fossil park

I was thinking about doing another recipe post, or writing about how last night I dreamed that grizzly bears were chasing me around my house and the only way to get rid of them was to remove all Carhartt jackets and hiking clothes from the premises, but today I feel like sharing some shots from the fossil park on the side of the Shaniko-Fossil Highway. It's not the quite the John Day Fossil Park, but it's pretty close. (Both distance and appearance-wise.)

You can't see it very well, but there's a trail that winds up through the rocks. I was totally expecting to get bitten by a snake.

I hope you all are having a pleasant Memorial Day weekend!

greek yogurt lemon poundcake (with blueberries)

I had my first s'more of the year yesterday. True story. To be honest it was roasted over my gas stove, so no, it's not a legitimate member of the camping-food family. Still, toasted marshmallows are delicious. Especially the powdery epidermis that get all brown and crinkly. I admit I'm the kind of person who likes sandwich crusts, brownie edges, and marshmallow skins.

We used a bag of those obese marshmallows that were probably created to put an abrupt end to any chubby-bunny tournaments elementary-age boys might start.

I witnessed my 13-year-old brother fail miserably last night as he tried to stuff just one into his mouth.

You probably clicked on this link to read about pound cake though, so I'll erase that previous image from your brain. You're welcome.

This blueberry lemon cake was the result of a nighttime baking session a few days ago. I adapted the recipe from this sour cream and lemon pound cake from epicurious. Except I added blueberries, and used plain greek yogurt instead of sour cream...because yogurt is always a better choice.

This recipe makes enough for two small loafs and 12 muffins. (I didn't double it.)
I put just a small amount of batter into the loaf pans because I was worried that that the center would still be dough-like when I took it out of the oven.

ingredients
* 3 cups cake flour
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
* 3 cups sugar
* 6 eggs, room temperature
* 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
* 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
* 1 cup plain greek yogurt

prep
Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease pans. Dust pan with cake flour; tap out excess flour.
Sift flour, baking soda and salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl at medium speed until fluffy. Gradually add sugar and beat 5 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating just until combined after each addition. Beat in lemon juice and peel. Using rubber spatula, mix in dry ingredients. Mix in yogurt. Transfer batter to prepared pan.
Bake cake until tester inserted near center comes out clean, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Let cake cool in pan on rack 15 minutes. Cut around cake in pan. Turn out cake.

Carefully turn cake right side up on rack and cool completely. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Wrap in foil and let stand at room temperature.)


(original recipe here)


Happy baking! Also, go make yourself a s'more. You won't regret it.

the violet hour

The three photos below taken in Clarkston, Washington are my new favorites. I tried to edit them as little as I could (just a little contrast, expo, auto RAW stuff) but it's still so hard to capture the scene just like it was.

I took a walk in these fields as the sun set and found this family of deer enjoying their evening stroll:

It's peaceful out here. You could walk for hours in the swaying grass trying to catch up to the elusive deer who always manage to reach the top of a hill before you.

"The Violet Hour" by the Civil Wars doesn't have lyrics, but if it did, I think they would be about this place.

I never thought Eastern Washington could be so beautiful.

Fossil, Oregon

On our way up to Idaho last week Andre, Louis and my dad and I stopped in Fossil, Oregon. Fossil (population about 470) is a quiet place. The tombstones on a nearby hill look out over the Fossil Baptist church and the roofs of the sleepy bars, diners, and houses.

There are no grocery of coffee chains anywhere in sight. There are about three restaurants to choose from. Kids ride bikes down main street as the sun sets, and if you stop at the vending machine at the old gas station you'll probably get a drink that, while cold, is covered in dust.

We spent Thursday night at the Bridge Creek Flora Inn- an old, two story house with a large porch. A phone number was scribbled on a note attached to the front door. There is zero cell coverage in Fossil so we left in search of a payphone. Fifteen minutes later we were back at the house waiting for some to come unlock the door for us. A man with waist-length dreadlocks pulled up in a truck and we went inside.

My dad and I were suddenly reminded of Psycho. Maybe it was the large kitchen knife lying next to the basement door outside. Or maybe it was the old mahogany staircase, or because we were locked out of the left wing of the house.
We loved it. My dad just has a talent for finding interesting places to eat and stay.
That night after dinner in a local cafe I set my alarm for 7:00 and fell asleep in a very comfortable bed.

