Every year my Mom, aunt and cousins and I get together to color eggs. In addition to the usual store-bought coloring kits, we use silk. We mostly use old silk ties.
Husbands and fathers donate the ones that they don't want anymore, and we also find some at thrift stores. One year, I donated a silk skirt of mine that I'd worn so much it was falling apart. It was made of dozens of silk rectangles. All with different patterns. Some of the skirt pieces were still around for this year and I have a great specimen of one of them in my flickr set.
We tightly wrap an uncooked egg in a piece of silk, sewing the ends & edges closed. Then we steam cook them by the dozens in big pots. The pattern transfers to the egg, and voila, the coolest looking eggs ever!
This one is my favorite from this year. I don't know who's tie it is from, but it looks like a Miro or Picasso to me.
The white finger-like patterns on the bottom of the egg are actually spols where the egg was not in contact with the silk. When the fabric bunches up at the ends of the egg, we end up with cool designs like that in addition to whatever transfers off onto the egg from the silk.
This year, I took photos of a small sampling of them to share. I tried to do multiple angles of each egg so you could get a good idea of what they look like. Towards the end of the set, there are a few dip-dyoed eggs, too. I tried something new this year with the dip-dyed ones by doing them in two tones. I particularly like the photos of the purple one at the end of the set. It looks like it could be a planet or one of Jupiter's moons.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Birthday Hike - Hollyridge Trail on Mt. Lee
There's a peak on Mt. Lee that a single tree sticks out from. This tree is visible from the street. From my apartment. From many places in Burbank. I have had my eye on this tree for a long time. I wanted to hike up and picnic under this tree.
So when I found out that there was a trail on Mt. Lee, I was esctatic. I was certain it would lead me to this tree because the descriptions of the trail all said it goes all the way to the top. I decided that my birthday would be the perfect day for this hike. We got a late start, so I didn't pack a picnic, just some snacks and lots of water and we were off!
The name of the trail is the Hollyridge Trail. I learned about it from a book called Day HIkes Around Los Angeles.
It was a beautiful day for a hike, we had a break in the rain and the air was crisp and the skies were clear, so we had gorgeous views of the city, all the way to the ocean, and of the valley on the other side. As it turned out, the top of Mt. Lee has a couple different peaks and we realized as we approached the top that my tree was not going to be at the end of the trail we were on. After checking out some maps, I'm pretty sure the peak my tree is on is called Cahuenga Peak. The Hollyridge trail does not go there. I don't know if there's a trail that does.
So, that was a tiny dissapointment. Tiny, really. Take a look at the photos in the rest of this set and you'll see why. It was a great day for a hike, and a most excellent trail. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
So when I found out that there was a trail on Mt. Lee, I was esctatic. I was certain it would lead me to this tree because the descriptions of the trail all said it goes all the way to the top. I decided that my birthday would be the perfect day for this hike. We got a late start, so I didn't pack a picnic, just some snacks and lots of water and we were off!
The name of the trail is the Hollyridge Trail. I learned about it from a book called Day HIkes Around Los Angeles.
It was a beautiful day for a hike, we had a break in the rain and the air was crisp and the skies were clear, so we had gorgeous views of the city, all the way to the ocean, and of the valley on the other side. As it turned out, the top of Mt. Lee has a couple different peaks and we realized as we approached the top that my tree was not going to be at the end of the trail we were on. After checking out some maps, I'm pretty sure the peak my tree is on is called Cahuenga Peak. The Hollyridge trail does not go there. I don't know if there's a trail that does.
So, that was a tiny dissapointment. Tiny, really. Take a look at the photos in the rest of this set and you'll see why. It was a great day for a hike, and a most excellent trail. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Oh Happy Day!
Please enjoy a photo of our President's home state of Hawaii and reflect on the wonder that is today.
This photo was taken on August 28, 2008 on Kauai, Hawaii. The sun was setting as we walked along Ha'ena Beach towards Ke'e Beach on Kauai's North shore.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
This Day in (my) History
June 23, 2007.
A year ago today, I was in Luxembourg.
It was the National Holiday. The day they celebrate the Duke, the Duchy and all that entails. There were various ceremonies & celebrations scheduled throughout the day, parades, speeches etc. There was a huge televised mass at the Notre Dame cathedral at midday. And finally, at night, over the Petrusse Valley, fireworks!
We rushed to get there on time as Joe had been delayed at work. It took a long time for us to find parking, but we finally did.
Then we ran all the way over to Ponte Adolphe, thinking we'd miss the show. But we ended up waiting for an hour or so. I think they were waiting for the winds to die down? I don't know. But the show finally started. It lasted a good 30-45 minutes. It was awesome.
I took photos of the fireworks, and a few of the crowd. People were drinking, singing, waving Luxembourg flags. The wind sometimes carried the embers over to the crowd, we had to duck and sidestep a few smoldering bits as they floated down.
And then as if on cue, no more than two minutes after the show ended, it started to rain. And by the time we were a block away, it started to pour. So we got home soaked, but satisfied. I was very glad to have been part of the celebration.
I still miss Luxembourg.
A year ago today, I was in Luxembourg.
