I've been enjoying [insert sarcasm graphic] a little stomach virus and had no desire/energy to think about posting for several days and I definitely missed a few days of taking a shot in there. I tried to get a picture, any picture those days but just trying to put the camera on the tripod (since I wasn't going to be holding it steady) required an immediate nap, so I gave up.
Now I'm swamped with some school stuff as I try to recover so I'm just going to say "no playing with the camera or pictures" until this is done which should be next week. Cheers!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Snow!
47/365
Prospect Park during another snowfall. Not much else to say.
As always, you can click on the image to see a larger version.
Prospect Park during another snowfall. Not much else to say.
As always, you can click on the image to see a larger version.
Lights. Camera. Action
46/365
Kind of an eh day. Snowy, cold, lots of school work to do and not much time for playing with my camera. I took this late at night from the kitchen looking out to the deck, with the window open. I don't remember what light was on, but it wasn't much. This is a long exposure of 1.6 seconds. For some reason this looks like a fake scene on a tv show, hence the posting title.
Kind of an eh day. Snowy, cold, lots of school work to do and not much time for playing with my camera. I took this late at night from the kitchen looking out to the deck, with the window open. I don't remember what light was on, but it wasn't much. This is a long exposure of 1.6 seconds. For some reason this looks like a fake scene on a tv show, hence the posting title.
Love is in the box
45/365
I think Valentine's Day is all about the February 15th sale candy. Craig kind of wanted to go out to eat, partially just due to lack of food at home, but we decided that the restaurant situation would be bad, re: crowded and boring prix fix menus. We opted for the much more romantic option, a heart-shaped pizza. If I had not been so hungry and eager to dig in, I would have looked at this picture and tried for a more flattering one or one of just the pizza. Note to self: if I wouldn't leave the house like that, don't take a picture of myself like that.
I think Valentine's Day is all about the February 15th sale candy. Craig kind of wanted to go out to eat, partially just due to lack of food at home, but we decided that the restaurant situation would be bad, re: crowded and boring prix fix menus. We opted for the much more romantic option, a heart-shaped pizza. If I had not been so hungry and eager to dig in, I would have looked at this picture and tried for a more flattering one or one of just the pizza. Note to self: if I wouldn't leave the house like that, don't take a picture of myself like that.
Foods of the gods.
44/365
Can't. Stop. Making [and eating]. Pumpkin Loaf. I really got on a kick with this stuff and the batter is as good as any cake or cookie batter. I like the uncooked version of desserts so much that I once requested chocolate chip cookie dough (not the cookies) as my birthday dessert, and of course my loving mother obliged. I like to think that all these years of eating raw egg has strengthened my system to salmonella and that is why I get food-poisoning (aka stomach flu) rarely. Or maybe I'm just rationalizing my behavior to make those of you who fear raw egg feel better about this.
The recipe is so easy and the result is so good that I just kept (I have sworn to stop for at least a few months) making it. Do you see how full the mixing bowl is? I made a triple batch of the batter and made lots of small loaves to share and freeze. If you missed my previous post on this bread, the recipe is here.
Can't. Stop. Making [and eating]. Pumpkin Loaf. I really got on a kick with this stuff and the batter is as good as any cake or cookie batter. I like the uncooked version of desserts so much that I once requested chocolate chip cookie dough (not the cookies) as my birthday dessert, and of course my loving mother obliged. I like to think that all these years of eating raw egg has strengthened my system to salmonella and that is why I get food-poisoning (aka stomach flu) rarely. Or maybe I'm just rationalizing my behavior to make those of you who fear raw egg feel better about this.
The recipe is so easy and the result is so good that I just kept (I have sworn to stop for at least a few months) making it. Do you see how full the mixing bowl is? I made a triple batch of the batter and made lots of small loaves to share and freeze. If you missed my previous post on this bread, the recipe is here.
Lots of chocolate for me to eat.
43/365
"Lotsa coal makin' lotsa 'eat!" This was a last minute effort to just get a picture, any picture for the day at midnight. I love chocolate and was happy when I remembered that we picked up these fancy chocolates (one is ancho chili and one is pumpkin) at the Chocolate Room the day before and snapped this picture before eating them. YUM! The title of the post and that first line are from a song in "My Fair Lady" that I often sing in my head while eating chocolate or other activities in the song. You have to imagine it in a cockney accent to get the full effect.
