Christmas...Merry! Merry!

My Angel is the centerfold

Photo entry. What I have been up to for the last few weeks. Hopefully things will settle down a bit. Camping this weekend and riding Mick (bike). Rode into work yesterday and am pretty effing proud of that! It was to the Sheraton and I had to carry 2 changes of clothes, work 15 hours in heels and ride home. Don't regret it! I am really feeling the city on the bike. The subtle weather changes, the smells and the tone and life of the city in it's quietest moments. loving it.

So, here is what I have been doing:

concert at Bottletree. Great Book of John. check em out. first time to ride bike to a bar!



hanging with fellow Triathabloggers



Triathablog Kick off party. the paperwork, the excitement, the best online contest ever (besides Cheap Women of course!)




the support.




and finally: Convention for work. where I have spent 36 hours in 3 days. But check out my bounty! seeming a little more fun when I look at it like this...

75+ books and 12 tote bags! met fun authors (R.L Stine, Greg Mortensen, John Grogan among many others), cocktail parties every night. I.am.exhausted.

I'm gonna keep on hopin'

What I wish I was doing last night:



(this was taken on a Sunday afternoon to record my favorite way to spend a Sunday. You can't see the coffee, but it is there!)

How I actually spent last night:
packing up 2 boxes. How on earth do I have this much stuff? I alternate between wanting to throw everything away and the feeling that maybe, maybe someday I will have a daughter and she will want to look through my old high school photos and concert tickets. I am still too hopeful to throw it away. Even if it stays in boxes in garages, those boxes are a tiny reprensentation of the hope that I retain, even when statistics and culture are telling me that I have no reason to keep them.

call me naive.

(for those of you who read the post I posted last night, sorry! I posted that before sleep but after I had taken my sleep aid. Lesson learned: do not operate macbook under the influence...).

Fashionable Renaissance

I have taken an interest in Fashion again, which is nice. I am enjoying Vogue and The Sartorialist. For someone who left Fashion because of what it was doing to her (making fashion no longer fun and getting dressed a pressure induced panic attack), this is growth. Interestingly (or maybe not actually), it is the more classic looks that I love. I have always loved classic looks and have always dressed myself in that way. Occasionally I will stray, whether to rebel or follow some shitty trend), but always come back to simple t's and clean silhouettes. Is it a wonder my wedding dress was a classic Tea length gown? Or that my wardrobe is chock full of unadorned colored T's and pencil skirts? Dresses that have little or no pattern? Shoes that are pretty unadorned (not counting checkered Vans, but they are classics, Man!).

Menswear has also recently been of interest to me. I used to concentrate wholly on women's because of my job, but now i find myself scrutinizing the menswear (and discussing it with Trip!). Don't get me wrong, I still love a man who looks almost homeless...but homeless with style, Baby.

below are just a few of the images that have caught my eye lately.

Weekend Round-up

nice weekend, over too quickly. Full of friends, food, flowers, food...and some more food.

Friday night I had 2 lovely, lovely girls to my home for dinner. I was one of their Community Group leaders for a long time and have seen them grow into beautiful, mature Christ loving women. All 3 of us have had hard years so we ate good food (basil pesto and pork tenderloin, preceded by Mark Bittman's Rosemary-Lemon White bean dip. It was delicious, healthy and so easy), and talked and lamented and laughed. I loved it.



Saturday started at Pepper Place, my favorite summer activity. It is berry season in Alabama and I bought some big, juicy Blackberries as well as peaches and blueberries. Berry season makes summer in Alabama worth the heat...almost! Spent a few hours working for our One Day Sale, which was not as bad as I thought it would be. How can it be bad when I am surrounded by books?

Saturday night found Amanda and I cooking yet another recipe from The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper (highly recommended); Salmon Pan Roast with Garlic Shavings and Basil on Fresh Greens and Warm White Bean Salad with Fragrant Garlic and Rosemary. Oh. My. Goodness. It was delicious. Both having purchased new SLR cameras with our incentive money, we walked to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens to practice a bit. It was a humid night when the greens are so green and the colors pop. Took some good shots I think. Finished the night with fresh fruit and homemade whipped cream (good despite the fact that the peaches tasted a bit like garlic having been cut on the same cutting board...oops).



Sunday started having brunch with a new friend at my favorite place, Chez Lulu. He and I talked about food and books and Southern culture. Had the brunch special (Ham and Brie cheese Strata beside garlic cheese grits and fresh fruit) and ordered both Blackberry and Blueberry pies. the best in town in my opinion. Go get some quick-the blackberry pie is around for a very limited time. As in, this batch of blackberries and that's it. I may go back this week for more! Spent the rest of the day napping and hanging out.



