RSS feedJune, 2011
It all had to begin somewhere…
By Silver Blue
…and this is where it all began. A 204 page photo biography, published by Lulu Press, and no longer available for purchase. Some of the better photos from it will be featured in upcoming posts, along with some that will be in its sequel, Dancing in the Rain with Silver Blue.
The thing everyone should remember: love one another. Treat each other with kindness. Harsh words cannot be unspoken, and apologizes can never fully take away the hurt and harm that has happened.
Silver Blue – who is feeling introspective tonight.
Come Taste Life (Food, Part III)
By Silver Blue
It’s time again for a tease TASTE of life. Easy to make food that’s suited to the way I live. I don’t have hours to spend in the kitchen, nor do I have hours (and massive budgets) for food stylists, perfect settings, etc.
What’s easier and tastier than a burger? How about a Spicy Chicken Burger, topped with homemade salsa?
accompanied with a salad, it makes for a great meal. Something a bit more substantial would be a beef roast with potato kugel (made from very finely grated potatoes). My mom was a fan of this one:
Though I guess if you wanted to be a bit more traditional (and Irish, some say), you could go for Corned Beef and Root Vegetables:
Hope you’re not counting the sodium grams, because they’re everywhere. Of course, they’re also in ham, and since that’s a favourite at Easter, being a people pleaser…
I will admit that there are few things tastier than a ham, slow roasted in your own oven and cut into thick slices. Perhaps you’re in a soup mood? How about Beef Barley with sauteed mushrooms?
Perfect on a cold day. One of my favourites, actually. Then, there’s sauteed shrimp with roasted veggies and brown rice…
(the sauce on the rice are the juices from the sauteed shrimp (almost a scampi type sauce). Before you ask, yes, I do go and buy “one off” plates, place mats, etc. for photographing purposes. 🙂
Healthier than the deep fried “rib tip” that you get from the local Chinese Takeway, here is a low simmered version atop brown rice and roasted asparagus. What’s not to like?
Here’s a wonderful fare. A Mediterranean Pasta, with sun-dried tomatoes, marinated artichoke hearts, onions, Kalamata olives, sauteed mushrooms and garlic, and grated Parmesan cheese. You’ll never miss the meat in this dish!
There are carnivore options, however, with this chicken and sausage bake, roasted potatoes and garlic, and steamed broccoli. The government’s “food plate/pyramid” aside (I never subscribe to anything they say after they tell me that I, at my current weight, am borderline “obese” (I have a 34/35″ waist, and clock in at 207.5 lbs, on a 6′ frame – that’s obese? They say an optimal weight for me is 162.5, and that, my friends, isn’t happening.), this is a well rounded meal.
But… I have a sweet tooth (as most of us do) and look forward to dessert. Boiled custard with blueberries takes the cake on this go round:
Pretty enough for company, somewhat enough to share, and more than enough to satisfy my craving.
Silver Blue…come on lunchtime!
When the Snow flies…
By Silver Blue
…it is relatively a rare occurrence in Hampton Roads. We have had our share of it, but there are some moments that are memorable as well:
On campus, they forgot to shut the lion fountain off. This is one of my favourite wintertime photos, taken in January 2000.
Mostly we get mere dustings of snow, which the wind can easily whip around.
While something this light would be enough to shut the city down for a day.
In 2004, we had something of an anomaly. 14″ of snow, right around Christmas time. The housemate took the photos.
I was dealing with my own blizzard at the time, visiting my grandmother in Ohio.
It may not look like a whole lot of snow to my northern visitors, but this is a mega rare occurrence, and one the area is not prepared to deal with. Especially on the side roads. That doesn’t mean, however….
…that there isn’t beauty to be had. The housemate is especially fond of this photo she took because of the red car, like a ladybug, in the centre of the picture. (For those who used to follow the Ramblings of Silver Blue, yes, the photo was taken by Tink, who used to have her own blog of “Flitting Here And There”)
As you can see, even with a small amount of snow, the streets ice over and the drivers in this area? I think the tire tracks on the right say all that need be said. 🙂
When you get snow, then ice, then snow, then freezing rain, then snow again, it makes for an interesting outcome.
