Rainbow Eggs

Clockwise from top: Hot water mixed with blueberries, green tea, parsley, cranberries, turmeric, and espresso.

 Yesterday, I was trying to come up with a way to attractively display the deviled eggs I usually bring to my dear friend and neighbor's annual Easter gathering. I found this website on pinterest. The pastel-colored-eggs are gorgeous but foreign colors for foods can be alarming (purple ketchup?). And food dye's have a bad rap in general. For years I've been meaning to experiment with dyeing eggs from sources from nature. From the research I did (Martha Stewart) they produce more subtle, elegant colors. 

After getting some ideas off the interwebs and checking my kitchen, I ended up using: coffee, frozen cranberries, frozen blueberries/blackberries, green tea, turmeric, and parsley, which I ran through our beloved juicer.

 Pretty and pastel-y, like I hoped!

I wanted to mix in the dill and parsley but in the end allowed people the option by serving on the side.

 I was worried the coffee one would taste too strong--it wasn't. 

 We were lucky to form a quality group of friend our first year living here. Our friends are grad students and spouses, who moved here from other parts of the country. We live in the same complex, so borrowing stuff and watching TV shows in pajamas is our normal.  Without family accessible, we're forced to rely on each other for community in ways you might not have to when living in a familiar place. Recently, we've seen dear friends move on to bigger and better things and leave us. Our time in this humble community has an end in sight. Year five is drawing to a close and I know that someday we wont be carving pumpkins together, crowding around for Thanksgiving, or celebrating Easter together in style. In the meanwhile, I try to live in the moment (and take lots of pictures) so I'll remember these good ole days.

Swan Lake

Andrew's birthday weekend was super low key. We went to the beach twice...and got in the water Sunday. I also decided to revamp my old camera habit. My iPhone has been my camera since I got it. Why lug around two? Anyway, while I am due to invest in a big heay REAL real camera, I broke out my Panasonic Lumix.

Walking down a dirt road...

...to the nearby "lake."

Another cute couple....

Pretty (hungry?) swans in the background did a little show for us. I love the self-timer, and precariously balancing my camera; I'd never dare ask a stranger for a picture. Though I am quite comfortable around people I know, I have severe stranger danger (I'm shy).

Happy 29th birthday A-ditty!

Pretty Much a Perfect Day

Upon reflection, I just realized I just had my perfect day. A balanced day. A happy day.  Note: Last week was underwhelming full of long demoralizing meetings and a generally crappy feeling in the air.

I skipped coffee yesterday or all weekend. It made the coffee I started sipping around lunch time really work.

I tucked myself in before 10pm last night. My sister called at 10:01 and I couldn't move to answer it.

Breakfast was steel-cut instant oats (from TJs) with chopped apple, some cinnamon, and a sprinkle of walnuts. So wholesome and filling and cozy-ish.

I had parent teacher conferences today. The two kids whose parents I met with are such gems.  My eyes watered when I talked about how delightful they are to teach. 

One conference was cancelled. So I took a walk. I walk for about 15 minutes up hill and then 10 minutes back...I keep my athletic shoes in the car and switch out of my work-lady shoes. It is so fun to look at all the beautiful houses and fantasize about what living in a house might be like someday. I love the Mediterranean landscape of Santa Barbara. I  love looking down at the sparkling sea. Ocean views almost make me feel like I'm at the beach. And, I'm addicted to sunshine.

I snuck out of work early enough to run a few errands (a price adjustment on a skirt from Banana Republic).  I happened upon the bustle of the downtown Farmers Market. I missed it last Sunday in my neighborhood. The colorful  dendrobium orchids were 2 bunches for 5 dollars. I'm in love! I feel so happily indulged when I buy myself flowers. And then I greedily bought lettuces, celery, carrots, kale, broccoli.  Everything was so pretty and fresh.

I went to yoga. My favorite and original yoga studio welcomed me back, even though I've been cheating on it with groupons to other places. Andrew always says, "You mean there is ANOTHER yoga studio?" Yaaay, California!  It was a level 2 class which was challenging but luckily still doable. The instructor is so sweet and she plays really great music. And I bumped into a co-worker I admire there. I barely get a chance to talk to her at work. She is so fit and committed and has a frankness about her that impresses me. I am determined to make this a habit (again).

I love driving home in my new car. Andrew installed a bluetooth radio that hooks up to my iPhone. So my phone conversations or audio books play through the stereo. So cool!

Dinner was a BLT: an open faced tomato, fake-bacon, lettuce sandwich and a huge salad with my new goodies...and an improvised tahini/mustard/yogurt/garlic dressing. Andrew and I polished off our refreshing dinner. I got in the bath while he drove down the block to pick up his latest goods from the pottery studio. Which I am now going to admire.

 I know everyone is reading them right now and probably already knows but I am loving a Game of Thrones. I refer to it as a fairy tale because in general the genre of science fiction is rather off-putting to me. It really is so good! Going to go snuggle with it right now...

P.S. Does this blog post look naked with no picture?

July

Bike shopping. I've been on my bike everyday to attend a nearby writing institute.

I love it and am considering an upgrade from my old school 24 inch Girls (too small) Schwinn.

I ride on a bike path at a snails pace so I confess...I don't wear a helmet.

But I adore this watermelon one.

Brer, my dear neighbors' bunny, prepares for big changes in his household.

He remains calm while...

Courtney is boldly taking on motherhood. I am so excited to witness this!

She is sweet and caring and full of grace and intelligence.