"Lotsa coal makin' lotsa 'eat!" This was a last minute effort to just get a picture, any picture for the day at midnight. I love chocolate and was happy when I remembered that we picked up these fancy chocolates (one is ancho chili and one is pumpkin) at the Chocolate Room the day before and snapped this picture before eating them. YUM! The title of the post and that first line are from a song in "My Fair Lady" that I often sing in my head while eating chocolate or other activities in the song. You have to imagine it in a cockney accent to get the full effect.
Really, this is a photograph.
42/365
I decided to take the camera along for Shep's evening walk in the park. It was later than ideal for shooting freehand (no tripod), but I got a few okay shots of the park covered in snow and I'll post those on my flickr account. But from this batch, I can't stop looking at this, unedited image. I was leaning against a tree trying to get the sunset through the woods with a long exposure, but obviously I did not manage to hold the camera still enough as I sank through the snow. I think the effect looks like a painting, but I can't decide if it's more Van Gogh or Monet or another. I wonder if I could recreate this effect on purpose? That could be my style!
I think it looks better, bigger. Just click on it to see a bigger version.
I decided to take the camera along for Shep's evening walk in the park. It was later than ideal for shooting freehand (no tripod), but I got a few okay shots of the park covered in snow and I'll post those on my flickr account. But from this batch, I can't stop looking at this, unedited image. I was leaning against a tree trying to get the sunset through the woods with a long exposure, but obviously I did not manage to hold the camera still enough as I sank through the snow. I think the effect looks like a painting, but I can't decide if it's more Van Gogh or Monet or another. I wonder if I could recreate this effect on purpose? That could be my style!
I think it looks better, bigger. Just click on it to see a bigger version.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Blizzard 2010
41/365
Snowpocalypse. Snowmageddon. Whatever you call it, the news world made the impending storm out to be a real doozy. It wasn't. We only got around a foot most places. This shot is of our neighborhood branch of the public library. I was heading to the park to take pictures during the storm but the wind and fall became to heavy for me to keep the camera out without soaking it.
Snowpocalypse. Snowmageddon. Whatever you call it, the news world made the impending storm out to be a real doozy. It wasn't. We only got around a foot most places. This shot is of our neighborhood branch of the public library. I was heading to the park to take pictures during the storm but the wind and fall became to heavy for me to keep the camera out without soaking it.
Sleepy time
40/365
Nothing beats a clean, fluffy bed. I washed everything this day, the sheets, the pillows, the comforter. Enough said.
Nothing beats a clean, fluffy bed. I washed everything this day, the sheets, the pillows, the comforter. Enough said.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
About 10 hours before this picture, he didn't seem so sweet
39/365
Shep looks so sweet and innocent here, doesn't he? Don't let that sleeping pup fool you.
This morning I woke up and headed out to the park early because I had some school work I needed to do before heading into campus and I usually go straight in after walking Shep. There were lots of squeaky toys in the meadow (that's another post for another day) so we headed into the woods to another area with my friend and her dog. After a nice long walk and some good playtime with other dogs, we all headed back through the woods to go home. Along the way Shep and his buddy Kodiak found something dead and my darling dog rolled in it. He didn't just rub his neck on it. No, he thoroughly rubbed his entire body in the stink. It really was impressive how well he coated himself. I didn't really notice until we got home and I knew my work was out the door and he was into the tub. I tossed him in and scrubbed his stinky fur good.
After his bath, as I rushed to clean the tub and make sure I didn't smell like dead animal, he just happily ran laps back and forth through the apartment. He uses his cute furry face to keep us from getting mad at him over stunts like this one.
Shep looks so sweet and innocent here, doesn't he? Don't let that sleeping pup fool you.
This morning I woke up and headed out to the park early because I had some school work I needed to do before heading into campus and I usually go straight in after walking Shep. There were lots of squeaky toys in the meadow (that's another post for another day) so we headed into the woods to another area with my friend and her dog. After a nice long walk and some good playtime with other dogs, we all headed back through the woods to go home. Along the way Shep and his buddy Kodiak found something dead and my darling dog rolled in it. He didn't just rub his neck on it. No, he thoroughly rubbed his entire body in the stink. It really was impressive how well he coated himself. I didn't really notice until we got home and I knew my work was out the door and he was into the tub. I tossed him in and scrubbed his stinky fur good.
After his bath, as I rushed to clean the tub and make sure I didn't smell like dead animal, he just happily ran laps back and forth through the apartment. He uses his cute furry face to keep us from getting mad at him over stunts like this one.
