plan). Now we are scrambling to find creative ways to cook our bounty.  I took lot's of photo's last night that were supposed to grace the Blahg this a.m. of the harvest that was our delivery but those images are on my jump drive somewhere, but not here (figures).

Not a radish fan, but I have already had many suggestions from my classmates in our Souvenir Foto Class, I really liked my Argentinean classmate Flor's idea of eating them with lemon juice and sea salt (I do like my lemons). Some of the produce delivered was Swiss Chard, which I am really not familiar with but from my research last night we have to eat it stat or else it will be rubbish.  I am going to try it sauteed with garlic ala Heidi from 101 Cookbooks this evening.

We will have to come up with ideas for arugula, I am thinking arugula pesto, which definitely has a bite, the only problem being that our food processor died and hasn't been replaced (I blame the economy and my mother, I like to blame her for most things). It seems the farm included an inordinate amount of bok choy, I found this chicken and bok choy recipe that looks pretty tasty (minus the 1/2 cup of bbq sauce, wha?) and since it looks like we won't run out of bok choy anytime soon maybe we should try this, this and this as well. A bushel of rappini which I have been craving was part of our pack, it's not for everyone it's on the bitter side, but I love it paired with Italian sausage (the chicken or turkey variety) sauteed with a little olive oil and garlic.  Happy indeed.

DON'T MAKE PLANS WITH FATE

I am not a food blogger, for many reasons, one of them being that I have no patience to set up shots when I am so hungry I would like to eat the arms off the person that is closest to me.  Little things like that prevent me from exploring my inner foodie bloggy desires. Last week I started slowly adding items to my new garden and thrilled at the idea of using some of the herbs to prepare dinner, isn't that part of the lure of edible gardening the harvest?  Okay, I know using harvest for herbs is a stretch but I'd like to feel some sense of accomplishment even though I am only a week into it (I told you I am not patient).

I had grand plans last night, but fate intervened. I was going to make baked eggs with chives, topped with an array of freshly shaved Italian cheeses, rosemary potatoes with olive oil, sea salt and fresh ground pepper with a side of sauteed baby broccoli with garlic and slivers of sauteed red onions.  I like to think I am a pretty established home cook, these are all dishes that I should be able to make with my eyes closed and my hands tied behind my back, standing on one leg.  It didn't work out quite as I had envisioned, so much for visualizing an outcome. It went more like this:

Fancy: "Are you going to lie on your Blahg and say it turned out great?"

Incredulous, Miss B.: "Nooooo.  I don't want to talk about it, I don't want to talk to you or anyone-- anymore."

Fancy: "Well, Hon don't lie and say I didn't like it, because I never said I didn't like it."

Miss B:  It wasn't that bad, we've had worse meals.  If you weren't rushing me I wouldn't have put the eggs in the broiler."

Fancy:  "If I didn't rush you we wouldn't have had dinner until morning. I told you it was going to take longer, the recipe was for individual ramekins."

Miss B: "I don't own individual ramekins, um, yet!"

Fancy: "Really, I like hard-boiled eggs and raw broccoli, it tastes healthy.  The potatoes are great but I made those so that doesn't count."

Miss B: "Lot's of people eat hard-boiled eggs for dinner, they do it in France**all the time and yes, your potatoes are delicious."

Fancy: " Come on babe, you'll make this again and it will be much better, promise  I wish you would have picked up some ice cream though."

Sigh, alas my best laid plans did not pan out. if you noticed, I bought the wrong potatoes for rosemary potatoes, (you need the small red ones not the gigantic Idaho). I had a casserole for my eggs which I didn't take into account how much longer time I needed to add into the recipe and if we chopped the broccoli off from the backyard I wouldn't have had more raw tasting greens.  All in all it was a disaster but it looked good and the cheese was top notch.

**Note, I lied, in France they do not eat hard-boiled eggs for dinner all the time, although they should.  The Fancy doesn't need to know they don't.  When you throw France into any gourmand arguement like above you always win.  So next time you burn something and your family balks, tell them they eat burnt 'X' in France all the time, it's a culinary delight and that should stop the complaining, try it.