Macaroon Monday

I made these for DH, who loves coconut and chocolate, but they (recipe) were inspired by you, CO. Macarons are far more complicated, but I'll get there, eventually.
Did you know these are called haystacks?

I need to make myself a white light box, I can see that now: better cookie representation through better lighting.

Simplicity Sunday

When I Am Among the Trees

When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness,
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, "Stay awhile."
The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, "It's simple," they say,
"and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine."

~ Mary Oliver ~

She's From The News Journal (Not)

I'm beginning to think that my investment in camera equipment - which has resulted in what I like to call "PJ's Red Beans And Rice Diet" - has the possibility of finally paying off in a really big way. I've been doing a lot of pro bono work lately and one of the things I was recently asked to do was photograph last night's Preview Party for the 53rd Christ Church Antiques Show. People were so glad and happy to smile and pose for me or to just let me photograph them as they browsed and shopped. "She's from the News Journal," they murmured. I finally stopped correcting them because I realized they were happier when they thought I had better credentials than I actually did.

(click to enlarge photos)

I'm not the least bit ashamed to say that I think it's possible I might be able to mine this misperception for my greater good come future community events. Besides, really, why disappoint people when they're obviously so happy to see us (Lorraine is my camera, named for my mom)?

Sorrow

When Blogging Pays/Last Week's Give-Away/The Likelihood Of Free Cookies

I mentioned a week ago that Jan over on Prytz Family gets ARC books from publishers and after she's read them does a give-away each week. Today I received these four books which I will give to Dear Boy who loves sci fi.

As for the winner of my give-away, only Tash at Palos Verdes Daily Photo said she wanted any of them so they're all heading for the coast. I'm still planning on having the PDP Blog photo give-away I talked about, just trying to decide if I should also insert a two dozen cookies give-away, most likely homemade Neiman Marcus cookies. They're infamous and labor intensive but off the charts for cookie goodness. Any cookie lovers out there? (I know, a totally redonk question.)

A Tale Of Two Bridges: Pt 2: Graffiti Bridge

If you turn right onto 17th Ave once you leave the fishing bridge I mentioned in the previous post, you'll pass under the 17th Ave Bridge, a train trestle for the CSX railroad and a perpetual target/outlet for graffiti. I've blogged about the bridge here and here and I'll repeat what I've said before regarding the graffiti: I happen to enjoy the ever-changing messages and I believe it helps to keep Pensacola safe from a lot of random graffiti vandalism. It's an institution.

It turns out that when I left the new fishing bridge yesterday and began my approach towards the train trestle I saw a group of kids and a police car. I wasn't alarmed as there have been instances where police have blocked off the road for memorial paintings when someone has died so I approached slowly and at the last minute pulled into the parking lot of the adjacent boat ramp. Everyone was smiling and laughing and a solitary police officer stood outside his cruiser closely watching them. I rolled down my window and watched for a while myself and it was obvious that it was a friendly stand-off between some paint wielding "youts" and an extremely thoughtful and friendly Pensacola police officer. One of the girls asked me to take their picture and I said sure. I got out and as she and another girl handed me their point and shoots I watched their eyes widen at the sight of my camera (but only from surprise to their question, see the girl in the blue shirt on the left?). The officer wanted to know if I was with the Pensacola News Journal (I get that a lot) and I reassured him that no I wasn't. I photographed the offenders (without the gallon paint cans visible as per police instructions) and eventually everyone cheerfully parted ways.

We'll all be back.
(The entrance to the fishing bridge is to the left where you can see a lone car waiting to enter traffic.)
(I just noticed the guy with the red bunny ears.)

A Tale Of Two Bridges: Pt 1: What's For Supper?

Hurricane Ivan destroyed Pensacola's beloved "fishing bridge", the former bridge between Pensacola and Gulf Breeze that was replaced by the Bob Sikes Bridge/The Three Mile Bridge. It's replacement, just a fraction in size compared to that old bridge, is now open. Yay!!! It's free for the whole month of February and I don't know what it's going to cost come March but it's busy. And if it's this busy in this kind of cold the summers are going to be insane, I predict the parking lot at the welcome center will be jam-packed with the overflow.

Everyone I talked to was deliriously happy to be back. I'm not much for anything but surf casting but I do like to crab and have done it from the old bridge in the past. I still have very fond memories of those evenings.

This fellow was very happy to show me his catch, white trout - it's what's for supper.

What are you having for supper tonight?