My friend Donna says that in September a cloud will come and we'll reach up and find all the things we lost. I hope we find only the things that are wanted, not those we left behind on purpose.
Read: The Skelton Man by Jim Kelly. The architecture of a lost village becomes sculpted into the reader's memory. I also found out that this author has a really lovely website. It is worth checking out.
Dye Pot: I am still using iris roots and iron to dye cotton pieces a dark blue-purple.
Baked: I did make a chocolate cake, but the vegan recipe from The Joy of Cooking was a fail, so on to better things. We still ate it with helpings of whipped cream sprinkled with coconut.
Craving: Masala dosa.
Showing posts with label summer reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer reading. Show all posts
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Oktoberfest is Coming!
I applied to be an Oktoberfest waitress. In the mean time, I think I may make more money busking than anything, so today I wrote a song about my friend's favorite dog, Oon Blackie Schmidt. This makes me very happy. Now I just need to learn to play the ukulele.
Baked: chocolate chip cookies with hemp seeds.
Thinking about baking: Scottish Flap Jacks because I'm writing a piece about foods you carry in your pocket. What do you carry in your pocket smorgasbord?
Reading: Getting the Point. : A Panic Free Guide to English Punctuation for adults by Jenny Haddon and Elizabeth Hawksley. Because you can never know too much about punctuation. For that back to school feeling even if you're not going back to school because you couldn't afford it in a million years and what's the point because you'd end up being an Oktoberfest waitress with an MFA.
Watched: The Lady in the Water written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Well, this movie had cool CGI effects and lots of good actors, but it stunk. There was a big piece of the story missing, ie the life of the main character before he finds The Lady. What makes him drop into this fantasy so easily? I had trouble with that acceptance of suspension of disbelief with most of the characters. And the plot? Some events seemed really hastily tacked on to the story.
Craving: Some kind of chocolate cake with coconut icing.
Baked: chocolate chip cookies with hemp seeds.
Thinking about baking: Scottish Flap Jacks because I'm writing a piece about foods you carry in your pocket. What do you carry in your pocket smorgasbord?
Reading: Getting the Point. : A Panic Free Guide to English Punctuation for adults by Jenny Haddon and Elizabeth Hawksley. Because you can never know too much about punctuation. For that back to school feeling even if you're not going back to school because you couldn't afford it in a million years and what's the point because you'd end up being an Oktoberfest waitress with an MFA.
Watched: The Lady in the Water written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Well, this movie had cool CGI effects and lots of good actors, but it stunk. There was a big piece of the story missing, ie the life of the main character before he finds The Lady. What makes him drop into this fantasy so easily? I had trouble with that acceptance of suspension of disbelief with most of the characters. And the plot? Some events seemed really hastily tacked on to the story.
Craving: Some kind of chocolate cake with coconut icing.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Overcast and Cool
Well, I am glad it has cooled down today. I'm not a big fan of the heat when I'm not in immediate proximity of the beach or a pool.
I'm reading the novels of Jim Kelly, a British writer I hadn't hear of. I've dipped into both of his series and I'm enjoying his work, even though his characters have terrible eating habits and disfunctional relationships with food.
I've been watching more of Tony Shaloub in Monk, which is my favorite comedy show ever.
Dye Pot: I dyed an over shirt a deep purple with the yellow iris flag roots and iron. I tried to create the ombre effect, which is tricky with a hot dye.
Thanks so much for everyone for their suggestions and support in my search for a part time job. I haven't had any luck so far. The market is incredibly competitive and according to one friend it's like you have to be incredibly over-qualified for a job otherwise you don't get a call at all. Anyway, the search continues.
I had my last tea party as part of MOPARRC and celebrated by downing a half bottle of blush. "The times they are a'changing."
I'm reading the novels of Jim Kelly, a British writer I hadn't hear of. I've dipped into both of his series and I'm enjoying his work, even though his characters have terrible eating habits and disfunctional relationships with food.
I've been watching more of Tony Shaloub in Monk, which is my favorite comedy show ever.
