Artist in the Gardens

I needed to think and de-stress a little on Saturday so I stopped by the Botanic Gardens. This lovely (and clearly talented artist) let me take some pictures of her as she painted.

If only I could paint out the ugly trash can! :-/

Le Pup!

Josiah and I are in the market for a rubber red apple toy for Julie.  

International Day of the Girl

I was reading the news today (aka procrastinating on getting started on work) and discovered a montage of 'messages to 15-yr old me'.  This one range true for me:

"Do not fear failure.  Do not let negative experiences --and there are always plenty-- get in your way.  In your life, many things --especially the biggest heartbreaks-- will only make sense as you look back, not as you are experiencing them.  Many of what seem at the time to be your biggest setbacks will end up leading to your biggest opportunities, and in many ways you can't predict.  So don't let that voice of doubt --the obnoxious roommate in your head-- have the last word.  As Montaigne said, 'There were many terrible things in my life, but most of them never happened.' " -Arianna Huffington

A Bittersweet Fall

Growing up in the frozen tundra of the North didn't really make me like Fall.  But here in Texas, the Fall is a wonderful reprieve from the heat and carries with it the promise of rain and a sense of rebirth.

I've accepted a research position starting in January and am hugely excited about the opportunity.  However, this position is in another town and so move we must. 

Moving has provided its own combination of bitter and sweet.  On one hand, many of the unfinished projects in our house are getting wrapped up and the place has really never looked better.  However, on the less happy side, I love our friends here and will miss them terribly when we move.

Work has had its own combinations of ups and downs.  I have a new office (with a window!) and a new lab that is significantly prettier than the previous facilities. Unfortunately, these positive changes do little to offset the sadness.  Over the weekend, my closest co-worker and work-friend passed away due to complications of cancer.  As I left work yesterday, I noticed that someone had placed a single flower by his office door. 

This post seems without a proper closing paragraph, but I'm afraid I'm not sure how to finish it. 

Sam

Sam is a 'weagle' (weenie dog / beagle cross).  

Crab?

My husband sees a crab in the cloud...maybe all of the sunshine has gotten to him?

Golden Fields

Snoozy Elsa

Julie Chin

I love her little vampire teeth sticking out from under her top lips.

Cisco Mural

Cisco, TX

Daisy

Ranger Mural

Ranger, TX

Old House

Word on the street is that a few years ago a tornado came through and budged the house a foot or so on its foundation.  If you look closely, you can see that the chimney is separated from the rest of the building.

Eastland Mural

I love advertisement murals.  This one is actually relatively new.    Eastland, TX.

Coca-Cola Mural

Cisco, TX

Memorial Day

Memorial Day dessert:

Red: Strawberry Sorbet

White: Fresh Whipped Cream

Blue: Blueberry Pie

Sunset

This is from the night of the eclipse.  

Props

Had a photo 'assignment' to do. The strawberries were a summery prop.   Like my new keychain?  Ya, I judge me too.

Summer Relaxing

Not my car, not my feet ;).  

Marty Leonard Community Chapel

The architect, Fay Jones, was mentored by Frank Lloyd Wright.  You can definitely see the influence in the building's impeccable lines and synthesis into its natural surroundings.

Marty Leonard Community Chapel

Finally had the happy coincidence of 1) having my camera  and 2) being in the parking lot by the chapel and 3) having some free time.  The building manager was unbelievably friendly and helpful.  

Stew Beef with Lavender and Cherry

I made this recipe up after reading in my Joy of Cooking cookbook.  One of the things I love about that book is the pages of discussion on styles of cooking and the general concepts of food groups.

1-2 lbs of stew beef, 1-2 in cubes
2 Tbls Canola oil
2 C beef stock
1-2 Tbls dried lavender blossoms
1/4 C dried cherries or 1/2 C pitted and chopped fresh cherries
1 large sprig of fresh rosemary (would guess that this equals maybe a couple of teaspoons of dried)

This recipe cooks for a long time so no need to invest in a particularly wonderful cut of meat, just know that the tougher the starting point, the longer it will take to cook.

Over high heat, brown the stew beef in the oil.  Be sure to let the oil get sufficiently hot before adding the meat.  It should flow easily over the bottom of the pan but not be smoking.  Browning should take maybe 5 minutes.  

Add the beef stock.  I usually use soup base and reconstitute it according to the directions on the container.  Be cautious at the step.  Soup base, stock, and especially bouillon contain a widely varying amount of salt.  Do not add salt to this recipe unless you are using a sodium free form of broth.  

