*LV's Living*: August 2008

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Old Man...

This Morning, I have found myself addicted to listening to Norah Jones. One of my favorites is "Broken". Below is it on you tube. I think it's a beautiful song...

And then went in search of some photography which this song inspired...

Friday, August 29, 2008

This morning I read an article on how the FDA is proposing to remove the term 'irradiated' - in other words, foods exposed to radiation - from it's labeling of food products. They are also proposing a new language, or buzz word for it, other than 'irradiated' or 'pasteurized' - Link.

Sadly, since September 2007, they have started 'pasteurizing' yummy raw almonds. Pasteurizing is a process which not only kills mircoorganisms, but also kills enzymes and other living qualities - all of which our bodies need for healthy nutrition. And so be warned - if it says 'raw' on your almonds - that doesn't actually mean it's raw... For more information, please see this natural news link.

In reading this, I again felt a strong desire to grow my own food, have my own little vegetable patch and have berries growing freely for freshly made jams too! So I went in search of some images of my dream patch, and thought I would share them here. All fresh and healthy! No pasteurization here!

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Sisters!

I found out earlier this week that my Sister had started a blog! And not one - but two!!! So of course, I had to check them out! I just love that she's got the blog bug! Now, and daily! I can see what she's up to, what she's into, and what she loves and hates all in one click of a mouse!!

This sure does save on some serious phone bills - she's in England, and I'm in New York.. so enough said!

And what kind of a sister would I be if I didn't give her a lil shout out on my blog?!

So here, I present to you, my Sister, Kathryn Elizabeth Hunter...and her two blogs, 'I'm Loving All Of This..' (for her love of fashion!) and 'Then She Wrote' (for everything else she likes and loves!) So check them out!

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Brooklyn Bridge & Ice Cream!

downtown new york city, from dumbo, brooklyn...and the east river.

The other weekend, my friend Kara and I took a fun trip all the way to Dumbo (the acronym which stands for 'Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) on the subway, to feast on ice cream from the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory while we watched the water, hang out and see the skyline. It's always nice sometimes to get out of the city and look back at it - adds a certain kind of perspective when you live, breathe and work on such an island!

We then walked back across the Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan, something neither of us have ever done before even though we've lived in NY long enough to should have by now!

I took some pictures, and thought I'd share some with you... They're in the order I took them, from the above down...

The Brooklyn Bridge, on it's completion in 1883, was the largest suspension bridge in the world, stretching the 5989 feet (1825m) across the East River - 50% bigger than any previously built! It took 13 years to complete and 27 people died during it's construction.

brooklyn bridge..

view of the manhattan bridge, from the brooklyn bridge..

since 1883....

new york, new york....and a yellow taxi..

sun sets on downtown..

the empire state building..

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Muffins and America...

This was me yesterday afternoon!

Yesterday I went to the Farmer's Market on 14th Street, I really should go there more often - I love it! Of course, there were about a billion other people there too, I should have made my trip earlier in the day! I went up with my main goal of getting some fresh blueberries, and I found some juicy ones from New Jersey.. they tasted so good too that I picked up two containers!

So yesterday when I got home, I put on my pink 1950's apron and got to work! I just love making muffins - they're so easy and the possibilities are endless with what you can put in them! No two batches of mine are ever the same, and I love that about them, it's like a surprise every time one comes out of the oven!

This batch was made with, of course, blueberries and with oats. Below you'll see a pic - although I've eaten this one now! - and it was so good! There's nothing quite like homemade muffins...

one of my blueberry and oat muffins...yum!

So this morning, while having my breakfast of a blueberry muffin and fresh coffee, I thought about a photographer, Michael Eastman, who's work I really like. His freshness and his use of space and proportion are a real inspiration to me.

And with my 50's apron and muffin making, I couldn't help but think of his "Vanishing America" series. Below I have posted some of my favorites, some of these make me sad that parts of America have really turned into this, others make me happy that these places existed in the first place.....

Sunday, August 10, 2008

My Drawings...

black and white charcoal on pale green drawing paper, 18"x24"

I thought I'd share a few of my drawings with you. Above is my favorite!

I completed a Fine Art degree at the University of West of England, Bristol. However, I didn't really get a chance to embrace this kind of work I love doing until I moved to NYC!

So for my own enjoyment, I signed up for a semester of portrait drawing classes at the National Academy on the Upper East Side last Fall. I loved going here, even though the classes were long after a day at work, and I was tired - it was totally worth it! The people were great, and we all chatted away at breaks, at the end of the semester we even brought in cheeses and other food goodies - I made jam tarts! yum!

After this I joined the Spring Street Studio life drawing classes, they have a wonderful plan where you can buy a coupon for 10 classes for $100, and then go to any of the classes you want! From quick sketches, long poses, and two models together, this is a great chance to get into life drawing. The place fills up quickly, it's first come, first gets a seat - but everyone is very kind, and will squeeze you in where they can! My suggestion - get there early!

So the four I have here are from my National Academy classes, I've found I'm much more interested, and better, at doing long poses - where I can get into the drawing and work through it. I'm pretty proud of these, so I hope you enjoy looking at them!

2b pencil on white drawing paper, 18"x24"

black and white charcoal on royal blue drawing paper, 8.5"x11"

Apartment Redecoration Part Four!

Now although I haven't been able to make a start on painting my 'headboard' this weekend, I thought I'd show a bit more of my room! Above, are my book shelves, which I finally got up on the wall! Sat on studs, these babies aren't budging! (I've had scary book shelf falling moments before!!) Now, of course, I have my books in color order - is there any other way to have them?!! Ha!! I love that this picture shows off what a lovely pink my walls are...thank you to those bright sunshine filled mornings!

Below is my armchair, I love this chair..sitting in it relaxing and reading, its super comfy. (complete with sheepskin and more Lulu DK fabric - 'Isis' in Tourmaline) It's right at the end of my bed, and next to my huge windows...it's my little getaway. Although I swear Oscar thinks it's his...ahem..ha!

my boy...on "his" armchair!

Friday, August 8, 2008

Beautiful Blue!

So I think I've started myself off on a trend here! First, Lime...then Yellow...well now I'm going all Blue!!!

Cool and refreshing - and you should know my now I have a fixation for duck egg blue!! BUT! There should be more than just that blue in here somewhere! Ha!

Blue M&M's are my favorite - but I don't know why! Maybe because it's such an odd color to eat! And below is a pic of me my friend Kara took when we were up at the Bronx Botanical Gardens last weekend. What can I say?! I love my blue hat!!