Dumbarton Oaks, part II

Posted on August 3, 2010 by pearlsandprose

 

A litle more history about Dumbarton Oaks. Robert Woods Bliss (perfect name for someone who owned all this, huh?) commissioned  Igor Stravinsky to compose a concerto for his thirtieth wedding anniversary in 1938. The Concerto in E-flat for chamber orchestra is more commonly referred to as the “Dumbarton Oaks” concerto.

Speaking of music, the mansion has a gorgeous music room where concerts are held throughout the year. Isn’t this a fantastic place to listen?

Dumbarton Oaks website

The gardens were designed by landscape architect Beatrix Farrand with Mrs. Bliss over a period of twenty years! And it shows.

One last factoid from Wikipedia: “In the late summer of 1944, Dumbarton Oaks hosted the Dumbarton Oaks Conference, an international meeting that laid the groundwork for the creation of the United Nations.”

Meanwhile, back at the gardens….

A view of the incredible pebble garden. The pebbles were imported from Mexico and the shallow pool was once covered with water. It’s dry now, but still beautiful.

pool

The employees must love swimming in this pool! The loggia nearby has a beautiful walkway and mosaic “frescoes’:

loggia

mosaic

horseshoe fountain

Isn’t this stairway something else? The water feature is called the “Horseshoe Fountain.”

The tour continues tomorrow….

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Dumbarton Oaks

Posted on August 2, 2010 by pearlsandprose

tkt

Good morning! Won’t you join me for a stroll through one of my favorite places, Dumbarton Oaks? The gardens are stunning and the house is pretty nice too. And have you seen a lovelier ticket? They remind me of the ones I have from Greek museums.

Rather elegant gates, wouldn’t you say?

gate detail

Located in Georgetown, Dumbarton Oaks was formerly owned by Robert Woods Bliss and Mildred Barnes Bliss. They bequeathed the house and gardens to Harvard University, of which Bliss was an alum. There’s a museum with a decent collection of Byzantine and pre-Columbian art too.

boxwood path

You can wander down this lovely path lined with boxwoods…

Bliss house

…or go up and see the Bliss mansion. It’s only open until 5 p.m., but is beautiful inside. Mr. Prose and I passed it up this time, because we’ve both seen it before.

orangery

I particularly like the orangery, especially the French doors and Palladian windows. In the winter, they grow orange trees inside. Wouldn’t that be nice? I had a lemon tree in California and the blossoms smelled heavenly. The lemons? Not so great. I think I have a black thumb when it comes to growing fruit trees.

orangery detail

Orangery detail. The same wheat sheaves seen in the iron gates.

hydrangeas

Lacecap hydrangeas in the upper gardens. Tomorrow, the pool and lower gardens.

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Colors of summer

Posted on July 30, 2010 by pearlsandprose

faces in the crowd

Look closely. Do you see “faces” in the flowers here? They remind me a little of C-3PO from Star Wars. I didn’t notice until I viewed the image on my large monitor.

Spider flower

a Cleome in the neighborhood

a seat in the shade

one of my favorite spots

Hosta flower

This hosta blossom reminds me of a dancer.

spokes

a Cleome from the inside

half-plucked

The remnants of a zinnia. Before joining Flickr, I wouldn’t have considered a shot like this. But anything can be beautiful if you put some thought into the composition. There are some fantastic shots of dandelions on Flickr!

spires

I don’t know if this is a weed or flower, but I like the way the “spires” appear to poke through a fog. It’s just a very shallow depth of field.

One last cleome. I can’t help it. I’m drawn to them.

Happy weekend, everyone!

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The Girl Who Played with Fire

Posted on July 29, 2010 by pearlsandprose

photo from New York Times

So, we saw The Girl Who Played with Fire last weekend. I was going to blog about it on Monday, but the power went out, so I had to improvise.

Let me start by saying I love what the Swedes have done with Stieg Larsson’s books. They are so true to the story and feel, and the “look” I have inside my head. Do you imagine characters and settings while reading a book and then feel disappointed when the movie doesn’t even come close?

Since I’m really interested in photography, I paid much closer attention to the cinematography. They used a slighty harsh, edgy tone throughout which suited the story perfectly. In some cases, it looked like cross processing. (See my post on that here.)

As I’ve said before, the actors are perfectly cast. Michael Nyqvist and Noomi Rapace do outstanding jobs as Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander.  Rapace has the tougher assignment, as Lisbeth is a combination of tough and tender and has some fairly grueling scenes. Even if they used a stunt double, she had to have taken a bruising.

What is it about Lisbeth Salander that resonates so much with audiences? Besides the fact that she triumphs over evil? Is it the way she tenderly feeds her elderly guardian? Is she the poster child for women who can’t speak up for themselves or defeat the monster who shackles them? For me, she’s a refreshing change from the victims on TV or the bimbos in films. If I see one more crime show commercial where the woman is brutally murdered, I’ll scream. Why is it always women?

