smtw!

Check out this article about one of my best, best friends from back home! 

I'm so proud of you, Sarah!

Rochester, NY Etsy Street Team

flock

Four of my bird babies from yesterday's Audubon shift.

Harold, the attention-starved domestic Mallard

Great Horned Owl

Scared little Black-Capped Chickadee

New favorite bird of all time - a Pygmy Owl

(approximately 5" tall)

6x6x2010

Have you ever imagined entering a piece of your own work into an art show, but something is standing in your way?  Is it nerves or a lack of confidence?  Weak inspiration or time constraints?

Now's your chance to jump in.  My dear friend Sara(h) - with the red hair - volunteers her time at the Rochester Contemporary Art Center (aka "RoCo").  This is Rochester, New York, as in, my faraway home town.  For the second year running, RoCo is hosting a special 6x6 art show.  The requirements are few, the most important of which is that your piece of artwork must measure 6" by 6".  You can run wild with medium and theme.

RoCo is hoping to have every U.S. state represented this year, along with at least a couple dozen different countries.  So let's help them out and all submit a fun, daring, complex or sentimental piece of art.  I would love to post photographs of artwork submitted by my friends, so let me know if you plan on participating!

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6x6x2010: Huge Exhibition of Small Artwork - Call for Submissions

Rochester Contemporary Art Center

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Call For Submissions

6x6x2010: You Asked For It
Last year more than 6,000 Visitors attended an exciting art exhibition of more than 3,000 artworks by nearly 1,200 artists from 17 countries, 36 states! More than 1,400 artworks sold. It was a huge success! We asked every visitor to 6x6x2009 if we should have another 6x6 exhibition. Resoundingly, you answered YES!

6x6x2010 Submissions Due: May 2, 2010 at 5pm.

Artworks may be mailed or delivered directly to RoCo, 137 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14604. Wed. - Sun. 1-5 pm, January 24 - May 2. Each submission must be accompanied by the submission form, available on the RoCo website. Artworks must be signed only on the back (to be exhibited and sold anonymously) and accompanied by the submission form. Please read: Frequently Asked Questions on the website


About 6x6x2010

6x6x2010 is the third exhibition of thousands of original artworks, made and donated by celebrities, international and local artists, designers, college students, youths and YOU. Each artwork will be 6x6 inches square and signed only on the back, to be exhibited anonymously. All artworks will be for sale to the public for $20 each, to benefit Rochester Contemporary Art Center. Artists' names will be revealed to the buyer only upon purchase and all artworks will remain on display for the duration of the exhibition. Don't miss Rochester's largest exhibition and don't miss the chance to show your artwork in great company and support of Rochester's downtown contemporary art venue. All submissions are due by May 2 at 5 pm and should be delivered or mailed directly to Rochester Contemporary Art Center. A full list of artists and an online gallery of all contributed artworks will be made available for viewing and purchasing online.

For more information, visit: http://www.rochestercontemporary.org/6x6x2010.html

star anise

Jesse and I dressed in comfortable, layered clothing and I donned my raincoat for good measure before we set out for the Jupiter Hotel, where we’d be meeting our distillery tour cohorts. The tour was arranged by the Willamette Week publication and would include 5 east side distilleries. The best part was that we would be ferried from location to location by an official Portland pedicab! For those of you not familiar with this type of vehicle, pedicabs are small 2-seater carriages pulled by a driver on a bicycle. Apparently this movement was launched in New York, which surprises me, just because it’s such a Portlandesque idea.

We arrived at the Jupiter right at 5:00pm, but then spent 15 or 20 minutes waiting for the band of pedicabs to arrive, after one suffered a slipped chain. Finally they arrived, rolling up in between the Jupiter and the Doug Fir, hip and focused, hardly seeming winded. We hopped in a covered carriage, manned by a skinny young man who wasn’t very interested in talking to us. The 12 or so other participants took their seats and the whole caravan rolled down the driveway and on to Burnside. We attracted much attention, eliciting honks and yells from vehicles and other bicycles passing by. Jesse took the liberty of screaming “SHOW OFF” at a bicycle that overtook us and our driver actually chuckled.