Dye Pot: I dyed an over shirt a deep purple with the yellow iris flag roots and iron. I tried to create the ombre effect, which is tricky with a hot dye.
Thanks so much for everyone for their suggestions and support in my search for a part time job. I haven't had any luck so far. The market is incredibly competitive and according to one friend it's like you have to be incredibly over-qualified for a job otherwise you don't get a call at all. Anyway, the search continues.
I had my last tea party as part of MOPARRC and celebrated by downing a half bottle of blush. "The times they are a'changing."
Monday, August 22, 2011
August Rain
"The gardens are dry," I think as I fall asleep. Wake up with a sore back and the cool jazz of rain coming in my open window. The radio tells me Jack has died. I console myself with sour cherry pie and ice cream for breakfast.
Read: Seasons of Darkness by Maureen Jennings--a wartime mystery by a Canadian author.
Watched: The Prestige with Hugh Jackman is a film with very choppy editing resulting in a film with an unwieldy narrative arc and unsympathetic main characters. The female actors shine in this tale of dueling magicians.
Dye Pot: Amaranth was a bust, but I bought a crock pot for dyeing and mordants based on a idea from another artist.
Baked: Banana chocolate chip muffins with hemp and another sour cherry rustic tart.
Had a great whirlwind visit with my sister: power shopping (Anthropologie, Kids Books, etc.), power eating (Pied-a -Terre, Thomas Haas and Trafalgars), and spa time (Footworks). We started forming our bucket list. Do you have one? Sis wants to go to Paris. I want to go to Japan.
I am loving the sound and the feel of the rain, but I had an awful sleep so I am feeling quite cranky.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Gleaning Amaranth
Dye Pot: Today I hit the UBC Farm market and bought some salad greens, potatoes and sour cherries. I wanted to try an amaranth dye experiment and so I gleaned some cuttings the gardeners had left on the ground between the rows. It's steeping in the pot right now. I've got some silk I'm going to dye with it. Tomorrow I'm going to pluck invasives with Evergreen at Jericho Park and hopefully score some yellow flag iris rhizomes to dye with.
Watched: I've Loved You So Long written and directed by Philippe Claudel starring Kristin Scott Thomas. What a fabulous movie! It is subtle, elegant, and restrained and it is a rare case where you really see an actress transform a character over the course of a movie. I loved it.
Read: The House Sitter by Peter Lovesey. This was a good mystery with a very satisfying narrative arc.
Job Wanted: For the first time in over a decade I find myself looking for a part time job to keep body and soul together while I do some shifting around in my art practice. I'm looking for 2 days a week or about 16 hours if you hear of anything. I want something non stressful, and preferably even pleasant!
Watched: I've Loved You So Long written and directed by Philippe Claudel starring Kristin Scott Thomas. What a fabulous movie! It is subtle, elegant, and restrained and it is a rare case where you really see an actress transform a character over the course of a movie. I loved it.
Read: The House Sitter by Peter Lovesey. This was a good mystery with a very satisfying narrative arc.
Job Wanted: For the first time in over a decade I find myself looking for a part time job to keep body and soul together while I do some shifting around in my art practice. I'm looking for 2 days a week or about 16 hours if you hear of anything. I want something non stressful, and preferably even pleasant!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Migraine Days
Yes, the evil migraine cluster has returned. It's made me very tired, but the good thing is that I have been able to do some reading in spite of it.
Read: The Secret Hangman and Skeleton Hill by Peter Lovesy--Contemporary murder mysteries set in Bath and its environs. I thought Skeleton Hill had an original plot with some good twists and turns. The Secret Hangman was too predictable. Also read The Vows of Silence by Susan Hill. I like Hill's prose style and her characters, although sometimes her novels get a bit soapy for my taste. Her oeuvre would work well as a television series.
Watched: The Secret Life of Bees. I've read the novel a couple of times and although I think the human story came through, the real magic of the Black Madonna was missing. I think they could have focused more time in the movie on the Boatwright sisters. I also think that a couple of actors should have been cast differently--Jennifer Hudson lacked gravitas and that British actress who played May, although I admire much of her work, was OTT in this.