Fortunately, the utilities held out. Or I’d be finding SOME way to keep warm, indeed!
Your moment of Zen. Buddha, unaffected by the snow. (He was in Norfolk at the time (December 2010) as was given as a gift to me just this past spring. He now resides on my hearth, where he can stay warm and not be concerned with the elements. 🙂 )
Silver Blue, all of a sudden in the mood for a snow cone.
Mandala Dismantlement Ceremony (Video)
By Silver Blue
The Mandala is dismantled. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_mandala for details.) Half the sand is distributed to the congregated people, the other half, returned to the earth.
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The Sands of Time (Video)
By Silver Blue
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The creation of the Sand Mandala by the Buddhist Monks, April 2010.
My moment of Zen
By Silver Blue
We all need to take some time to come back to centre, from all the noise and distractions of life. I find it easier to do when looking for beauty…in everything possible. From the simple lines of a nautical street lamp and a living gull perched atop to…
The piece of stained glass above my sofa (and my two plush companions, Blackberry Bear, and Roxette Bunnyâ„¢ to my mantlepiece:
…as you can see, I run the gamut in blue. I find it a mindful, soothing colour. The way I see the world through my eyes. I also have, IMHO, the perfectly balanced picture frame with inspirational messages:
As I’ve often said, “Life isn’t about learning to weather the storm, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” The “rain” comment here means just as much to me.
I was fortunate in 2010 to meet with a group of the Drepung Loseling Monks who came to ODU for Peace week and received several gifts from them.
I also watched them construct a sand mandala:
…which took the better part of the week to construct. They had, in the background, an altar of sorts with a picture of HH Dalai Lama, fresh fruit, and fresh flowers:
A better view of the altar. The mandala represents the energies of the universe, and is “destroyed” upon completion, to show the energies merging again…
Half of the sand is disbursed to the people in attendance. The other half:
is disbursed back to nature, preferably in a body of water.
I carry on the gifts that were given to me (physically, and spiritually) in my own “Zen” corner, which I’ve dubbed “Meditation Corner” in the Shenandoah Forester:
The roses are from the opening altar and the closing altar (they’ve been pressed and dried). The upper photo is also above, the lower photo is of the completed mandala. The blue tapestry to the right is the “Om Mani Padme Hum“. The metal canister to the right is an incense holder. The tapestry to the left spoke to me, but I do not know what it means.
The tapestry in the upper right (the small blue one) says:
The True Meaning of Life:
We are visitors on this planet. We are here for ninety or one hundred years at the very most. During that period, we must try to do something good, something useful, with our lives. If you contribute to other people’s happiness, you will find the true goal, the true meaning of life. – HH the XIV Dalai Lama.
Silver Blue – who seeks mindfulness and enlightenment in all things.
Feasting for the Spirit (or, Food Part II)
By Silver Blue
Welcome to the second session of… well, delectable delights from my kitchen to your screen. (If I’ve put the recipe over on The Wannabe Gourmet, I’ve linked to it.)
Let’s start with an appetizer, shall we? Mozzarella Caprese: Garden ripe tomatoes (none of those hothouse, flavourless ones, please), fresh mozzarella, basil, and Balsamic Vinegar, Olive Oil, and fresh ground black pepper. Plated, family style:
…and individually served with the oil, vinegar and pepper dressing.
Soup, anyone? Provided you can do coconut, and curry, here’s a Coconut Curry Soup with Butternut Squash, Shrimp, Scallops and baby Bok Choy:
There’s freshly chopped coriander (a/k/a cilantro) sprinkled atop this. It’s hard to describe the taste, as it’s made with Coconut Milk, Curry Paste, Fish Sauce, Chicken Stock, and the aforementioned veggies and proteins) A meal in it’s own right.
Next up, let’s have a Shrimp Sofrito, with tomatoes, peppers, red onions, and some awesome Manchego cheese (yes, the coriander/cilantro is present here as well):
Staying in the shrimp realm, take shrimp sauteed with minced garlic, add grilled asparagus and mini farfalle pasta, and you end up with:
There are scallions and cracked green pepper as well.