I know it’s probably impossible for a girl who weighs 88 pounds to beat up two beefed-up biker dudes, but it’s pretty entertaining on screen. You may or may not recall that I’m a sucker for underdogs. I’m not a fan of violence, but there’s just something satisfying about seeing predators get what’s coming to them.

In addition to being superhuman physically, Lisbeth has a photographic memory and can hack into any computer in the world. While I’d love to have her physical strength and memory, I wouldn’t take Lisbeth’s childhood. Those horrors are played out in this second part of the trilogy, and help to explain why Lisbeth is Lisbeth.

The main plot is about exposing prominent Swedes involved in a prostitution ring. Let’s just say that those guys were really sorry to have met Lisbeth Salander. Her past probably fuels her rage and they pay for it.

I’m hearing rumors about Ellen Page being cast as Lisbeth in the American version. I think she’d be great, as she has that tough-but-vulnerable demeanor. I don’t have high hopes for the Americanized trilogy, as I said here, but maybe they’ll surprise me.

The last installment in the trilogy, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, can be reserved at Netflix, but I hope it comes to the theatre first. There’s nothing like sitting in a darkened cinema watching the giant screen and hearing people’s reactions.

Join me in the hopes that the fourth installment of Larsson’s series will be published one day. And before Nyqvist and Rapace get too old to play the parts in the movie.

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Not a foodie

Posted on July 28, 2010 by pearlsandprose

my first food photo

My first food photo! Believe me, people, I am not a food photographer or food stylist. If you want to see gorgeous photos of alimentation, visit blogs like cannelle et vanille or La Tartine Gourmande for this:

cannelle et vanille

or this:

La Tartine Gourmande

 

But if the restaurant serves me something that looks this pretty and I happen to have a camera with me, who am I to pass up a photo op?

Actually, my friend F. ordered the halibut dish in the first photo. It came with wax beans, green beans, cherry tomatoes, corn and a garlic sauce (she passed on that). I got this salmon salad with spinach, walnuts and blueberries and it looked pretty good too:

salmon

Trust me when I say it tasted even better. The salmon was perfectly cooked and the citrus dressing was perfection.

Where did we get such great food? At one of my favorite French restaurants, Mon Ami Gabi. They’re part of a chain and can be found in cities like Chicago, Las Vegas, and Bethesda, MD, in the Wash DC area. You don’t feel like you’re at a chain, though. The exterior has tables and chairs just like a Paris bistro and the interior is thoroughly French. Hey, we ran into a real Frenchwoman there and she loves it because she feels like she’s back in Paris. The mirrors, the banquettes–they’re all there.

I’m not really a “foodie,” although I love good food. I wouldn’t plan a trip around restaurants, but I also wouldn’t eat at McDonald’s in Paris. The only time I broke that rule was when I lived in Southern Bavaria. I loved all the schnitzel and brot and wurst und salat, but it was such a treat going to the Munich McDonald’s. I guess it was because I was actually living in Europe and not just visiting. I needed that little bit of home or something.

Anyhoo, if you’re in one of the aforementioned cities, give Mon Ami Gabi a try. Oh, I forgot to mention that they bring you authentic (and warm!) baguettes and sweet butter after you sit down. No extra charge.

I have to apologize to my Twitter followers for repeating these photos from yesterday. I was experimenting with posting pics on Twitter and wasn’t sure if I’d be writing about the food. But you love learning along with me, right? Thanks for your patience….

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Cross processing

Posted on July 27, 2010 by pearlsandprose

Cross processing refers to the procedure of deliberately processing photographic film in a chemical solution intended for a different type of film, such as slides. Now you can achieve the same effect in the digital world with photo editing programs such as Photoshop Elements and Photoscape.

The first is a photo I took recently in the Wash DC area. I like it as is, but thought the “vintage” bicycle might look better as a cross-processed image.

Before I applied cross processing, I muted the colors a bit and cropped out one of the passersby. Now it looks like the woman on the left is coming out of the mannequin’s handbag. I thought of Photoshopping her out, but I kind of like the effect….

ginger

A much more vintage vibe, yeah?

Next, a photo of some tables and chairs at a French bistro on a really hot day. It’s kind of so-so, in my opinion, and in need of a little more stylization.

It's too hot to eat outside

Again, I faded the colors, boosted the brightness and added cross processing for an edgier image:

tables and chairs pt. 2

OK, I just found out our power is back on, so I’m heading home. Have a great day, everyone.

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Power

Posted on July 27, 2010 by pearlsandprose

I’m sitting in an unbelievably crowded Starbucks right now. We had a crashing thunderstorm yesterday that knocked out power around 3:15 in the afternoon. Our electric company is saying it could be two or three days before we get the power back. At least it’s not 103 degrees anymore, and we’re able to open the windows for fresh air.

Something like this really makes one see how dependent we are on electronics. No TV, no wi fi, no laptop (!) no lights, no A/C. On the East Coast, that is serious. We’ve been having a real heat wave lately, with high humidity.

