seattle flora

I will admit to not trying very hard on this one. I could have gone to the public market and taken plenty of pictures, but it was rainy and it's always so crowded down there blah, blah, blah. Seattle is being bitchy and resisting Springtime. The sun did manage to shine for a few hours at a time and I managed to get out doors and snap a few pics. Hooray!

tecolote ranuns

solo tecolote ranun up close

orchid in my hand

blossoms. They'll be gone soon:(

row of blossoms

random yellow flower bush

these are everywhere

they wouldn't hold their heads up for the picture

white flowers growing on tree

Angiosperme

LES FLEURS

I love getting Daffodils, there's something about going to sleep with  a bunch of closed flower buds and waking up to  a yellow bunch of flowers. I need to get em a few times every spring.

Something about a dandelion that brings back childhood memories of spring & summer.

Kangaroo Paws, one of my favorite cuts to buy; no scent & they last a good three weeks.

Morning Glory.

Proteas Pincushion.
This is a flower I consistently buy at the Farmers Market. It also has no scent but, it's color and pomp more than make up for that. The flower also tends to look good fresh for about a month.

Proteas

Proteas

Proteas(?)

Ranunculus 

c

Fresh Angiosperme !

doubt 

much is 

blooming in

Seattle*

Well, It's my turn to "spring" the photo topic on France, and considering that Spring just started a few days ago... my eyes keep catching all the stuff that's blooming around me here in Southern California...the land of the endless summer, where when it isn't summer it's spring... so much for that endless summer eh?  

I digress...

So with spring in the air, the topic I have chosen is Flora... specifically Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta... flowering plants.

The only other specification for this topic is that they are real. 

and believe me I thought about doing it a bunch of different ways;       indigenous, live... but I doubt much is blooming in Seattle.

So, I thought for this first foray I'd keep it on the s.t. (simple tip) and just say Angiosperm...Flowers, flower plants, bushes trees shrubs cut flowers whatever... the underlying challenge will be a sub theme for the pictures, a cohesive theme that unifies the pictures.

Food! part II

Yes indeed...I did choose food as the topic of the week. Not sure why I went in that direction...probably has something to do with all the cooking magazines I've been reading lately in an effort to finally get my health on track.  I'm doing something I never did much of before. Cooking. I can cook...I just don't do it. Past Tense. Now...I do it all day every day. There is deep satisfaction in making and enjoying meals that you've prepared with your own hands. I have simple aspirations...to use fresh products, and include fruits or vegetables in every meal. Making food as well as photographing it is an art I've yet to master, but I think that I'm making some headway...at least when it comes to the making.

It's Charlie's turn to pick next week's topic...i can't wait!

 crock pock beef stew...an old standby

this is an old pic I slipped in...I do not eat this way anymore, but i still indulge in the Lingonberry Jam Thanks Ikea

 Fish tostadas

 been eating a lot of this lately

p

produce at Public Market

 Healthy meatballs

 Wheat pasta

spinach, cheese and egg muffin...it tasted better than it looked.

Food !

I love to cook and I love to eat,however, France chose the topic and here is my offering. When France chose this topic I asked her if candy was food she said yes, and my intention was to solely take pictures of candy, yet I only got one...The pictures included in my offering are mostly bits of meals I have prepared myself... taking pictures of food AND making it look appetizing is difficult so I eliminated some of those and focused on mostly ingredients and organized them by meal.I will eventually add the recipes but for now feast your eyes!

Green Chili with Ground Pork and Cannellini Beans

I love Chili, especially when it's full of ground meat and Beans. I took a jar of Green Chili Starter* and added Garlic, Cannellini beans, Harissa Spice and a few other magical ingredients and semi-created a delicious Sweet and spicy-warm Chili.

Fresh Garlic and Cilantro for Chili

Inspecting Dried Cannellini Beans.

Cannellini Beans soaking

Green Chili !

*Tomatillos were unavailable at either the Farmer's Market or the Grocery so,  I used this in its place with delicious results.

Braised Pressure Cooker Short Ribs with Guinness and Harissa Spice

After years of consideration, and a childhood fear of the exploding variety, I finally purchased a (totally modern and safe) Fagor Pressure Cooker. 
To create this dish I used a rub on the ribs made from Harissa Spice, Salt and Pepper and let them sit for 90 minutes.
While waiting chopped up two carrots, garlic and a whole white onion.
 I used Guinness as the sauce base with chicken stock, Mushroom Demi Glace (salt and pepper to taste)and the sauce was awesome...  especially the next day.

Sautéing onions and carrots.

Deglazing with Guinness

snd a little more Guinness (in fact I used a whole pint!)

Braised Short Ribs with a Harissa Spice Rub just before pressuring.

Dessert, Sides, Salad & Eggs?

Dropped my Dessert!

7 Eggs & an Orange

Purple Sticky Rice

Spring Salad with Bleu Cheese Dressing 

Bon Appétit ! 

what lies beneath...

words.

image taken 02.11 la metro rail subway station

people in my neighborhood: seattle vol.I

Although I had well over a week to take pictures...Seattle has been pretty rainy/windy as one would expect. I personally don't mind the rain but people are so covered up that I knew I wouldn't get very good pictures. I took these on Saturday...a day of beautiful intermittent sunshine, at Gas Works Park. As for interacting with my subjects...let's just say I found it to be a bit more perilous than I first imagined. That, I believe, will have to wait until volume.II

awe

deep in thought

he also makes good subject

 silhouettes