The elves, hard at work
wrap, wrap, wrapping...
pretty gifts, all wrapped and bowed
more gifts ready to be delivered
the gifts filled two large cars!
31 Aralık 2012 Pazartesi
In Our Lifetime's Adopt a Family Gift Drive
To contact us Click HERE
In Our Lifetime", the non-profit parent of the Immediate Impact Walk participated in an Adopt a Family Gift Drive through La Casa de las Madres this holiday season. We were assigned a family (a Mom and two boys) and given a list of their holiday wishes. Several of the people on our walking team signed up for specific gifts, and others donated money to contribute to buying gifts. This afternoon, we got together at the Sports Basement in the Presidio to wrap, bow and tag all of the gifts so Linda can deliver all of them this week.
The elves, hard at work
wrap, wrap, wrapping...
pretty gifts, all wrapped and bowed
more gifts ready to be delivered
the gifts filled two large cars!
The elves, hard at work
wrap, wrap, wrapping...
pretty gifts, all wrapped and bowed
more gifts ready to be delivered
the gifts filled two large cars!
Dicken's Christmas Fair
To contact us Click HERE
Today we went to The Dickens Christmas Fair at the Cow Palace! Apparently, this fair has been happening every holiday season since 1970, but we had never been!
It was GREAT fun! We were lucky, as today was the last day of the fair this year. We also lucked out that we thought to go early - around 11:00, so it wasn't too busy. We left around 3:00, and by then, it was pretty crowded.
We all had a great time, but Dick and Spencer were really in their element. They loved seeing everyone dressed up in Victorian garb, that they had to join in. We found top hats for each of them at the Haberdashery. Dick wants to be fully dressed in Victorian era dress next year. He's hooked!
The Grand Concourse when we first entered
dancing at Heziwig & Company
Pinocchio at the theater
"Gin is Sin" (there were plenty of bars and booze going around!
A candle maker
Dick and Spencer playing Darts. Dick hit the balloon and won a candy-cane for me!
Live mannequins in the windows of the corset shop
my proper gentleman
it's like being at Disneyland and buying Mouse-Ears for my kids
Father Christmas sighting!
It was GREAT fun! We were lucky, as today was the last day of the fair this year. We also lucked out that we thought to go early - around 11:00, so it wasn't too busy. We left around 3:00, and by then, it was pretty crowded.
We all had a great time, but Dick and Spencer were really in their element. They loved seeing everyone dressed up in Victorian garb, that they had to join in. We found top hats for each of them at the Haberdashery. Dick wants to be fully dressed in Victorian era dress next year. He's hooked!
The Grand Concourse when we first entered
dancing at Heziwig & Company
Pinocchio at the theater
"Gin is Sin" (there were plenty of bars and booze going around!
A candle maker
Dick and Spencer playing Darts. Dick hit the balloon and won a candy-cane for me!
Live mannequins in the windows of the corset shop
my proper gentleman
it's like being at Disneyland and buying Mouse-Ears for my kids
Father Christmas sighting!
How we've spent our last two days
To contact us Click HERE
We started the second half if the second movie today around Noon. We finished that, and just started the third, and last movie. 4 more hours to go!
What a great movie trilogy, and a great way to spend vacation. :)
We started the second half if the second movie today around Noon. We finished that, and just started the third, and last movie. 4 more hours to go!
What a great movie trilogy, and a great way to spend vacation. :)
2012 - My Renaissance Year
To contact us Click HERE
Today is the last day of 2012.
I just did a quick review of my blog from the past years, and realized that I never do an end-of-the-year recap. Not that this will be one, but I did feel the need to acknowledge the term that I've been using for 2012: "My Renaissance Year".
It sounds so much better than "My mid-life crisis".
Not that I think I've been going through a mid-life crisis (at least not in a traditional sense) but I did make a conscience effort this year to revive the art in my life, which I knew had been gone for the last several years, and was sorely missed.
I don't make New Year's Resolutions often, but when I do, I take them seriously, and try to keep them. My resolution for 2012 was to get back into painting. It took me a while to get back into it but little by little, it did happen!
It started with when I streaked my hair blue. I'd been wanting to do this for such a long time, and am so glad I finally found the gumption to do it! I really love it, and plan to keep it for a while. (this is what I originally joked as my "mid-life crisis".)
Next up in Trina's Renaissance Year was when I was invited to participate in the Trans Pacific Art Show. My dear friend, Kimi, had arranged this show, which included artists from Japan and the Bay Area. I was so honored when she asked me to join. I dusted off a few acrylic paintings that I had and included them in the show. It was a great experience, and I was so grateful to kick-off the year in an artistic venture with other artists.
