Good Times

Last night Justin and I went on a little hike before we headed over to hear No Little Kindness. We went to Eaton Canyon, the lower part, the same place we went to with a few friends on Sunday. On Sunday we went right at sunset, we were trekking through the tall grass with no worries, some were even wearing sandals; we left with plenty of stickers in our shoes and bug bites.



Last night Justin and I did the same hike... accept this time, half way through our walk Justin freaks out because I nearly stepped on a snake... luckily it wasn't a rattler, but nonetheless, cool! I am little bit oblivious when it comes to seeing-things-while-walking. But Justin on the other hand, he has an eagle eye! Which is ironic, because in our relationship, I am the detail-oriented person, and Justin... not so much.



After seeing that snake, we decide its about time to head out of the tall grass. I look down, determining to be vigilant, keeping a close eye out, focusing, and then:

Justin: "holy sh*t!!"
Amanda: "What! What's wrong?" ... "hello! What are you freaking out about!?"
Justin: "You just walked over a F-in rattle snake! Didn't you see it?!"
Amanda: "What! I am going to run back to the trail, ok!?"
Justin: "NO!"



Needless to say, under pressure, we crack. But we made it out in one piece, barely.
Eaton Canyon is so full of life! A lot of those being bugs, but we also saw a rabbit, and some really neat birds. Here are the creatures that stood still long enough for us to take a photo:





PS - Got to give credit where credit is due: Justin took most of these photos.

Joshua Tree

Who knew the desert was so full of life?

I LOVE Joshua Tree: Climbing the boulders made me feel adventurous. Watching my husband climb the steep rocks made me nervous, but strangely proud. The sun is powerful, burning my skin! But the golden light makes me feel alive and inspired. There were so many plants and life that I wanted to search and find each kind; they were so textured, I felt like I had to touch each one to know it.

And the friends, they completed the experience, you guys are wonderful and a true joy to be around.











Thanks for having a birthday Caitlin, and for choosing this way to celebrate.

Happy Earth Day

Happy Earth Day. Here's to the Earth that our God created in His wisdom and intricacy. It is a speck in the infinite universe. It hold us, it sustains us, it contains life, it feeds us. And the Earth has been entrusted to us, we use it and take from it, but we try to do so in sustainable ways, in conscious of each other, our health, the animals, and future generations. Here's to you, Earth!

From something I read today, ways to make a difference, no matter how small:

• Take the bus or train, or ride your bike
• Plant a tree or garden
• Compost
• Stop using plastic water bottles
• Don't use plastic grocery bags
  
• Find new uses for old things -Up-cycle
• Use green cleaners
• Pass on paper towels
• Spend more time outdoors

Our avocado tree... going strong.

April: "A Faerie Tale Told"

April's Photo Trade was a little bit of a challenge, it was entitled: "A Faerie Tale Told"

I chose Alice in Wonderland - I think mainly because I was re-reading the book recently, and I love it. My photos aren't literal, just small tidbits taken from the story - and in my style of photographing nature... So, I made it fit.


"All in the golden afternoon
Full leisurely we glide..."


"...she was considering in her own mind
(as well as she could, for the hot day made
her feel very sleepy and stupid),
whether the pleasure of making a daisy-chain
would be worth the trouble of getting up
and picking the daisies..."



"...There was a large mushroom growing near her,
about the same height as herself;
when she had looked under it, and on both sides of it,
and behind it, it occurred to her that she might as well
look and see what was on top of it."

Sunday Evening

It was a hot one, but the evening was just right...







About the last post, I am going ahead with it, I should be sending out an email soon, thank you for the responses! =)

March: Green

I recently joined a photo exchange group. Every month we are given another person/address and we send them a photo based on the monthly theme - and we receive one in return. It's really quite fun - and it inspires me to get out there and take photos. This month's theme was "green", and I couldn't pick just one, so I did a series (above).

I am considering starting my own photo exchange community. So I am going throw this out there ... anyone interested in being a part of it? (No photography experience needed.) I want to do something similar where you send someone your monthly themed photo and I want to host a site where the photos for each month are shown. And I am possibly thinking too far ahead, but if this happens I would eventually want to print a book with everyone's photo over the months. Basically, I want to create an creative outlet, I want people to be inspired, have fun. Anyone?

Yosemite

"To the body and mind which have been cramped by noxious work or company, nature is medicinal and restores their tone. The tradesman, the attorney comes out of the din and craft of the street, and sees the sky and the woods, and is man again. In their eternal calm, he finds himself. The health of the eye seems to demand a horizon. We are never tired so long as we can see far enough. "

~ Emerson

click for more photos of our trip

Five Years Later

Today is marks five years for the war in Iraq. Time to Wage Peace. One of my favorite banners from the Palm Sunday Peace Parade was this:

Heart of Gold

I can't explain what this song does to me... Songs have this amazing ability to bring up memories, vivid feelings, places, people. (Smells do the same thing, I love the smell of Sandalwood, Cigars, Jasmine Flowers, etc.) I love it, I think it's truly a gift.

