Journal 3 - From the Hip......

I loved this assignment. It was really fun to go out and just "point and shoot" without looking. Many of my shots were pretty crappy, but I was able to get seven really decent shots to post. The ice that formed around the trees was beautiful.

Chest Level - Angled Up
***

Ground Shot - Straight Up
***

Ground Shot - Straight Across
***

Chest Level - Angled Down
***

Ground Level - Straight Across
***

Above Head - Angled Down
***

Chest Level - Angled Up

Exercise 3 - Curves - NOT JUST FOR WOMEN!!!

Adjusting curves can take the image and correct it to be the way you want it to be, or you can change the image to be a much harsher looking image. Below is the original image, along with playing with curves.

Original Image

Curves Editing

Bathroom Ceiling

My bathroom is getting a mini makeover due to some major leakage of pipes. There are holes in my ceiling, the floors are covered in dust and grime, and it is generally not the clean feeling place it should be. However, I was able to take several really cool looking photos that I have edited slightly for effect.

Journal 2 - Portrait of an Object

I had a much easier time with this assignment. I chose an object that is important to me. The conch shell belonged to my uncle. He used it as the fog horn on his sailboat and it spent many years at my grandmothers house after his death. When my grandmother finally passed away, it was one of the few items I wanted. It reminds me of my uncle, it reminds me of my grandmother, and I am one of the few people who are able to blow it and get a good sound out of it. I did struggle a bit with the lighting but in the end I am pleased with how they turned out.

Exercise 1 & 2 - Adjusting Images in Photoshop

In PhotoShop, we learned how to resize a photo. This did not seem to affect how the photograph looks in this blog, however, when clicking on the image, it is much smaller when it is opened in the other window.

Original Image

Resized Image

We also learned a bit about using levels, color balance, and hue and saturation. This really can change how the photo looks. If the photo is too dark or too light, it can be changed with the levels. If the colors are not quite right, they can be changed with the color balance. If the image would appear better in black and white, or the brightness of the colors is too dull, that can be changed with the hue and saturation.

Levels Adjustment

Color Balance

Hue & Saturation

Journal 1 - 10 x 10

Assignment: Find an interesting location that is roughly your arm's length by arm's length (about 3x3). Think about the lighting, the shapes, lines, colors, values, and textures within, or that can be seen from that location. Without leaving that location, take 10 images considering how the lighting and the elements of art (line, shape, color/value, texture & space) help create or establish unified compositions. Consider balance, movement, and emphasis when unifying composition.

This assignment was very challenging for me. Every time I took out my camera took take pictures, I felt like what I was looking at wasn't very exciting and wasn't going to meet the requirements for the assignment. Eventually, I decided I need to just choose a spot to stand and do the assignment. The result is a look at my bathroom.

This is the 10 foot square location I chose to take my images of.

***

The next three shots are some that I took to help round out the shoot. I know that some of the shots above didn't really work, but some of them really did. I didn't want to completely redo this journal as I really feel it shows where I started and where I am finishing up.

White Balance and ISO

With all the photos I have taken in my life, I have never learned how to use the settings in my camera. There are many things that I know help take a better photo. The digital photography course I am taking this spring is going to be extremely helpful for me. The first class we were taught about using white balance and ISO. Below are some sample photos I took of beginning to understand how to use the different settings and features of my phone.

This photo was taken in my living room with tungsten lighting.
The white balance was taken off of auto, and set to CHECK SETTING.
This photo is much warmer than the actual living room setting. It makes the shot seem very inviting.

This photo was taken in my living room with tungsten lighting.
The white balance was taken off of auto, and set to CHECK SETTING.
This photo is much cooler than the actual living room setting. It makes the shot feel almost snobby.

This photo was taken in my living room with the overhead light on with the ISO set toof 50.
With the ISO set so low, the amount of light that was allowed in was very little, making the shot very dark.

