Holidaze

'Tis the season for me feeling like this:



vintage image

see post below for one month earlier...

the fall times

self portrait at the Musee Mechanique

San Francisco November 2011

Now for Mulled Wine!

Bring to a simmer:

1 cup water

1/2 cup orange juice

1/2 cup sugar

2 cinnamon sticks

12 whole allspice

12 whole clove

12 black peppercorns

6 cardamom pods

zest of 1 lemon

zest of 1 orange

Once simmering add:

1 sliced lemon

1 sliced orange

2 bottles cheap red wine

bring back to a simmer

Don't over boil! You don't want to cook off the good stuff!

Turn to low heat

then add:

1 cup brandy

Strain & serve! Zing!

All warm and fuzzy.

too much, too fast.

So much to report, but time keeps on slippin'!

More updates later... for now:

LOVE!

Los Angeles

11.11.11

Congratulations!!! I love you both!

13

Happy Birthday to the best Impy Potato in the whole wide world!

You've been by my side through many, many adventures!

Here's to more! Now off to run around the cemetery and eat vanilla ice cream...

Jurassic PARKER Peckenpaw McGillicutty Esq.

Oakland, October 2011

death by bay bridge

The Berkeley Municipal Pier used to extend 3.5 miles into the bay. Used as part of an auto ferry system between the east bay and San Francisco from 1927 until 1939.

The opening of the Bay Bridge was the pier's undoing.

berkeley, october 2011

collective sponge

Oh internet and your flooding of images. Let's face it we all seek inspiration from each other. I used to be protective of my eye candy but honestly it's in cyberspace- game on for everyone. It's more important what newness you chose to create from stimulation instead of emulation.

That being said I've joined the Pinterest bandwagon. Ugh.

brand new online shop for Essential Monsters!

It's all true! My brother and I have been busy bees. buzzzzzzzzzzz.

clickety-clack the image silly!

love you til the day we burn

The mister is in this lovely band and they are getting a little press!

San Francisco Chronicle 

Andy's box of wonder

Cynthia & Jim at 924 Gilman

  

Latest tracks by Swann Danger

photos on this post by Tracey Dupre & Andy Zevallos
videos by Kevin Brown & Skot Brown

lately...

summer past times.

july august 2011



polaroid LA times

christine, doug, emily

doug & nikki, ginny, gilbert & dean

scott & ginny, stefano & nikki, jeff & adam

los angeles 2001 ~ 2002

a weekend walk

june 2011

for Dad.

The most amazing man I will ever know. Happy Father's day!

In his natural enviroment

arugula walnut pesto!

The garden is coming along nicely this season! Right now we are up to our eyeballs in arugula. Which may or may not have to do with us taking almost five summers to establish it as a self seeding weed in the yard! I give you pesto!

3 cups coarsely chopped arugula

1/3 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup grated parmesan

3 peeled and chopped garlic cloves

1/3 olive oil

sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

into the food processor with everything but the oil! turn it on for a sec before drizzling in your olive oil!

then enjoy on fresh bread or toss with some tortellini! 

Narwhal

It's true! I've finally unleashed my newest concept! Go take a peek!

Narwhal at Etsy

I'll be adding tons of stuff to the shop this week as well as the blog going live and a facebook fanpage even! Whew! I'm tired so now I go make peanut lime kale tofu fancy!

seahorse set of three

flapper fish charm in champagne

don't be a crab vintage post card

the sky's gone out!

Yes, the past three titles are all connected! No shame. Needless to say that summer is elusive here by the bay. These are some shots of the crazy sky and how fast it was changing at sunset.

oaklandia, ca 2011



telegram sam!

We just got the most adorable invite in the mail! It clearly came via Western Union Telegram service. Tea stained envelope and a perfectly worn telegram inside informing us to save a very important date!

I couldn't be happier for the pair, they are my extended family! I look forward to sharing your special day and I love you both! Muah!



a spy for a spy

I had a visit from one rare bird! She hid behind her secret agent goody camera and took some lovely shots of my garden, parker and of me being a silly goose.

Look at all of the photography talent over at her blog...

christina diaz 2011

dark n' stormy weekend

old friends. conversations. mediterranean platter coma. birthday wishes. dark n' stormies. cemetery strolls. lake merritt. bird sanctuary. beer revolutions. vegan soul food. first and last chance for seafarers. jack london. balenciaga and spain. raven haired cult. siouxsie videos. bars and spirit twins in the rain. homeroom mac and cheese. some of the best company.

hearts all around.

new toy, to keep my head expanding

after this past week, I needed a tech treat!

hidden lake

oakland, ca 2011

feeling lost at sea...

been a very busy bee.....buzz buzz buzz

will share soon

photo source unknown

weekend warrior!

photo source unknown

happy spring (finally) everyone!

fancy-free

coming soon to an Etsy shop near you.

the ole girl was a bit rusty,

back in action...



printer's block

Complete anxiety inducing blockage! It's been a while my friends...real life getting in the way and all. I'm now ready. I just keep telling myself it's like riding a bike...

inspiration:

foto: Eugenio Recuenco

If you don't hear from me later it's because I've drowned in ink.



in memoriam



a weekend reduced...

An epic green couscous meal, 5+ hours of Monopoly resulting in Jim being a total slumlord, an amazing film finally available for you to watch, and a most important  soundtrack all means that spring has not yet arrived in this climate. Now for a pizza stone battle!