I should be at church right now, but I am not. I am not sure why I am so reticent to go these days. Maybe the fact that everyone knows me and my story? Lately I find myself yearning for anonymity. The past 3 years have been painful and that is no secret at church, as much of the pain has had to do with the church and it's members. I know that is what happens when you live in Community, but I am not loving it right now. I am hopeful that this is a stage and I will be back soon. I have gone and left so many times recently that I am sure noone is surprised!



well, the first weekend of summer was a success. I hope that yours was as well.

Bringing Sexy back...a post for the ladies

David Beckham is yummy. I just wish you could see his tattoes in this photo.

I'll take 2 please. Minus the wife.

Weekend Round-up

I spent this weekend in Milwaukee for my sister Ashley's high school graduation. The weather was a bit rainy, but cool and breezy. It was a fun weekend that ended with my little brother crying and holding onto me so that i wouldn't go. It was adorably sad and made me thankful that I have siblings that are still young (26, 18 and 6!). Of course, I brought the new Nikon D40 (also known as 'my baby') and J.C was a very willing model. Here are some of my favorite shots of the weekend. Six year olds are so fun!

When Vanilla is anything but

A happier post for your reading pleasure.


Have you seen these? They are made by Vanilla Bicycles in Portland. One man makes all the bikes that come from there. They are handcrafted by Sacha White and are just stunning. Truly a craft. Each bicycle is custom made for the customer. WOW. Aren't they gorgeous? I would be just so adorable on one. Navy blue, with a brown leather seat. yes. oh, wait...there is a FIVE YEAR waiting list. Just enough time for me to save enough money to get on of these puppies.

I have been interested in these for a little while, but recently came across a documentary about Sacha White and Vanilla. You can see it here. Very interested stuff.


Maybe if/when I move to Portland, I will acquire one for my bike riding future.

well, am leaving town tomorrow, will see you kids Sunday!

Weekend round-up

I haven't done a weekend round up in a while, so I thought I would do one tonight. As opposed to the heavy laden post I was planning on doing. Enough heavy posts lately.

Friday I had a new, but becoming good, friend for dinner. We drank beer and ate too much cheese and cooked and talked. We talked about being single women and how hard it is and our longings and the Fall...you know, typical girl night fodder...
I hope that our dinners become a regular thing.

Saturday I woke up early and headed to Pepper Place. It was HOT outside. I was quickly reminded that I do not enjoy Alabama summers. At all. However, Pepper Place market is my favorite thing about Birmingham, so I brave the heat. If I don't go every week (last week I slept until 1pm and missed it completely), I find that my eating for the week suffers. That is where I buy a lot of my fruit and vegetables for the week. This week I was delighted to see Blackberries and swiped them quickly up.



I then went to a super fun, laidback baby shower for Susan. It was truly a celebration and was refreshing. We laughed and joked and talked about what kind of girl Carrie is going to be and what kind of parents Su and David will be. Watching Carrie grow up is going to be fun. I can't wait to meet her. Sadness snuck it's way in after a few hours so I excused myself and went home. Where I slept and read for the rest of the day...which was wonderful.



I think that rest was much needed. As was some good alone time, which I had been avoiding for some time now.

Sunday I got up, made some delicious blackberry muffins and packed a bag for a day on the river. We canoed for 5 hours and arrived home exhausted. The kind of day where your body is tired and your muscles cry for rest. Where your body is too tired for your mind to keep you up at night. It is amazing what being on the water and using my body does for my soul. As Patty Griffin says " I need a little place in the sun sometimes for I think I will die". The sun and swimming did me good today.


A good day.




Here's to a good week. I leave Thursday for Wisconsin to see my youngest sister graduate High School. Way to go Ash. This year has been hard, but you did it. I am so proud!!

Birmingham's Most...?

In Birmingham Magazine's Most Beautiful People issue, I have 3/4 of a page...eating crawfish.

ironic?

hilarious.

Beer=Good, festival=Good, Beer Festival=HELLS YEAH!

Elisa pouring beer like she did in college=GOOD!

This weekend is the Magic City Brewfest. Come out and support. I will be drinking on Saturday and pouring on Sunday.

great opportunity to

a)See Sloss Furnace
B)drink good beer
c)eat food
d)hear music
e)buy a Vintage T shirt
f)SEE ME

I am counting this in my quest to See and Do Alabama. I think it qualifies.

