random reflections

More Fun

Here's my second project for Stacy's More Fun class at BPS. This month's assignments have focused on being productive. This is an album of our photos from July's trip to California: 176 photos in an album! I love this system of using a 2-up album with journaling cards.

I made the tiny photos with a contact sheet in Lightroom 2.0. This is a new program for me, and they came out just the way I hoped.

Thanks to Sarah's friend, Jessica, who took a series of family photos.

One of the suggestions Stacy gave us was to work with limited product and consistent design which really speeded up the process. All the papers are from the new Scenic Route Sonoma collection. I stuck with a simple circle stamp, a American Crafts Thickers number, and the date.

I have two more projects to get done before Stacy starts the September agenda. Then there is July, which totally went by the wayside because of our traveling. So nice to be retired and see that the time is there.

Fingerlakes Trail

Saturday six of us hiked a portion of the Fingerlakes Trail outside of Naples, NY. (The photographer of the first photo, Diane, is of course missing from the picture.) It was a beautiful day and a leisurely hike. Not much uphill, although I think downhill is harder on my knees and feet than uphill. We had a great time.

Scrapbooks, Etc.

It's been a long time since I posted any of the layouts, etc. that I've done. I'm taking Stacy Julian's More Fun class at BPS. I finished one little album and just about have all the photos ready for a bigger vacation album. In the meantime, I've made a couple of cards and have an old layout as well.

This little album is one of those $1.00 affairs, but it made a nice little album for all the flower photos we took in California.

The idea for this card came from the BPS Big Wig Bash going on for free this week. This is based on Nic Howard's handout.

I made this card based on an idea sheet from Archivers.

The photo says it all--this was done a while ago.

Another layout from several months ago.

And the most recent one. Not happy with how it photographed, however. Much better in real life.

Fresh Tomato Soup

I've been wanting to try to make some fresh tomato soup, and finally the homegrown tomatoes are here. Tracy and I dug out the tomato press we bought years ago when we used to can tomato sauce. It took a few minutes to figure out how to get it together, but it was certainly worth the effort. What an invention! I'm sure Unclutterer would tag this as a unitasker--a one function piece of equipment, but boy is it worth having around. Seeds and skins out one side, tomato pulp out the other!

Here's the recipe:

2 Tbs. olive oil
2 Tbs. butter
2 medium onion, chopped
2 lbs. fresh tomatoes, peeled and quartered (mine were mashed--obviously!)
1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
2 Tbs. fresh thyme
3 cups chicken broth
1 tsp. salt
ground black pepper
(I added a teaspoon of sugar at the end)

Heat oil and butter and saute onions until just tender.

Add tomatoes, tomato paste, basil and thyme, mashing up tomatoes with the back of a spoon, if necessary.
Add chicken broth: bring mixture to boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 40 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot. Serves 6.

From the All Seasons Cookbook which I purchased during a visit to Mystic Seaport, Connecticut years ago.

California: Part 2

It's only taken me three weeks to edit the photos from California. In fairness, I did it in Lightroom 2.0 which is a new program to me. Since 2.0 was just released there are no books to help you along, so I enrolled in the KelbyTraining site and watched several hours of (wonderful) video on Lightroom 2.0. I like it a lot, but have a lot yet to learn. So here are photos from the rest of our trip.

Among many other sights, we enjoyed some time in China Town where we visited the Fortune Cookie Factory. Warm, right from the cooker, fortune cookies are delicious!

Tracy and I spent a great day in Napa. We toured the diRosa Nature and Art Preserve and did some wine tasting at Artesa Winery.

The grape fields.

One of the many sculptures in the fields at diRosa.

Aresa Winery

Adam has a new job starting September 1 as a pastor for youth and young adults at the Asbury Methodist Church in Livermore, CA. He and Sarah will be moving there a month from now, having successfully sublet their apartment in Oakland. We spent a morning & afternoon there. Livermore, like Napa, is surrounded by wineries.

