I think this is my favorite mosaic so far. Not sure what this color is–aqua, teal? Whatever it is, I love it.
1. Untitled, 2. Spirited., 3. Box, 4. Robin’s Nest III
Created with fd’s Flickr Toys
{ms. pearl}
Thirteen year-old baby
As you know, I have a little Maltese named Rocky. He’s thirteen this year, but looks like a puppy. People are always asking if he’s a pup and can’t believe he’s that old. I can’t believe it either.
Yesterday morning I let him up on the bed and took this shot. I got him to cock his head by barking like a dog. Yes, I did. I will only sink to that level when no one else is around. Rocky can do the funniest thing with his ears–he’ll stick them straight out like airplane wings. Sometimes he’ll just do one of them and it’s hilarious. Haven’t been able to capture this on camera yet because it’s a random event.
Here’s an outtake where Rocky blinked. I think he looks a little like Confucius. 🙂
{ms. pearl}
Older beauties
For this Things I ♥ Thursday, some incredible architecture. All shot on or around Q Street in Georgetown.
Would you believe the turret is only a quarter of this yellow beauty? When I have a wide angle lens, I’ll go back and get the whole mansion. (Yes, a private residence.)
This place is across from the yellow house. Sigh.
Another view.
Details…
details…
details. Honestly, I could shoot stuff like this 24/7.
Great weekend, everyone! My painting class is going really well now–the fog is clearing slowly but surely. I still have so much to learn, but I’m not totally lost anymore. I just needed to trust my instincts. Who knew?
{ms. pearl}

Posted in architecture, photography
Tagged blue door, Georgetown, gray door, ornate details, Q St., Victorian mansions, Wash DC
18 Comments
Chicken Stew Provençal
Since it’s still chilly in the evening, I thought I’d share a favorite recipe for chicken stew that’s very healthy and easy to make. I found it on washpost.com, the website for The Washington Post.Â
Chicken Stew Provençal
2 T. olive oil                                              Â
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, (about 20 oz.) cut crosswise in half, then each half into thin strips
2 med. onions, cut into thin wedges
2 stalks celery, cut crosswise into 1/2 inch pieces
2 med. carrots, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
4 med. cloves garlic, minced
2 C. low-sodium nonfat chicken broth
28 oz. can no-sodium diced tomatoes, plus their juices
4 med. (unpeeled) red potatoes, cut into 1 inch pieces
2 tsp. dried herbes de Provence, crushed (I didn’t crush them)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, turning the pieces occasionally, for 5-7 minutes or until they have browned on all sides. Set aside.
Add the onion, celery, carrots and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until the onion is soft.
If using a skillet, transfer to Dutch oven and add the broth, tomatoes with their juice, chicken, potatoes, herbes de Provence, salt and pepper, stirring to combine.
It should look like this:
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low; (or med-low, depending on your stove) cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for 45 min. to 1 hour, until the chicken is cooked through and the potatoes are fork-tender. Serves 6.
The finished product:
Note: this is a very low-sodium recipe. If you’re a salt freak, you’ll probably want to add more salt. Enjoy!
{ms. pearl}
Posted in cooking, food
Tagged carrots, celery, chicken, chicken stew, onions, recipe, red Dutch oven
10 Comments
Cool glass
I haven’t done a thing to this photo–these are old windows in a building across from the carousel at Glen Echo Park. Those bright colors are the building that houses the carousel (it’s closed in the winter). That’s me at the bottom, kind of distorted. I actually have slim hands, but they look huge in this photo. When I was a kid I loved funhouse mirrors.
This vase was my mother’s. I love it, but have to be very careful when washing it, as the glass is so thin. It’s survived a lot of moves, though. Here’s what the entire vase looks like:
I love those wavy patterns.Â
Another shot taken at Glen Echo Park:
Perhaps you’d like to see what the carousel building looks like without distortion:
Hope your day is going well….
{ms. pearl}
Posted in photography
Tagged carousel, distortion, glass patterns, glass vase, Glen Echo Park, maryland, picnic tables, reflection, trees, windows
11 Comments
Transition
I believe this is a lacecap hydrangea. They do fairly well in the D.C. area, but if you want to see some incredible ones, go to Cape May in New Jersey. That is one beautiful seaside town. Lovely old Victorians with bold colors, flowerpots and window boxes everywhere. I’ll have to scan some of my old photos taken there one of these days.
This reminds me of a flagpole! Certainly an image of transition. I added a texture from SkeletalMess.
Witch hazel adds a nice dose of yellow, doesn’t it? Spring is near, I tell ya, spring is near.
{ms. pearl}
Posted in photography
Tagged bud, dried lacecap hydrangea, leaf, shed, witch hazel, yellow house
10 Comments
Collage
Here’s a collage of images by photographers who inspire me, for Things I ♥ Thursday:
Click on the links to see each photographer’s photo on Flickr:
1. pink tulips, 2. Abundance, 3. Flowers are part of everyday Luxury, 4. Love
Created with fd’s Flickr Toys
After looking at my faves on Flickr, I noticed that my tastes are rather disparate. I love bright, saturated colors and I also love stuff like the above. Beauty comes in many forms….
{ms. pearl}
Posted in photography
Tagged carnation, flowers, pink roses, textured photos, vintage pitcher, weathered green
7 Comments
My hacked email and a favorite
Yesterday, my son sent me a text saying he’d gotten spam from my old email account. I haven’t used that account for three years. I meant to go through all the old emails one day, but you know how that goes. How do people do this? That account does have a simple password, but it’s not exactly 1-2-3-4. I tried to notify everyone, but I have a lot of contacts and they got the spam before I could reach them. I changed the password immediately and started forwarding old emails to my current address.
All the messages from when my husband and I first got together are there. I changed my email address after we got married, because Gmail wouldn’t let me change the last name on my account. Do hackers actually read your email, or just steal your address book? I kind of feel like someone went through my underwear drawer….
If you’ve emailed me, don’t worry: my pearlsandprose address is not in the infected address book. I also have a complicated password that’s a pain to type on an iPhone, but there you have it. Live and learn.
Because I spent so much time tending to that mess, I almost forgot to take my photo of the day for Flickr. It’s not a good feeling to be looking around for something to photograph at 10 o’clock at night. I remembered a favorite mug and put it up on the mantel next to a lamp….
 I bought this beauty on etsy.com. You’ve heard of it, right? Almost everything is handmade by incredible artisans all over the world, except for vintage stuff and antiques. They have handknit sweaters, paintings, handbags, jewelry–you name it. Everything I’ve bought there has met expectations and then some. I know quite a few photographers who sell prints there and it’s an idea I’m toying with right now.Â
Anyway, check it out, but be warned: it’s addictive.
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In case we lose power….
We’re supposed to get rain, sleet and 2-4 inches of snow, so a quick post that I can publish with my iPhone. Hopefully we won’t lose power, but I’m not taking chances this time.
Roses in the afternoon sun….
Sometimes it’s OK to shoot in bright sunlight. I love the redyellowandorange colors.
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Yes, it’s coming
I’m here to tell you spring is coming, and I have the proof:
Nothing like a cold winter to make you appreciate little things like these snowdrops. I thought they didn’t bloom until March, but we had two days in the mid-seventies (F.) here last week, so that may have had something to do with it.
I misted the snowdrops with some water to make them more interesting. I also like the drops sparkling on the old autumn leaves.
When I zoomed in, I noticed this guy. I’m not so sure he appreciated the shower….
{ms. pearl}
Pearls & Prose 