Devouring life, one bite at a time
It was rainy on my last day in Washington last week and I found myself in Olympic National Park, Hurricane Ridge to be specific. I didn’t mind at all that our view was obstructed. When you are at your final destination on a trip, one …
The next destination on our Washington itinerary was Olympic National Park, waaaay north just across the bay from Vancouver, Canada. Did I mention I have never been to Canada before? Or seen it, despite living in Northern Wisconsin for 4 years of my life. My …
After cruising along the Columbia River Gorge and heading into Washington state on our way to my aunt and uncle’s house, a mysterious mountain loomed ahead.
Actually, we had to exit and drive a ways first, but then we saw it … Mount Saint Helens, the stuff from geology class made of legends from the 80s.
It’s been over 30 years, and the treeline is still barely starting to recover from the famous volcanic blast.
Here you can see the once snow-capped mountain that blew its top in a nine hour stew of gases and ash. Well, the build up to it lasted much longer, as you can imagine.
Eight foot diameter trees were snapped off their roots and the sound barrier was smothered for 30 miles around. My uncle remembers his apple farm getting covered in ash over 100 miles away, and a visitor from Ohio told me that ash snowed into her pool from that fateful day.
That’s one mountain I think I’ll skip climbing.
Last weekend I made my first trip to the Asian grocery store in town. It’s time I get away from my Euro-American cooking comfort zone and explore some new terrain. I asked my friend Chuck if she needed me to pick up anything. “Maybe just …
Notice the detail to use a different grain to cast a shadow.
Our curator shone light on one edge to show a better example of the 3D effect. This would be extraordinary if created now in the age of power tools.
Next came embroidery from Louis XIV. These are not tapestries, mind you. This was all done by hand, not loom.
Can you see the silver thread?
Another example of elaborate inlay using ivory, tortoiseshell and ebony.
Rococo chandelier.
Scallop shell armchairs with original tapestry from the mid-18th century. Take the oldest buildings in our country, and this chair is even older.
Lacquered desk of Louis XV, all part of a fascinating process of tapping trees in Southeast Asia for the effect.
Marie Antoinette’s chair.
Can you see her insignia? It’s in the center under the cabinet top.
A raised desk with compartments and a book slant for more comfortable reading. Kind of robotic for the neoclassic period.
By 1710 porcelain was made in France during the reign of Louis XV by the famed company Sevres. Porcelain was of particular interest with royal furniture because it retains its color over age. This furniture was intended for the women of the court.
The carvings on the side panels are Wedgwood.
I snapped these as I walked through Medieval art to catch up with the next tour.
Now I’m appreciating my Aunt Ettorina’s wedding china she passed on to me. It has patiently waited in my father’s garage for at least five years, and now it will be used everyday in my new little kitchen.
Stay tuned for the excitement! I don’t think it’s Sevres, but it’s antique as far as I’m concerned.
It’s been a busy couple weeks moving. I’m still coming up for air, so let me take this time to reflect on a day trip in New York I haven’t shared with you yet. A jam-packed afternoon leaves us with art for days! (And that …
“In 1886, we gorged. In 2012, we nibble.” So I read yesterday in an article by Robert Krulwich at NPR on the state of overfished waters in the past century.See White House menus from 1886 titled, “Procession of Game.” SOUP Venison (Hunter style) Game Broth FISH Broiled Trout, …
Walking around downtown Petaluma last weekend, I glimpsed in this antique store window and nearly kept on walking. Then, upon closer look …
I saw a mason jar chandelier and my heart nearly stopped. And not only with mason jars, but blue mason jars!
I started looking around and found some more inspiration.
Here’s a DIY version from Instructables. No wiring required.
What I really want are some tutorials from Boots N Gus on Etsy.
Come back when you’re done window shopping, dear reader.
Last week in my writing class, I was feeling the grind of the semester and the drudge of homework. And not just any homework: writing, where there is no clear fill-in-the-black to an assignment per se, but endless possibilities, with a bit of the subjective …