Asbury Methodist Church in Livermore

Matt, Tracy, and I took the ferry from Tiburon and hiked to the top of Mt. Livermore on Angel Island. It was a very brisk day, but the views (360 degrees on the Sunset Trail) were spectacular.

We also hiked from Bear Valley Information Center out to Arched Rock in Point Reyes National Park. It was a beautiful hike through the woods to a outcrop overlooking the Pacific.

One of the best excursions was to Golden Gate State Park and the Dale Chihuly exhibition at the deYoung Museum. Here are a few of the lovely glass sculptures we saw.

We also spent a day at Muir Woods and Muir Beach. Much more crowded than any of the other parks, but the redwoods are impressive.

Our last day, we drove to Santa Cruz. On the way back, we came upon a group of kite boarders. They were incredible to watch.

California: Part 1

We arrived in San Francisco on Friday afternoon after a relatively smooth (but long) flight.

We've been busy and seen a lot. Saturday we went to Walnut Creek and did a lot of shopping for Sarah who needs "business casual" for her new job at Kaplan. I never thought to get out my camera! On Sunday Sarah, Tracy and I went to the Oakland Farmers Market. Lots of great organic produce as well as live entertainment.

Then we drove to Sausalito which is beautiful but was very crowded and much more touristy than I expected.
The harbor is gorgeous.

Then we went on to Tiburon where Sarah and Adam are leading a new Episcopal congregation this summer. It is just as beautiful, in my opinion, as Sausalito, and much less crowded. We had dinner after church at a fabulous Mexican restaurant on the bay. If you look closely you can see San Francisco (in the haze).

Yesterday Tracy and I drove to Bodega Bay. Sarah was studying for her Kaplan training and Adam has been training at the Apple Store. On our way we drove along Tomales Bay.

Tomales Bay.

Bodega Bay.

Just north of the bay, we found great views of the Pacific. When we drove up the coast last time (12 years ago) it was so fogged in we never really saw the ocean or the coast clearly enough to take a photograph.

More later.

Happy Fourth of July

This is Bestor Plaza at noon today. There is no better place to celebrate the Fourth of July than at Chautauqua Institute. This is the third Independence Day we've spent here, and I never tire of the music and festivities. Although I certainly don't agree with much that the present administration of our country does, I am eternally grateful to be an American.

More photos of the day:

Happy 4th of July!

Project 365

I threw up my hands in March when I realized I just couldn't keep up with a photo-a-day. I recently acquired a copy of everyday:  a yearlong photo diary. After reading it, I decided to try again. So I'll be posting photos again under the Photo-a-Day log on the sidebar. Yesterday's is posted. It feels good to get behind the camera again.

Done!!!!

Today marks the official start of my retirement, although my last day of work was four days ago. I had one day at home (sick; still am) before we left for Chautauqua Institute where we are spending a week with my in-laws. I haven’t had much time to reflect on what retirement may be like. I do know that the last month was a whirl-wind of activity. Lots of lovely events planned to honor me (and my principal who is also retiring.) Many, many cards and letters from current and former students, families, and staff. It really was wonderful.

My classroom is cleared out. I packed nine boxes of children’s books and professional texts for my niece who is soon to be an elementary school teacher, brought home two boxes of picture books I wanted to save, and the rest of my 37 years yielded three boxes of miscellaneous “stuff” I couldn’t yet part with. Now my study contains only scrapbook and card making supplies, and books on photography, simplifying your life, and computer manuals. I must admit I’m looking forward to never grading another paper, never filling out another literacy or numeracy profile, never having another parent conference, hosting another curriculum night or another open house. . . I’m ready for some serious time at the gym, behind the camera, and at my desk creating.

But first, there’s vacation. After our week here, we have just five days at home before we leave for two weeks in California to visit Sarah and Adam who just moved to Oakland. It’s been twelve years since we’ve been to the west coast, and I’m looking forward to some great sightseeing and hiking in the San Francisco area and time with family.

Happy Memorial Day

It's good to have our flag flying again.