snowy vacation

yesterday - was a relaxing drive through some

of the best scenery in the country - in my opinion.

fugu, james and i

drove up the 395 - stopping a few times along the way

for grassy spots and then at Schat's bakery in Bishop for some provisions.

12 grain bread, cheese, peanut butter

and some of their homemade

doggy crackers.

when we started winding up into the mountains -

an excitement and energy - like a breath of crisp, fresh air took over!

the feeling of being a kid, making snowmen

and tearing down the mountain all start getting planned in my head - before we even get to

the snow covered cabin!

and the views...

simply terrible huh.

no.16 and frances

hidden no.16...

Belgium, Antwerp, peeping hole cleverly disguised as number 16.

1941 London aerial shot of lot 16

and

let us play with your brain -

Frances Farmer...

in 1937 - she played Josie Mansfield - a would be actress that appears

at Pike's Opera House in a sequence called "The Twelve Temptations" ...

this image was called "Vice."

burning the candle at both ends.

one mess at a time

to begin and give you an idea of what my living room looks like at the moment-

or what it may have looked like if it were blasted by a

time machine back into the seventies and a strange man with an

exhausted pose

might be standing in the middle of the room...

much like this man,

i have been sorting through one messy mess project at a time..

ongoing mess no. 3:

when one goes to as many vintage clothing sales, flea markets and

second hand stores as i do...

and takes home so many things

for which there is no space for...

you begin to cross the fine line

between collecting and becoming a hoarder.

1. the acquisition of and failure to discard a large number

of possessions that appear to be useless or of limited value.

2. living spaces sufficiently cluttered so as to preclude activities

for which those spaces were designed.

these items that you bring home should be organized on racks or hung in

closets, neatly tucked away, easily seen and readily accessible -

so that you may be able to enjoy them and wear them...

growing up, my mother enforced a biannual wardrobe cleansing; as an adult,

i told myself that it shall be a ritual i'll never abandon.

i hate to admit that i have slacked off a bit over the last few years..

slowly and surely- i am guiding myself back into

the organized world of being clutter free..

so -here's how it works: every six months,

take everything out of your closet, your shoe boxes,

jewelry bins, sock drawer... then carefully put back only those things that you

absolutely love ~ things you would buy again right now if given the opportunity again.

everything that is left must be immediately donated to charity or consigned.

some dangerous phrases to stay away from are:

- i paid good money for this!

- i'll get to it when i have more time.

- it's too good to just give away!

- it would cost me a lot more if i ever had to replace it.

- if i don't like it, i can alway return it.

- i've put too much into it already to abandoned it now.

- maybe my feet will shrink.

beegle and tony

some inspiration from tony and beegle...

their respective talents were perfectly suited and their artistic collaborations throughout their lives complimented each other.

a tuesday matinee

i have been listening to the Fever Ray album just about every day -

and this is a very nice version of Stranger Than Kindness.

just as nice as when Nick Cave did it- just a bit different...

i hope you like it.

Fever Ray - Stranger Than Kindness from Mute Records on Vimeo

backyard squash, tomato & chive garden

yesterday - james and i got some wood and made a raised

bed for a backyard vegetable garden.

today we went and got the smelly soil and put it

in the bed and then planted two different kinds of tomatoes,

some summer squash and some chives...

here is what the squash blossoms should look

like when summer time come around!

small, delicate, orange blossoms

that will be ready to wash...

or they might look like this on a blue glass plate-

side by side in a neat little row...

then i can make all sorts of delicious plates like this one...

just follow this recipe by Laurel Miller, except for the filling, simply mix cream cheese with a minced garlic clove and some chopped chives and oregano from the garden. also fry several just with the masa harina batter and leave out the cheesy filling. they are delicious and really allow you to appreciate the blossom's subtle flavor.

FRIED SQUASH BLOSSOMS WITH GARLIC-CHEESE FILLING

This recipe is an adaptation from one used at Chez Panisse. The masa harina, available at any grocery store, makes for a more crisp, delicate batter than all-purpose flour or cornmeal.

1/4 cup finely chopped mixed herbs, such as chives, tarragon, or chervil

1 1/2 teaspoons finely minced shallots

12 fresh open squash blossoms

Large pinch salt

2 eggs

1/4 cup milk

1 cup masa harina

Two large pinches salt

Pinch freshly ground white pepper

Vegetable oil

In a small bowl, mix together the herbs, shallot, chvre and salt.

Open up the individual blossoms wide enough to insert a teaspoonful of cheese mixture. Do not overfill or fried blossoms will be soggy. Twist the ends of the blossom together gently.

In a medium bowl, beat 2 eggs together with 1/4 cup milk. In a separate medium bowl, mix together masa harina, salt, and pepper. Dip each blossom into the egg mixture and then roll quickly and evenly in the masa harina mixture, gently shaking off excess. Refrigerate for a few minutes.

Pour 1 inch of oil into a small shallow saucepan or skillet. Heat oil to 350 degrees. Deep-fry the blossoms in batches until they begin to turn light golden brown. Drain on baking rack set over paper towels, and serve immediately.

or you can put some on a pizza -

along with some pine nuts and zucchini or slices of squash!

checking things off the list of importants

day to day has been very much engulfed with ideas

and endless creative possibilities

in my latest adventure

of the 'installation of an art exhibition' no.2--

once we get the grand opening up and going,

i will start posting things over on the

musée page-

but for now i will share a little bit of this ongoing

dream venture over here on my

day in the life of page..

here is a little window into the marvelous space that awaits us.

the interior of the trailer is quite luscious and will be perfect

in my mind - for tiny displays of artifacts and art-

sort of like the hidden room that Winston and Julia are staying in

above Mr. Charrington's shop on the other side

of the wall in Nineteen Eighty-Four..

i found some old phototube relays with black bulbs

and a telegraph relay that came from a disused science lab

that will fit nicely--

along with a rejected turntable,

some idle toy submarines

and a few squirel cage filament bulbs.

also -found an antique metal 'specials of the day' board

with really nice old style metal letters

to hang on the outside of the gallery for artists names and shows.

and got an official new down by the sea address for the musée.

so-

the airfloat is being prepared and polished.

it is still up in mill valley just

waiting for us to go pick it up any day now!