Ketchup = Catch up

The problem with trying to write about a long trip, I find myself thinking, is you (I) have to be sure you (I) don't run out of steam before you (I) actually finish writing about the whole trip. So far, I think I've gotten just half way through our trip up the Coast.

I need to regroup a little, get back to editing and posting the photos from the trip and checking my notes to finish sharing the stories.

In the meantime, October was really long. LOOOOooooOOOng. And, wow, where did November go? Maybe finishing writing about the trip will be a Start-of-2012 project. [Ahem]

October:

Mini pumpkins -

Finished crocheting a scarf -
(taking a nice photo of it is on my to-do list)

Got sick -
(I'm sure you can imagine it without the visuals)

November:

Rain -
(See? It does rain in Southern California)

Turkey, with all the trimmings, twice -



Got to 500 miles Run/Walking for the year-
(photo already posted, below)

December:

So far, Big Wind (Pasadena was called the epicenter of the windstorm).

[sigh]

My plate

What's left Click to see this photo's flickr page

is full!

With life and sunny days and good food and creative friends and flowers and dusty shoes!
and pollen (achoo!)! xox -W

More PB&J

20080318_more_pbj Click to see this photo's flickr page

Another late night at school.
Another PB&J.

Note that unlike the biscotti, I'm willing to spend the time to finish the drawing of my sammich before eating it.

Zucchini

20080317_zucchini Click to see this photo's flickr page

This maybe-a-sketch-a-day and collage painting effort is being pre-empted by Season Four of "24".

And who am I to pre-empt Jack Bauer? Oh, no, not me. Not gonna cross Jack Bauer.
Uh-uh.

Not quick enough

20080314_biscottibag Click to see this photo's flickr page

After obsessing about sushi for a bit a week ago, the end of this week I've been thinking about biscotti. Or, more accurately, virtual biscotti. Or, even more accurately, sharing (virtual) biscotti and a cuppa coffee with internet buddies. At the virtual, internet coffee shop.
It's good to spend time catching up with your buddies over a coffee and a cookie. Or maybe you just want to bring over a bunch of poppies. But all you can do is send over the sentiment, because, well, they're just ... far away. But, you know, it's the thought that counts.

The coffee shop around the corner has nice chocolate-covered biscotti, but I guess you'll have to just take my word for it.

Have a great weekend. xox -w

Sushi on the brain

20080304_sushi Click to see this photo's flickr page

The hard thing about coming up with assignments is trying to make sure it can be interpreted universally enough to engage all, or hopefully, most of my students. The fun thing about coming up with assignments is obsessing about them before I actually give the assignment and thinking of ways I'd approach the project, to help out with an example to get them all going. Well, it's fun, except when it's, like, food.

"Tell me your three favorite foods", I sez. "You should be able to do this without thinking. Here, I like ... sushi, jello and cookies". I lied. I said jello because it would be a good challenge to design around. But I do like Jello. I wouldn't list it as high as one of the top three, though. So, anyway, I'm going with sushi. I actually did a sample sketch ahead of class to show our favorite foods as a roughly geometric shapes. We were busy with other things and didn't even get to the geometric shapes part of it all.

So I'm left to ponder my sushi drawing. Sushi.
Why is that one chopstick so bent? Sushi. Sushi. Sushi.

Oh boy, HAD to have sushi...

I grabbed a container, premade at the supermarket. I know, so not authentic. Yeah, yeah, whatever. Who wants to wait at a sushi bar and all the niceties of eating at a restaurant when you really need a sushi fix?

I couldn't even wait to get home. I had to have it. Right there in the car.

Nomnomnom nomnom!

Cleaning out the Fridge

Cleaning out Leftovers Click to see this photo's flickr page

I'm thinking of planting pots of herbs and leafy greens for the summer, to eat and draw.
I'm thinking I miss the design and painting gals.
I'm thinking there's just too much doubt rattling around in my head.
I'm thinking the runs are getting easier. Finally.
I'm thinking that teriyaki burger was damn good.
I'm thinking, "Pete moved?"
I've been thinking ... "Why blog? Maybe it's time to stop."

