Monday, December 20

Sunday, December 19

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We finally got a nice snowstorm here, of course now it is all just about melted, but it was fun while it lasted. I had grand plans to go out and take all kinds of wintry wonderland photos, but as it turned out, I never had the time. I did manage to take a few shots with some Impossible Project PX600 film and I am quite please with the way they turned out. Perhaps not brilliant shots, but I love the tones.

Life is busy all the time even now when I am taking some time off. Our internet was out for a day which was rather stressful because it happened the morning of December 17th which was the last day of the Poppytalk Handmade Market I was in as well as the last day my shop was to be opened. I had lots of Etsy updates to make and, well, I couldn't do any of it. I do get kind of bothered by how dependent on the internet I am, but oh well, that's just how it is these days. Fortunately we got it all fixed up on Saturday when a very nice service guy came over and put in a whole new line for us.

I still can't believe how this month has flown by and here we are approaching Christmas and then the end of the year. I have to admit that I am not really ready for a new year. There are so many unknowns for me and it has me wanting to avoid going into it. I know that sounds terrible...it's not that I am so afraid of change, perhaps it's just that I don't even have much of a plan. I guess I should be excited about a new year and changes. Maybe with this coming week and some more down time, I'll actually have some time to think and dream and absorb and process more of this past year and what I want to make happen in the new year. I don't think I've really allowed myself to do much of that. A little dreaming would probably be good for me.

I hope to check in again before the end of the year, but things are going to be a bit hectic so I'm not sure I'll have the time.

Best wishes to you all in 2011!!

Wednesday, December 15

Yarn fuzz and some faves.



Perhaps yarn fuzz art should be my new thing. I imagine it has already been done.

So we don't decorate around here. And by "around here" I mean our house, not Santa Fe. Santa Fe has plenty of festive lights and decorations going on.

But while at home, I am getting my holiday decorations vicariously through Flickr.

Sometimes Flickr just wears me out, but then, there is is always THAT PICTURE. The one that totally blows me away. And that's why I keep looking. Always.

Some recent faves:

Maddie has totally been blowing me away with her Spectra Softtone images and this one is no exception.

Also love this shot of mercury birds from Laney.

And I love that Brooke decorated her indoor potted tree. Fabulous.

Ashley got the perfect winter wonderland shot with the PX100 film from the Impossible Project.

How cool is this wreath that Tracy made? So simple and beautiful. I wish I had such brilliant ideas!

From Vanessa, sheer magic.

This portrait
from Azuree is so stunning. I wish I had such skills with the new films.

And I could go on, but I won't. It's time to go make the salad and try to get my husband out of the studio so he can make the pizza. I'm dying to finish season one of Friday Night Lights!

(No idea why it took us so long to get to this show considering our total football obsession. I keep telling Will he needs to be a a high school football coach. I mean, his dad was one, that's qualification enough, right?)

Monday, December 13

Holiday lights and more tapas.



Last week was a long and somewhat emotionally draining week. Albeit a very productive week as well. So on Friday evening, we decided that we wanted to go somewhere nice for dinner, some place warm and cozy and relaxing. We ended up deciding to check out the Chispa Tapas Bar at El Meson.

As we were driving over there, I asked Will to drive by the Plaza so we could check out the holiday lights. It's so rare that I am out in the evenings, I really haven't seen all the festive lights that folks have put up. So we cruise by the Plaza and it just looked so happy and festive.

I asked Will, "Have we ever been to the Plaza at night around the holidays before?"

No, I don't think so.

So yeah, this is our fourth December here and the first time we've seen the lovely lights on all the trees at the Plaza. We are so bad.

We parked near Back at the Ranch which was looking pretty festive as well. That's where I took the photo of the bull sculpture decorated with lights.

El Meson was hopping, but the hostess gave us a table in the bar that someone hadn't shown up to claim. Some older fellows were setting up to play some jazz and they turned out to be highly entertaining. We like jazz just fine and good lord, at least it wasn't more blues which is usually all we hear in this town. And these fellows, man, they made the best faces while they played, especially the drummer and the stand up bass player. It made me happy that these guys were still doing something that they obviously love a lot.

We started off with olives and manchego cheese which had some sort of quince from Chimayo sauce on it. Quite tasty. Will wanted the Patatas Bravas Con Mojo Picante which is basically fried potatoes with dipping sauces. Something I had a lot of when I was in Spain. Good but not super exciting. I picked the Sauteed Scallops with White Wine and Serrano Ham. The ham was pretty incredible, the scallops were fine but didn't taste particularly fresh. Will's next choice was a pork tenderloin with something or other that I can't remember. It was good. And then we decided to try the veal because neither of us have had veal since forever. It was Fried Veal Cutlet rolled with Serrano Ham and Manchego Cheese, served with a spicy tomato sauce. That was tasty. And for dessert, churros with chocolate sauce.

All in all it was a fine meal and it was actually exactly the kind of evening we wanted. A little wine, a little food, some jazz and no stress. But La Boca is waaaaaay better as far as tapas go.

Last Thursday was my last day for felting things and I'm pretty much done with work stuff, but the "things to do" list still doesn't seem to be getting any smaller. We ran around most of this afternoon and I am totally beat now. Rocky has been getting me up at 5:00am and while it's way better than 3:00am, it's still really disruptive to my sleep. I decided not to run this morning and I so wanted to sleep in, but after getting up 3 or 4 times with one cat or the other, I gave up and got up at the usual time. Those damn cats are lucky they are cute.

Hoping to have a little more time for photo taking and blogging this week!

Thursday, December 9

Isaac.

Isaac

I woke up to some sad news this morning from friends in Pittsburgh about their awesome cat Isaac. He is no longer with us and he shall be greatly missed.

Isaac was a great fluffy gray ball of strong personality and total sweetness. I remember when I first learned of Isaac, I was told that he had quite the bad reputation. He had a tendency to attack people and perhaps even trap them in the bathroom from time to time.

I got along pretty well with Isaac and always loved him no matter if he scratched me, but I do think he trapped me in the bathroom a time or two. A gray ball of fluff with sharp claws can be quite intimidating.

my...what big paws you have!

I was never really afraid of him, I just tried my best to respect him. Sometimes he would let me pet him, sometimes he wanted none of it.

isaac the vampire

Such a handsome cat, that one. And just so awesome.

clem & isaac and the giant ball of pink cord



I loved him like one of my own.

Dana and Isaac.

And my heart goes out to my friends who found him when he was not even 6 weeks old. Isaac had a good life and a fairly long one at age 16, but no matter, it is never an easy thing to lose a beloved pet.

Rest in peace Isaac.

Monday, December 6

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It's always a bit frustrating to "waste" shots whether it be from mistakes or things like the camera locking up and causing the film to jam.

But that initial frustration can also lead to a bit of delight when those mistakes turn into something interesting.

I love how the mushed up chemicals have so much texture. They look like logs to me.

Saturday, December 4

It's the simple things in life.



Like watching Rocky drink water out of the tub faucet.

Friday, December 3

Hi.

20101203_XSi_017

I'm still here!

Life is really busy right now and so I haven't really had any time for blogging. I am hoping to get through a lot of stuff this coming week so that I can then take a breather the next.

I am tired.

I would like to sit in the sun
and do nothing
but feel the sun

instead of always doing one thing and thinking about the next.

Soon.