trip to patrick's point
WE'VE GOT SOLE
last night and tonight we had local petrale sole. it is pretty tasty. it's a bit hard to cook because it is incredibly thin. tonight we tried the pre-stuffed sole things that look like vulvas with cheese in the middle. they were good.
CAMERA AND WEDDING THOUGHTS
i've been editing the hux wedding. i am trying to decide if i want to go ahead and start building albums for couples even if they haven't ordered any -- if they see the album online and like it, there's a chance they may buy it. it's kind of fun making the albums, and i would pick the photos i like (and they could change them around or pick others after they see it).
i just found out tonight that nikon and sigma have come out with an 18-200mm lens with image stabilization. it only has a 3.5 - 6 maximum aperture, which isn't great. but the sigma version is only $450! i need this lens, even though it isn't quite the high quality of the 18-50mm f/2.8 and the 70-200mm f/2.8 i use now. but it would be SO worth it not to have to constantly switch lenses or use two cameras! going through this last batch of wedding photos, there were so many times i could have used a longer lens -- especially during the reception (toasts, for instance).
PATRICK'S POINT STATE PARK
eros and i went to patrick's point state park today. it was his first time there. the day started out foggy but it burned off into a gorgeous, sunny afternoon. we stuffed ourselves at the Oriental Buffet and then headed north to the park, which is 5 miles north of Trinidad. it's an amazing place. it basically encompasses a large point of land that sticks out into the ocean. there are lots of sea stacks and headland rocks that actually have trails up onto them. there are redwoods and lush green forest, reminiscent of the forest near La Push in washington.
we checked out the Sumeg village -- not original native american, but an authentic replica. the buildings were low and burrowed into the ground. the roofs were planks -- and amazingly watertight. there was something about the construction that i found very beautiful. it was spare and simple, but had an elegance and a grace that reminded me of zen. zen has taught me the value of elegance in functional things. despite the way i clutter my surroundings, i really do enjoy simplicity and elegance. i have just had a hard time reconciling that yearning for elegance with my equally strong love of a huge variety of projects, books, costumes, houseplants and so on.
i feel magic coming from well-loved, well-designed, well-loved tools. an old knife, for example, or a cast iron skillet. oddly enough, i can even feel this power from electronics, like the Mac or Photoshop. guess i am a virtual kitchen witch. i am interested in making art that shows the passage of time and of wear from human use. not sure where to start on that.
we also walked around and up on top of Ceremony Rock, a big rock tower at the edge between the forest and broad meadow. i spent a little time drinking in the views north up the coast along the blue curve of the ocean. the sun touched my skin and i imagined what it was like there before cars, RVs, and electric lights.
patrick's point has excellent campsites as well. it's still a bit chilly to camp, but i am looking forward to it later in the spring.
we hit Wedding Rock as the sun sank lower in the sky. people do get married there -- it's like a miniature Trinidad Head, with steps carved up the rock. eros slipped on slick rock and landed on his tailbone. ouch!
finally, as the sun was near to setting, we got lost on the way to the park exit and by serendipity found Palmer's Point, the southern tip of the park. it was an amazing view south along the coastline, with seastacks lined up as far as you could see. I want to go back there and photograph waves breaking over the rocks and flying up in clouds of spray.
as we left, the sunlight came slanting up through a grove of trees, turning an incredibly rich gold color.
every day, i want to feel the sun on my face and the wind in my hair. i love spending time outdoors. i continue to lose weight, although slowly. mostly i feel the increase in energy that being more fit has brought me. but more importantly, i feel that spending time in nature heals and replenishes me. it is my spiritual watershed.
last night and tonight we had local petrale sole. it is pretty tasty. it's a bit hard to cook because it is incredibly thin. tonight we tried the pre-stuffed sole things that look like vulvas with cheese in the middle. they were good.
CAMERA AND WEDDING THOUGHTS
i've been editing the hux wedding. i am trying to decide if i want to go ahead and start building albums for couples even if they haven't ordered any -- if they see the album online and like it, there's a chance they may buy it. it's kind of fun making the albums, and i would pick the photos i like (and they could change them around or pick others after they see it).
i just found out tonight that nikon and sigma have come out with an 18-200mm lens with image stabilization. it only has a 3.5 - 6 maximum aperture, which isn't great. but the sigma version is only $450! i need this lens, even though it isn't quite the high quality of the 18-50mm f/2.8 and the 70-200mm f/2.8 i use now. but it would be SO worth it not to have to constantly switch lenses or use two cameras! going through this last batch of wedding photos, there were so many times i could have used a longer lens -- especially during the reception (toasts, for instance).
PATRICK'S POINT STATE PARK
eros and i went to patrick's point state park today. it was his first time there. the day started out foggy but it burned off into a gorgeous, sunny afternoon. we stuffed ourselves at the Oriental Buffet and then headed north to the park, which is 5 miles north of Trinidad. it's an amazing place. it basically encompasses a large point of land that sticks out into the ocean. there are lots of sea stacks and headland rocks that actually have trails up onto them. there are redwoods and lush green forest, reminiscent of the forest near La Push in washington.
we checked out the Sumeg village -- not original native american, but an authentic replica. the buildings were low and burrowed into the ground. the roofs were planks -- and amazingly watertight. there was something about the construction that i found very beautiful. it was spare and simple, but had an elegance and a grace that reminded me of zen. zen has taught me the value of elegance in functional things. despite the way i clutter my surroundings, i really do enjoy simplicity and elegance. i have just had a hard time reconciling that yearning for elegance with my equally strong love of a huge variety of projects, books, costumes, houseplants and so on.
i feel magic coming from well-loved, well-designed, well-loved tools. an old knife, for example, or a cast iron skillet. oddly enough, i can even feel this power from electronics, like the Mac or Photoshop. guess i am a virtual kitchen witch. i am interested in making art that shows the passage of time and of wear from human use. not sure where to start on that.
we also walked around and up on top of Ceremony Rock, a big rock tower at the edge between the forest and broad meadow. i spent a little time drinking in the views north up the coast along the blue curve of the ocean. the sun touched my skin and i imagined what it was like there before cars, RVs, and electric lights.
patrick's point has excellent campsites as well. it's still a bit chilly to camp, but i am looking forward to it later in the spring.
we hit Wedding Rock as the sun sank lower in the sky. people do get married there -- it's like a miniature Trinidad Head, with steps carved up the rock. eros slipped on slick rock and landed on his tailbone. ouch!
finally, as the sun was near to setting, we got lost on the way to the park exit and by serendipity found Palmer's Point, the southern tip of the park. it was an amazing view south along the coastline, with seastacks lined up as far as you could see. I want to go back there and photograph waves breaking over the rocks and flying up in clouds of spray.
as we left, the sunlight came slanting up through a grove of trees, turning an incredibly rich gold color.
every day, i want to feel the sun on my face and the wind in my hair. i love spending time outdoors. i continue to lose weight, although slowly. mostly i feel the increase in energy that being more fit has brought me. but more importantly, i feel that spending time in nature heals and replenishes me. it is my spiritual watershed.