But mostly,
I'm thinking that the doubt ... and all it's dark, shadowy friends ... have been really getting the best of me.

So, I'm thinking that it was very serendipitous that I found this:

I managed to find the exact clip that I didn't even realize I was supposed to be looking for.

I'm thinking that there are people that I missed seeing last June that I hadn't expected. This is one of 'em. I really missed you guys; See you in June.

BTW - Duane owes me a luau t-shirt. Yup. Still.

Time to chuck all the ick that has been sitting around for too long, getting stale.

More PB&J

More PB&J Click to see this photo's flickr page

There's a process. Yessiree. What's that last step? - I wrap my sandwiches in a damp paper towel to keep them from drying out. Nothing's worse than dried-out bread on a sandwich.

I was going to explain how the PB&J thing evolved into quite the routine for me. But, you know, if it's all in the spirit of trying to be efficient so I can enjoy more out of my day, I'm just going to go outside to take my walk now and then have some breakfast, instead. You guys have a great day. ;)

Just a pinch

leftover parsley Click to see this photo's flickr page

Before I added in the color, it could have been bunches of tethered blind-contour sheep pinecones, you know, if you have a really unrestrained sense of imagination (ahem).

But no. Just extra parsley. Lots of love to you, Jane. I think of you everytime I do blind contour sketches of this variety, you know.

Lots of PB&J

Lots of PB&J Click to see this photo's flickr page

Finally, in a fit of I-can't-get-to-sleep-before-I-draw-something-new, de-funk-ifying. Thanks to my bloggy buddies for your encouragement. You guys are the best. xoxox!

Arty note: In case anyone's wondering. Moleskine sketchbook with (mostly) Copic markers. Yes, whatever sizing there is that must make the sketchbooks take watercolors so poorly also makes the pages so smooth for design markers. I like Copic's 'Sketch' line of markers - they're dual-tipped with the standard chisel tip and a flexible brush tip, very cool. They're re-fillable, too. You might think they were impulse buys - - but, no, I actually use them for work! The markers do leak through to the other side of the page (this will be fun to work with), but generally won't bleed through to the next page..

Cookie!

This isn't a holiday cookie, just finishing baking up a log of some pre-mixed cookie dough. I'm not sure baking several batches of different holiday cookies is such a good idea. The cookies barely survive past the cool-on-a-wire-rack stage ... The bears 'round here seem to get to them far too quickly.

At this rate, I wouldn't have any cookies that survive long enough to share. And the bears around would be in serious danger of getting ... too ... tubby.

Hm!

Virtual Cookie Exchange!

After several years of wanting to do a holiday open house and getting sick each year (lying dejectly with the flu on the sofa when I ought to have been baking instead), I've decided to try it the smart and all-inclusive way. This way I can still plan a party, without having to clean; can still bake, but not have to save all the cookies for one big party.

I mean, let’s be real:
Saving several batches of cookies in the freezer around here would be impossible.
[shaking my head]

So, you are invited to the 2007 (Progressive) Virtual Holiday Cookie Exchange!
Where else but TheFridgeDoor, eh?

Create a tasty little treat* to share:
You can bake, draw, paint, sew, draft it.
Whatever. I won’t be picky.
You could even discover it and share a photo of what you’ve found.

Then, send a digital image of what you’ve created to me.

Or, better yet, why don’t you share a few warm holiday memories and plan a Blog Entry to bring to the Cookie Exchange?

In December (let’s say starting around December 10th), we’ll share all the yummy goodies, nice little coffee breaks for the busy, bustling holidays.

I’d be happy to post images, but it’d be even better to share a list of blogs and postings. It’d be a great excuse for everyone to visit each other and share a memory or two.