This photo was taken in my living room with the overhead light on with the ISO set to 400.
With the ISO set so high, the photo comes out a tad bright, but a much nicer photograph than with the ISO set low.

White balance can change the whole feel of the shot, it can make it warmer or cooler, it can add life and take it away. Changing up the white balance can be helpful in taking the shot exactly how it is wanted to be taken. The ISO allows pictures to be taken in darker lighting without the use of a flash. A flash can make or break a photo and sometimes it is just to harsh.

I have a feeling I am going to enjoy this class a lot. Especially since we will be doing journal entry assignments that the instructor wants us to post online in a blog format. Not only will this be great for displaying assignments, but also in keeping me using my blog!

Climbing

I have recently gotten back into climbing and have found that between my weight loss, and the previous experiences, I am able to do quite a bit I didn't think I would be able to do before!
When working on bouldering, there are different routes to complete, each marked with its difficulty. When I used to climb, I was never able to complete a single V0, which other than a VFun, is the easiest level in bouldering. I have been very proud of myself for completing not only a V0, but also a V1, and working on a V2. While I am not always able to complete every one I attempt, each day I climb I am able to get just a little bit further, and complete a new move.
Climbing is my winter choice for keeping my weight down until the weather warms up and the roads dry up and I can start biking again.

Taco Mac and Cheese

Homemade macaroni and cheese is one of my favorite comfort foods, but I am always looking for ways to make it a bit different. I have come up with several so far and each is just as comforting, just as tasty, and just as easy to make.

Mac and Cheese


1lb Macaroni (or pasta shape of choice)
Salt
Pepper
2TBS Butter
1 Clove Garlic - minced
2TBS Flour
2 Cups Milk
3 Cups Shredded Cheese

Boil water and salt, add pasta and cook till done, drain and set aside.

Melt butter in bottom of saucepan,add garlic and saute, then add flour and whisking till smooth, 1-2 minutes.
Whisk in milk and salt and pepper.
Slowly add cheese, whisking occasionally. Do not let mixture burn.

Toss with pasta and serve.

Variations
~ Add to the mixture, one box of defrosted frozen chopped broccoli, and 1-2 cups diced ham
~ Add to the cheese mixture, one box of frozen squash, 1-2 cups diced chicken
~ Add browned, ground, taco seasoned beef (add a can of diced tomato's to the beef and taco seasoning and simmer till reduced before adding to the mac and cheese)

Mac and cheese also happens to be one of Jeremy's favorites, so coming up with new ways to make it keeps it from getting to be an old meal.

Urging of Friends

With the urging of friends, I am again going to attempt at keeping this blog updated. I am hoping that with the help of my digital photography class, which is going to be requiring me to keep a journal/blog of my photography assignment, will help me keep this going. Along with photographs, hopefully there will be some great dishes as well. Not all will be my own personal recipe, but dishes I have made from recipes found online or in cookbooks.
There have been many changes in my life as well. I am living in Burlington and have been for several months now. I am in a cute, small, two room studio on Pearl Street, 2 blocks from Church Street. Living with me is my boyfriend, Jeremy, whom I have been with for the last five months. He makes me happy and enjoys life as much as I do. I am no longer working at Capitol Grounds in Montpelier, my commute is about 15 minutes as opposed to the 60 minutes it was before; I am working at Hannaford in the deli department. I am taking classes again, working towards my
bachelors so that I can move forward with life.

Independance Day

So for the first time in my life, I didn't see the fireworks on the 4th of July! Ok, so that is not a complete truth, I was able to catch them out of my window while driving.

Pasta Salad

Deciding on what to make when attending a potluck is always challenging; I can never seem to decide what I want to make. Well, this time I decided to let the farm stand dictate my dish, based on what was fresh, local, and looked yummy.

The Farm Stand in Randolph is where I went looking for fresh food, and found beautiful rainbow chard and spinach, as well as succulent tomatoes. What ensued what a pasta salad with the wilted greens and some crumbled blue cheese.