Once Upon a Time in the Midlands, directed by Shane Meadows. This was disappointing because of the stereotypical characters. A hard-assed Glaswegian f-up played by Robert Carlyle? Ho hum. A Welsh ninny played by Rhys Ifans? Quel surprise. Kathy Burke is great, she always is, but is that a Brummy accent Shirley Henderson is attempting to purr out? That's a stretch. There is one great comic moment (almost thrown away) involving Ricky Tomlinson's cowboy hat. That is all.
In the dye pot: iris roots and cotton mordanted with tannin as well as silk eco-prints steamed and then put in ice dye bath jars of violas.
Read: The Secret Hangman and Skeleton Hill by Peter Lovesy--Contemporary murder mysteries set in Bath and its environs. I thought Skeleton Hill had an original plot with some good twists and turns. The Secret Hangman was too predictable. Also read The Vows of Silence by Susan Hill. I like Hill's prose style and her characters, although sometimes her novels get a bit soapy for my taste. Her oeuvre would work well as a television series.
Watched: The Secret Life of Bees. I've read the novel a couple of times and although I think the human story came through, the real magic of the Black Madonna was missing. I think they could have focused more time in the movie on the Boatwright sisters. I also think that a couple of actors should have been cast differently--Jennifer Hudson lacked gravitas and that British actress who played May, although I admire much of her work, was OTT in this.
Once Upon a Time in the Midlands, directed by Shane Meadows. This was disappointing because of the stereotypical characters. A hard-assed Glaswegian f-up played by Robert Carlyle? Ho hum. A Welsh ninny played by Rhys Ifans? Quel surprise. Kathy Burke is great, she always is, but is that a Brummy accent Shirley Henderson is attempting to purr out? That's a stretch. There is one great comic moment (almost thrown away) involving Ricky Tomlinson's cowboy hat. That is all.
In the dye pot: iris roots and cotton mordanted with tannin as well as silk eco-prints steamed and then put in ice dye bath jars of violas.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Off to the Farm
We're just about to head off to UBC Farm for the market. Yay!
Reading: Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland--a historical novel about the woman who invented the Tiffany lamp and designed the first prototypes. It's fascinating to read about how the stained glass process works, including the creation of all the colors of glass. The novel is starting to talk about the change from the Art Nouveau aesthetic to a less ornate style, Art Deco.
Watched: The forth season of The Ghost Whisperer: Love Never Dies. This is my least favorite season. Spoiler: Melinda's husband dies and comes back in another man's body. It's a plot twist that's really hard to take and neither of the main actors wring any truth out of it. At least the show makes fun of itself by focussing on one episode with a soap opera, a genre where the death of a character who keeps coming back to life is a standard plot device. I am really fascinated by the clothes Melinda Gordan wears. They are often ill-fitting, unflattering and wildly inappropriate. Who dressed this woman? And why does she always have false hair pieces and outlandish false eyelashes? I much prefer Alison Dubois in that other psychic show.
In the dye pot: Just finished experimenting with osage and now I've got to mordant some more fabric and if the blackberries are ripe, maybe I'll cook up some of those for dye. I also did some eco-prints with smoke bush, which is a dye plant known as young fustic.
Reading: Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland--a historical novel about the woman who invented the Tiffany lamp and designed the first prototypes. It's fascinating to read about how the stained glass process works, including the creation of all the colors of glass. The novel is starting to talk about the change from the Art Nouveau aesthetic to a less ornate style, Art Deco.
Watched: The forth season of The Ghost Whisperer: Love Never Dies. This is my least favorite season. Spoiler: Melinda's husband dies and comes back in another man's body. It's a plot twist that's really hard to take and neither of the main actors wring any truth out of it. At least the show makes fun of itself by focussing on one episode with a soap opera, a genre where the death of a character who keeps coming back to life is a standard plot device. I am really fascinated by the clothes Melinda Gordan wears. They are often ill-fitting, unflattering and wildly inappropriate. Who dressed this woman? And why does she always have false hair pieces and outlandish false eyelashes? I much prefer Alison Dubois in that other psychic show.