Maybe you’re in the mood for tuna, though. Sesame crusted tuna, served on a bed of brown rice with a side of Napa cabbage (cooked in a hot skillet with some chicken stock for flavour and to wilt it down) makes a great dinner as well!
Or, for the halibut (pun time, perhaps?), I have an herbed (dill) halibut fillet and oven roasted frites:
(Those are haricots (green beans) with minced shallot as the true veggie).
Chicken? LOL. I’ve got two non-seafood options for you there. The first, a chicken picatta:
The chicken breast is pounded thin, dusted with flour seasoned with salt and pepper, and sauteed quickly in a hot pan lightly filmed with olive oil. The pan is deglazed with lemon juice and capers, which are poured over the chicken and brown rice. Steamed broccoli rounds out the meal.
Or, maybe you’re in the mood for something a little more formal:
This chicken has been marinated in a dijon sauce, and is served alongside homemade sage dressing, and steamed veggies. Served with a sparkling white wine.
Finally, for dessert, we have lemon curd tartlettes with blackberries:
…which are simple in preparation, but intense in flavour.
Silver Blue, who is craving something extra tasty for dinner!
In Neon, the dreams in the light of a promise that dies….
By Silver Blue
…A shimmering city, a glimmer of hope and a lie
In neon the name’s gone there’s no reason why anymore
Trust them and wind up alone behind a locked door
In neon, in neon…*
I love neon. The problem is, it’s a complete pain in the rump to photograph. Still, I’ve managed a few good shots here and there over the years. Here’s a few:
The Naro Expanded Cinema. Art House movies, and Rocky Horror, every other weekend.
Zero’s subs and grinders. I love the colour variation in the neon.
The Colley Cantina, local favourite watering hole.
In the day of chain drug stores, it’s nice to see a small town pharmacy in business.
Don’t know about “An American Original”, but they’re showing off even more colour.
For a caffeine addict like myself, this is a beacon of hope in the darkness.
Another local watering hole. Used to be Elliott’s, then The Maxx.
Bella Pizzeria in Ghent. Best calzone I’ve ever sunk my teeth into. Garlic knots that are hot, fresh, and actually TASTE like garlic. I’m in heaven. Their sign makes me laugh though. Due to burned out neon, it no longer says Bella Pizzeria in Ghent. It says:
Be A Ghent. LOL.
Finally, moving from Norfolk to Gettysburg, PA, and the Majestic Theatre:
Even in the daytime, the marquee is a work of art, but turn the lights on and turn off the sun and the magic happens.
This is style and class that only those of yesteryear still maintain. Not that those in this day and time don’t attempt it:
But it’s just not the same. It really isn’t.
Silver Blue, tripping down memory lane with a neon light shining my way.
* “In Neon” by Elton John, lyrics by Taupin
But is it art?
By Silver Blue
When I had my kitchen renovated in 2009 (thanks to Mom and Dad), I was left with a very tough decision. What to use to keep the walls from being blank and bare. It shouldn’t have been that big of an issue, just find some prints I liked and put them on the wall, right? After all, isn’t that what everyone else (who doesn’t USE a kitchen) does? Somehow, cookie-cutter wasn’t going to cut it for me. (One of the photos contains a word that is NSFW, but it was on a retail package.)
A suggestion was made that since I like photographing the food I make, to use it. You know, it made sense. That way, I could rotate the photos as I saw fit, and it would be things that meant something to me on display. So, I went for it. (Each photo is signed “Silver Blue” and dated with the year it was taken.)
The original backsplash, featured lacquered scallops, a still-life of a bread basket, and three different types of soups (Soup à la Crécy (a carrot based soup), Spicy Sweet Potato Soup, and a Cranberry Wild Rice Soup).
The second iteration had a close up of the Chef Cherished Teddy (wearing his “Kiss the Cook” apron), Boiled Custard, and the Still Life.