More soup.
38/365
My love of the immersion blender only grows with time. This is broccoli soup. Our favorite local mexican restaurant recently started serving soups, two of which I *love*. I crave them every day, and one is broccoli which I figured couldn't be too hard to make. Their's seemed simple with a little bite, which I think is lots of garlic. Here's my recipe, where amounts are far from exact:
Brown in oil or butter:
3 stalks of celery, diced
1 medium onion, diced
Add to browned ingredients:
washed broccoli tops (not too much stalk. I used 4 heads)
enough broth to cover most of the ingredients
2 t garlic powder
Bring to a boil and cook until broccoli is tender.
Remove from heat and remove at least half of the liquid, but keep it on hand.
Blend until smooth, adding more of the reserved broth as needed. Too much will lead to very runny soup.
Mix in some cream or milk (I used about 1/2 cup to my 1.5 quarts of soup)
Salt and pepper to taste.
Enjoy!
My love of the immersion blender only grows with time. This is broccoli soup. Our favorite local mexican restaurant recently started serving soups, two of which I *love*. I crave them every day, and one is broccoli which I figured couldn't be too hard to make. Their's seemed simple with a little bite, which I think is lots of garlic. Here's my recipe, where amounts are far from exact:
Brown in oil or butter:
3 stalks of celery, diced
1 medium onion, diced
Add to browned ingredients:
washed broccoli tops (not too much stalk. I used 4 heads)
enough broth to cover most of the ingredients
2 t garlic powder
Bring to a boil and cook until broccoli is tender.
Remove from heat and remove at least half of the liquid, but keep it on hand.
Blend until smooth, adding more of the reserved broth as needed. Too much will lead to very runny soup.
Mix in some cream or milk (I used about 1/2 cup to my 1.5 quarts of soup)
Salt and pepper to taste.
Enjoy!
The colors!
37/365
I was in the park during sunset this night and it was so colorful. For several reasons I don't take my nice camera with me on such walks but luckily I at least had the old point and shoot. Having a dog helps get me out in the park during the cold months more than I would otherwise, and I get to see stuff like this.
I was in the park during sunset this night and it was so colorful. For several reasons I don't take my nice camera with me on such walks but luckily I at least had the old point and shoot. Having a dog helps get me out in the park during the cold months more than I would otherwise, and I get to see stuff like this.
Go Red Day!
36/365
I don't really do anything, but I'm on Mount Sinai's Go Red for Women committee. February 5th was Go Red day when women (all over, not just at Sinai or NYC) are supposed to wear red to raise awareness for women's heart health. Heart disease is currently considered the number one killer of women in the U.S. which is part of why the American Heart Association created its Go Red campaign.
Mount Sinai had a huge health fair in one of the lobbies. There were health stations for blood pressure, blood tests (glucose, cholesterol, etc), information booths on salt and a healthy foods buffet, all ended with a consultation with a doctor about your test results. I took this photo with my point and shoot while waiting for my blood test. It's mostly employees and students from Sinai but members of the community were also there.
I don't really do anything, but I'm on Mount Sinai's Go Red for Women committee. February 5th was Go Red day when women (all over, not just at Sinai or NYC) are supposed to wear red to raise awareness for women's heart health. Heart disease is currently considered the number one killer of women in the U.S. which is part of why the American Heart Association created its Go Red campaign.
Mount Sinai had a huge health fair in one of the lobbies. There were health stations for blood pressure, blood tests (glucose, cholesterol, etc), information booths on salt and a healthy foods buffet, all ended with a consultation with a doctor about your test results. I took this photo with my point and shoot while waiting for my blood test. It's mostly employees and students from Sinai but members of the community were also there.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Sub flooring
35/365
When we moved into this apartment, we were excited to see the wood floors. Our last place, while it had its merits, had horrible floors. They were the 10x10 cheapest floor tiles available, the kind that are commonly seen on classroom floors (whitish with grey flecks) and they were in horrible condition.
I wrote a long rant about the condition of our floors but it was boring so I deleted it! The short version is that our floor is really the original pine sub-floor. It was not meant to be the main floor. And it seems as such--lots of splinters for my feet and gaps to hold things hostage. For some reason the landlord (who used to live in our apartment) LOVES these floors and probably spends almost as much on repairing them as it would cost to just put down new, easy to clean floors.
