Amanda Atkins and her portraits

I just discovered the artwork of Amanda Atkins and I am in love. Her portraits are simple and yet full of meaning and her style reminds me of cubism and Picasso and Edward Gorey.







(Not that you can see any of my interests through my choice of her work to share, or anything ;)

She sells prints of her original work at her Etsy Store at a very reasonable price and will even print on silver rag paper by request. And for the month of November, her birthday month, she is giving a way a custom portrait to one lucky winner! Make a comment on this post on her blog to enter.

Amanda is also a fellow vintage fashion lover and an animal loving member of Etsy for Animals.

a slow return...

yea that about sums it up, right? Well welcome back to me and hopefully to you too. I have lots of pictures to share from my trip but first some expeditions in bread baking form the last month and a half...

Whole Wheat Challah. I used 2 cups whole wheat to 2 1/4+ all purpose. Really good. a little less sweet than usual but B and I both like it better. I used the recipe I posted here.

Whole Wheat Pita. I don't remember my ratio on this one as I did not have to figure it out myself. I used this recipe. I think my oven doesn't like to get hot enough. The first 2 didn't puff so I rolled the rest thinner and cranked the oven. they puffed a bit but not in a make a falafel sandwhich kind of way. Even so it was much better than the dried out flaky stuff I can buy. And it is pretty easy.
I also made some cinnamon bread (and I made that whole wheat too) but I didn't photograph it and I really didn't like it too much. Too Sweet? Too Heavy (after the whole wheat conversion)? I dunno so B ate pretty much all of it. I got the recipe off the flour bag. I had sweet dreams of the cinnamon swirl bread my mom likes but FAIL. oh well.
I am kinda obsessed with whole wheat bread lately.

See you in September...

Hello.

So I am leaving the country today. I am going to Israel for 3 weeks, part with a group and part just hanging out with my fam and friends. For more info and updates on the first part of my trip check out www.israeldiplomaticfellowship.wordpress.com.

I will be taking lots of pictures and I will be sure to post them upon my return. (Now that I have posted everything from the last trip. Finally.)

Memphis, TN part three: Old man river and a Southern tree (or two)

This is a mile long scale model of the Mississippi. It was fun to walk in in the heat. There is also information on the history of the river as well. It was very interesting to learn about the changes that have occurred in the the geography of the river.

The actual Mississippi River next to the model. On the other side of the bridge is West Memphis, Arkansas.




This is a tree that was all of Memphis and I love it. I have no idea what it is but if I ever have a house with some kind of land i want one. I also saw it in white and purple.



This tree was in front of a house. It is so big and covered in mosses. It was breath taking. You can see how it took over the sidewalk. I want one of these too!

Memphis, TN part two: Graceland

Memphis, TN part one; Cats in the letterbox, ducks in the fountain

Welcome to the House of Mews. A no-kill cat shelter similar to, though not quite as big as, Tree House here in Chicago. They were closed but I spent a good 10 minutes petting this last kitty though the letter slot and trying to take an interesting picture of it. We went back the next day and found out a woman started it by herself and she still works there everyday. She charges an adoption fee instead of just giving all the kitties away because then you have made a commitment to the animal. Someone willing to part with some cash in exchange for a pet is less likely to neglect it or return it. An interesting concept. She also collects cat food for low income families who have adopted pets. So if you are in Memphis or Chicago think about giving one of these shelters a visit just to give some love to the animals or think about donating what you can. B and I donate lots of unwanted household items to Tree House and my parents clip cat food coupons and send them to me for Tree House. The House of Mews is on Cooper just off Young and Tree House has a location in Uptown right off Broadway and Carmen as well as a location and clinic in Bucktown. Or if you don't like cats think about same for your local dog shelter.



The ducks hang out in the fountain in the lobby of the Peabody hotel everyday from 11am-5pm. You can see the duck march from the elevator to the fountain and back again at those times.

When not in the fountain the ducks live here. The duck palace on the roof of the hotel.

or rather here, behind the palace pictured above

This is the view of the city from the roof. not too shabby if i do say so myself.
Supposedly the ducks in the fountain started as a practical joke after a hunting trip and too much Jack Daniels.Find more on the story of the ducks here.

Austin,TX part two: Breakfast, Barton Springs and Bats

It was B's birthday.





Best local swimming hole ever! Isn't it idyllic? probably my favorite part of Austin.



Austin is on a bat migration pattern. From about April to October the bats take up residence under the Congress Ave bridge over Town Lake. Every evening during this time you can watch the bats leave their daytime shelter and fly out from under the bridge as they begin their nocturnal hunt for food.