During the early part of the year, I experimented with some ginko leaves and acrylic medium on small canvases. That was a good start, but I was still having a hard time sticking to my plan to "do more art".
Dick and I travelled to Italy in late April/early May, and that had a big impact on my desire to paint more. We started off in Rome where I was in awe of so much of the art - especially the sculputres, then ventured to Florence, the home of the true and actual Renaissance. We completed our trip in Venice, where I fell in love with the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
Within a week of coming home from Italy, I helped my friends at Adler & Co. Gallery with their booth at the SF ArtMRKT. Again, I was surrounded by amazing and inspiring art for several days.
It was at the Art MRKT that I saw our friends, Dean and Jose. I had known for several years that Dean was a very talented painter, but wasn't aware that he was also a painting teacher. After I completed my work at the Art MRKT, I checkout of Dean's website and found out that he offered private painting lessons.
...and then it all came together...
I started taking lessons from Dean the following week, and have been painting with him once a week since early June.
With his guidance, and exceptional teaching skills, I have completed 5 paintings so far, and am almost finished with another. This thrills me to no end.
Volland Raggedy Ann
Dick's Hat
Joy Glassybaby
Glassybaby #2
Sophie
Starting in early June, I also started to attend weekly figure drawing sessions at the 23rd Street Studio. I've also enjoyed this immensely, and plan to continue with this as well. I know that having weekly drawing sessions has helped me improve my rusty drawing and art skills. I've also enjoyed being able to share this experience with my friend, Miguel!
7-minute pose
I have so enjoyed *finally* getting my feet back in the art world. I'm not sure where this will all take me, but I am certainly enjoying the journey and am learning a lot from it. It also reminds me of how much joy I get from creating art. I enjoy the process so much. I love getting lost for minutes/hours at a time. It's an exhilarating feeling, and I've missed it.
My thanks to my wonderfully supportive husband who gave me a nudge early in the year to paint again. He's been so supportive through all of this, and I can't thank him enough.
Thank you for coming along on this journey with me.
2012 was a wonderful Renaissance Year for me. I can't wait to see what happens next!!
I just did a quick review of my blog from the past years, and realized that I never do an end-of-the-year recap. Not that this will be one, but I did feel the need to acknowledge the term that I've been using for 2012: "My Renaissance Year".
It sounds so much better than "My mid-life crisis".
Not that I think I've been going through a mid-life crisis (at least not in a traditional sense) but I did make a conscience effort this year to revive the art in my life, which I knew had been gone for the last several years, and was sorely missed.
I don't make New Year's Resolutions often, but when I do, I take them seriously, and try to keep them. My resolution for 2012 was to get back into painting. It took me a while to get back into it but little by little, it did happen!
It started with when I streaked my hair blue. I'd been wanting to do this for such a long time, and am so glad I finally found the gumption to do it! I really love it, and plan to keep it for a while. (this is what I originally joked as my "mid-life crisis".)
Next up in Trina's Renaissance Year was when I was invited to participate in the Trans Pacific Art Show. My dear friend, Kimi, had arranged this show, which included artists from Japan and the Bay Area. I was so honored when she asked me to join. I dusted off a few acrylic paintings that I had and included them in the show. It was a great experience, and I was so grateful to kick-off the year in an artistic venture with other artists.
During the early part of the year, I experimented with some ginko leaves and acrylic medium on small canvases. That was a good start, but I was still having a hard time sticking to my plan to "do more art".
Dick and I travelled to Italy in late April/early May, and that had a big impact on my desire to paint more. We started off in Rome where I was in awe of so much of the art - especially the sculputres, then ventured to Florence, the home of the true and actual Renaissance. We completed our trip in Venice, where I fell in love with the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
Within a week of coming home from Italy, I helped my friends at Adler & Co. Gallery with their booth at the SF ArtMRKT. Again, I was surrounded by amazing and inspiring art for several days.
It was at the Art MRKT that I saw our friends, Dean and Jose. I had known for several years that Dean was a very talented painter, but wasn't aware that he was also a painting teacher. After I completed my work at the Art MRKT, I checkout of Dean's website and found out that he offered private painting lessons.
...and then it all came together...
I started taking lessons from Dean the following week, and have been painting with him once a week since early June.
With his guidance, and exceptional teaching skills, I have completed 5 paintings so far, and am almost finished with another. This thrills me to no end.