Details in the link. It promises to be a good time.

Sweet Potato Pie and shut my mouth

I think that's how it goes...

This weekend at Pepper place, I spied some beautiful, HUGE sweet potatoes. I have been getting them in my veggie box for about a month now. A girl can only eat so much candied sweet potatoes, so today I am giving you my new favorite sweet potato recipe:

Sweet Potato Pecan Risotto

(from Southernfood.about.com)

I served this as a main dish with a side of green beans, but would also make a great side dish to pork or a juicy steak. Need big flavor to pair with this one.

INGREDIENTS:

* 4 tablespoons butter
* 2 tablespoons minced shallots (I used spring onions)
* 1 medium sweet potato, cut in small dice, about 8 ounces or 2 cups
* 1/3 cup chopped pecans
* 2 to 3 cups vegetable broth ( I used homemade...always better)
* 1 cup Arborio rice (about 6 to 7 ounces)
* salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
* 1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
* 1 tablespoon finely chopped green onion tops or fresh parsley

PREPARATION:
Heat 3 cups of vegetable broth to the boiling point; reduce heat to the lowest setting to keep hot.

In a medium saucepan, melt butter; add minced shallot and pecans; cook until shallot is tender. Add rice and cook, stirring, until well blended. Stir in sweet potato. Stir about 3/4 cup of the hot broth into the rice mixture.

Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until liquid is absorbed. Continue adding liquid, about 1/4 to 1/3 cup at a time, stirring frequently, until the rice and sweet potato are tender (not overly soft). The texture should be creamy a little loose. This will take about 25 minutes and about 2 to 3 cups of broth. Stir in Parmesan cheese and green onion or parsley, then taste and add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Serves 3 to 4.



Delicious. As it is Risotto, it is a little labor intensive, but well worth it. I always think of sweet potatoes as a fall food, but this makes it taste perfectly springlike.




Bon Appetit!

It's gonna start today, My Life of Saturdays

Yesterday, a friend and I took an hour drive to West Blocton to see the Cahaba Lily. I had heard of this elusive flowers and, as a part of my quest to See and Do Alabama, decided to take a trip to see it.

What is the Cahaba Lily?

Hymenocallis coronaria (Cahaba Lily or Shoals spider-lily) is a species of the genus Hymenocallis, native to the Southeastern United States. It is an aquatic, perennial flowering plant found only in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. Within Alabama it is known as the Cahaba Lily, outside of that state it is known as the Shoals spider-lily due to the fact that it requires a swift, shallow, water current and direct sunlight to flourish.[1] The plant grows to about 3 feet (0.9 m) tall and develops from a bulb that lodges in between rocks in the shoals.[2] It blooms from early May to late June. Each fragrant flower blooms for one day.[1]
from Wikipedia


Well, after taking the Mini along a dirt and gravel road (boy, did we get some looks!), we parked, got out the camera bag, water bottles and headed out.


The first glimpse of 'the largest single stand of Lilies in the world". It was quite a sight, these dainty white flowers seemingly rising from the water in a dazzling display of green and white. Unable to get a good view, we kept going along the road. Some ways down, we came upon an empty shore area. After walking through the trees a bit, we found a big rock that afforded us a good view. Unsatisfied, we decided that we must get right up to them.

So, we went swimming. At first we just waded a bit out. They we needed the cameras, so I waded back, retrieved them and (after putting them in a Ziploc bag), waded back out with them held high over my head. Thank goodness I bought the accidental insurance. It was such a sight! I took some great shots, retired the camera to a HUGE boulder in the middle, and Jenn and I swam all over the place. We explored a cave, swam right up to the lilies that everyone is enchanted with. We used some rocks covered in algea as a water slide (it worked and was so fun!). We laughed a lot and splashed around for 3 hours! Everyone on the shores was watching 'those two crazy girls who are crossing the river and swimming in the lilies'!


hours later, exhausted and feet bleeding (damn snails...I am investing in chacos this week), we left. Stomachs growling, we stopped at The American Diner, where we were the only patrons and the cook made the best cornbread I have ever had (even going back to make me more!). It was delightful and the unsweet tea made me realize why people love tea in the south. Full and happy, we headed back to the city we call home.

All in all, a wonderful day. I highly recommend going to see the Lilies if you can. And splashing in the river. I hope to take a canoe trip there soon. After some editing fun, I may post more photos.