When we moved into this apartment, we were excited to see the wood floors. Our last place, while it had its merits, had horrible floors. They were the 10x10 cheapest floor tiles available, the kind that are commonly seen on classroom floors (whitish with grey flecks) and they were in horrible condition.
I wrote a long rant about the condition of our floors but it was boring so I deleted it! The short version is that our floor is really the original pine sub-floor. It was not meant to be the main floor. And it seems as such--lots of splinters for my feet and gaps to hold things hostage. For some reason the landlord (who used to live in our apartment) LOVES these floors and probably spends almost as much on repairing them as it would cost to just put down new, easy to clean floors.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Confessions of filth
34/365
I am leaving this photo small because it is of something kind of gross. Craig tends to like things neat (throw it all in the basement to make the rest of the place look clean) while I am more concerned with actual cleanliness than clutter but not obsessively so. We are renting so I don't feel a strong urge to keep the place as spotless as I would if I planned to be in it for a long time. Counters, the tub, the floors, and the dog are all kept pretty clean. I vacuum pretty much every other day--I am usually barefoot at home so I like the floor to be clean and between the shedding dog and us tracking in dirt and the very old gap-ridden floors, it gets gross fast. I do a load of laundry almost every day. I scrub the tub often and the dog when he needs it, but there are a few little things I have trouble tackling.
Two biggies in that category are the spaces under/in the radiators and ceiling fans. Obviously these are not related to clutter so there is no way I'm getting Craig to touch them, so it's up to me. I use the vacuum hose on the radiators as best I can but there is still a whole world of dust bunnies in there somewhere, I'm sure. The fan is just such a pain. I have to get stools and then try not to knock all the gross dirt and god knows what all over myself. Well, right after taking this picture I cleaned the fan in our bedroom here for the first time an year and a half. From the bed, I was pretty sure it was growing some horrible mold but on closer inspection it was just a lot of dark dust.
This is not a beautiful or very interesting picture, but it might encourage me to (or one of you) to go clean something else that I have been neglecting.
I am leaving this photo small because it is of something kind of gross. Craig tends to like things neat (throw it all in the basement to make the rest of the place look clean) while I am more concerned with actual cleanliness than clutter but not obsessively so. We are renting so I don't feel a strong urge to keep the place as spotless as I would if I planned to be in it for a long time. Counters, the tub, the floors, and the dog are all kept pretty clean. I vacuum pretty much every other day--I am usually barefoot at home so I like the floor to be clean and between the shedding dog and us tracking in dirt and the very old gap-ridden floors, it gets gross fast. I do a load of laundry almost every day. I scrub the tub often and the dog when he needs it, but there are a few little things I have trouble tackling.
Two biggies in that category are the spaces under/in the radiators and ceiling fans. Obviously these are not related to clutter so there is no way I'm getting Craig to touch them, so it's up to me. I use the vacuum hose on the radiators as best I can but there is still a whole world of dust bunnies in there somewhere, I'm sure. The fan is just such a pain. I have to get stools and then try not to knock all the gross dirt and god knows what all over myself. Well, right after taking this picture I cleaned the fan in our bedroom here for the first time an year and a half. From the bed, I was pretty sure it was growing some horrible mold but on closer inspection it was just a lot of dark dust.
This is not a beautiful or very interesting picture, but it might encourage me to (or one of you) to go clean something else that I have been neglecting.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Comfort Food
33/365
Another food post, surprise! My mom made this recipe when I just getting into cooking more than baked goods and grilling chicken, and I loved it so she taught me how to make it. It's really easy and I've adjusted it over the years to my tastes. I think it is an easy recipe, but it does take a little time.
This is the beginning. Bell peppers and onion about to be sauteed with a little butter or olive oil.
After a few minutes of sauteing, I add the rice (brown) and brown it all some more. Once that is done, I turn off the heat and add Worcestershire sauce, cumin seed, and ground cumin. Cumin is one of my favorite seasonings.
Finished product, of rice with chicken.
My recipe (measurements do not have to be exact, other than getting the right ratio of water to rice for whatever kind of rice you use).