In the dye pot: Just finished experimenting with osage and now I've got to mordant some more fabric and if the blackberries are ripe, maybe I'll cook up some of those for dye. I also did some eco-prints with smoke bush, which is a dye plant known as young fustic.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
August Blues
I watched a fabulous documentary called In Search of Lost Colour: the Story of Natural Dyes produced by Maiwa. The history of colour is fascinating and I am amazed how much culture and ethnobotanical practise has been lost by the invention of synthetic dyes.
I just finished a classic Ngaio Marsh mystery: Clutch of Constables. I think it's actually more interesting than the others in the series I've read because of the focus on Troy Allen as opposed to her husband.
I'm sad that summer vacation is half over. Feeling very blue today and out of sorts.
I just finished a classic Ngaio Marsh mystery: Clutch of Constables. I think it's actually more interesting than the others in the series I've read because of the focus on Troy Allen as opposed to her husband.
I'm sad that summer vacation is half over. Feeling very blue today and out of sorts.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Perfectly Summer
A cool breeze and sunny skies. It's my perfect day.
Watched: Shroud for a Nightingale by PD James with Roy Marsden. It's got a solid cast, but was shot on cheap video stock with the annoying glare factor. Marsden's Dalgliesh is very dry and clipped in this effort. It feels like it must be one of the earlier ones they shot of the novels.
Read: A Mortal Curiosity by Ann Granger. The two narrators are slightly annoying, but I love the image of the two Victorian maiden aunts who dress in matching gowns.
In the dye pot: Green tea was a bust, but at least it will have helped mordant the fabric. I boiled up some elecampane heads, but the color was brackish yellow/brown so what the heck, I added oregon grape berry juice and the color on cotton came out a lovely lavender grey. I've put some silk in a jar with this dye. One of the bundles was wrapped around a burdock root which definitely gave off a yellow hue.
Craving: Ever since the tequila shots at the Blim opening on Friday I am craving margueritas. So today I brewed some lemon verbena tea and squeezed in lime juice sweetened with a bit of agave nectar and poured over sparkling water. Very refreshing. The food on Friday was incredible. I'll have to post the menu. I'm also craving salad with a Vietnamese dressing and that Hawaiian raw fish salad Michael made on Friday. Awesome.
Watched: Shroud for a Nightingale by PD James with Roy Marsden. It's got a solid cast, but was shot on cheap video stock with the annoying glare factor. Marsden's Dalgliesh is very dry and clipped in this effort. It feels like it must be one of the earlier ones they shot of the novels.
Read: A Mortal Curiosity by Ann Granger. The two narrators are slightly annoying, but I love the image of the two Victorian maiden aunts who dress in matching gowns.
In the dye pot: Green tea was a bust, but at least it will have helped mordant the fabric. I boiled up some elecampane heads, but the color was brackish yellow/brown so what the heck, I added oregon grape berry juice and the color on cotton came out a lovely lavender grey. I've put some silk in a jar with this dye. One of the bundles was wrapped around a burdock root which definitely gave off a yellow hue.
Craving: Ever since the tequila shots at the Blim opening on Friday I am craving margueritas. So today I brewed some lemon verbena tea and squeezed in lime juice sweetened with a bit of agave nectar and poured over sparkling water. Very refreshing. The food on Friday was incredible. I'll have to post the menu. I'm also craving salad with a Vietnamese dressing and that Hawaiian raw fish salad Michael made on Friday. Awesome.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Cloudy with a Chance of Sunshine
Another overcast July morning, but I'm okay with that. As long as the sun makes an appearance for an hour or two to prevent that mouldy thing from happening on my leaves. Ack, I've aphasia-ed on the name of that condition.
Summer reading: All the Colours of Darkness by Peter Robinson who is perhaps my favourite Canadian mystery writer.
