Seasons Weekly photo challenge
Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall you need these
Thank you, Bryant Street Market.
I was picking up bread, coffee and milk and saw this rack and seasons came to mind. Adding some flavor to life!
Month: February 2016
Custard with Sticky Rice
Here’s a pic of the dessert I had for lunch today.
A good friend treated me to a delicious lunch at Nicky’s Thai Kitchen on the Northside.
We had the custard sticky rice with mango on a previous visit but alas it’s not the season.
Such a satisfying and delicious finish to a wonderful meal. 
I found a link to a recipe for Custard with Sticky Rice at Thai Cooking School if you want to try it at home.
California Mandarins are Controversial
Recently a friend at my dinner table admired the centerpiece of bright orange fruit.
So refreshing in the middle of winter.
Easy to peel. A burst of taste on the tongue. Seedless, too. MMmmm.
But did I know that certain brands are irrigated with wastewater from oil production? she asked.
Was my brand the contaminated brand?
I’ve been thinking about these concerns as I admire the pretty orbs. Looking at the little stickers on the peels. Reading the minimal print on the package. Wondering.
There are stacks of boxes of these mandarins at the markets. Piles and piles of bags of this particular produce.
Thinking I was getting some vitamin C.
Yikes
*Stanford weighs in on mandarins- link
I put them in pretty Spode bowls.
*Here’s what fact checking Snopes Report oh my Quarreling Clementine says
I worry about food safety.
*There’s been a bill proposed to require labeling
*Labels may be required on produce irrigated with refinery wastewater
*There was an intense marketing campaign to get kids to swap candy for this particular fruit.Swapping Sweets for Fruit
Perhaps you knew all this already.
I did not.
Growers say the are not genetically modified.
*Four links in blue above -covering the controversies.
I read one about California beekeepers being upset, too.
Thanks R for inspiring this post!
Painter of Historic Native American Cultures
Meet fine artist James Ayers, a 1991 graduate of Rhode Island School of Design.
In January, I was introduced to him at the 26th Annual Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale, Arizona. If you are in the area, it goes until March 27th.
We were meandering through the exhibited art in the huge white tents and his booth was a standout!
We stopped to chat.
When asked how long a painting this size would take to complete he said “about a week.” Hours and hours.
He photographs his models and pays great attention to authentic details. It was fascinating to watch him paint the hand on Spirit of the Wise Man- Shoshone Painting.
(Click the title of the painting or his name above to see more of his work.)
I know my photographing him while he painted was a distraction but he said it was okay. Thank you James.
Certified Chimney Sweeps Chris and Jim
You remember the squirrel (s) in the box gutters post last week?
I needed to have my chimney inspected and cleaned, too. I thought there might be a family of squirrels enjoying the shelter of the chimney bricks, even though there was a screen on top of it at one point. Living across the park with a ton of trees makes this neighborhood squirrelandia.
A few years ago we had a squirrel in the fireplace. Somehow Steve trapped it in a cage. Steve took it down the street in a carrier as he sported a winter parka in July and a couple of oven mitts. Not that the oven mitts would have spared him.
These men, Jim and Chris, certified Chimney Sweeps came today and did a terrific job. I found them through google and read all positive reviews- Advance Chimney- about “professional job….clean up after themselves…courteous… efficient and certified!”
All true!
Not only can my wood burning fireplace be used again (safely) BUT there were no squirrels making a home in the chimney. No roast squirrels!
There’s some pointing needed in the bottom of the fireplace. Mortar is old and crumbling but nothing major. They’ll come back and do that work when I get on the schedule. They said it would take about an hour. Cure in 24.
As they were leaving, I asked if they’d consent to be part of my people at work series.
They were gracious to allow me to get my camera and photograph them as they were ready to head out to the next job. Good sports. Thank you.
Jim and Chris enjoy their work.
p.s. I shook hands with them both. Must have been those 1964 lyrics I remember.
Life Imitates Art: WPC
The weekly photo challenge inspired by
“Life imitates art far more than art imitates Life.”
— Oscar Wilde
Grandchildren Anna and Michael and Vincent Van Gogh at the Metropolitan Museum of Art at Thanksgiving time.
Be My Valentine Gallery
But first- Who is working quality control at the candy heart message factory?
and Be My Valentine Gallery – Hearts around the house
Red Cupid photos courtesy of my friend Joanne (wood cut creations by Sue John’s husband)
Candy from my sister. Sweet!
Tray of raspeberry jam hearts at Colangelo’s bakery in the strip
And the one I brought home with me to devour!
Winter’s Antidote
Winter’s antidote.
My sister said she’d gotten some pussy willows to hang the wooden rabbit ornaments on and I’d just written a reply to a comment from Stef,
I can’t wait to post signs of Spring.
Handmade Lace and Toile du Juoy
Thursday afternoon, my friend Barbara showed me a pretty pillow she had made at Alterations Express. She used fabric from her mother. her grandmother’s handmade lace and her special pillow.
When I saw the fabric I said,”Oh, my friend Joanne gave me a knitting bag made of something similar and it’s French and has pastoral scenes.” but I couldn’t remember the term and had to look it up-
Toile du Jouy
(and here is a link to a blogpost about the history of toile)
Barbara went and got a box with beautiful pieces of lace, created by her grandmother, Josephine Cinquegranni DiGalbo (b. 1890) Notice the blue edge on the lace.
I looked at the lace with admiration. Such expert craftsmanship and beauty. I asked Barbara is she had a photograph of her grandmother.
Barbara’s Grandparents, Angelo and Josephine, on their wedding day.
Her grandmother’s town of origin was Castlebuono, Sicily. The photograph was taken on Butler Street in Lawrenceville, a Pittsburgh neighborhood.
And here is a photo of their daughter, Mary Ann, Barbara’s mother. I had the pleasure of knowing her and remember her for her kindness to my children.
And here are some of the lace specimens, her grandmother’s pattern books and crochet hook were in the box, too.
A note in Barbara’s mother’s hand about the lace.
Chinese Lanterns on Murray Avenue
Saw these on my way to my car after lunch with a friend.