Food, Art, and Heat in Paradise.

How was your weekend? Lovely and everything you dreamed of? I certainly hope so — especially if you are one to have weekends off. I’ve lived in both worlds: working nights with never a weekend day off, and working the daily grind with every weekend off — that is if you consider having to plan lessons and grade umpteen gazillion papers down time. Um, no.

So what did we do this weekend? Shucks. I thought you’d never ask.

1. Friday I spent all day messing around with changes to a new theme for kellementology. Don’t ask. Clearly, I’m still where I started, which is where I’ll stay until I’m motivated to sit here and begin again. I’m not loving the single sidebar, and I less than love that sprig in the header. The most productive aspect of Friday was sitting on my exercise ball.

2. If you’re up on your short hair science, then you realize it’s the end of the month, and that means more than paying bills around here. It means I post a featured recipe full of carbs and fat, prettied up for the show. This is how it works. Picture a gallery where everyone was asked to use the same medium to create a piece of art of the same scene. Their only option for variety is the way in which they present their work. Then, all the artists show up to oogle each other’s creations, admiring unique creativity and raw talent. It’s pretty amazing. Everyone has a lot of fun 99.9% of the time, but recently, there has been the tiniest bit of scandalous snarking going on. That’s pretty rare in FoodLand, though, and I do have to say that it feels a bit like junior high girl clique crap. So, I had a good laugh over it and moved along. Life’s too short to snark in FoodLand. But here? That would be why I have two blogs. So yes, I’ve been in FoodLand this weekend making these, which were featured here, which is always nice. It’s sort of like getting an A+ on my report card or something.

Bite, anyone?

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This would be a good time to answer a question that Tempered Woman had of me. In my last post, she mentioned that she was “having a hard time aligning the Kelly from kellementology with the Kelly from Sass & Veracity. What is going on with you girl?” Funny you should ask, and I’ll try not to blather on about this (liar, liar, pants on fire…)

*queue violins* But when I started blogging a year ago, I began here. Writing is something I’ve always enjoyed and from time to time, felt compelled to do. When I’m not actually writing, I’m writing in my head. Really. Characters are born and engage in conversation. Story first lines are created. Personal narratives unfold. I couldn’t prevent it if I wanted to. Now, have I done anything with any of my writing except for take up space in the bloggosphere? Um. No. I’m working on that. Really. I’m not a sit down and get it done type of person. I’m more of a marinate fully covered over night in the fridge type. And speaking of marinating…How’d you love that segue? Slick, huh?

Another passion of mine is cooking. Um, duh? And although I make fun of being a foodie, and talk about eating, I do know that it’s the process I enjoy most. It’s not any different than loving gardening, or crafting or shopping…(just seeing if you’re still paying attention…) It’s a passion. But when I began to write here, I noticed almost immediately that I wouldn’t be able to do everything I wanted with this site — like, I had a plan? So I needed to start a food site, too. Notice that I said need. That’s exactly what it felt like. And that was pretty shaky at first, because I didn’t have a solid focus (so what else is new?) couldn’t take food photos for crap, so have had to learn by trial and error. And I also struggled to find my “voice” there, beginning with a similar tone to the one I use here, but feeling uncomfortable about it, and not enjoying it. That has changed. I realize that food is connected to stories for me, often of growing up. They’re inseparable. So there you have it. I’m not exactly sure what it is you have, but still. Not quite as exciting as an evil twin.

Back to the weekend…

3. (Hell, am I only on three? Jeez. Whattawindbag.) Saturday, I went to one of those Garden Walks with my VBF after I made my non-diet food above. She had tickets, it was a gorgeous day, and we meandered in and out of gardens and houses, gawking at plants, and patios, and stairs with a zebra print runner. No, we did not have straw hats with flowers. We treated ourselves to lunch afterwards, and then I came home feeling like I needed to be more like Martha, so finally planted some posies I bought a week ago that have patiently waiting for me to stick them in the ground. Then I finished those sin on a stick desserts, and the MoH and I went for a walk down by the water, enjoying the wind generated by the Santa Ana. It was glorious.
Bike at Sunset Palms at Sunset

4. Sunday was The Day in FoodLand, so I always get up early on The Day, and because I have procrastination honed to an art form, I did my writing then, noticing that it was really heating up weather-wise. By 10:30 it was 90 degrees here. Too Hot. Too still. Almost suffocating. But I got my food writing done while enjoying my coffee and devouring sampling one of my creations all the while sitting on my ball — and if that doesn’t present a stoopid image in your brain nothing will — then did a bit of site hopping so I could drool on everyone else’s creations. The only thing that would make it more fun is being able to taste everybody’s food. And wine, of course. Dessert wine, okay? Well, not in the morning. That is pretty gross now that I think of it. After noon, maybe?

