gorgonzola + minty green pizza

eating green in 2013: zucchini, pea and mint pizzas, recipe adapted from here.

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simply. more. green.

A green cheer me up; a stinky delight; minty freshness. I made these pizzas today for everyone in our house who is under the weather, which is actually everyone but me (may I not jinx myself!). Originally meant to be tarts, I adapted the recipe slightly by using a cornmeal/spelt crust and Gorgonzola rather than feta. Little G started with the crust, moved onto peas and eventually licked a few pieces of zucchini. I think the choice of cheese may have been too strong for her and will consider using something with a little less "bite" next time. For tonight, it's been delicious, even if I am eating most of it alone!

all about light

I am in the midst of a six week photography course, studying under the ever inspirational Erin Wallace of a love supreme. This week is all about light and since the sun finally decided to shine on Vancouver, I spent the morning oceanside with G to practice shooting. I chose to shoot into the sun (entirely on manual of course!) which can be tricky as the camera freaks out trying to read the abundance of light flooding into its sensor. I'm still not sure that I've nailed it 100%, but I'm starting to understand the fundamentals of wide versus narrow aperture and what kind of image will be produced in bright sun. Midday sun is incredibly unkind to photos (and the people trying to take them), leaving early morning and early evening (before sunset is best) for photos with soft "magic hour" light...

I'm so excited for summer 2013 - with my camera set to manual I'm going to chase light all over the place!

Here are a few samples:

Playing in the sun at Jericho Beach, Vancouver, B.C.

my light

A day to smell all parts of the flower. 

edamame pesto pasta

eating green in 2013: pasta with edamame pesto, recipe found here.  

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simply. more. green.

This past week I fell rather hard off the "green wagon" (cornflakes and Guinness one evening for dinner, oh my) but I'm hopping right back on with this recipe. While preparing the ingredients I may or may not have been seen hanging over the food processor, eating this delicious pesto by the spoonful. Homemade pesto is fantastic for it's punch and freshness, but more importantly, for what it's missing - piles of unnecessary (and ruinous) sodium. I used whole wheat pasta for it's high fibre and iron content, keeping little G's brain properly powered!

Eating green is pretty dandy. 

mayne island

Ocean views from Mayne Island, B.C.

We enjoyed a quick retreat to the southern gulf islands this weekend to reconnect with longtime friends and their little ones. The days were mostly overcast and cool - skies lidded over - perfect for island explorations, meandering conversations, hot spiced cocoa and winter beards of witch's hair (lichen). I can't think of any place I'd rather be than cliffside and surrounded by Arbutus, eating cookies with such lovely, generous folks.   

Parting shot: Monty enjoys a brief ocean dip as the sun rises. 

Thank you, friends, for a lovely weekend.

PS - my first time taking each and every photo on manual. Ruined 80% of them, but 20% turned out just fine. I am growing!

6/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2013."

the 52 project: 6/52.

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We are just back from a holiday weekend of lazy mornings and long walks with friends on Mayne Island, where G and Sean spent ample time pajama-clad, looking for ocean-swimming seasonal visitors outside the cabin window. Sea lions were heard but not seen and it was an absolute treat simply to know they were near.

More to come in the next couple of posts!

5/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2013."

the 52 project: 5/52.

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Little G is enamoured with her bedroom window. From her perch she watches small birds flutter amongst the treetops, spies on dogs walking happily by with their people, and waves 'hi' to any one of the eleven children that represent the neighbours in our complex.

Her little feet and lovely, long eyelashes, the way she tried to stamp the butterfly onto the back of her hand, the pursing of her lips to make a "hoot" sound at the owl block, the "more" symbol being made over and over while we guessed which animal was on the block and what sound it made - these are a few of the things I love about these photos/this experience. 

Sweet little stinker.