We arrived first at House Spirits, the interior of which was lined floor to ceiling with vintage looking bottles full of coppery whiskey or crystal clear liquors. Small displays hidden in shadowy corners offered bowls and tubs of raw ingredients to smell and feel. We spent some time sampling the distillery’s offerings, which included vodka, whiskey, aquavit, gin, ouzo, and more. We drank straight samples of each from tiny plastic cups before moving into the actual distillery room, where a few small snacks from The Farm were available. The owner gave an interesting lecture about the distilling processes and how various spirits are created. We were able to squeeze in a few more samples before the pedicabs arrived to carry us to our next destination.

Several blocks away was New Deal Distillery, which would wind up being my favorite by far. We entered a low-ceilinged yet airy warehouse with a small bar near the front, a few seats, and huge trays of mac & cheese from Le Bistro Montage in a far corner. Jesse and I tried not to sprint toward the food, loading up paper plates full of tasty “Old” and “Spold” (spicy-old) cheesy noodles. Once we’d stopped shivering with hunger, we were ready to beverage test.

I could tell right off the bat that New Deal’s offerings were going to be more my speed than the grown up selections at the previous location. We started by trying both of their two vodkas – one a “sipping” beverage and the other with a more serious bite. We had actually purchased the latter, the Portland 88 Vodka, in the past, but the toned-down “New Deal Vodka” was more delicious – all by itself.

We moved on to two infused vodkas, the amazing bittersweet chocolate “Mud Puddle” and the secret 5-chile blend “Hot Monkey.” We tried the seriously spicy variety both by itself and also paired with a soothingly balanced pineapple juice. Sweet and spicy were meant to be married.

Last, we tried a variety of “cellos” – including ginger (which stole Jesse’s heart), lemongrass, lavender, tangerine, and chamomile. These beverages offered the same sweet smoothness as a fruity cognac and I was immediately impressed, particularly by the tart tangerine. We then spent a while chatting with the somewhat shy and completely unpretentious owner, who was friendly, open, and appropriately proud of his products.

By this time night had fallen and we rode off in the evening darkness. Another few blocks away lie Integrity Spirits, a name some would later deem a mismatch, for no clear reason aside from their vibe. Their space was narrow and dim, the entrance lined by huge barrels stacked up to the ceiling. Fluorescent lights swung overhead, the eerie glow bouncing off barbed wire which lined the rolling gates protecting those precious barrels. We walked toward the inner depths of the long hallway, images of crumbly Saint Cupcake treats swirling in our minds, as we’d been told we could expect them.

A few oddball characters staffed a tiny bar and lingered in a back room. Jesse and I spotted the box of cupcakes as soon as we entered and headed straight for them. Tiny little cupcakes. One and a half bites each. A half-empty box containing about 10 little cupcakes, for more than 10 hungry people. Disappointment. My cupcake didn’t even have cream cheese frosting. Or red velvet innards, for that matter.

We watched the oddballs talk to each other, talk to us. We sampled….3 products, I think – a vodka, a gin, and Trillium absinthe (which I already knew I didn’t like). Oh, I forgot the second vodka – a hazelnut infused version – which didn’t really taste like hazelnuts whatsoever. At least the packaging is vintage cute... We then waited. And waited and waited. Pacing up and down the strangely lit hall. I noticed a fragile looking chess set precariously propped on a ledge and I imagined smashing a piece on the ground. So unlike me; I was losing my mind. So was the oldest man present, the one with the long hair. Into an enormous plastic neon cone he yelled, “WHERE ARE THE CUPCAKES?” It echoed. Cupcakes, cupcakes, cupcakes.