But Sunday wasn’t close to being done because the MoH and I ventured to Little Italy for Art Walk 2008, making its fourth appearance. We love art walk. It’s a great place to enjoy a unique neighborhood in San Diego, meet new artists, and talk to them about their work, then hit the pub for some fish & chips. This year, we met Dave Sisk who makes amazingly intricate masks of gourds. We also met Duke Windsor who paints local scenes one may not consider a focus for art, but they’re full of color, intricate detail, and they’re beautiful.

Reflection:  Peace is Possible Grant Peckoff Studio artwalk 2008

It was beyond hot, though, and I don’t function that well in the heat. Regardless, it was enjoyable as usual, and we didn’t come home empty handed. I treated myself to a new painting for my bedroom with some of my busy season earnings. I couldn’t resist because I love water birds and the artist had it marked down. Okay, so I would have been compelled to purchase it anyway, because I loved it. It’s perfect, with shimmering light blues against the dark, and pieces of rust adding texture and rich contrast to the whole. *sigh* Heidi Haga explained that although she loves the darker colors in this piece featuring two American White Ibises, she’s shifted her focus recently, to keep the pieces she is showing thematically connected. Lucky me!

Two Ibises:  Artist Heidi Haga

Now I have to change my whole bedroom around.

Don’t try to make sense of any of it.

Just know I’m smiling.


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Comments

5 responses to “Food, Art, and Heat in Paradise.”

  1. So, after reading this long post you tell us not to make any sense of it? LOL That’s why I love you. My weekend was weird. I didn’t make the pops, I am on a diet and it’s only Jon and I here. I really don’t need all the extra calories and, though I was drooling on the screen seeing all the beautiful creations, I had to restrain myself. Those are the battles that really matter, right?
    We are back to the 40’s and 50’s up here so I will be happy for a little longer, and then the horrible, miserable, hot and nasty midwest summer will take all my happiness away 🙁

    *hugs*

  2. Hmmm…diet. Yes, that would be what I’m making a weak attempt to do as well, but I’m not calling it a diet. You do know fish & chips at the pub qualifies, right? I’ve been good today, however and sent those pops to the middle school. Hope that “weird” on your weekend wasn’t bad. It isn’t in our family. I’m glad the weather is making you smile, and will wince ahead of time to know that you’ll have suffocating days ahead like the one we had yesterday. Hugs…

  3. Holy Shit….This looks like a BRAND NEW BLOG….

    My weekend is posted

    “Writing is something I’ve always enjoyed and from time to time, felt compelled to do. When I’m not actually writing, I’m writing in my head. Really. Characters are born and engage in conversation. Story first lines are created. Personal narratives unfold. I couldn’t prevent it if I wanted to. Now, have I done anything with any of my writing except for take up space in the bloggosphere? Um. No. I’m working on that. Really. I’m not a sit down and get it done type of person. I’m more of a marinate fully covered over night in the fridge type. And speaking of marinating…How’d you love that segue? Slick, huh”

    BEST SEGUE EVER….

    Really.

    And I know EXACTLY how you feel. And EXACTLY what that thought process is like.

  4. I kind of like the chaos of never knowing what this site will look like. Makes for a nice surprise when I get a chance to click over. Thanks for calling me out~ ack! A simple reply comment would have been fine. geesh
    I guess I was just concerned because in the food world you always seem to be upbeat and perfect. Over here you have seemed quite down. It was weird to me. I personally like reading through food stories when reading a food blog, much more interesting than just posting recipes. I enjoy hearing the memories that certain food calls up and where that takes you. I tend to be a lot less poetic in my prose~ I don’t have the talent you do for writing. But I can definitely understand your passion for cooking. I just wish I lived closer so I could invite myself over.
    I’m with Ben on skipping this DB~ I did NOT need that temptation. I’ve made them before, cute but not that great of a cheesecake recipe really.
    Oh, and I’m with you 100% on the bedroom redesign. It would only be the right thing to do to honor that great painting.

  5. Okay, meleah. Slap me around for not hustling right over. I’m going now already. And I do know you get it.

    Hey TW! All in good fun — hopefully! I had out my kid gloves, and did spend some time thinking about what you had to say, which is important.
    Good point on the “down” aspect of here. Somehow, that stuff doesn’t fit in FoodLand if I have two blogs. All things unrelated to food are often blase or downright annoying. I love to vent, and I also have to let some of the crap I carry around in my head go or I’ll pop. It’s anyone’s guess how it will come out: snarky, melancholy, or just plain crazy. Now that you mention it, it’s probably a bit rough on my readers. I do think about them, though. As far as the DB stuff goes, sticking with it is helping me to alter recipes size-wise. I’ve been wired to cook for as many as six in my life and don’t think about portions. Sooooo…that part is good.

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