Go ahead and forward this post to your crafty and artistic friends and have them whip up a batch of creative (digital) yumminess, too!

My guy, reading the artwork, said "Virtual Cookie swap? Sounds disappointingly low-cal..."

Best wishes to you all.

*Tasty little treats like these, and not like these.

Yes, people,

it's the last of the Jell-O cups.

Have a great weekend! :)

Oh, my Bad

Yes, you're right:

This would be the last of the Jell-O cups.

Comfort

Chopping chopping chopping. I just love fresh produce.


Leftover onion

... you know, you take what you have on hand, chop it up, saute it, throw it in a pot with organic chicken stock, and let it simmer. You invite weary souls in to share it, warm their bellies and help calm their recent, long dusty days.

With thoughts and prayers to the people who need an extra dose of comfort. You know who you are. If you feel like you need an extra serving, go ahead, there's plenty.

Turkey noodle soup
The unexpected ingredient here was the soy sauce. And I threw in a splash of the white wine that I STILL have in the fridge. Not drinkin' fast enough, I guess. We didn't have enough turkey, so I added roast chicken. Chicken, turkey; by the end of it, it didn't really matter. Yummy. And, yes, soooo good for you.

Mexican Chicken Soup

Somedays, all I feel like doing (when it comes to the daily sketch) is coloring. Not shading, but coloring. Colorcolorcolor ... oh, darker, darker. As I hum. Is it just me?


You're going to ask me for a photo of the soup. I just know it.

I’m still not 100% but felt ambitious enough to make Chicken Soup. Everyone tells me to drink orange juice, but the acid is just too much of me. Bleh! Why make myself feel worse? I like chicken soup better.

During one of our trips into San Diego, we literally stumbled upon a restaurant called La Especial Norte (604 North Coast Highway 101 at Leucadia Boulevard, in Leucadia).

The food is fantastic. Their Chicken Soup is renown and oh, so yummy. Chicken, avocado, lime and cilantro. Yum. Their chicken mole is really great, too. We’ve made the drive south just to eat there again, at least once (so far). Oh, my eyeballs are starting to roll back in their sockets ... Yummmmmmmmy.

Anyway. I felt like cooking up a pot of something and was thinking about chicken soup, but I didn’t feel like the typical chicken noodle variety. You can get whip some of that up with a can-opener, you know?, if you're really under the weather. No, I wanted yummier. I immediately thought of Mexican Chicken Soup. But, heck, La Especial Norte won’t deliver, as we're easily three or four counties (who's counting?) away and a good 2+ hours north. Imagine! Tsk!

I did a search online and found several recipes for Mexican Chicken Avocado Soup. Isn't the internet great?

I worked mostly from this one, although this one might also do (although the cumin and lime are key).
I left out the tortilla strips and it was fine, although J thinks the tortilla strips would be something good to include. I added two sliced carrots and extra lime juice and water. And a dash of white wine we have languishing away in the fridge. I’m not crazy about the potatoes (J thought they were fine) and noticed that La Especial Norte has rice in their soup. Hmmm.

The verdict: yummy yummy yummy.

Very colorful. And so healthy for you, too. Not that labor-intensive (but, of course, I like chopping fresh produce and herbs). Plus, in case you're wondering about the medicinal benefit: I feel better, ready for a good night's rest.

It’s a keeper.

~ Like this talk of food? Check out Toni Kelly's Soup Nights.

Carbo loading

opaque w/c, M'skine sketchbook

It's still warm here in SoCal, but I think the autumn routines are kicking in. I feel the urge to cook up a big pot of stuff on Sunday nights and have that on hand to keep life easy at the start of the week. By the end of the week, after all, we're heading out for Mexican food and muy grande margaritas... mmmm. Margaritas... And for sure, that makes up for all the PB&J sandwiches I eat; dinner the other nights, on my way to school. Weary sigh.

