welcome

when i returned home to alameda the other evening, i was welcomed by the two slutty cats who live a block away. the other one (very bushy calico) was rolling on the ground as i approached, but s/he ran off when grey-white took over the flopping about. they have both followed me a block before. but they're plump and trusting and always on the same block, so i assume they're doing ok at their house. it's not like pinky leon would accept them anyway, if, say, they were to follow me all the way home. 

double fish-cycle! 

 

above/below clouds

although i can sometimes not breathe when flying because it scares me so much, the flight down to orange county last week was one of the more beautiful ones i've been on skywise. the sun was setting, and the clouds were just below the plane for much of the flight. the sky was the lightest, clear blue. toward the end of the flight, the clouds were not as thick and puffy as in the above photo; they'd smoothed out some and rippled like waves. 

the bottom photo is a view from my parents' house of laguna canyon at dusk. bigger.

tract housing and mini malls and roads have advanced closer and tighter around laguna since i was little, but the canyon is mostly intact. i heard frogs there this year, which i haven't heard there in a long time.

 

 

✿

shimmery blue winter day yesterday

my cutie pie

hey lady by peggy honeywell 

morning/evening

hanna konola's annual online christmas calendar

i would like to have this calendar in my kitchen.

been listening to the new martha wainwright album on repeat. favorite so far.
and a lovely martha interview to go with.

colors

thinking about where to hang annamaria potamiti's beautiful little watercolor. i love it.

the back yard wears a green clover blanket during the cold. (the green teepee was for growing beans.)

tree!

tree is dressed.

this wild idea 
 

alameda calendar

printed some alameda calendars i made. months include mostly photos from my alameda houses set. 

redux, a favorite store in alameda, is carrying some. and now they're also carrying some from orchards, fields, and gardens. only took me a year to try to sell them in alameda. such a bad salesperson. but it was encouraging that they seemed excited about both.

 

/

 
these leaves have probably fallen now. these were the hangers on this past week.

it was hard to listen to the fresh air show about yemen last night. makes me disappointed in obama and our foreign policy, especially in regard to drone strikes and the lack of guidelines around them. 

the interviewee, journalist Gregory Johnsen says:
 
I think that one of the failures—or at least for me—one of the failures of both the Bush administration and the Obama administration has been to not put in place a legal or an ethical framework for the use of drones. Drones I think are a great piece of technology. They are a piece of technology that groups like al-Qaida do not have. They are something that the U.S. I think can use to great utility, and can use to its advantage but they have to be used judiciously, and I don't think that's what's happening right now, unfortunately.  
 
he also mentions a ny times article by scott shane and jo becker that says that the US doesn't count military age males in yemen as civilian casualties when they are killed in a strike zone. they're automatically considered combatants if they are in a strike zone. this makes me very very sad. this disregard for lives (in addition to the deaths during strikes of those the US does consider civilians) can only lead to more violence and enemies.

mr. green eyes

pinky leon 

the words green eyes always remind me of this song

just like walking on lafayette street here in alameda never fails to plant paul simon's that was your mother in my head— "standing on the corner of lafayette..." i won't even realize it either until i'm blocks away and humming, "headin' down to the lone star cafe..."

fall houses in alameda

 

gobble

happy thanksgiving, americans.

savoring the last of the season's leaves. more fall photos to come.

now it's torte baking time.

  

jack london square

 
jen's bob lake cuts sprout studio cards at patchwork, a craft sale held at jack london square. (skateboard footrest not pictured.)

i purchased this sweet cloud mobile made by katrina.

the JLS tree was getting dressed with lights (already). 

the JLS farmers market pears were looking cute.

the sky, blue.

leaves everywhere

beautiful 100 year old artist and her home

animal love
family
untitled by cody james bentley
mav and scotch 
by nick hance
+
buddy at 5th and sunset
untitled by emma louise 

walking

around alameda after a sunglasses purchase. my usuals have disappeared, as sunglasses seem to do. a cute vw bug seen on the way.