Pasta Salad
1 pound pasta of choice
1/4 cup olive oil
6 cloves garlic
1 bunch rainbow chard (or dark leafy green)
1/2 pound spinach (or dark leafy green)
3 tomatoes
1/4 cup fresh parsley
1/4 cup fresh basil
1/4 cup blue cheese
salt and pepper

Fill a pot full of water, bring to a boil, salt and add pasta. Cook till done.
Place a large saute pan on the stove with the olive oil in the bottom, do not turn on the heat yet. Mince the garlic and add to the pan, turning the heat onto medium. While the garlic and oil heat up, roughly chop the chard and the spinach, adding to the pan. When all the greens are in the pan, give a toss with the olive oil and garlic, adding salt and pepper to taste, putting a lid on the pan and turning off the heat. Roughly chop the tomatoes and add to the greens.
Drain the pasta and toss with the tomatoes and greens. Chop the basil and parsley; add to the pasta, toss in the blue cheese and serve.
Can be served cold, warm, or hot!

New Tattoo!!!

I finally have the mermaid tattoo I have been wanting to get for 3 years now! She is beautiful.

Mitch from Fast Lane Tattoo exceeded my expectations with this.
I drove 3 hours to get to the party, 4.5 hours to get home (taking a detour to pick up a friend) and it was well worth the time spent.
My next tattoo will hopefully be done by Patsy, the owner of Fast Lane Tattoo, and will be an Olivia Mermaid.
She will be on my left shoulder blade; hopefully she will be the jumping off point to create at least a half sleeve on my left arm as well.
I spent five years looking for the perfect mermaid for tattoo, and one I just got and the Olivia Mermaid are the two I came across. It took me close to five years to find them, and then it has taken me three years to get the first one.
I have tried many times to come up with a specific reason on why mermaids. I have been unable to express in words their meaning to me. They are one of the few things I collect that has no purpose other than to please me. (By that I mean I collect Sydenstricker Glass, but that is as useful as it is beautiful). It is between my draw to the sea and water in general and the urge to always want what I am unable to obtain, that pulls me to them I believe.
When and if I am ever able to put into words the hold mermaids have on me, I will let you know.

Long time...

Life is hectic. Many changes have happened recently; I would like to think they are all for the better.

I am no longer living in Montpelier, things between Stan and I have ended. I am working at Capitol Grounds, getting up at ungodly hours of the morning.

Looking for work in Burlington, looking for a place to live in Burlington.

Been hiking and biking a lot with Bethany, playing volleyball with my step brothers.

Working on keeping touch with friends who matter, and understanding it is ok to let friends go who don't care.

Who needs movie theater popcorn!

I love popcorn! It is one of my favorite snacks and I would rather have popcorn than chips.
Now, I am not talking about microwave popcorn. Air popped popcorn is the way to go.
My recipe is not an exact science. Please use the amounts that work for you.

All Time Favorite Popcorn
4+ cups of air popped popcorn
1-2 TBS butter & 1-2 TBS olive oil melted together
1-2 TBS nutritional yeast
1-2 TBS powdered cheddar
1-2 tsp garlic powder
1-2 tsp chili powder
salt

Drizzle half of the butter/olive oil mixture over the popcorn, sprinkle with salt, and half of all other ingredients, toss. Repeat with the rest of the ingredients!

ENJOY!!!

Frozen Bitterness

“I am never baby-sitting for the Fisk’s again!” Kelly thought to herself as she hurried home along the snow covered sidewalk. “I was supposed to have been home at three. They didn’t even apologize for being so late, and then, on top of that, they didn’t even pay me! Just pushed me out the door saying they would get me the money another time.”

As the temperature dropped, the snow began to fall harder, limiting visibility to a few feet in front of Kelly; she had to rely on the mailboxes and fences to know where she was. Still simmering over how the Fisk’s had treated her; she didn’t see the car careening around the corner until it was right in front of her.

