Thursday, September 30, 2010

Ryan McGinley's film diary

postcards from Italy

The Sassi district of Matera

Weird head planters

Green shutters
1. 056-pola, 2. 304-pola, 3. 181-pola01, 4. 336-pola

A few of my pictures from the beautiful and unique Sassi district of Matera, where the houses, caverns, and streets are dug from the calcarous rock in the mountain itself.  This area is believed to be the site of some of the first human settlements in Italy.  According to Fodor's

"Matera is the only place in the world where people can boast to be still living in the same houses of their ancestors of 9,000 years ago."

By the 1950s, the district had essentially become a ghetto, and the living conditions were deplorable.  The government forcefully relocated most of the population to apartment blocks on the outskirts of the city.  People do still live in these dwellings, though, and tourism is starting to bring in more money for repairs and restoration.  

I still have a lot more photos to go through, but I promise I will try to get the rest of them up by the end of the week.

aw(some) family photos

Coordinating your clothing with the decor?  NKOTB feeding you by hand??  Kittens and triangles???  Cute boy in a cardigan (I'll overlook the fact that he's groping his sister because she's wearing the best dress ever, who could resist)????  I actually really like these.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

10 things i would kill for right this instant (if asking nicely doesn't work)

belgian waffles
1.  Belgian waffles with Nutella and strawberries,  beautifully photographed by Jessica

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2.  Necklace made from an antique key, by Vanessa of Loose Lips Sink Ships
3.  Black dress from Project Runway's Micheal Drummond 

[Photo Credit: gettyimages.com/wireimage.com]

4.  Czech film poster of Catherine Deneuve in Belle de Jour by 


5. A kitten (photo source: nairafee.deviantart.com)

6. Linus Mixte 3 Speed Bicycle from Adeline Adeline

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7. The hair (and skin) I had when I was 12.

8.  A garden with pretty pink flowers (photo via: satoko yugari)


9.  To visit New Zealand (image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/martin-james/2432369018/)

10.  `Nuff said.

Monday, September 27, 2010

pompeii part IV

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A few pictures from the Hotel Amleto in Pompeii.  A very sweet, comfortable room.  I always love the combination of peach and aqua, and the molding on the ceiling, the light fixtures, the bed, and the bathroom tiles and sink were so pretty and feminine.  There are definitely a few ideas I'm taking home with me.

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pompeii part III

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After exploring the ruins of Pompeii all afternoon, we relaxed with a gelato by the fountain, Italian style! It was the perfect opportunity for people watching (with my telephoto lens!). The old man surrounded by a bevy of young girls was particularly interesting. I'm not sure what he was talking to them about, but they seemed entertained!

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Vesuvius!!!

Pompeii Part II by Rebekah Hakkenberg

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Sunday, September 26, 2010

angel on ruskin



The Bathers feat. Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins

I never get tired of this song.  I'm in love with Chris Thomson, and Elizabeth Fraser is just magical.

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newman's own






I have a face that does not belong to a thief. [When asked why he thinks he became so successful as an actor]
—Paul Newman*

Humility, a sense of humour, piercing blue eyes and made a darn good salad dressing, to boot.  I don't usually find such flawless beauty particularly compelling or attractive, but Paul Newman is the exception to the rule.  And what an exception he is.

*Note:  I just discovered that today is the 2nd anniversary of his death.  I did not know this until after I wrote this post.  Spooky.

10 recipes that I will be making this fall...

In an effort to be more goal oriented, I'm making lists of various things I want to do.and posting them here for others as a way of being (somewhat) accountable for actually following through with the things I set out to accomplish.  I love to bake, probably because I've always associated baking with leisure time and cooking with work.   It's one thing to spend your Saturday making brownies, and another thing altogether to come home at the end of a long, hard day and think about filling your belly.  I want to make cooking meals as much of a joy as baking is, and the shift from summer into fall always signifies new beginnings, no matter how long it's been since you left school.  In my opinion, it's a more natural time of the year to make resolutions and set new goals and challenges for yourself.  And I love cooking in the fall, it's the perfect time of year for all of my favourite ingredients and dishes: earthy mushrooms, sweet squashes, hearty chillies and curries.  So here, in no particular order, is my little challenge: 10 meals that I will make this fall.  Stay tuned for the results...

1.  Butternut Squash and Coconut curry via: Love and Olive Oil
2.  Mark Bittman's Easy Pad Thai via: the kitchn
3.  Herbes de provence Roast Chicken via From Me To You

4.  Turkey and zucchini green chili via : Closet Cooking


5.  Thai Shrimp Curry via : Steamy Kitchen

6. Warm mushroom pasta with citrus-soy dressing via: Discovery Health
7. Sag Panner via: New Asian Cuisine
8. Homemade potato chips (technically a snack) via Not Without Salt
9. Lentil sweet potato soup via: The Gluten-free Scallywag


10.  Bacon ice cream with a hint of maple via: delicious days

Okay, so the last one is technically not a meal, either... but, it does contain bacon!  And combined with #8 on my list, could be a movie night/junk food/pms kind of meal... and anyways, it's my list!