Saute:
2 T butter/oil
1 large onion, diced
2 bell peppers, diced
1 cup rice (add a few minutes after the first ingredients)
Remove from heat and add:
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 T ground cumin
1T cumin seed
In large casserole dish put:
rice mixture
chicken or vegetable broth, about 2.5 cups (depends on type and amount of rice used, go by the rice bag instructions)
lay chicken breasts over top
coat top with paprika
Cover dish with foil and bake at 350'F for about 30 minutes. Uncover (careful of the steam rushing out) and cook 25-40 additional minutes until chicken and rice are done. If you use thinly sliced chicken, it will probably be done by the time you uncover it so you can remove it and wrap it in the foil to keep from overcooking it.
Another food post, surprise! My mom made this recipe when I just getting into cooking more than baked goods and grilling chicken, and I loved it so she taught me how to make it. It's really easy and I've adjusted it over the years to my tastes. I think it is an easy recipe, but it does take a little time.
This is the beginning. Bell peppers and onion about to be sauteed with a little butter or olive oil.
After a few minutes of sauteing, I add the rice (brown) and brown it all some more. Once that is done, I turn off the heat and add Worcestershire sauce, cumin seed, and ground cumin. Cumin is one of my favorite seasonings.
Finished product, of rice with chicken.
My recipe (measurements do not have to be exact, other than getting the right ratio of water to rice for whatever kind of rice you use).
Saute:
2 T butter/oil
1 large onion, diced
2 bell peppers, diced
1 cup rice (add a few minutes after the first ingredients)
Remove from heat and add:
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 T ground cumin
1T cumin seed
In large casserole dish put:
rice mixture
chicken or vegetable broth, about 2.5 cups (depends on type and amount of rice used, go by the rice bag instructions)
lay chicken breasts over top
coat top with paprika
Cover dish with foil and bake at 350'F for about 30 minutes. Uncover (careful of the steam rushing out) and cook 25-40 additional minutes until chicken and rice are done. If you use thinly sliced chicken, it will probably be done by the time you uncover it so you can remove it and wrap it in the foil to keep from overcooking it.
Warmth
32/365
These two fleece blankets have seen me through many a chilly hour on the couch and they have even gone camping. For the amount of time they spend keeping me warm and cozy, these blankets deserve at least one photo in my 365 project.
These two fleece blankets have seen me through many a chilly hour on the couch and they have even gone camping. For the amount of time they spend keeping me warm and cozy, these blankets deserve at least one photo in my 365 project.
Pumpkin Bread
31/365
Years ago my mom gave me a Mary Englelbreit dessert cookbook. All the desserts in it sound great but this night I was in the mood for a not too sweet, but dense dessert so pumpkin loaf it was! It's not very good still warm, but let it sit overnight and this stuff is amazing. Too amazing (and easy) not to share the recipe. I added about double the spices. If you plan to make it, don't forget to get the butter and eggs out of the fridge earlier to get them to room temperature. I also think this would freeze well.
1 1/4 cups flour
1 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t ground cinnamon
1/4 t ground allspice
1/4 t ground ginger
1/2 t ground nutmeg
1/2 t salt
1/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar (I used light)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 vegetable oil
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 t vanilla
1 cup canned pumpkin
1. Preheat the oven to 350'F. Grease and flour an 8.5x4.5 inch loaf pan.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the first ingredients, flour through salt.
3. In a large bowl, beat the butter and both sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the oil. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla. On low speed, beat in the flour mixture, alternating with the pumpkin. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
4. Bake for 50-55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Remove cake from the pan, set right side up on wire rack and let cool completely before storing in a sealed container.
Years ago my mom gave me a Mary Englelbreit dessert cookbook. All the desserts in it sound great but this night I was in the mood for a not too sweet, but dense dessert so pumpkin loaf it was! It's not very good still warm, but let it sit overnight and this stuff is amazing. Too amazing (and easy) not to share the recipe. I added about double the spices. If you plan to make it, don't forget to get the butter and eggs out of the fridge earlier to get them to room temperature. I also think this would freeze well.
1 1/4 cups flour
1 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t ground cinnamon
1/4 t ground allspice
1/4 t ground ginger
1/2 t ground nutmeg
1/2 t salt
1/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar (I used light)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 vegetable oil
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 t vanilla
1 cup canned pumpkin
1. Preheat the oven to 350'F. Grease and flour an 8.5x4.5 inch loaf pan.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the first ingredients, flour through salt.
3. In a large bowl, beat the butter and both sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the oil. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla. On low speed, beat in the flour mixture, alternating with the pumpkin. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
4. Bake for 50-55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Remove cake from the pan, set right side up on wire rack and let cool completely before storing in a sealed container.
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