Volland Raggedy Ann
Dick's Hat
Joy Glassybaby
Glassybaby #2
Sophie
Starting in early June, I also started to attend weekly figure drawing sessions at the 23rd Street Studio. I've also enjoyed this immensely, and plan to continue with this as well. I know that having weekly drawing sessions has helped me improve my rusty drawing and art skills. I've also enjoyed being able to share this experience with my friend, Miguel!
7-minute pose
I have so enjoyed *finally* getting my feet back in the art world. I'm not sure where this will all take me, but I am certainly enjoying the journey and am learning a lot from it. It also reminds me of how much joy I get from creating art. I enjoy the process so much. I love getting lost for minutes/hours at a time. It's an exhilarating feeling, and I've missed it.
My thanks to my wonderfully supportive husband who gave me a nudge early in the year to paint again. He's been so supportive through all of this, and I can't thank him enough.
Thank you for coming along on this journey with me.
2012 was a wonderful Renaissance Year for me. I can't wait to see what happens next!!
27 Aralık 2012 Perşembe
In Our Lifetime's Adopt a Family Gift Drive
To contact us Click HERE
In Our Lifetime", the non-profit parent of the Immediate Impact Walk participated in an Adopt a Family Gift Drive through La Casa de las Madres this holiday season. We were assigned a family (a Mom and two boys) and given a list of their holiday wishes. Several of the people on our walking team signed up for specific gifts, and others donated money to contribute to buying gifts. This afternoon, we got together at the Sports Basement in the Presidio to wrap, bow and tag all of the gifts so Linda can deliver all of them this week.
The elves, hard at work
wrap, wrap, wrapping...
pretty gifts, all wrapped and bowed
more gifts ready to be delivered
the gifts filled two large cars!
The elves, hard at work
wrap, wrap, wrapping...
pretty gifts, all wrapped and bowed
more gifts ready to be delivered
the gifts filled two large cars!
Mousie Cookies: Step by Step
To contact us Click HERE
Today was the annual "Making of the Mousie Cookies" with my Mom! We've been making these together for years and years. Such a fun tradition to do together
I write blog posts with photos every year we make them, and this year is no exception. I love the step-by-step photos of the creation of a Mousie Cookie.
My Dad was able to help us out this year. He was in charge of cutting the black licorice eyes, and later, he put the eyes into the mice.
update
I've had several requests for the recipe. here it is:
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons almond extract
3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup peanuts
1/4 cups raisins, halved (we cut black licorice, or use icing for eyes)
1/4 cup red-hots (we use red icing for the nose)
60 pieces read and/or black shoestring licorice (2 inches)
in a mixing bowl, cream butter and brown sugar; beat in egg and extracts. Gradually add flour; mix well. Cover and chill for 1 hour. Shape into 1-in. balls; pinch front of each ball to form a nose. Add two peanut halves for ears, two raisin pieces for eyes and one red-hot for nose. (if using icing for nose, wait until after baked and cooled.) Poke a hole for tail with a toothpick. Place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 325 degrees for 12 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Cool on wire racks. Insert licorice pieces for tails. Yield: about 5 dozen
Here are the step-by-step creation of a Mousie Cookie photos:
Mom, making the dough
Dad, cutting black licorice
various body parts of a Mousie Cookie: cut black licorice for eyes, peanut halves for ears, red licorice for tails
the rolled out and formed naked bodies
(my Mom forms them the best
with ears...
Dad, adding the eyes
Dad, showing off his hard work
Mom, forming more bodies
mice with ears and eyes, ready to head into the oven
hot out of the oven, Mom adds the tails
almost done - baked mice with eyes, ears and tails...
add a little pink nose (frosting) and we're done!
I write blog posts with photos every year we make them, and this year is no exception. I love the step-by-step photos of the creation of a Mousie Cookie.
My Dad was able to help us out this year. He was in charge of cutting the black licorice eyes, and later, he put the eyes into the mice.
update
I've had several requests for the recipe. here it is:
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons almond extract
3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup peanuts
1/4 cups raisins, halved (we cut black licorice, or use icing for eyes)
1/4 cup red-hots (we use red icing for the nose)
60 pieces read and/or black shoestring licorice (2 inches)
in a mixing bowl, cream butter and brown sugar; beat in egg and extracts. Gradually add flour; mix well. Cover and chill for 1 hour. Shape into 1-in. balls; pinch front of each ball to form a nose. Add two peanut halves for ears, two raisin pieces for eyes and one red-hot for nose. (if using icing for nose, wait until after baked and cooled.) Poke a hole for tail with a toothpick. Place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 325 degrees for 12 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Cool on wire racks. Insert licorice pieces for tails. Yield: about 5 dozen
Here are the step-by-step creation of a Mousie Cookie photos:
Mom, making the dough
Dad, cutting black licorice
various body parts of a Mousie Cookie: cut black licorice for eyes, peanut halves for ears, red licorice for tails
the rolled out and formed naked bodies
(my Mom forms them the best
with ears...