just around election day, i noticed some clever and beautiful designs for marriage equality. two by christopher david ryan (who also did a bunch of lovely obama graphics) and two by shanna murray. talented supporters!

pinky leon in his nest of covers

morning walk

this morning's alameda houses

quick last pre-election links

for prop 37
just label it
great short video that very succinctly debunks several of industrial agriculture's myths 
more 37 links in this post of mine

for obama
those americans who eat food (that's everyone, right?), here's an opinion about why we need obama.
for those americans who care about climate change and the environment, here's another reason we need obama in office. 
for those americans who believe in equality, another reason.

fingers and toes crossed for tuesday!

 

moving pictures

some films are poetry.

this aatsinki looks like it will be one. the trailer certainly is.

two short films by alan spearman:
april 
as i am

fall in the back yard

some more rambling back yard photos here. 
we have a badminton "court" now! 

vanishing ice

 
my trip to the city yesterday for a haircut meant salted caramel and a walk down pretty lexington street.

two great photographers are documenting the changes in the world of ice.

james balog who has documented the receding ice through time lapse and still photos, has a documentary coming out called chasing ice.

james also gave a TED talk.

and katrina shared this link to an emotional TED talk by national geographic photographer paul nicklen, who documents the animals who depend on the ice for their survival.

meanwhile neither obama nor romney addresses climate change in any meaningful way. romney's plans would in fact speed climate change—what with his ties to big oil and plans for increased drilling and his ties monsanto (see last post). money for corporations clearly comes before the environment for that guy.

 

37 yes!

 
michael pollan's ny times piece on why prop 37 is so important

and very much related to this, is an in depth look at mitt romney's deep monsanto ties: "mitt romney, monsanto man"

to learn more about the monsanto's evil ways, view the documentary the world according to monsanto.

i don't understand why a company that has consistently poisoned people and the earth for years and years (while profiting off of that destruction) is allowed to continue to exist and continue to pollute us.

and so as not to end on such a depressing and maddening note, here is a nice short video about gary hansen and his jersey ladies and rosa's blog post about decorated sheep.

a bosc

 

pears are the prettiest.

another feather
mary lindsay

alejandro cartagena

rolling along

 
i probably looked pretty funny walking home from the bus stop craning my head upward and behind me every few steps to look at the clouds passing, pink and yellow lit, over bits of clear blue and grey grey sky.

of course can't do the flickry cats w/o the flickry dogs:
space heater hog
by sarita lolita
hey, wait!
by cody james bentley
polaroid week | day 1 extra
morning: momo listening to the lake before sunrise
thbbbttt

loving hannah by freelance whales (the best band name)
(video reminds me of the take on me aha video—one of the first good videos ever and one of the first videos, if not the first, i remember seeing at sarah johnson's house, where they had MTV!)

i wish big long earrings suited me, because i love these silver hares

 

pinky leon + pink

 
this apartment seems to call for pink, surprisingly. 

this weekend i (finally) made a box cushion for my bench (much more time consuming than i expected) and a couple of bright pillows. i think i'm back into sewing. 

dead oaks by now now 
wanting by exitmusic

flickry cats of late
from oladios
maggie chillin'
someone helped baking cake
by sunkentreasure
skycats hilarity
by o l y
L O V E 
leopard 
by sarita lolita

assorted

haven't taken many photos lately. thus the feet and the cat. again. i like how round pinky leon's face is. 

guillermina baiguera

stich and hammer's instagram 

i really enjoyed the book doc by mary doria russell. such good characters—it was one of those books i couldn't wait to continue reading because i liked being around (so to speak) the characters. funny bits and moving bits and a well told tale about doc holliday and another time and place.

i go to the ferry building most days of the week, on my lunch break, usually for a blue bottle latte and a cookie and some people watching. the ferry building marketplace is a vibrant, bustling part of san francisco now—a destination for locals and tourists. read about the ferry building's slow re-start, almost 20 years ago now. 

