A Day of Sailing

The Golden Gate Bridge. Taken from a deck in the Berkeley hills with a telescope attached as a lens.

Constant Dreams of California

I am still holding out against an iPhone, though my resolve is waning. The reason I bring this up is that the above photo, taken back in January, looks instagram-y, no? And I don't even have the app! It was really overexposed, super bright and washed out. But when I plugged it into iPhoto and hit "enhance," this magic happened. I think it looks like an old postcard. So, I take little credit for the editing but am excited about what resulted. In other words, I'm proud of me and my pretty picture.

Hopefully your Monday was lovely. I finally applied to an absolute dream job only to have the email bounce right back. They had announced yesterday via twitter that the position was filled and done it from within the company. Connections really are everything. Maybe I'll try to volunteer for them until something else opens someday... Bisous bisous.

Morning Cup

Finally, a gloriously sunny day.

The coffee shop across from us is terribly tempting and it's all I can do to avoid going everyday. Thankfully the baristas indulge my neuroses around reusable cups. They were kind enough to put my coffee directly in this glass.

I am playing around with some older lenses on my camera. This shot is taken with a lens bought at the Nikon factory in Japan in the early 80's. I don't completely understand why some edges are blurred and some are in focus (the logo and the milk) but I like it. What do you think? Any tips or ideas?

Have a lovely day.

Bisous.

Snow Play

Self-portrait in the mirror, bundled up against the cold.


Christmas is passed, though the city finally looks the part:



Have you ever really looked at a snowflake?

Gothic towers swathed in white.

A stop for dinner.

In vintage Woolrich and mother's jacket.

A Mexican hot chocolate and fresh whipped cream,

Quickly devoured.

No time to even catch this chocolate cheesecake, only the empty plate.

Dawdling on the way home.

Making fresh bootprints in the snow.




It is winter.

Lakeside, December 18th

Just out for a run & photos by Lake Michigan, Chicago.  On December 18, 2011.

 Last week, the rocks were iced over and there were icicles hanging from that barrier.  Not anymore.

Rumor has it this is the winter to beat all winters in Chicago but I really wouldn't mind it staying just like this.

(*Although I was looking forward to bragging after the fact that I survived*)

On Vacation

Dear Readers,
I apologize for my absence, I am on vacation and enjoying the Minnesota heat!  A quick post to say hello:

Tomorrow, we are off to Chicago to apartment-hunt and so I will see you in a week. 

With love,  Catherine

Variations On a Cupcake

♪Belles, belles, belles - Claude François♫ (click to play)

 

These are some photos I have been meaning to share of beautiful (belles) s'mores cupcakes.  Obviously, I had a grand time playing with shadows and the settings on my camera.  I love the over-exposed photos!  

These cupcakes were a lovely gift from our neighbors - did I mention we have the best neighbors?  As you can see by the bite I took pre-photos, I couldn't wait to try one.  They were as delicious as they look.  These had a homemade caramel filling but sometimes our neighbor varies them, putting graham cracker in the base of the cupcake.  We're so lucky. 

Offerings

Out of all those kinds of people / You got a face with a view

A summer barbecue with very important people.

Click to Play ♪ This Must Be The Place - The Talking Heads ♫

and delicious maple burgers made by the señor above:

A super organized grill, non?

A nosy poochie:

Not an accurate depiction of our joy and enthusiasm:

Storytelling and music discussions:

The end of a long week:

We had heated discussions about The Talking Heads and David Bowie's various personnages:

Watermelon cut up by the bearer of whimsy herself:

 Isn't she skilled?  I never buy melons because I hate having to cut them.

Speaking of whimsy, with the Labyrinth soundtrack playing in the background, this came about:

And then we bridged a world of magical puppets with magical realism à la Pan's Labyrinth:

 kinda gross image from movie here

And saluted the evening with our beautifully cut watermelons:

And to prove I was there too:

(don't you love that self-portrait face?)

Here's to my friends.  And to one we missed!

P.S. THIS is a great David Byrne, Brian Eno tune