And it always seems significant when I get the urge to put together italian meat sauce. Something very soothing in the chopping, crumbling up spices, opening all those cans of tomato product, stirring.

Mmmmm.

Soggy cereal

I was planning to do a graphite pencil sketch of the buncha bananas that we have, when I sat down for breakfast, but this looked like more fun. I’ve been working on ellipses with my class, and the banana slices seemed remarkably more appealing when I looked back and forth between the bananas and my cereal bowl (Not that the ellipses are very good. The slices just seemed more cheery). If I had done this in graphite, instead of a quick study in pen, my cereal would’ve been even more soggy. This, and the Snickers, speak loudly of the perils of trying to draw what you’re eating.

Arty notes: I’m enjoying doing sketches with my copic drawing pens, using the Talons opaque watercolor pan set (would that make it, pretty much, pan gouache?), and my Niji waterbrushes (water-filled). The opaque paint seems to go onto the moleskine sketchbook pages a lot more easily than normal watercolor paint, doesn’t bead up. The Talons set was one of the very few I could find; I’m not sure what quality it really is, but it seems to be working for me, finally.

Here are some thoughts on metaphors working in my life right now.

Making peace with some of these art materials – the pan gouache (but who can spell it correctly the first time?) and Niji brushes. I’ve been complaining about them for a while. And suddenly, they’re working well, together. Or, more accurately, I should say: I’m working well with them, together. It’s not them, but me; I’ve made peace with them and am enjoying doing quick little sketches here and there. You fight and fight, but when you just relax (Cesar Millan would say, “Sh!”), it’s easier to make peace. So many things that we all struggle with that we can’t get to work, but when you stop trying to force things, things suddenly and neatly fall into place.

And running. Oh, the metaphors are endless: You have to be able to walk before you run. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. You know it feels great, but hate to drag yourself out of bed to do it. Slow and steady wins the race. Train slowly; don’t try to overdo it. Watch what you eat to fuel your body correctly. Remember to stretch and cool down. [sigh] I’m back putting time on the treadmill, trying to build up time. Yes, I know: Outdoors is better, the fresh air... Okay, but I like running, and the treadmill is just way more gentle on my joints. So there. On my off days, I do try to get outside, before the school traffic builds, for a nice long walk.
A walk’s as good as a run.

How’s that for mixing metaphors? And yet, it works, huh?

What have you been fighting against that maybe you could afford to just settle in with?
What long-term goal is out there that you could approach, slow and steady?

What foods would you love to draw, but just know it would be easier to just enjoy one thing at a time; either the food, or the drawing of it?

What metaphors seem to be recurring themes in your life?

Vaporized

Not that I was setting out to actually draw the Snickers bar.
But you can see how improbable a task that would've been, if that's what I had in mind, can't you?

[numnumnum-smackinglipssound-smacksmacksmack!]

Oh, it's a, uh ...

blind contour, too impatient for just one in 10 minutes.

More exercises. I'm still working through the set of exercises for the first lesson.
What is it? You guess.

When was the last time you did a blind contour drawing? Take 5 or 10 this weekend, put on some music and have a go at it. Then, drive me crazy by posting your drawing and not telling us what it is, either. Ha! >:)


Everyone's kinda shutting down early today, escaping for the long holiday weekend. Think we'll be puttering around here, staying out of the heat and staying out of the get-away holiday traffic. I have almost a full pan of leftover smoked chicken from last night's design event (from Zeke's. Never been before, and I got there too late to try the tri-tip, ribs or links, potato salad. But the chicken and garlic bread I snarfed down at midnight were preeeetty tasty). Think we're going to take it easy, have leftover chicken, beer, buttered popcorn and chocolate ice cream, hang out and enjoy the extra day off as much as we can.

Gee. Do I eat like this because I run? Or do I run because I eat like this? [sigh] I'm just not gonna say.

Anyway, whatever your last-weekend-of-the-summer indulgence is, have some, and have a great, safe long weekend.