Mangia: Panna Cotta from Commissaire with fresh Hungarian sour cherries.
In the dye pot: cotton simmered in green tea powder--no, not matcha, but that's the colour I want to achieve. I had some old green tea powder in my kitchen and the colour is a muddy green, but it will work as an underdye, j'espere.
Summer reading: All the Colours of Darkness by Peter Robinson who is perhaps my favourite Canadian mystery writer.
Mangia: Panna Cotta from Commissaire with fresh Hungarian sour cherries.
In the dye pot: cotton simmered in green tea powder--no, not matcha, but that's the colour I want to achieve. I had some old green tea powder in my kitchen and the colour is a muddy green, but it will work as an underdye, j'espere.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Muggy with Sunshine
Reading: Dark Road to Darjeeling by Deanna Raybourne: A historical romance mystery. I'm just in it for the tea.
Just finished a book by Norwegian mystery author Karin Fossum: Bad Intentions. This is a good summer read with deftly drawn characters. It always irks me when authors don't tell us what the characters look like and Fossum paints a picture.
I also just got out copious books on dyes and Catherine lent me a couple of lovely books, one on Russian fabrics and on by Wade Davis, an ethnobotanist.
Watching: Dalziel and Pascoe, Season 1
Dye Pot: Madder (from Maiwa) with cotton mordanted with tannin and alum
Dye jars: mordanted cotton with viola ice dye.
Craving: Sour cherries
Making: A chocolate mango ice cream cake for Ules' b-day.
Just finished a book by Norwegian mystery author Karin Fossum: Bad Intentions. This is a good summer read with deftly drawn characters. It always irks me when authors don't tell us what the characters look like and Fossum paints a picture.
I also just got out copious books on dyes and Catherine lent me a couple of lovely books, one on Russian fabrics and on by Wade Davis, an ethnobotanist.
Watching: Dalziel and Pascoe, Season 1
Dye Pot: Madder (from Maiwa) with cotton mordanted with tannin and alum
Dye jars: mordanted cotton with viola ice dye.
Craving: Sour cherries
Making: A chocolate mango ice cream cake for Ules' b-day.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Rainy Summer Days
Read this week: The Seance by John Harwood, a good novel if you are in the mood for a Victorian tale within a tale. I love the paper cut illustration on the cover by Niroot Puttapipat. Here's a link to an image of the paper cut used for the cover. Here's a link to the image on the cover.
Watching: Monk: Season Five--Tony Shaloub is one of the great comedians of our age. He's so much fun to watch.
In the dye jar: cotton in black currant juice--some cloth mordanted with alum, some with tannin.
In the oven: Sour cherry rustic tart made with Hungarian sour cherries purchased at UBC Farm from an orchard near Oyama. I wish I'd bought more as they are the most delicious cherries I have ever tasted.
Watching: Monk: Season Five--Tony Shaloub is one of the great comedians of our age. He's so much fun to watch.
In the dye jar: cotton in black currant juice--some cloth mordanted with alum, some with tannin.
In the oven: Sour cherry rustic tart made with Hungarian sour cherries purchased at UBC Farm from an orchard near Oyama. I wish I'd bought more as they are the most delicious cherries I have ever tasted.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
James Bond and Co.
I watched Quantum of Solace last night and in a bizarre way I really enjoyed the fast-paced action thriller. I don't like the car chases and carnage, but I like the plot, the jet-setting and the S. E. X. Daniel Craig is too sexy.
I have also been watching Hitchcock: Rebecca, which has acting that dates it, but the lovely influence of Hitch, who is an incredible visual storyteller. I am also watching episodes of "Hitchcock Presents." It's so fun to see famous actors in their youth--Chloris Leachman et al.
I'm desperately seeking summer novels. Action and plot, people, I need movement!
I have also been watching Hitchcock: Rebecca, which has acting that dates it, but the lovely influence of Hitch, who is an incredible visual storyteller. I am also watching episodes of "Hitchcock Presents." It's so fun to see famous actors in their youth--Chloris Leachman et al.
