Turn Around

the loyal are the left behind

and I won't turn around

So Many Reasons

Sigh. Big, big, happy sigh. For so many reasons.

Up-and-Down

When I was in college for my undergrad, my favorite photography instructor would go on and on about how much she hated vertical photos. She taught four (or maybe five?) of my six photo classes, and after just one semester, I started to develop my own dislike of them. I found them aesthetically displeasing. They seemed truncated, as if I tore out the last chapter of a book, or left off an essential garnish on a favorite dish. Horizontal or square seemed to make much better sense in my head. But I also had a fear of being marked down for producing a body of vertical photos, so there was that.

My instructor's sentiments stuck with me though, and it took almost 10 years before I shot anything vertically. I shot a roll of 35 last summer and forced myself to think up-and-down, instead of left-to-right. I could feel my instructor rolling her eyes at me. But I did it, and I sort of liked it. I really love the idea of shooting two vertical images and pairing them as a diptych, a la my most favorite photos ever of Heather Howard's (but let's be honest... everything she does is amazing), and when I have more time to shoot this summer, I'm going to give it a try. I don't think in pairs, so it'll be a fun challenge.

And since I'm posting again, twice this month even, how about another little list? I've been working on gathering some links over the past week, so here you go...

1. The Subversive Charm of Day Drinking - It's from 2012, but was a fun little read. Bonus points for the playlist at the end.
2. The Salt and Pepper Diner - Anything John Mulaney, but especially this.
3. Urban Farming Magazine - Hooray for a new subscription! Can't wait to get my first copy.
4. Egg Quesadillas w/Poblano Corn Relish - These are going on my table tomorrow. Fo sho.
5. Which classic rock band are you? - Led Zeppelin. Rightfully so.
6. Barack, Between Two Ferns - So much of me wants Zach Galifianakis to be like this in real life.
7. Want, want, want x4 - I love Klean Kanteen!
8. Tour de Coffee - There should be a tour for the entire Oregon Coast. Just saying.
9. Crunchy Quinoa Granola - Getting a batch in the oven this afternoon.
10. The Doubles Project - You need some new art on your walls.

Consumed

Every fiber of my being is consumed... by thoughts of the months ahead, of road trips, sand, and fog, of relationships new and old, of gardening and sunshine, of music and photography, and projects galore. I have been so consumed I forgot it was my blog's anniversary. February 2005 to February 2014. Nine years last week. So much has happened in that time. So much growing, loving, and learning. So many photos and snippets of my life shared with the world. I can only hope the next nine years are as beautiful as these past nine have been.

I haven't been much of a blogger lately, and in the olden days, I'd make an effort to try to correct that, but it's just not my thing anymore. Maybe it's temporary. Maybe not. Life is just too busy. I love the idea of posting often and being more involved, but I can't promise to make it a reality. It doesn't help that I haven't picked up a camera in months. Really. September was the last time I shot anything, besides iPhone photos I post over on Instagram. I always have a lull this time of year, but this time it's different. My whole world has sort of been shaken up, in a good way, and sometimes I think about phasing photography out of it and the thought doesn't entirely bother me. Maybe I'm just getting older, or more conscientious of where I spend my money. Or maybe I'm just shifting my focus onto other things. My fridge is still full of (now expired) film though, and my closet is full of cameras, so it's not like I'm closing up shop any time soon.

But since I'm here, why not make an honest-to-goodness blog post? I began reading bits of Shutterbean over the weekend, where Tracy shares lists of things she loves. And we all know about Andrea's penchant for lists... So, instead of posting a bunch of photos (because as a photo editor, the last thing I feel like doing is editing my own photos), here's a list of things I'm loving these days...

1. The best/weirdest-looking espresso maker ever.
2. Long email conversations with faraway friends.
3. This Tiny Desk Concert from 2010.
4. Dreaming up an epic road trip.
5. Chocolate, but not just any chocolate.
6. Anything and everything by Amy Hamilton.
7. This post about the anonymity of the internet.
8. Somehow I've fallen in love with New Girl.
9. Chocolate croissants and lattes.
10. We have gone through hundreds of these since Christmas already.
11. Karly's snow day.
12. A new recipe for soup.
13. These two and the ensuing laughter.
14. Croc-like but oh, so much better!
15. The trifecta: booze, espresso, ice cream.

Today I'm 36

Today I'm 36. I won't lie. 35 kicked my ass. It was a good year, but a very, very tough year in which I faced a few things I never imagined I'd have to take on. I came through ok, not exactly with flying colors, but life goes on and all I can do is go right along with it. 

I decided several months ago not to share a birthday list this year like I've done in years past. This time, I'm just keeping it to myself. I'm sure I'll share bits and pieces of my year along the way, but for the most part, I feel like I want to unplug and disconnect a little. 