I think of the old Dodge truck, the beast of a truck my dad used to have. The one my brothers and I almost cried over when he sold it to Henry in Mexico. I remember the cassette player, I even remember the cassette that had a compilation of songs (including this one). I remember driving to Mexico, our roll over accident on the 57. Camping on the beach.

Long trips to the Sequoias, to Seattle, to Canada. The way my dad would sing under his breath, in a sort of a Neil Young, shaky way. Trips to ... Glamis. Riding quads, campfires. I remember we would be hanging out at night listening to music and my dad would put on Neil Young and people would laugh in disapproval (we used to go with some young party people, they don't know what's good!).



It reminds me of being young and I can't put more words to it. It is my upbringing, my youth, my family. Our vacations, all the things we used to do, the good, the bad, the fun, the ordinary. The block parties, our neighbors, the hanging out and drinking on the porch, and the crazy fun-trouble that would come from that.

Sometimes I try to only listen to particular songs when I have time to reflect. I don't want those memories to be replaced. I want to forever think of those things when I hear this song. We all have songs like that, right? I sure hope so.

You Don't Even Know...

... how good these brownies are. The texture reminds me of flourless chocolate cake. I made them twice this weekend, and I want them again. So, I have to share. They are originally from 101Cookbooks ... I just cut the amounts in half, and used whole wheat white flour, which worked great.

1/4 lb. butter (let soften, don't melt)
3 oz. chocolate. Melt, then let cool and set aside.
2 eggs
3/4 cup organic light brown sugar and or turbinado sugar
1/2 cup whole wheat white flour (or unbleached white flour)
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Optional
a small amount of chocolate chips and your favorite nuts (walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, whatever you like) to sprinkle on top before you bake

Cream the butter with the light brown sugar and eggs. Add vanilla extract. Beat in the melted, cooled chocolate and the flour. Mix well.

Spread into a buttered small baking pan, I used a 9"x5" bread loaf baking dish for this amount. Or you can bake them in cupcake tins, this recipe would make about four. Bake 20-30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Eaton Canyon

We are beginning to love Eaton Canyon. We go here often to watch the sunset, a couple of times a week. Right now there is water flowing through the canyon, last time we were there someone told us that water hasn't flowed through there in a few years. It's not our old stomping grounds, Mt. Baldy, but we love it, it's beautiful, and its only a few minutes from our house.

Nearing Spring... Last of Winter.

Not the sun or the summer alone, but every hour and season yields its tribute of delight; for every hour and change corresponds to and authorizes a different state of the mind, from breathless noon to grimmest midnight.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

I am amazed at every season's change, I anticipate it. At the end of the summer I cannot wait for the season to cool our steamy, un-air-conditioned apartment. At the end of winter I actually look forward to that unruly hot summer.

Not only temperature changes, but other things as well:

The summer gets us thinking about vacations and fun, trips to the beach, being outside. The days are long, and even the nights are warm.

As we enter into fall, it is harvest, the vegetables change to sweet potatoes and pumpkins, we get ready for Thanksgiving, it is the beginning of the holiday season, the days begin to get shorter.

Into winter, the days are at their shortest, it begins to get cold (well, a California version of cold in my case). We imagine cuddling up at night drinking tea by the fire. The mountains are crowned with white. The holidays are in full swing. Some snowboard, ski, visit a cabin or play in the snow.

By the end of winter, spring is a relief. New life begins to grow. It is the time to start gardens, farmers markets are full of fruits and vegetables. The air is cleaner, the sky clearer. The birds are noticeably louder.

At the beginning of each season I enter in thinking: No, THIS is my favorite season. Winter is almost over, and spring is almost here (March 20th) and I am thinking: Spring is my favorite season.

Eat Well, Eat Responsibly

I do not mean to stand on another soap box, or do I? ha! I just share what I am passionate about and what is interesting to me. How could I not write, right?

In wake of recent news, and a recent blog by Greg Boyd, as well as some of my own thoughts, I am reaffirmed in my decision not to eat meat (I have many reasons, this happens to be one). Admittedly, I do eat fish, but I try to do this responsibly. (note: I have decided to only eat meat when it is offered to me, but I don't cook or oder it)

I do not share my thoughts to convert anyone into being a "vegetarian," nor do I condemn anyone for eating meat - it is not inherently wrong or sinful. I only suggest we try to eat consciously.

"Eat Well,
Eat Responsibly"

In Boyd's last blog he discusses how "we have reduced farm animals to commercialized commodities whose only value is found in how efficiently we can produce and slaughter them for profit." The more I read and see documentaries (click here to watch - warning, its graphic) on how our meat is processed, it saddens and disgusts me. I know eating animals is a natural thing, but there is nothing natural about factory farms and way meat is raised here - it's cruel and revolting. Animals aren't consider life in this manner, they aren't considered creatures that are created by God. There are alternatives: buying and eating meat from free range animals - where the animals are at least aloud to be animals, instead of products, before they die.

My choice has been not to eat meat at all for these, and other reasons. So, there you have it, my soap box. I welcome any thoughts and comments. Or if you want to make fun of me, that's cool too - my family is the best at that =)

Lunar Eclipse

This was my best attempt at capturing the eclipse.