I have a hunch this will be a happy baby.

Nice View

View from the gazebo. Kula, Maui

View from the sidewalk. Paia, Maui.

View from a hillside.  New Years Eve in Santa Barbara.

Hotel balcony view. Wailea, Maui.

Green & Gold Hiking

Winter rain =Golden hillsides.

Poppyful

Cold Springs!

Mossacious or Mossalicious? 

Vino de Marzo

RIP Fess Parker.

SO many choices. Hmmmm....

Wineries are so wedding worthy.

Fabulous props make me feel like Alice.

Mr. Darcy

As seen around town...

Colin Firth at the Santa Barbara Film Festival.
I passed up the chance to get close enough for a squeeze.

He seemed flattered by (and unaccustomed to) all the attention.

Has any one seen "A Single Man" yet? I also saw his co-star Julienne Moore for a question-and-answer thing and it made me want to see all of her films. She is quite poised and intelligent--I admire people who clearly do what they love for a living.

Flying into SB: Aerial Views

With the current storm outside these pictures seem a wee bit irrelevant . But after several cold cozy holiday weeks in Maryland/DC it was nice to come home to t-shirt weather in January.  Above we have a view of the harbor, downtown and the foothills behind.

Zoom into downtown: red tiles roofs galore. I both work and live under one.

This is Hope Ranch, a very posh neighborhood.  When I went sailing we went right along the coast line and got our rutter tangled in a kelp bed. Someone told me the Hope comes from Bob Hope.  While mapping out my new town, I had suspected that it might be hideous (or at least hope-less) since place names often mislead. I was wrong.

Clearly, I prefer the window seat. If this blog is any indication inflight  snap-happiness has become quite a habit.

October Weekends

Saturday began with a hike leisurely stroll in the foothills.  I appreciated the cool shade of the oaks, hop-skipped over streams beds that actually had a bit of water (!), and filled my pockets with acorns. Acorns were the food staple of the native people of Santa Barbara.  I think they're beautiful and have jewelry-making potential.  But really, I just like gathering things. I do the same with Job's Tears along waterfalls in Hawaii and seashells on any beach I land on.

After heating up in the mountain side we headed down to the beach. The parking lot was hot and sunny but as we descended the long wooden staircase a heavy fog crept in. The tide was up and the surf was pounding with clean, long perfect waves.  The sunny stretch of white sand I had expected was replaced by rocky shelf.  It looked a lot like Oregon to me but it was warm.  I swam in the waves then sat on the still-sun-warmed rocks and took it all in. 

Bounty

1 : something that is given generously

2 : liberality in giving : generosity 

3 : yield especially of a crop 

 Lacey, lush hydrangeas

We carried our bouquets home in our arms,

Looking a bit like bridesmaids.

Neighbors I hadn't met, urged me to make a selection

from their pumpkin pile. Heaps of kind folks around here.

I liked the Weird One dressed in gorgeous green.

The little orange-y ones grew in my garden.

Please don't let the organic, farm-fresh veggies

Petrify in the drawers.

Carrot hula or root vegetable ballet?

Santa Barbara --> Hawaii

Exploring Letter 'O': Octopus Holding Oranges by my youngest student (age 3).

My summer teaching job is over, with its many highs and lows. I am currently with family in Hawaii, re-immersing myself in the culture I grew up in. I feel like a fish back in water. The air is so different. My skin is naturally moisturized and my hair is salty and wavy. Apple bananas and poi. Mangoes and plumerias. Luscious warm ocean water. Balmy rain showers and trade winds.

I love Santa Barbara and I've created a good life there, but this place will always be home.

Summer Loving Had Me a Blast

One highlight of working downtown all summer long was spending my lunch hour at the beach. I slipped a bathing suit top on under my clothes, kicked off my work shoes and rolled up my pants so I could dip my toes in the cold California sea. The warmth of the sun, the sound of the waves, and the smell of the ocean air relaxed and recharged me and made me a better teacher.
Fresh picked goodies from the garden. I successful grew a whole head of garlic from one little clove! Digging up bulbs is like digging for treasure.
My friends. I am grateful to have a solid group of quality friends in Santa Barbara.

I Modonnari, The Italian Street Painting festival at the SB Mission.

Getting my hippie on at the annual Summer Solstice parade which was hot, hot, hot.

What were the highlights of your summer?

100th Post

Magical, mythical, marvelous...

I went sailing with three rugged pirates yesterday (one being my dad). They picked me up in a dinghy on a nearby beach and we headed down the coast. Ten hours later, due to light winds, we docked in Ventura.

Dolphins swam along side the boat and seals waved to us with their flippers. Sailing is so peaceful, with no engine rumbling or diesel smells. Just the sound and smell of the sea.

We drove back late. A skunk was waiting for me as I turned into the stairs to my house. I got sprayed right in the face!
Gross.

There are no skunks in Hawaii.

The Cherry On Top

I was very very pleased to find this sort of happiness at the farmer's market. Just what I had been hoping for... I also stocked up on apricots & got a 10 lb bag of organic oranges for $5.

I harvested my first homegrown leeks.We made fava beans on the grill with great edamame-like results.

I have been learning about shading and the value scale in my drawing class. I spend every free minute playing around with the handful of Prismacolor colored pencils I've acquired. We have an "art show" the weekend after our class ends. ;-)May Gray is upon us. I am loving the coastal fog that has rolled in: It sure beats smoke! And the purple jacaranda trees remind me of Upcountry Maui.