more about the ferry building's history

these two

 
some days the bart ride makes my day. she sat down first and put her hand on his back as he aimed for the seat. (i also love her outfit.)

started a photos on the sly set. usually not a big sneaky photo taker, but the iphone certainly makes it easier...

some colors

went to the headlands center for the arts today. sure is pretty over there, even if foggy and chilly. and even if they didn't have open studios like we thought they would.

sandwich assembly

 
summertime sandwich with tasty eggs from alameda's growing youth project urban farm

found via freunde von freunden blog:

paper artist matthew shlian video
beauty is embarrassing trailer
dapper salmon smoker ole martin video

vegan cowboy

been sneaking photos at the ferry building. 

1. textured lady in line: she also had on great shoes and turquoise earrings, and her hair was super textured too. it was short, but sprayed in all different directions with parts layered over other parts, almost like a basket. i've never seen the style before, but she was pulling it off. i couldn't stop looking at all of her textures. 

2. cowboy traveler musician: he stopped to get a vegan donut! the donut vendor and baked goods vendor chuckled at something vegan cowboy said. i wonder what it was and where he was headed with his pile of suitcases, guitar and donut.

flowery walk

people like their gardens in alameda. 

cat power first listen! 

i need to post a rant about GMO labeling soon. in the mean time, some good GMO-related articles:

sorry NY Times, GMOs still won't save the world

big tobacco shills trying to stop GMO labeling in california

why pepsico is fighting GMO labeling in california

jere gettle sows the seeds of a movement

wanted: scientific integrity on GMOs

bill gates reveals support for GMO ag 

these companies don't want GMOs labeled in california

oo o OOO 0 0

a sweet small house

a great day in harlem

pretties from sunday

mati, katrina and maxwell at the farmers market. this photo makes me smile. 

swedish illustrator lena sjöberg has changed her website. looks great!

mocfa

japanese textiles at sf museum of craft and folk art

more alameda houses

a non-instargram view of them

also found two more old trucks yesterday to add to the old trucks in alameda set. i wonder when i will have found them all.

listening to austra's lose it and to the deadly syndrome's all in time album (maine and won't be me, for ex)

watching sytycd. my favorites: cole, lindsay and george

juniper tree

 
at juniper tree vintage, new to alameda

i love love love this tattoo that anna emilia was commissioned to design.

flickr movement

by margaret durow

by shelbie dimond

by mary amor

pickathon 2012

 

the pickathon music festival at pendarvis farm has grown (3000 attendees this year) since my first pickathon in 2008. but it's still pretty special. such a thoughtfully planned festival with beautiful stages—the main stage with a view behind it of mount hood (covered in snow while we sat in 94+ sun); the woods stage, which is like a fairyland, especially at night all dark and twinkly (complete with a pizza oven and a beer/wine/cider vendor tucked in trees nearby); the two intimate barn stages and the starlight stage (which we completely missed). delicious food vendors in a little food "square" and much needed, extremely refreshing outdoor (though curtained off for privacy) showers (stocked with dr. bronners). recycling and composting. shuttle services to the venue (to cut down on cars). and misters in the form of children with spray bottles (put those kids to work). they had solar recharging stations for smart phones and were selling the camping gear left behind at last year's festival. shovels and rakes to borrow for making your camp site flat and the farm dog roaming around dispensing dog love (aka looking for scraps).

and of course the music. above are the two man gentlemen band—if watching these funny and talented charmers (sporting suspenders and slicked hair) doesn't put a smile on your face, i don't know what will, the mynabirds (rad), and ted jones and the tarheel boys (i think, practicing). also enjoyed neko case, genticorum, the war on drugs, the bowerbirds, white denim, typhoon, the cave singers and lake street dive. sad to have missed heartless bastards and thee oh sees, among others.

two man gentlemen band sing chocolate milk and
mynabirds sing mightier than the sword

ahhh

along the oregon and california coast

chico

hi there. back from a much needed trip. this is chico, my friend liz's dog. such a good one. black fox, seal dog.

