LAGUNA BEACH

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Here are a few shots from a Nick Carver class Cari and I went to last Tuesday. The setting was beautiful - a beach full of mossy, curvy, soft-sculpted rocks.

I felt I understood more but didn't feel as artistic. I'm guessing once the camera basics soak in that I'll get to that dreamy, inspired, autistic zone again.

(And you probably thought I just needed more coffee!)

We have one more class in March that should involve green hills and wildflowers - I'll aim for more inspired results in March.

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After the workshop Cari located a great Japanese hot pot restaurant. It was so cool! We both had a plate of raw veggies and meat and a hot pot of bubbling broth. The waitress showed us how to cook the food - You grab a bit of veggie with chopsticks, swirl it in the hot pot- Say Shabu, shabu, shake-shake-shake . . . dip it in some yummy sauce - Ta-daa' - delicious hot pot!

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Photos, Phine Phriends and Phood, Life is good!

Photo Classy-ness

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Cari and I went south for a photo class last Sunday. The highlight was Sunday morning at the Hazelrigg meeting. This is where Dave and Brenda Kettler met - You could tell they still had Dave and Brenda in their hearts . . . we felt very, very welcome.
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The class Sunday afternoon was outstanding. It was taught by Nick Carver, a very talented photographer. He teaches the complexities of photography with simplicity and in a way that is easy to absorb. He doesn't waste time teaching how to touch-up or fake in Photoshop - I admire that. I really like Galen Rowell's writing and work and Nick's genius is hauntingly similar.

If you want to see what he shoots and teaches it is here at his website: http://www.nickcarverphotography.com/
The class was held at a cool studio, Shutterstories in Riverside. It was inspiring to see the photo art that was hung and see where studio photographers shoot.

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After the class Cari drug me kicking and screaming to a Thai restaurant. I don't know how much more I can take of Cari.... and I still have another day with her this Tuesday! ~wink~

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For the record - I love Thai food and you know I love Cari! I don't think either one of us stopped talking the whole way going south and coming back - of course it was all about apertures and shutterspeeds!

Happy 90th, dear Marjorie Rose !

A very good friend, Marge turned 90 this last Friday!

Here are the cakes I made for this fine celebration.

This white one is a take on the local Smith's Bakery "Champagne Cake".
It is a white cake filled with vanilla-bean custard and frosted with Whipped cream/cream cheese frosting. The frosting has shavings of white chocolate patted generously all over. The leaves are colored white chocolate ("green chocolate" in this case!) painted on the back of clean rose leaves. After the chocolate hardens the rose leaves are carefully peeled off. The roses are my first attempt at gum paste. (I'm kind of impressed with 'em!)

. . . And a Dark chocolate frosted Hershey's cake with Trader Joe's belgium-chocolate dipped strawberries.

(Rich, smooth, sweet, tall, daaark and handsome ! ) Any comments Anna ? ;0)