Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer, and Vixen!
Sami and his reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) |
"On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donder and Blitzen!
"To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
"Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
- excerpt "A Visit from St. Nicolas" by Clement Clarke Moore
UPDATE: My post about the Sami People and their reindeer is here.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Pacific Coast Evergreen Wreaths and Garlands
My favorite place to buy garlands, wreaths, or fresh greens is Pacific Coast Evergreen at the San Francisco Flower Mart. When I was there last month, the talented wreath-making team was assembling fresh magnolia-leaf garlands with pink peppercorns and eucalyptus knobs.
I ordered several six-foot magnolia garlands with pomegranates, incense cedar, and pink peppercorns and then had them shipped to Houston. They make a convenient and dramatic centerpiece for the Thanksgiving table. The magnolia leaves are shiny and green on one side...
... and a velvety brown on the other side. Other six-foot garlands graced the banister of the staircase and the fireplace mantle in another room. The colors will stay true for the entire holiday season.
Pacific Coast Evergreen also offers other designs like this wreath with rose-hips, china berries, oak leaves, and eucalyptus leaves...
...and this one has a magnolia-leaf base with oak leaves, tree pumpkin, green seeded eucalyptus, silvery eucalyptus knobs, and red toyon berries.
The client who ordered these last spring provided all the ingredients for these small wreaths. They used geranium leaves, two types of berzillia berries, and foxtail grass. For a closer look, click here.
As long as the materials are in season, they can custom-make any size wreaths or garland. To order, contact Al:
Pacific Coast Evergreen
al@pacificcoastevergreen.com
Phone: 415.781.4274
Pacific Coast Evergreen
al@pacificcoastevergreen.com
Phone: 415.781.4274
Hours (Pacific Time):
Monday: 300 AM – 1100 AM
Tuesday: 500 AM – 1200 PM
Wednesday: 200 AM – 1100 AM
Thursday: 500 AM – 1200 PM
Friday: 300 AM – 1100 AM
Saturday: Closed (open during peak holiday seasons)
Sunday: Closed
Sunday, December 12, 2010
The Nobel Peace Prize
Photo: Time |
Though my father did not work on the Peace Prize, I was thrilled to see The Nobel Peace Center (Norwegian: Nobels Fredssenter) when we visited Oslo this summer. It is located in an old train station building overlooking the harbor in the Pipervika area.
A temporary exhibit by Kendell Geers was installed in front of the Peace Center. Geers is fascinated by words with double meanings and those that exist in “symbiosis”.
In Slaughter/laughter, the neon leading “S” flickers on and off. Originally created in response to the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center, Geers suggested that Slaughter/Laughter could also reflect the story of Alfred Nobel, whose discovery of dynamite ultimately led to the establishment of the Nobel Peace Prize.
The Nobel Peace Center is within view of the Oslo City Hall (Oslo rÄdhus), just across the Vigeland Fountain.
Its distinctive white clock faces the harbor.
On the opposite side of the building is the main entrance with a double swan fountain…
…and enchanting wood bas relief carvings depicting scenes from Norwegian folk tales.
Every year since 1990, on December 10th, the Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony takes place in the grand Central Hall.
Numerous Norwegian artists won commissions to complete the decorations of the hall.
Henrik Sorensens painted the large mural on the south wall between 1938 and 1950. Titled “Administration and Festivity” depicted scenes from Norwegian legends and history, including many from World War II.
Alf Rolfsen painted the mural along the staircase. The scene at the bottom of the stairs depicts the legend of St. Hallvard, Oslo’s patron saint.
OSLO’S PATRON SAINT
The story of St. Hallvard is a constantly recurring theme in the decorative elements of the City Hall. According to legend Hallvard was a highborn youth who in 1043 tried to save a woman from being assaulted. He took her aboard his boat in order to reach safety on the other side of the fjord, but they were pursued and killed, Hallvard being shot by three arrows. His body was weighted down with a millstone and thrown into the sea, but both his body and the stone floated up to the surface. When this became known, the local people saw it as a sign and worshipped him as a saint. Hallvard was originally buried at Lier, southwest of the town, but when the Oslo Cathedral was completed in 1130, his bones were placed in a shrine before the high altar. Two centuries later Oslo took into use a city seal depicting the St. Hallvard legend. The present coat of arms was designed in 1924, when the capital was about to change its name from Christiana back to Oslo. Against a background of stars in the sky, St. Hallvard is shown sitting on a throne of two lions. He holds a millstone in one hand and three arrows in the other. At his feet lies a woman. The surrounding inscription reads Unanimiter et constanter Oslo(united and resolute).
The intricate tessellations look like a beautiful blending of M.C. Escher’s and William Morris’ art.
At the top of the stairs is the Munch Room with the beautifully adorned ceiling...
...Edvard Munch's painting "Life" as the focal point...
...and furniture with the elegant wood frames and upholstered with tapestry in a shade of blue so characteristic in Scandinavia.
Down the hall, through these richly-decorated wooden doors…
…and a large dining table lined with Scandinavian blue chairs...
...upholstered in a tapestry with a regal flying swan pattern…
…is the grand dining hall, which boasts the painted portraits of the King Harald V and Queen Sonja…
…and a large dining table lined with Scandinavian blue chairs...
...upholstered in a tapestry with a regal flying swan pattern…
...which matches the chairs reserved for the 2010 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, and his wife.
Photo: Reuters |
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Beginning Photography Class
It's nearing the end of my Beginning Photo class; I'm studying for my final and working on my final portfolio. I am grateful for all I've learned this semester. I learned how to [gulp] shoot in "M", manual, mode.
I sharpened my observations skills...
... and how to be more aware of colors...
3 |
... of negative space...
4 |
... and the rule of thirds...
5 |
I learned how to control the depth of field...
...to take action shots...
8 |
...and night shots.
9 |
I shared precious moments...
10 |
... and learned that portraits are best when taken in context.
11 |
I was inspired by Edward Weston...
12 |
and Irving Penn,,,
13 |
...but found out this was very difficult.
That just means that I have to take some more classes, but maybe I'll take a break next semester. Flickr slideshow, including previously posted shots, here.
Photos:
1. Point Reyes Lighthouse
2. Meters, Point Reyes Lighthouse
3. Rainbow Swiss Chard, Point Reyes Station Farmer's Market
4. Point Reyes Lighthouse
5. Point Reyes hiking trail
6. Sharpen Your Pencils
7. With brio!
8. Stockton, CA
9. Redwood City, CA
10. Cheers!
11. Nonagenarian
12. Palace of the Legion Honor, San Francisco, CA
13. French Breakfast Radishes
Photos:
1. Point Reyes Lighthouse
2. Meters, Point Reyes Lighthouse
3. Rainbow Swiss Chard, Point Reyes Station Farmer's Market
4. Point Reyes Lighthouse
5. Point Reyes hiking trail
6. Sharpen Your Pencils
7. With brio!
8. Stockton, CA
9. Redwood City, CA
10. Cheers!
11. Nonagenarian
12. Palace of the Legion Honor, San Francisco, CA
13. French Breakfast Radishes
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