I did a lot of wonderful things in 2013, saw beautiful places, drank a lot of coffee, cooked quite a bit, traveled more than I hoped I would, and spent good amounts of time with people I love. And really, I couldn't have asked for more. But I'm hoping for more of everything good in 2014. It started off quite well in Jackson, Wyoming and Grand Teton National Park, and I can only hope it gets better from here.

Colorado on Redscale

We love Colorado. Last year, 2012, we flew to Denver for a concert at Red Rocks, it was Yonder Mountain String Band, I believe, and rented a car we called "the pickle" - an ugly, ugly pickle-green, cheap compact that got us around not in style. It was brand new, had less than 100 miles on it, but ugh, it was ugly. It got us where we wanted to go though, which included Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park and Trail Ridge Road, Grand Lake, and Red Rocks. And Boulder the next morning for breakfast and a river walk.

I took along my Pentax K1000 and a roll of redscale film, which is regular color film rolled backwards into its canister. It ends up with these crazy red, yellow, orange, and purple tones, and since I always wanted to shoot a roll, I did. Now I never need to again. I like the results, but they are pretty wild. Stay tuned for some not-weird images from our Colorado trip from this year, also in August.

October

I can't believe it's October. I can't believe it's October 12! The month is half over. We have been everywhere but outside enjoying the crisp fall weather and the colorful displays up in the mountains. The past few months, as usual, have been a whirlwind of busy. I haven't photographed one single leaf yet, and to be quite honest, I don't plan to. So how about a few Fuji instant photos from last fall? These were from a drive we took up Big Cottonwood Canyon and over Guardsman Pass. It was a Sunday. There was coffee. There was beer. I think we ended up at Squatter's that night for dinner. Either there or Porcupine Pub, which is where I'd like to end up tonight for beer cheese soup. Mmm. I can't believe it's October.

Yankee Fork & Custer

Yankee Fork is one of my favorite places in Idaho. It's just outside Stanley and very near the Sawtooth Mountains. It's got gorgeous mountain scenery, a crystal clear river, a dirt road, remarkable mining history, and a ghost town to boot. These photos are from last summer, in July of 2012, when I was photographing campgrounds in the Sawtooth National Forest for my second-to-last Forest Service trip. Soon after I left, lightning started the Halstead Fire, which forced the closure of Yankee Fork and the ghost town of Custer. And this year, other fires worked their way around the area, some forcing evacuations at Redfish Lake. Fire changes the landscape time and again, but it'll always be a place I love and want to visit.

On this trip to the Yankee Fork, I had no assignments and no time constraints. I drove up alongside the river (the Yankee Fork of the Salmon) and stopped wherever and whenever I wanted. I wandered down to one of the ponds left by the Yankee Fork Dredge (in the third photo) and saw a giant snake skin. I screamed (of course I did) and then quickly climbed back up to the road. Ugh. I wandered around the dredge a bit and really wished I'd gotten there in time for a tour. I drove a little further up to Custer for a self-guided walking tour. I was the only one there, and being in a ghost town in the Idaho backcountry, it was a little unsettling, but cool nonetheless. 

I headed back to Stanley for the night before the sun set, and caught a beautiful view of the Sawtooths (above). The first time I saw that little cabin, I wanted to stop for a photo but had no time. The second time it had about 6 feet of snow on it. The third time was in late spring and was pouring rain and throwing out an occasional wet snowflake. But fourth time proved to be a charm. The fifth time was so smoky it was barely visible. Good thing I stopped on the fourth visit!

'Roid Week Offerings

Already a month ago, 'Roid Week 2013 was a big deal. It always is. It's a weeklong celebration of Edwin Land and his magical legacy of instant film. I meant to post these as the days went by, but it didn't happen. I have had good intentions with my blog this summer, but it's just been too busy. I've started posting over on my food/recipe blog, Budding Foodie, once a week and that has sort of gotten my blogging attention since I've had time to cook but not to play with my film cameras. It's been so long that I honestly thought of selling some of my cameras just recently, but then thought, "Don't be stupid, Stupid." So settle down. No one's going to get a steal deal on any of my cameras. Or my film.

So 'Roid Week. These were my offerings this year. Goodies from Oregon, Capitol Reef National Park, Mirror Lake in the Uintas, and cozy little Ogden Valley. All places I love. All shot with people I love. It's been a beautiful year so far.

Out Back

We had a long, cold, deep winter this year. A blanket of snow sometimes 2, 3, 4 feet deep covered everything in sight, and for months straight. The monochrome landscape had me dreaming of my garden, and as soon as the soil warmed enough, and the threat of a major frost subsided, we planted the hell out of our backyard. You know, to say "Take that, snow! And don't come back till November." So far, so good.