It was the National Holiday. The day they celebrate the Duke, the Duchy and all that entails. There were various ceremonies & celebrations scheduled throughout the day, parades, speeches etc. There was a huge televised mass at the Notre Dame cathedral at midday. And finally, at night, over the Petrusse Valley, fireworks!
We rushed to get there on time as Joe had been delayed at work. It took a long time for us to find parking, but we finally did.
Then we ran all the way over to Ponte Adolphe, thinking we'd miss the show. But we ended up waiting for an hour or so. I think they were waiting for the winds to die down? I don't know. But the show finally started. It lasted a good 30-45 minutes. It was awesome.
I took photos of the fireworks, and a few of the crowd. People were drinking, singing, waving Luxembourg flags. The wind sometimes carried the embers over to the crowd, we had to duck and sidestep a few smoldering bits as they floated down.
And then as if on cue, no more than two minutes after the show ended, it started to rain. And by the time we were a block away, it started to pour. So we got home soaked, but satisfied. I was very glad to have been part of the celebration.
I still miss Luxembourg.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
the travails continue
Eight months ago when I posted last, I really thought things were going to settle down in my life. I don't know why I thought this. I had no reason to expect anything of the sort. At the time, we had just completed a harried search for an apartment and moved in. Joe was scheduled to leave for Toronto in September. We had no plan for how we were going to deal with yet another 8 months of separation. I don't think I had even fully adjusted to being back in the States.Anyway, I think that's why in my last post I sounded so certain that I'd be able to post more often. Things didn't quite work out that way.
A year ago this weekend, I was in Luxembourg. We were all excited to check out the Fête de Printemps.
This year, I am in Toronto. Getting ready to fly back to LA after a week's visit with Joe. It wasn't exactly a vacation. I was working all week. But we were able to have our life together back for a week, to revel in the mundane domestic tasks because we were doing them together.
I have been busy trying to get all my Europe photos up on Flickr. I only have our 4 day Germany road trip left.
And now, I have lots of pictures of Toronto as well.
So, please enjoy these photos while I pack. The top row of sets are the ones I've recently uploaded of our last days in Luxembourg and Paris. I will post again when I'm back in LA.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
home sweet home
So, it has been about 5 weeks since I got back.
I arrived July 9th.
We're finally settled, sorta.
We found an apartment and are in the midst of unpacking our stuff.
I have been thinking about Luxembourg constantly, wondering how life is moving along over there, and with the friends we left behind.
It has been a crazy 4 weeks here, with the hurried apartment hunting and moving and whatnot.
Now that things are settling, I'm looking forward to writing more frequently and documenting our last couple of weeks in Europe.
We were able to squeeze some traveling in at the end there. I've got loads of pictures to annotate and post to flickr.
So stay tuned. I'll be back with more.
I arrived July 9th.
We're finally settled, sorta.
We found an apartment and are in the midst of unpacking our stuff.
I have been thinking about Luxembourg constantly, wondering how life is moving along over there, and with the friends we left behind.
It has been a crazy 4 weeks here, with the hurried apartment hunting and moving and whatnot.
Now that things are settling, I'm looking forward to writing more frequently and documenting our last couple of weeks in Europe.
We were able to squeeze some traveling in at the end there. I've got loads of pictures to annotate and post to flickr.
So stay tuned. I'll be back with more.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
my last post from the Duchy.
My flight is in 7 hours. I should be asleep.
This is my last post from Luxembourg, but definitely not the last post about Luxembourg. I still have lots of photos to post and talk about.
My day started very early, with Joe's departure at 7:00am. After he left for the airport, I did some cleaning around the apartment.
Then I had a lovely brunch with my friends Solenn and Olivier. They made me such a fantastic meal that it has been the only thing I've eaten all day and I haven't been hungry since.
In the evening I decided to take a walk in the city center and check out Rock um Knuedler in Place Guillaume. It started raining, and so I didn't stick around to see the show, I walked around Place Guillaume and took in the sight. It was pouring by then, and I, having packed away my umbrella and other rain gear, got drenched. But I didn't mind. I love the rain, and it seemed a fitting last evening in this city.
I walked all the way to the Gare, and caught the bus home from there. I took a few pictures of the city in the rain. I will post those next. As soon as I am back in LA.
I am sad to leave.
This is my last post from Luxembourg, but definitely not the last post about Luxembourg. I still have lots of photos to post and talk about.
My day started very early, with Joe's departure at 7:00am. After he left for the airport, I did some cleaning around the apartment.
Then I had a lovely brunch with my friends Solenn and Olivier. They made me such a fantastic meal that it has been the only thing I've eaten all day and I haven't been hungry since.
In the evening I decided to take a walk in the city center and check out Rock um Knuedler in Place Guillaume. It started raining, and so I didn't stick around to see the show, I walked around Place Guillaume and took in the sight. It was pouring by then, and I, having packed away my umbrella and other rain gear, got drenched. But I didn't mind. I love the rain, and it seemed a fitting last evening in this city.
I walked all the way to the Gare, and caught the bus home from there. I took a few pictures of the city in the rain. I will post those next. As soon as I am back in LA.
I am sad to leave.
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