I like this place.

studies in black and white I

I haven't done a "b&W only" post in a while, so here are a few recent ones from my Aperture library that caught my eye:

This strange mission-style house is slowly being taken hostage by various kinds of Oregon vegetation.

I'm pretty sure this is what a bird would see if it was about to land on that branch. A bird with seriously messed up sight, obviously.

Experimental black and white portraits of Louis.

This Chernobyl-esque building would make a great photoshoot location, except that it's surrounded by a fence. Typical.




In other news, I've been working on my etsy shop a bit. Thank you for all the comments in response to Olivia's giveway, and congrats to Kendra, who won! I'll be putting your package in the mail tomorrow, Kendra:)

On Thursday I'm leaving on a road trip through central Oregon, Washington and up to Idaho.Yay!

I hope everyone has a lovely rest of the week...

the instagram diaries edition IV

Right now I'm sitting at my desk icing my abused wrists (thank you Beethoven Sonata) and it really does feel like the end of the school year. My final essay of the year and a piano exam eval. sheet are lying in front of me. In just a few short weeks after the rest of school wraps up, I will be a senior. I don't have a very clear of what my last year of high school will be like (or even where I'll be living!) but I'm looking forward to it.
 
Here are some of my favorite iPhone shots from the last few weeks. Or months...

Left: Daniel eating chocolate cake after church. He might be one of the most adorable little kids ever.
Right: Andre and Louis climbing the Butte.

Left: Yummy Easter food, including this cake.
Right: My neighbor's cat firmly planted on my homework.
Left: My new favorite hairstyle.
Right: Some lovely sun enjoyed on an afternoon run.

Left: Mikaela's grapefruit juice.
Right: The pink windows at Yogurt Extreme are my new inspiration. Except I usually don't get along with pink...
Left and Right: A few Mother's Day shots.

Left: We went to cupcakery for Mother's Day. My mom and I plan on opening one someday, if you were wondering.
Right: Late night homworking with Andre.

Left: Finished papers!!!
Right: Using up my dad's Starbucks free drink cards. Which led to this conversation:

Me: Andre, I can't believe you just ordered a venti frappuccino. That is such a girly drink.
Andre: No it's not. Girls can't handle venti strawberry frappuccinos.


I guess there is some truth to that. And to Andre's credit, it was actually Louis who drank the strawberry. And to my mom, who is reading this, I will point out that the picture of the "man drinks" was taken in a parked car. I'm a good Oregon driver!

my saturday

Today involved Mikaela, a new frozen yogurt place, silly pictures, and lots of wandering around. It was a good day.

(Mikaela's in the plaid scarf, I'm wearing green:)

newspaper dress

Just one shot for now:) I know I've already posted it on my FB fan page, but here it is again...

Also, I'm giving away one item from my Etsy shop over on Olivia's lovely blog this week. Go check it out.

p.s.  I'm also trying to organize my previous posts, since a lot of my blog images disappeared after my previous photo storage site crashed. The new "categories" page is HERE and will be added to. My blog might get kind of disorganized in the next few days...

a preview to the drinkable color palette...

I'm photographing all my homemade smoothies now.  I'm sure the resulting collection of pictures will be a delicious looking pastel rainbow. Significantly more appetizing than a paint chip collection. Maybe Jamba Juice will hire me as a photographer if I make them a poster. But they probably won't because this post is about how you can make smoothies at home that are are equal (if not superior) to any others. I don't like smoothie recipes. I like smoothie "suggestions." So here are two. (Mine were made in a Vitamix...)

Left: Apricot nectar, greek yogurt, orange juice and frozen mangoes and peaches.

                                                    Right: Apricot nectar, orange juice, cinnamon, greek yogurt, strawberries

I want to paint these

I'm hoping to vary my content a bit more on this blog in the next few weeks. That's the nice thing about blogging though, I can post whatever I want. Sometimes it's a portrait shoot, or weekend pictures.  Other times my posts are about Trader Joe's flowers sitting on the dining room table for a house showing:

The end. I have an essay to write (last one of the year!) a ton of piano practice, and some other stuff that needs to be wrapped up by June.


Also, this is my latest favorite find....I want it on my wall. Click on it to view large.