On a warm, bright mid-May day, my husband tilled our elevated bed so I could get in there. I bought starts from the local nursery, Rockin' E, which also happens to be where I pick up our CSA share (I'm sure you care.). I planted Brussels sprouts, two varieties of broccoli, red onions, celery, peppers galore (Anaheim, Big Bertha, orange bells, jalapeno, poblano, and Purple Beauty), San Marzano and Roma tomatoes, acorn squash, straightneck squash, zucchini, bush beans (Royal burgundy and Blue Lake), peas, and pumpkins. And that was just in the garden. I also potted basil (Italian, cinnamon, and lemon), Italian parsley, dill, cilantro, rosemary, oregano, chives, mint, and English thyme.

 The garden one month ago. Growing, but sparse and kind of sad.

The garden last week. Healthy and full. Quite a difference!

I've read so much about a decline in pollinators, and after a Memorial weekend visit to Capitol Reef National Park, which is full of historic fruit orchards but is suffering from a severe lack of bees, I was inspired to create a little mason bee house. Capitol Reef has man-made mason bee houses hanging from nearly every fruit tree in the park, each intended to encourage bees to nest and pollinate and keep the orchards viable. I made mine from a log from our cabin, and a 5/16" drill bit. I haven't noticed too much mason bee activity, but thanks in part to the bee- and butterfly-attracting perennials I've planted in the backyard, we've got pollinators a-plenty.

I harvested my first produce last Friday (on the left), and again this past Monday (on the right). I've been cutting herbs several times a week since I potted them, and to keep up with how much I'm using, I've had to plant additional Italian basil, cilantro, dill, and parsley seeds. It's a dream having fresh herbs to use in our meals. I have loved marching outside with kitchen shears and coming back with a handful of this or that. I'm going to be so sad when they die back in the fall. I'll be dehydrating and freezing like a fool, just to preserve that fresh flavor!

I've got another small head of broccoli to harvest over the weekend, a few onions maybe, and a handful of beans, but the unbearable heat wave (102-107˚!) that rolled through all of last week sort of slowed my garden down. It much prefers mid to upper 90s, which is what is forecasted for the next week, so I should have more beans, more squash, and maybe an orange bell!

Between our garden, our CSA, and the Salt Lake Farmers Market, we are eating extremely fresh and local, and that makes this girl incredibly happy. It's been a joy coming up with new recipes and perusing places like foodgawker for ideas. Cooking and gardening have become my two favorite hobbies lately. I actually enjoy meal planning, grocery shopping, all the prep work, and even working in a hot kitchen. Maybe I should have gone into the restaurant business. Or catering. Something.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some weeding to do...

Thanks Oregon

It's high time I shared some of my photos from my trip to the Oregon Coast back in April. My dad invited me and my niece Maggie on a vacation house-hunting adventure. We looked at probably a dozen homes from Cannon Beach to Pacific City, from cozy cottages to an all-out giant of a house. Most with ocean views, some ocean front, and one Nehalem State Park-front. All beautiful, all so much fun to see ourselves vacationing at as a family. In the end though, none spoke up to my dad and said, "Buy me!" so he'll continue the search, which for him, is sometimes more fun that the actual purchasing.

We flew to PDX on a Tuesday, stopped at Kenny & Zukes Bagelworks (of course) on our way out of town, and got to Cannon Beach and our usual little rental that afternoon. The sun was out and Haystack Rock gleamed in the misty sunshine. Maggie was in heaven - it was her first time at the ocean. She chased birds while the waves chased her. She touched kelp, threw rocks, tasted salt. I loved watching her explore her new environment.

The next morning, we meandered down the coast to Pacific City, where Vanessa met up with us. We all toured a monstrous, three-story oceanfront beauty (3,000+ square feet!), then my dad and Maggie headed back to Cannon, and Vanessa and I drove the Three Capes Scenic Drive and shot a whole lot of film along the way. We also stopped at Garibaldi's harbor, and wandered the docks. Vanessa stayed with us in Cannon that night, and we all toured homes in Manzanita, Nehalem, and Tolovana throughout the day, before she headed back to Portland.

On Friday, we took a leisurely drive through Arch Cape, where a few of these images are from. The weather was quintessential Oregon Coast weather - swirling mists, clouds, fog, heavy rain, spots of sunshine - and the trees in Arch Cape combined to create epic photo opportunities. I shot almost an entire pack of Polaroid 600 in five minutes there, several images from this roll in my Pentax K1000, a bunch of iPhone pics, and half a dozen Fuji instants too. It was a whirlwind, and so much fun. After that, we drove through Manzanita and on to Cape Meares so Maggie could see her first lighthouse, and she ended up seeing about 100 harbor seals too.

On our last day, we took the long way back to PDX, up through Astoria and into Portland via Highway 30, with a short detour across the Astoria-Megler Bridge and up to Dismal Nitch in Washington. That way, Mags got to add another state to her list of those visited, if only for a few minutes. It was a lovely drive, and a beautiful way to end such a nice, relaxing vacation. I have stacks of Polaroids to share, and I will eventually on my Flickr page. Head over there to see more from this roll. Thanks Oregon, for another beautiful visit.