5/14/11

Another Neruda Favorite

 

Poetry
And it was at that age ... Poetry arrived
in search of me. I don't know, I don't know where
it came from, from winter or a river.
I don't know how or when,
no they were not voices, they were not
words, nor silence,
but from a street I was summoned,
from the branches of night,
abruptly from the others,
among violent fires
or returning alone,
there I was without a face
and it touched me.

I did not know what to say, my mouth

had no way
with names,
my eyes were blind,
and something started in my soul,
fever or forgotten wings,
and I made my own way,
deciphering
that fire,
and I wrote the first faint line,
faint, without substance, pure
nonsense,
pure wisdom
of someone who knows nothing,
and suddenly I saw
the heavens
unfastened
and open,
planets,
palpitating plantations,
shadow perforated,
riddled
with arrows, fire and flowers,
the winding night, the universe.

And I, infinitesimal being,

drunk with the great starry
void,
likeness, image of
mystery,
felt myself a pure part
of the abyss,
I wheeled with the stars,
my heart broke loose on the wind.

Pablo Neruda
http://www.poemhunter.com/

5/11/11

Strawbale Gardening: A New Project!

We have an area close to our potato patch that needs a border. We really didn't want another fence. JEJ had already worked overtime on rock borders so I didn't suggest that. What I did come up with was a row of straw bales. The dogs liked the idea.
I saw an article on doing straw bale gardens and thought it would be fun to fill the bales with flowers that would cascade down the newly formed border. The bales were cheap, they will add structure to the garden, and there will be more beautiful color as the summer progresses.
Recently the bales have been a source of hunting for all our four-legged friends. I think some mice may have come with the bales from the feedstore.

 If you want to see how to make straw bale gardens that look like this, go to :
http://www.strawbalegardens.com/

5/10/11

Plate to Pixel: Lessons In Food Photography

I love to study food photography in cookbooks, magazines, and online. Tartelette has always been one of my favorite foodie blogs. Helene Dujardin's photography is exquisite and she inspires new ideas for cooking and styling.
 What I have learned in my own experimentation is that food photography isn't easy. It is hard to make that slice of apple pie look as yummy as it does in the magazine spread. My  pares in a bowl don't look as artistic as the cover of the book.
 I just finished reading Dujardin's new book Plate to Pixel: Digital Photography and Styling. Below I have posted a collection of food photos from my practice sessions. Take time to visit her blog Tartelette. You can find it here.
 
Dujardin suggests showing ingredients or steps to making a recipe.
 She suggests looking at coordinating colors. Mom's Fiestaware works well for that! Other things I tried were
going simple by squeezing a lemon,
paid attention to outdoor light,

natural indoor light,
and the rule of thirds.

5/9/11

Maybe My Favorite Place to Shop!

Some women love to shop for shoes. Some love purses or new jeans. Me? I love to shop for plants. Nurseries are one of my favorite places on earth to visit.
 Yesterday on my way home from Kellogg I stopped and spent an hour surrounded by the beauty of bedding plants, smells of summer, and the misty air in the greenhouse.
 I know if some on you won the lottery you would go on a cruise, buy a fancy car, or buy diamonds.
 Me? I would go and buy more plants! Here is the back of my car loaded up!

5/8/11

Dinner for the Moms

It is always good to return to Kellogg, but yesterday it was added fun to see my niece Z2 go off to the prom and have my other two nieces help prepare a Mother's Day dinner for my sister and mom. My nieces are turning into quite the chefs' assistants.
First we said farewell to Z... she was off to the Masquerade Ball.


Next we started on dinner preparations. Kiki Aru was in charge of the Greek Watermelon Salad.

The Princess was preparing the Garlic Cheddar Biscuits.
I had to be the Sangria taster.... darn.
They also helped serve the pie after dinner. Happy Mother's Day!

5/7/11

There's No Place Like Home

 My favorite place to be in the whole wide world is my own home and garden. My second favorite place to be is my Mom's house. I did one of my favorite activities today. I lounged around in my childhood living room in my flannel pajamas drinking coffee and visiting with my mom most of the morning. What a relaxing day!
Now I am preparing dinner for my two favorite moms.... my mom and sister.