Dad, adding the eyes
Dad, showing off his hard work
Mom, forming more bodies
mice with ears and eyes, ready to head into the oven
hot out of the oven, Mom adds the tails
almost done - baked mice with eyes, ears and tails...
add a little pink nose (frosting) and we're done!
Dicken's Christmas Fair
To contact us Click HERE
Today we went to The Dickens Christmas Fair at the Cow Palace! Apparently, this fair has been happening every holiday season since 1970, but we had never been!
It was GREAT fun! We were lucky, as today was the last day of the fair this year. We also lucked out that we thought to go early - around 11:00, so it wasn't too busy. We left around 3:00, and by then, it was pretty crowded.
We all had a great time, but Dick and Spencer were really in their element. They loved seeing everyone dressed up in Victorian garb, that they had to join in. We found top hats for each of them at the Haberdashery. Dick wants to be fully dressed in Victorian era dress next year. He's hooked!
The Grand Concourse when we first entered
dancing at Heziwig & Company
Pinocchio at the theater
"Gin is Sin" (there were plenty of bars and booze going around!
A candle maker
Dick and Spencer playing Darts. Dick hit the balloon and won a candy-cane for me!
Live mannequins in the windows of the corset shop
my proper gentleman
it's like being at Disneyland and buying Mouse-Ears for my kids
Father Christmas sighting!
It was GREAT fun! We were lucky, as today was the last day of the fair this year. We also lucked out that we thought to go early - around 11:00, so it wasn't too busy. We left around 3:00, and by then, it was pretty crowded.
We all had a great time, but Dick and Spencer were really in their element. They loved seeing everyone dressed up in Victorian garb, that they had to join in. We found top hats for each of them at the Haberdashery. Dick wants to be fully dressed in Victorian era dress next year. He's hooked!
The Grand Concourse when we first entered
dancing at Heziwig & Company
Pinocchio at the theater
"Gin is Sin" (there were plenty of bars and booze going around!
A candle maker
Dick and Spencer playing Darts. Dick hit the balloon and won a candy-cane for me!
Live mannequins in the windows of the corset shop
my proper gentleman
it's like being at Disneyland and buying Mouse-Ears for my kids
Father Christmas sighting!
A walk around our city on Christmas Eve
To contact us Click HERE
The weather was beautiful and clear today, after all the heavy rains yesterday. Dick and I decided to see "The Hobbit" at the Sundance Cinema in Japantown today, and thought it would be a great day for a walk. (it's probably about 2.5-3 miles away)
I took a few photos to share some of the holiday sightings along the way.
Our old block of Eureka Street - so beautiful when the Ginko tree leaves turn golden
Cute Santa chair covers at our local seafood restaurant on Castro Street
The Castro Tree
A Sock Monkey tea party window display
a beautiful day at Alta Plaza Park - a great view of the Painted Ladies with the San Francisco Skyline behind
After the movie, we walked back home. I didn't take any more photos until we were back in the Castro.
Part of the line for the sold out performance by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus at the Castro Theater. The line was wrapped around two blocks - for two lines in both directions!
part of the line for the Castro Theater wrapping around the block
Another shot of the Castro Christmas Tree
Our neighbor's pretty window display - all lit up!
I took a few photos to share some of the holiday sightings along the way.
Our old block of Eureka Street - so beautiful when the Ginko tree leaves turn golden
Cute Santa chair covers at our local seafood restaurant on Castro Street
The Castro Tree
A Sock Monkey tea party window display
a beautiful day at Alta Plaza Park - a great view of the Painted Ladies with the San Francisco Skyline behind
After the movie, we walked back home. I didn't take any more photos until we were back in the Castro.
Part of the line for the sold out performance by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus at the Castro Theater. The line was wrapped around two blocks - for two lines in both directions!
part of the line for the Castro Theater wrapping around the block
Another shot of the Castro Christmas Tree
Our neighbor's pretty window display - all lit up!
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