“Oh shit,” Kelly squealed as she leapt backwards, stumbling and landing hard on her tailbone. With the breath knocked out of her, it was all she could do to concentrate on where the car went. Since the visibility had been so low, she prayed the diminishing rumble of the exhaust meant the car was safely past her. The car had in fact been some type of dark SUV, reminding her of the Explorer the Fisk’s drove.

It wasn’t until Kelly had stood up, picked up her bag that she dropped, and started walking that she realized the SUV had turned around and was heading back her way. The SUV appeared to be ambling along, a much more appropriate speed for the weather conditions than it was traveling before.

Ducking her head to avoid the harshness of the wind and snow, Kelly proceeded to continue towards home, not giving another thought to the SUV. Kelly took a glance to her right and knew that she was almost home; it was so hard to mistake the Lincoln’s flamingo mailbox.

Kelly turned to walk up her driveway, only to hear a loud crack; she slumped to the ground as the stars danced in front of her eyes.

Written during my creative writing 2 class - Spring 2007

Seafood Salad

I have a really yummy seafood salad I like to make and serve with grilled flank steak as a surf and turf meal. Great in the summer time! (or in the winter when you wanna feel like it is summer)

1 lobster - 1 1/4 lbs uncooked
1.5 lb shrimp
1.5 lb bay scallops
2 lemons
1 onion
1 stalk of celery
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon chili powder
salt and pepper
2 avocados

Bring large pot of water to boil, dropping lobster in and cooking for approximately 10 minutes.
Drain and cool, removing all the meet from the tail, claws, joints, and back. Dice the tail and claws into chunks. Set aside.

Quarter the onion, quarter 1 lemon, cut the celery stalk in half. Bring another pot of water to a boil with the onion, lemon, and celery in the pot. Add the shrimp and cook until bright pink, approximately 5-6 minutes. Drain immediately and drop in cold water. Peel and halve shrimp, set aside.

Saute scallops in a little bit of olive oil until done, approximately 5-6 minutes. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine the juice of 1 lemon, mayonnaise, chili powder, and salt and pepper. The sauce should be thin, but not runny. If runny, add a little more mayonnaise. Taste and alter seasonings accordingly. Add seafood to bowl, stir to coat.

Cut avocado in half, remove pit, scoop from skin. Keep halves intact, placing each on a plate. Fill the center, allowing to overflow onto the plate, with 1/4 of the salad mixture.

I hope you enjoy! As I stated above, I love to serve this with a grilled flank steak!

Friends

She stepped off the bus into the hot sun
A bag over her shoulder
A book in her hand

With one look from me she ran
Straight into my arms, dropping everything
Squeezing me tight

Without a sound, we climbed into my car
Windows open to let the hot breeze pass us
Slowing to see our old hometown

“My dad left us, six months ago”
The first words uttered between us
Tears streaming down her cheeks

Pulling into the parking lot, we climb out
Hand in hand we approached the swings
Choosing the ones from so long ago

Higher and higher we go
Trying to reach the sky
“He’s been having an affair with my parent’s best friend”

Slowly we touch back down
Still in my seat, I reach over to her
Giving her a hug and telling her

“I’ll always be there”

Standing up, I walk over to the balance beam
Giver her a minute to collect
I tip toe across, dip and turn

I sit down to wait, watching
Slowly she rises and looks my way
The distance between us is crossed quickly

I slide over, offering her the warm seat
Her head is put on my shoulder
My arms slip around her neck and waist

The words start to flow
Her pain makes me cry and I hold her tight
Hearing her words, listening to her hurts

No advice passes my lips, no words period
Shaking, I guide her to stand
Turning, we start to walk, arm in arm

The tears stop, the words stop
Approaching a stream, we take our shoes off
Letting the water cool us, we start to laugh

Written in my Creative Writing Class - Fall 2002

Cream of Mushroom Soup

I hate mushrooms, mainly their texture, but I still make a really yummy cream of mushroom soup. George, on of my best friends, stopped by the apartment the other day unexpectedly. Since Hannah is low on the cash flow, and George was hungry, making something at home made sense.
Cream of mushroom is Georges favorite, and since he was paying, I made what he wanted (I had a tiny tiny bowl to taste it and toast.)

Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 tablespoon of olive oil
2 tablespoons of butter
1 10 oz package sliced Crimini mushrooms
1 10 0z package sliced button mushrooms
1 quart of chicken stock
1 cup of white wine
1 pint of heavy cream
3 garlic cloves - minced
1 small shallot - minced
salt and pepper

In a deep soup pot, add the olive oil, butter, minced garlic and shallot, turning the heat to medium. When the air starts to smell like garlic and shallot, add the sliced mushrooms, tossing to coat and allow to brown and soften. After approximately 5 minutes, add the wine, a tablespoon or two at a time, allowing to reduce before adding more.
Once all the wine is added, slowly, a cup at a time, add the chicken stock. I like to make my cream of mushroom soup thin, so I use the entire quart. Depending on how thick/think you like the soup use as much or as little of the chicken stock as you wish. Season with salt and pepper. Allow the soup to simmer for about 5 minutes, blend with an immersion blender, or in small batches in a regular blender. Whisk in the cream and serve.

Saturday Night Bowl 'o' Rama!

Central Vermont, dead of winter, no snow. What to do when the normal winter activities of ice skating, sledding, and snowshoeing are removed from the list? Dinner and bowling of course!

Since this was Stan's party, he took care of the invitations, sending out the amazing:

S A T U R D A Y N I G H T B O W L ' O ' R A M A

_________________________(O)___________(O)
_________________________||_____(O)____||
__.----._________________||_____||_____||
_/___O_O\_______________/__\____||____/__\
_'____O_'______________:____:__/__\__:____:
_\______/______________|____|_:____:_|____|
__`----'________________\__/__|____|__\__/__
_______________________________\__/

BOWLING AND DINNER EVENT OF THE YEAR

Stan asked me to fix dinner, and of course, being the Rachael Ray fan that I am, found a recipe from one of her many cookbooks that I own. The reviews that you read where people claim they cannot prepare anything of hers within 30 minutes must not know how to multitask. I have never had a problem preparing one of her meals in under 30 minutes unless I walk out of the kitchen to tend to other business!

Southwestern Pasta Bake
coarse salt
1 lb penne
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut into bite-size pieces (6 oz. each)
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon ground coriander
2 tablespoons chili powder coarse black pepper
1 large yellow onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
3/4 lb sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Of course, I did make some substitutions! I don't really like onions, so I substituted two shallots for the onion, and cilantro tastes like soap to me, so I just used some extra parsley!

Get a big pot of water on to boil, when boiling, add some salt, and pasta, cook till the pasta is almost done. Preheat the oven to 350 f.

While water boils, cut up chicken, season with a little salt and pepper, the cumin, curry, and chili powder, add to fry pan with a little bit of oil. I have a pump bottle that you put oil into to just coat a pan, and that is what I used instead of two tablespoons of oil. As the chicken cooks, chop up the onion (shallot), garlic, and jalapeno, adding to the pan of chicken when chicken is cooked.

In another pan (or, do as I did and wait until the chicken is done cooking and set it aside in a bowl). Add the butter and flour, allowing the butter to melt, absorbing the flour and let cook for a minute. Season with salt and pepper and slowly whisk in milk. When whisked and warm, start to whisk in shredded cheese.

When cheese sauce is complete, mix with chicken mixture and pasta. Place in oven safe dish and bake for 15-20 minutes till hot and bubbly.

Home Style Salad Dressing
1 large shallot
3 garlic cloves
handful of parsley
several tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper
several tablespoons of olive oil

Place everything into food processor or mini chop-chop and blend. Then add olive oil and blend again, placing is dish to serve! Enjoy!

Dinner was excellent, and bowling was even better! For the first time ever, I was not the only loser! Granted, I was a loser, I just had someone tie with me.