Add the lavender, cherries, and rosemary to the beef and stock.  Cook over low heat for 2-4 hours until a large piece of meet will just separate when pressed with a spoon.  Tender cuts of meat will cook 'quickly' and tougher pieces of meat will take longer.  Stir periodically and supplement the volume of stock with fresh water.  Usually requires at least 2 cups water during the cooking period.

Optional: in the last 5 minutes of cooking thicken to make a gravy consistency.  This generally requires 1-2 Tbls cornstarch dissolved in water.  A thiner broth works well for noodles and a thicker broth for potatoes.

Both noodles and potatoes soak up salt very well so if the salt flavor has gotten away from you...they make excellent sides.  This would probably make an excellent slow cooker recipe. 

Solar Eclipse 2012

A walk in the park

Elsa and I went for a walk today.  She discovered that she could wade in the small stream that runs through the middle of it and had a great time.

Coconut Cake

Coconut Cake

I'm not a huge coconut fan, but I remembered having ( and liking ) this cake as a kid.  I pinged my grandma to get the recipe a few weeks ago and here is the result.  It doesn't have a super strong coconut flavor which is probably why I like it.  

Elsa goes to town

Went wandering down town yesterday with a friend.  On a whim we took Elsa with us.  She. Loved. It.  
You would never have guessed that she had never been to a downtown area before.   She just wandered around on her leash and happily sniffed and snuffed.  This is Elsa in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral with a little Lomo-ish retouching.  I love how the lomo-ish setting makes the door color pop.  There Elsa, now you've been to church.

The Flatiron building was nearby.  I didn't want to fiddle with changing lens' with Elsa on a leash so there won't be any grand full building photos from me. (Plus, I'm pretty sure you need a wide angle to get the whole thing in one photo. This, I do not own.)  On the other hand,  I did get a couple of fun shots of the architectural decorations.  If you look very closely at this picture, you will see that a chickadee has built a nest in the mouth of the roaring lion.  

Coffee and Books

A friend of mine needed some coffee/book themed photos for her job.  We did a few together (I held the external flash), but the idea just kept rattling around in my mind.  Up to this point, I've been primarily attempting to capture what is already present.  This project takes it a step further and asks me to compose a story and then capture it in a pleasing way.

In this photo:

The book in the right hand corner is part of a set of young adult fiction that my mom bought for me at a yard sale when I was in my mid teens.  She found about half of the set and over the years I've found most of the rest.  They were published in the 1920's and on into the early 30's.  The last book had limited printing which I'm guessing had something to do with the onset of the Great Depression.  Haven't found that one yet.  I get my love of books from my Mom. Happy Mother's Day.

The coffee cup was a gift from a wonderful friend. :)

The lavender stems I picked that morning from my patch of over-achieving lavender plants.  I fell in love with lavender a few years ago while visiting a college friend.  Her mom made Lavender Pound Cake for us.  I had never guessed that you could cook with the herb.  It has been love ever since.

Cactus Blossoms

Cypress Knees

Cactus Blossoms

Eureka!

Youth (Cypress Style)

Cypress Knees

When I first got my camera last spring, I tried to take some pictures of the cyprus knees.  They didn't turn out very well.  I made it back down to the water gardens the other morning.  The cyprus knees pictures turned out a bit better this time.

Active Pool

Active Pool

Roses

I'm not really much of a rose person, but they are blooming like weeds this spring so here they are. :)

Escapee

My friend theorized that the glut of butterflies this spring is due to the Botanic Gardens freeing all of theirs when the exhibit was through.  I think the idea has merit.

Holga Flowers

Not really sure what this bush was.  All I really do know is that the sprinklers came on and the sun was streaming through the mist. Come to think of it, it might be time for another quick hour long vacation to the gardens.

Water Lily

Holga lens, Ft Worth botanic gardens.

Doh!

I thought I saw a blooming cactus on the side of the road. It wasn't a cactus.  It was a lame weed.  However, I liked this picture of the daisies.

The wonderful banks of bluebonnets of last month have been replaced by equally thick banks of daisies.  Well, I think they are some type of daisy.

Shower Glass

Shower glass is installed!  Only a little bit left to be done.  :-D (x1000)

Holga Elsa part ... I lost count.

Yup, I'm that lady who takes too many pictures of her dogs.  Wondering where Julie is?  The holga lens doesn't allow a ton of light through.  Dark Julie is a gray blob in the middle of a dark ring.  

Holga Elsa part 2

Part 2 of 20...just kidding.  She is terribly photogenic though so I can't help myself.

Holga - Elsa

I got a birthday present last night...a Holga lens!!!  It's a little rainy today and my car is in the shop so the dogs are my guinea pigs.