Jacarandas

Testing out some more film in the Roland. 

Sphinx moth photo by Mark Dreiling.

Green Garbanzos

After tasting some green garbanzos at Gjelina last weekend, I was extremely excited to find a bushel of them at the Atwater Village Farmer's Market this Sunday.   The cats helped me pluck them off the stems, followed by a quick steam, some butter, and fresh mint for an amazing dinner.

Roland Test Film

I bought a camera several months ago at the thrift store, not knowing what it was.  I knew it was German and looked cool, and had a nice leather case.  Once I got it home, though, and looked it up, I learned I had a small treasure in my hands - a Roland Plasmat from the early 1930s.  Unfortunately, the lens didn't focus, so I had to get it repaired.  I just got it back, and ran a roll of film through.  I'm still learning getting acquainted with the shutter speeds, focus, and framing, but I already love the softness it produces.  Is this what 1933 looked like?

Tomato weed

I stumbled across this in the alley as I parked my car last night.  I know there is some kind of symbolism here, but I'm just going to simply enjoy the surprise.

Block Shop Textiles

Block Shop scarves made the internet rounds awhile ago, but I'm still going nuts over them.  Block printed and dyed by hand in India, then laid in the sun to dry, each one is very special.  To learn more about the sisters who started the company and the process, visit their site. 

Cicada Summer

Looks like the east coast is going to have a noisy summer with the arrival of Brood II.  According to this NPR article, "They [cicadas] will arrive in such numbers that people from North Carolina to Connecticut will be outnumbered roughly 600-to-1."   Thank god they are gentle beasts.

The cicada is one of my absolute favorite bugs, and there is one tree near where I work that hums with them in the summer, but nothing like in the south or east coast.  The sound brings me right back to balmy nights as a kid.

Audio clips (and more) can be found at Cicada Mania. 

Image above by Ohara Koson (1930), from the hanga gallery.

Blue green brown

Judging from what I've pinned this week, I think I've been craving cold dirt and shallow pools.  It's been way too hot here, and I got a little sunburned, which was embarrassing.  I am thanking my lucky suns that today is grey, cold, and tomorrow promises more of the same. 


1. Vintage Copenhagen pottery  2.  Rachel Carson  3.  Pool photo by Eric Piasecki   4.  Rugged style.

Weekend Mouse