After a bunch more waiting, our pedicrew arrived. Our driver was a little more relaxed and we had an actual conversation with him. A short ride and we arrived at our fourth destination – Highball Distillery. A taller warehouse this time. Various wares for sale: jewelry, paintings of flowers. We had been warned about the samples of Missionary Chocolates which were purported to be “flakes” that melted on your fingers before reaching your mouth. They seemed more substantial than that.

A slippery sales representative was playing bartender, and we first tasted two different vodkas straight up. I didn’t want to drink any more vodka, but I didn’t want to be a poor sport either. We were then led in a circle around the room and by the time we got back to the bar (never having stepped more than 15 feet away from it), the sales rep was ready to dish out three cocktails crafted from the straight products we had first tasted.

Some people were already intoxicated somehow. They must have started drinking before they got to the Jupiter. We had two cold drinks involving simple syrups infused with autumnal spices, then a lavender hot chocolate. None of them were bad, per se, but I wouldn’t have been too pleased if I had ordered one in a restaurant and paid cash money for it.

Fortunately, by the time we wrapped up and got outside (I managed to snag an extra chocolate sample to give our pediguy as a peace offering), our peddlers were already waiting. We jetted over to the final location – Artisan Spirits, where we were greeted by a stout man wearing a nice cap and jacket.  His pleasant Russian bride had prepared dishes of pickled herring, halva, and rye bread, which supposedly pair famously with a good, needly vodka.

We sipped from fancy little plastic martini glasses and stood around in a big circle chatting with our host.  Artisan offers a couple inventive products, including a vodka distilled from honey and another from Oregon wines.  This particular batch was created from a Chardonnay base, and I wondered aloud (in a round about way) whether I'd enjoy a Syrah-distilled vodka a hundred times more.

At one point I noticed that one of the pedimen had slipped into the group and was standing on the other side of Jesse.  Still donned in his riding gloves, he held a sipping glass delicately at his chest, very interested in the conversation underway.  I snuck a photograph and the young man made a point to clarify with me that he was now off-duty.  Duly noted.

It was then time to return to the beginning, and to bid farewell to our new friends.  It was after 10:00pm as we sped through the emptying streets back toward the Jupiter Hotel.  We disembarked and headed out on our own, the hope for a real dinner the only thought in our minds.

begonia

I dove into the weekend full force, knowing that a rejuvenatory Monday holiday was in store at the end. Clara and I headed out early on Saturday morning, the promise of a hearty Screen Door breakfast propelling us across the river. We managed to snag a seat inside while we waited and I stared at cute babies while Clara gazed appreciatively at the lazy-cool hipness of most of our fellow diners.

As our wait neared an hour, we were finally called to take a seat in the dining room. We had been considering our menu options while we waited and were soon ready to order. I opted for the heart-healthy biscuits and gravy with a side of cheesy grits. Clara chose an elaborate stack of ingredients than included an English muffin, artichoke hearts, and an egg. A sense of calm pervaded as we dined, despite the busy din of customers and the knowledge that a lot remained to be accomplished that day.

Next, I got to introduce Clara to the affordable joys of SCRAP. Even more fun than digging through buckets of fabric scraps or flipping through boxes of greeting cards is arriving at the cash register and seeing your always-surprisingly-low total pop up on the screen! Where else in the world does this happen? I selected a roll of yellow floral fabric, a small stack of birthday and get well cards, a pretty roll of pale mustard colored thread, and a gorgeous eyeglass case. My grand total? A whopping $1.55. Success!

After a brief detour through downtown (which included me almost driving into oncoming traffic on a one-way street) (oh, and multiple wrong turns in a dark and claustrophobic parking garage), we returned to the burbs. Clara needed to pick up some fabric and notions for a new sewing project and I wanted to stock up on some fun just-because yardage, so we decided on Mill End. I was gladly prepared this time for the onslaught of lovely patterns and bright colors adorning the hundreds of bolts arranged around the store.