❁ ❁ ❁

 

going from rosy alameda to the city of roses—portland (and seattle and the pickathon!). i'll be reading gone girl on the plane. i'm not a big mystery reader, but i heard this is a good one, and so far i'm really liking it. i need to be as distracted as possible on the plane.

some assorted links:

i would like to see jared flesher's documentaries: the farmer and the horse and sourlands.

this film, toxic profits—about how pesticides banned in the US are still exported to other countries—looks like a good one to me to fund via kickstarter.

beautiful photos on the blog dear leila

i like to look at mieke's photos of people's apartments.

❤ this photo

house of cards

see you in a little bit.

key lime

 

with regular limes. for some belated birthday celebrating

lettuce+kale+fake stars

j and d are growing lots of good foodstuffs in the backyard: lettuce, kale, corn, strawberries, various beans, carrots, many herbs, melons, tomatoes, and more. the corn and kale have shot up  over the last week.

i am very ready for vacation, some good cheer and live music. finally, next week up to seattle and portland and the pickathon. will be good to see my dear friend liz and meet her dog chico. 

here is a funny dog.  
and a cute one.

summertime

blackberries and peaches, clear blue sky and an open window

more tart

morning pinky

i had my own personal cute overload this morning. this one cracks me up.

❤ ❤ ❤

an oldie i've probably posted before: me, my cousin daniel and my aunt katarina having a fika at vallsta, my mormor and morfar's old summer house in hälsingland, sweden. (sidenote: a girl whose uncle now owns my grandparents' old house contacted me a while ago after finding my photos of the house on flickr, and we are now FB friends! how rad is that. the internet gets a lot of points for that one.)

it's a bold statement, but sweden in the summer (a warm summer anyway) is my idea of heaven. 

some swedish summer flickr faves of late:

by lawa: 1, 2, 3
by juliasvardag: 1 
midsommar


when tomorrow comes: erika spring covers eurythmics. been listening on repeat to her album since kate miss posted about it. 

native plants

at the regional parks botanic garden in tilden park, where stony paths swirl and disappear into trees and flowers and bushes (all natives of california). 

here you can find a brook, a small sandy swath, bumble bees and flowers that look like eggs, sunny side up. the garden is home to over 200 rare and endangered plants.

sweet peas | luktärter

crazy how yummy these smell. instagram version. 

my mom is visiting. she told me that in google translate you can use a listen feature to hear swedish words and that the robot translator's accent is pretty accurate. we decided to test it. we tried my name (quite good) and some swedish tongue twisters. there is one tongue twister that is particularly difficult for non-swedes because it has tons of this sort of german sch sound. in the google robot translation it sounds like whipping, the sounds are said so strong/clear. we were very amused by it. 


to hear it, copy the following into the translate field and click on the megaphone/listen icon: seven beautiful nurses took care of seven seasick seamen onboard a sinking ship. 

or click here and click the listen button.

eskimo prints

the flight of the shaman and the owl and the woman who lives in the sun. aren't they nice? more here, from the book arts of the eskimo: prints

ibland kan det vara skönt att fly in i svenska. tänka på ett annat språk. hemligt o mjukt. undrar om det känns mjukt pga ljuden eller minnen eller båda. är nog båda. idag är det svenska som gäller. som en famn. o bra övning inför besök av mamma som kommer imorgon. 

lyssnar fortfarande på jonathan johansson: under sjukhusen. 
tyst nu
 

words

definitely need the stop thinking advice. 

from this show at ybca. very amusing show.

green | pink | green

back yard 

kitchen 

hall 

french navy

ask

happy fourth of july

i rode in the alameda bicycle coalition contingent of our fourth of july parade. alameda's parade is just the right size and length (3 miles), everyone greeting one another. very sweet. i'm a little sad to have missed seeing all of the other groups in the parade. i hear there was a beautiful mexican cowboy contingent with horses and riders decked out in their finery. but i did get some good bicycle bell ringing out of my system. though now i want more and other bells. a horn too. 

kitty | orchid

honey in hong kong