I then acquired hyper-caffeinated coffee (thanks to the housemate, Sandi, who vacationed in New Orleans), and the middle picture was removed and replaced with:
The coffee came in Censored and Non-Censored Packaging. Of course, may as well have a photo of the Wannabe Gourmet in his kitchen, yes?
The wall by the stove became:
Displaying the Strawberry Mousse Chocolat, Pavlovas, London Broil with Mushroom Risotto and veggies, and a Spicy Beef and Broccoli soup with garlic Crostini.
The photos have been rotated as well, with the inclusion of me, offering coffee:
(taken on my late Grandmother’s porch, the day of her funeral) — and this photo came down when the hyper-caffeinated coffee photo went on display. It was replaced with:
An artistic take on an out-of-focus shot made with my Blackberry at “Perfectly Franks” (hot dog and hamburger place) in the University Village on the campus where I work. There was something about the way this photo came together in this surreal sort of way…cartoon? Pen drawing? I liked it, and it went up. Of course, things are meant to be changed so…
The current wall. Notice how the boiled custard returned, the Pavlova disappeared, and the Chorizo pasta (from yesterday’s post) are now featured. (When do I decide to change? Well, honestly, when my local photo developer has a sale on 8x10s. LOL)
Finally, I had some dead space above the doorway. Nothing wrong with empty wallspace, but…it seemed to be asking for something. Something big. Something tasty.
So, I acquiesced with a giant picture of “the perfect burger” (which you’ll find over on The Wannabe Gourmet). I’ve yet to find another photo that works as well as that one, however. (I’ll do a feature on the renovation of the kitchen at a later date.)
Silver Blue, who answers the subject with “Art is in the eye of the beholder.”
When Nature Calls…
By Silver Blue
…you’ve just got to answer.
Especially when it’s the Beauty of Nature that calls. Here are a selection of photos of the roses (and other flowers) around the Shenandoah Forester (the name I christened my house):
Azaleas tend to bloom in early spring, except here where they bloom into June. Strange, I know, but then again, I’m the one who has roses that bloom in December. Speaking of roses:
I had a bout with blackspot, but won. I liked the way the sun singled out this rose to “highlight.”
Red (or maroon) seems to be a very popular colour for roses, and around my house is no exception. I like the way these clustered.
Mother Nature has been PMSing the past couple of years with massive thunderstorms. While I don’t care for all the lightning, the aftereffects make for some beautiful photos.
I have a Peace rose by my driveway that does something interesting (other than hold rain beautifully). It’s actually a tri-coloured rose off one rootball (and on the same cane, no less):
You see, the roses are yellow, pink and yellow, and almost all pink. I don’t know what causes it, but I do enjoy it.
Delicate, fragrant, and prolifically pink!
I’ve lost this rose since taking its photo, but it was known as a “Charisma.” I had it, and a “Gemini” (of which, unfortunately I have no photos of) that didn’t make it through one of the massively snowy winters we had about a decade ago.
Taken just this morning (that’s my Cinnamon basil to the right, and purple basil to the left), the heat doesn’t stop my orange roses from blooming any more than they did the red one I posted yesterday.
Of course, there’s Irises (in many colours), and gardenias:
and these smell just as wonderful as they look.
The mimosa (not just a drink!) is in bloom:
and they’re a lot like dandelion clocks in their delicate airiness. Of course, then they look really unattractive as they fade.
Rhett! The magnolia’s in bloom! While everyone tends to photo them fully open, I captured this “unique” (to me) look:
Who watches over all these flowers, especially when I’m not around? Why the magical bunny of course!
He’s hard to photo, as he’s always on the go, but the lure of the delicious clover was too much for him to pass up and he posed, majestically, for my camera. (Actually, having a quality zoom lens helped QUITE a bit!)
Finally, just for my Northern Star…no flower photo journey would be complete, sans “Bud”.
Perhaps the favourite of all my roses, because this plant came into “Bud” in November, and stayed tight in its bud, weathering most of the winter, until Valentine’s day, when it opened up.
Silver Blue, who is a true romantic at heart.
(A note about comments: If you wish to comment (and I welcome them), you have to click on the name of the post, which will open it, and the comment box is at the bottom of the screen.)
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