I'm desperately seeking summer novels. Action and plot, people, I need movement!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Summer Reading and Movies Too
I have officially begun my summer reading. The first book was A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley. It's part of a mystery series with a girl detective that is set somewhere in England. Since it revolves around a family of gypsies, I was hooked from the start since I just performed as one last week. Lots of lovely twists and turns, memorable quotes, quirky humor and chemistry. Woot! There's a new one coming out for Christmas and did I mention the author is Canadian? Tres bon.
The novel also captures that particularly viciously playful nature of girls in the strange relationships among the three sisters.
ETA: This afternoon I watched a movie called Turn Left at the End of the World directed by Avi Nesher. It's a comedy and a tear jerker that I thoroughly enjoyed and the relationships among the women are passionate and engaging. The movie is set in the 1960's in the Negev dessert where a girl who is Jewish Moroccan makes friends with a girl from India. I highly recommend it for summer viewing.
The novel also captures that particularly viciously playful nature of girls in the strange relationships among the three sisters.
ETA: This afternoon I watched a movie called Turn Left at the End of the World directed by Avi Nesher. It's a comedy and a tear jerker that I thoroughly enjoyed and the relationships among the women are passionate and engaging. The movie is set in the 1960's in the Negev dessert where a girl who is Jewish Moroccan makes friends with a girl from India. I highly recommend it for summer viewing.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Summer Reading
I just wanted to share some of my good summer reading choices.
1) Flower Essences: An Illustrated Guide by Carol Rudd
I've been looking for a book like this for months and bingo! they had it at the Dunbar library branch. (It's a nice little library btw, but the carpet smells like a wet dog with athlete's foot. They really need to remove it.)
2) Secrets of Color Healing by Stephanie Norris.
I found this at the Kitsilano branch. The west side gets all the cool books! This was really good for the prayer flag research I've been doing.
3) The Edible Garden by Rosalind Creasy.
A book with tips for planting edible herbs and flowers and good recipes. Kits branch.
4) The Natural Gardener: The Way we all Want to Garden by Val Bourne
This is an unpretentious gardening book with loads of tips on attracting insects to your garden. The cover photo of two dew-covered butterflies mating is stunning. I want to buy a copy of this book. West Point Grey branch.
5) Seeds from a Birch Tree: Writing Haiku and the Spiritual Journey by Clark Strand
This has inspired my recent bout of haiku writing. I love some of the ideas in this book even though the author drives me absolutely around the bend. I bought it from the remainders bin at Banyen Books.
6) A Restless Evil by Ann Granger
One of the classic murder mysteries set in a small village in England where evil lurks and a mild-mannered detective roots it out with the help of a good woman. I love it!
1) Flower Essences: An Illustrated Guide by Carol Rudd
I've been looking for a book like this for months and bingo! they had it at the Dunbar library branch. (It's a nice little library btw, but the carpet smells like a wet dog with athlete's foot. They really need to remove it.)
2) Secrets of Color Healing by Stephanie Norris.
I found this at the Kitsilano branch. The west side gets all the cool books! This was really good for the prayer flag research I've been doing.
3) The Edible Garden by Rosalind Creasy.
A book with tips for planting edible herbs and flowers and good recipes. Kits branch.
4) The Natural Gardener: The Way we all Want to Garden by Val Bourne
This is an unpretentious gardening book with loads of tips on attracting insects to your garden. The cover photo of two dew-covered butterflies mating is stunning. I want to buy a copy of this book. West Point Grey branch.
5) Seeds from a Birch Tree: Writing Haiku and the Spiritual Journey by Clark Strand
This has inspired my recent bout of haiku writing. I love some of the ideas in this book even though the author drives me absolutely around the bend. I bought it from the remainders bin at Banyen Books.
6) A Restless Evil by Ann Granger
One of the classic murder mysteries set in a small village in England where evil lurks and a mild-mannered detective roots it out with the help of a good woman. I love it!
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