I selected four patterned fabrics and some solid back ups, while Clara snagged home décor fabric along with some interestingly shaped and textured buttons in bold, modern shades. Before long, it was time to depart and for me to start preparing for the evening distillery tour that Jesse and I were to embark on!

undisclosed desires

guild

I knew the weekend would be a busy one, with two different Audubon responsibilities and the not-awaited Super Bowl. I think being a non-early riser prohibits me from reaching my maximum potential. I really need some tips on how to get up earlier without too much agony. I know the sunshine streaming into our living room and a cup of coffee with an “official” breakfast would do wonders on the weekends….how do I achieve it?

It was cloudy but pleasant out as I drove toward Sauvie Island on Saturday for Audubon’s Raptor Road Trip. I checked in at Kruger’s Farm Market and then continued on to my post – a tall ridge dotted with telescopes, overlooking a lake and rolling farmland. I spent some time up on the ridge, fielding questions that I was completely unprepared to answer. In the midst of all that, I somehow learned how to identify the call of Sandhill Cranes flying overhead. I also was able to spot pure white Tundra Swans floating in the distance, a Great Blue Heron waiting in shallow water, and a mature Bald Eagle sitting in a tree far in the distance.

After a while of feeling like the most uneducated birder on the island, I decided to head down to the parking lot to play greeter to those arriving. After saying “hello” and “welcome” a bajillion times, I was ready to depart. I decided to take the long way off the island, as I’d never had a chance to explore it before. I hadn’t made it far from my starting point when I noticed several cars pulled off the road on either side. A few people milled about, aiming binoculars and cameras toward a tree right next to the roadway.

I couldn’t believe my eyes – a giant eagle sat calmly perched in the branches, soberly eyeing the crowd of humans below. I managed to get some photos and upon later examination, I am nearly certain this is an immature bald eagle. It was an incredible find considering the whole reason I was there was to hopefully check out some new species!

I needed to get a Valentine’s Day package together for Chloe, so I maneuvered through downtown rather than heading straight home. It was a very nice, overcast day, so I dropped coin after coin into a parking meter and set out on foot. After browsing through Finnegan’s Toy Store for quite a while, I grabbed a cup of soup (Mama Leone’s – my local favorite!) from the Flying Elephants branch of Elephant’s Deli and sat outside to eat. (Side note: Oh, bliss – look what I just found.)

 

I continued walking around for a while longer, feeling happy and relaxed, and then returned home to clean up a bit and start a sewing project. I’m so pleased to have finally dusted off my gifted sewing machine. This new hobby has been such a great fit for me – providing precise, detail-oriented projects that are both therapeutic and fun. And you can see progress both in the speed of completion of your projects and your skill level overall.

The next day, I had my usual 4-hour Sunday shift in the Care Center. It was a fairly uneventful day - spent getting ready for next weekend's Valentine's Day Open House. I did manage to snap some photos of a variety of our creatures while I was there.

Screech Owls

Aristophanes

Sweet Hazel

Jesse picked me up afterwards and we drove back to our apartment, where several friends had convened to watch the Super Bowl.  Thankfully, Clara came over shortly thereafter and we made drinking beer and chatting our priority.  The night passed quickly and before long, we were faced once again with an empty house. 

It was a fast, productive weekend full of fun, new adventures, and restorative weather.  This year continues to impress!

raptor road trip

Tomorrow I will be volunteering at the Portland Audubon Society’s Raptor Road Trip. I wanted to share the details of this event in case anyone is interested in checking it out.

The Raptor Road Trip is held annually on Sauvie Island in Portland and will occur both Saturday and Sunday, the 5th and 6th of February. The cost is $10 per vehicle and visitors will have the opportunity to spot a variety of birds, potentially including Great Blue Herons, Red-tail Hawks, Kestrels, and even Bald Eagles. There will be donuts and coffee available, along with binoculars to borrow if you don’t have your own.

Peregrine Falcon & Bald Eagle

Photo by Jim Cruce

According to Weather.com, there is only a 20% chance of rain on Saturday, and a 30% chance on Sunday – so some pretty good odds for great bird watching!