Photoblog

I haven't really jumped back into photography since my wedding... almost a year ago! After putting it on the shelf for a while, I'm inspired again.

I am going through a little phase with nature, flowers, plants, color, textures... and food. I still love taking photos of people, and hopefully I will be able to take more soon (anyone? anyone?), but for now my photography/cookbook has been my inspiration!

These photos are an ode to Justin's parents' backyard... there are some interesting plants back there.

Outlaw 'em - there I said it

To tell you the truth, I haven't given gun rights much thought before. I don't know much about the debate, but right now I am so upset about all the shootings recently (below) it is making me ask: "Why are guns even legal?"

The old argument is: "Guns don't kill people, people kill people" ... I understand, but how are all these distraught people getting a hold of guns? What if they didn't have guns available? What is going on here?

All I know is I am leaning towards being in favor of outlawing guns. I know its the second amendment right, but I don't agree with it. We have the right to bare arms to defend ourselves, how many times are guns used as a defense? I know it is a sport for some people hunt, but that is a small percentage of people (and what is up with handguns and automatic weapons?).

How did these people get guns? (only a partial list):

April 16th: Virgina Tech - 32 killed
Dec '07: Nebraska Mall Shooting - 19yr old kills 8
Dec 24th: Washington - a girl kills her whole family - 6 killed
Dec 9th: YWAM & Colorado church - 24yr old kills 4
Feb 2nd: Chicago - Lyane Bryant Store - five women killed
Feb 7th: LA - 19 yr old killed his family and swat officer
Feb 7th: Missouri: Man opens fire in City Council meeting - 5 killed
Feb 9th: Louisiana College - a nursing student shoots and kills 3
Feb 13th, yesterday: Oxnard - 14yr shot a 15 year
Feb 14th, today: Illinois University - 5 killed

Sight: It's a beautiful thing.

What happened now, right? I know.

Think about it: our ability to "see" is amazing! It can be one of those things you don't miss till its gone.

I think about this because yesterday I had an "optical migraine" - I think. After staring intently at the computer for a few hours, which I know I shouldn't do, I had a blurry wavy spot blocking my vision, causing blind spots. Then it spread on my right eye and my whole peripheral vision was blurry and moving, like wavy lines, like pavement on a hot day. Needless to say, this really freaked me out. It went away after about 15 minutes - it was a long 15 minutes.

I am a paranoid person, I will admit this. It's sort of humiliating to say, but it's true. Please don't judge me. Being paranoid, I instantly thought "what if I go blind!?" My future life started to flash before me, what would it be like? Would Justin and I still go to Cairo? I'd never be able to see a mountain again, or see my child's face. What about my photography? Would there be an element of fear involved, waking up late at night and not being able to see what is making a "noise"? I really do torture myself.

I went to the eye doctor. I pretty much "failed" the peripheral vision test (don't understand what that means as far as my vision goes), and I have a lot of floaters that could be blocking vision and pulling on my retina. But my retina isn't coming unattached, I guess I'm not going blind. What we do know, my job is hurting me! These hours of staring at the computer. They recommend I set an alarm for every TEN minutes to look away from my computer (and for those of you who spend lots of time on the computer, you should do it too!) ... so here I go.

For Me, this is Candid - My Dreams

I had a dream this morning while I was in and out of sleep. It was wonderful, I was fighting waking up. I got to see someone I haven't seen in a long time, I wanted to enjoy every second of it. It was strange because I knew it was a dream. They were images that I miss, things I haven't seen in so long, and things I will never see again. And the fact that I knew it was a dream kept me from taking those simple things for granted.

Dreams are amazing. My imagination is not that vivid when I am fully awake. Dreams have been comforting and a way to hold on for just a little bit longer. They have aloud me to not forget certain things. The way he looked, where he sat, the way he talked, walked. It is the only way I can meet up with him. What a gift. Deep down my mind has remembered these things, just when I think I am forgetting.

Just like the movie Science of Sleep all the ingredients were right for that good dream. The last thought before I went to sleep, a song I heard earlier in the day, a conversation I had, a memory... Put them in a pot, stirring and the dream is cooked up.

08 Things

In honor of the upcoming Chinese New Year (mainly because I am late on the "New Year Resolution" stuff): Chinese New Year Goals

... I am not big on resolutions, but after some thinking I have 8 things I do want to do in '08... more like goals - no particular order.


1. Hike up Mt. Wilson - I see her everyday, she says "CLIMB ME ALREADY!"

2. Do more yoga - in line with my less stress goals

3. Finish the cookbook - Hopefully sooner than later.

4. Develop a creative business - so many ideas, too many ideas, just need courage!

5. Put together another Sycamore Merger Show - No, really, I want to.

6. Try to not buy anything "new" for a few months (not including food & hygiene products, of course)

7. Focus on being healthy - on many levels

8. Use the ARTS bus - why not?

You know you've spent too much time together when...

... you begin to look like each other...

In my office there is a wall, on that wall are photos, and there is a theme to those photos. It just might be Graphic Designer humor... But I felt inclined to do it again (you have to look closely):