I was able to do a few things on my iPhone, but they all drained my battery, so had to stop. As my husband, stepdaughter and I sat in the dark, I wondered, “What on earth did our ancestors do?” Mine came over from Norway and the Netherlands and Ireland, and there are stories of them living in sod homes on the prairies of the Midwest. Life was so much simpler then, right? Working the farm from sunup to sundown, then falling asleep exhausted. They probably didn’t even want to read by candlelight. My worst travail today? Having to leave my seat at Starbucks to feed the parking meter because I didn’t have enough change when I parked.

I’ll never forget a story one of my cousins related at a family reunion. He asked his great-grandmother which modern convenience she appreciated the most. Everyone thought she’d say “refrigerator” or “indoor plumbing,” etc. Her reply? “Running water.”  When he told us, there was complete silence. I think we all needed a moment to wrap our brains around the fact that we actually knew someone who once went without it. I can’t help but think of all the people in the world right now who don’t have clean water, let alone running.

Last winter, we had a record-breaking amount of snow. Two storms left us with four feet of it. We lost power for thirty-six hours, then the pipes under the kitchen sink froze so we had to shut off the water. They hadn’t plowed our street, so we couldn’t even escape to a hotel. The temp inside the house was in the 30’s. We survived by sitting in front of the gas fireplace in the living room, but it was miserable. That feeling of being trapped was the worst. When the plows came through and we were able to make it to a hotel, I was overjoyed at being able to take a hot shower and make a phone call (forgot to charge my cell) and read by incandescent light.

I guess we need something like this once in a while as a reminder of all we have. I know I am truly grateful for all the modern conveniences I get to enjoy. I look forward to sitting at my own desk with my favorite music playing in the background, in the comfort of air conditioning. In the meantime, the din and line at Starbucks are increasing, so I’ll give up my coveted seat and let someone else connect.

Enjoy your day out there, everyone. If all goes well, I’ll be showing examples of cross-processed photos. What a luxury!

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One last glimpse

Posted on July 23, 2010 by pearlsandprose

Yes, welcome to my last glimpse of the Amish country! Hope you enjoy it….

Downtown Lancaster, PA

Daylilies in Strasburg, PA

The 300 Block of N. Queen St. in Lancaster.

300 Block is a very cool area of the city with antique shops and cafes. There’s a fantastic place called Building Character that has all kinds of old glass doorknobs, salvaged doors, art, vintage clothing and handmade jewelry, to name a slew. It’s tucked away off Queen St., so ask if you can’t find it. A very nice security guard in downtown alerted us. Nice, huh?

This is not a great photo–kind of blurry and poorly framed–but I wanted to show the flavor of 300 Block. Some serious oxidation going on here.


Gourmet food shop in Lititz, PA

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend….

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A stroll through Amish country

Posted on July 22, 2010 by pearlsandprose

 

Garden store in Strasburg, PA

Today and tomorrow I’ll be showing you the last of my photos from the Amish country. (Do I hear a cheer in the background?) I’m going to have to bite the ole bullet and brave this oppressive heat and humidity with my camera. I’m a bit of a wimp after ten years in California.

redwhiteandblue

Lititz, PA. I love the stars and stripes behind the sailor shirt.

Strasburg, PA

A bed & breakfast in Strasburg.

Somewhere over Lancaster County

Kitchen Kettle Village, Intercourse, PA. Yes, you read that right.

According to the Lancaster County website, “the town was originally named after an old tavern, the Cross Keys, and did not become known as Intercourse until 1814. Much speculation went into the origin of the town’s name, but none of the claims have been validated. It’s possible the town was named after an old race track on Old Philadelphia Pike called Entercourse, which later evolved into Intercourse. Another theory pertains of the use of language in the early days of the village, in which the term ‘intercourse’ was commonly used to describe fellowship, social interaction and support – the same values on which the town is still based today.”

Have a great day (or evening, depending on where you’re located) everyone!

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After and befores

Posted on July 21, 2010 by pearlsandprose

Thought I’d switch things up a bit with some textures and Photoscape effects.

flowerbox

I used at least three textures on this until I got it to look the way I wanted. Found this little “flowerbox” on a stroll through Strasburg, PA. The two pink flowers are geraniums, but I’m not sure what the others are.

Here’s the untouched original:

As you can see, I cropped out the rather unattractive electrical boxes at the top. I then removed some of the color and applied textures. I tried so many out, I can’t remember what I finally settled on. Sometimes you get lucky and hit the right one first, but not last night! But seriously, trying out textures is half the fun.

Private property

Ahh, I love peeling paint! Makes for such an interesting image. I applied some cross-processing to this with Photoscape, a great, free photo-editing program.

The original is a bit less interesting, in my opinion:

The next image is dramatically different from the original:

flowerbarrow

Lots of textures, some de-colorization. It has a vintage look that’s kind of popular now.

Now for the original:

My apologies for the smaller originals. I could have put them on my other Flickr account, but I’m feeling lazy this morning. This oppressive heat is getting to me, I think. Seems like the temperature has been in the 90s forever. If it weren’t for the humidity, it wouldn’t be quite so bad. I can’t believe I ever complained about being cold in California! Never again….

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