Click here to be led to the Audubon’s website for more information about this event.

stitch

Forest Grove News Times - February 3, 2010

symphony

It feels like spring is just around the corner – the subtle fresh smell in the air and the increasingly frequent appearance of the sun and tiny green buds on tree branches. This is likely just an illusion, one to be replaced with a damp, gray reality, but it’s fun while it lasts!

I just started reading Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink. I spotted this book on the Powell’s Calendar of Events, but the reading/author visit didn’t fit into my schedule well. Instead, I requested a copy from the library and I picked it up this weekend. It’s been great reading material for my daily commute on the MAX – and it’s a topic of particular interest to me because I find that my own motivation waxes and wanes due to...the phases of the moon...or something.

Overall, I’ve felt a lot more motivated this first month of 2010 and I attribute it to our new home environment and a sense of being more settled since getting married. Life is good and today’s sunshine is streaming through a magnifying glass and setting that belief on fire.

I spent the early part of the week working and continuing my first sewing project, which is now almost complete. Working from a pattern and instructions in Lotta Jansdotter’s Simple Sewing has proven very helpful to me. I’m good at following directions, which zaps good techniques straight into your brain. On the other hand, you can take note of elements that aren’t quite pleasing to you, and change them the next time around. I plan on making another tote bag to give as a gift this month, and there are a couple of changes I plan on implementing.



On Saturday, Lindsey and I ventured out to Forest Grove (much more of a “venture” for me than for her) for a knitting and crochet class. I already knew the basics of knitting, but I wanted my skills to be verified as accurate. When we arrived, we learned that a reporter and photographer from the Forest Grove newspaper would be present. (Hopefully a link to that article is forthcoming.) Lindsey decided to learn crocheting, while I breezed through casting on and the knit stitch. We were interviewed by the reporter while we stitched away. I was eventually taught the proper way to “purl” and lo and behold, it is a heck of a lot easier than I was making it out to be. I ended up with some new bamboo needles and a pretty skein of burnt orange yarn with which to make a lace-like scarf.

I stopped at home briefly, then drove in the opposite direction to SCRAP on the east side. I wanted to pick up some, well, scraps – of fabric – for two birthday projects I’m working on. I managed to find several, along with two balls of yarn, a few greeting cards, a knitting book, and a football trophy (long story), all for $9.


Next I stopped by the Mill End fabric store in Beaverton, which I’d been told was amazing. Turns out “amazing” is an understatement. I couldn’t believe the fabric selection – and the prices seemed very reasonable to my untrained eye. I selected some batting, canvas, and lighter cottons for my projects and spent a lot of time browsing the unimaginable array of fabrics. Several retro patterns caught my eye, including vintage Mexican prints that will someday live in our eclectically decorated home. Not to mention the gorgeous nature-inspired fabrics. Oooh, the possibilities. I have most certainly found a new passion.

Audubon on Sunday – not much needs to be said on that, as my shift was somewhat depressing. After that, however, Jesse and I headed downtown with Clara and the long-lost Danny. We hit up the Backstage Bar, which is hidden behind the Baghdad Theater on Hawthorne. This narrow, dimly lit space houses a restaurant, bar, free (yes – free) pool, and the all-important jukebox. We hung out for a few hours, playing generally not-very-good pool and choosing awesome songs to hear. It was a nice, low key way to end the weekend.

Then of course, back to work. It’s another very busy week into which I’ll try to squeeze an ounce of creativity. And several ounces of motivation for good measure.

As I walked home from the MAX station this evening, I had a moment of realization - or I remembered, rather - that I am very, very lucky and many pieces have miraculously fit together to make my life the way it is. In nearly that very same instant, I spotted a Great Blue Heron standing in the creek behind our home, so well camouflaged among trees and brush. I'm drawn to this type of bird in particular, and to see one at nightfall, sitting still and silent and hidden, made my heart jump. It was a moment of reassurance, of synchronicity - as Jesse would say. I'm on the right path and these meaningful, happy moments are my reward.