California Fireworks

Every day can be a celebration if you take a moment to look at things just a little bit differently and add a touch of imagination.

There’s something playful about palm trees– something happy. Maybe it’s the fact that they look like fireworks.

Trips and Travel: Trains

 

There is something fascinating about trains and something undeniably magnetic about their tracks.

For me trains conjure up images of a warm, golden summer’s day with tall grass in the meadow swaying in the breeze, their stalks bowing to the train as it speeds past on perfectly parallel tracks that stretch across the landscape like some great metal snake. They make me think of a small group of children, maybe three or four of them– the girls in sundresses, the boys in shorts, each of them with sweat on their hairline and their hair slightly tousled from hours of play– all walking along the tracks with their arms extended out to their sides to keep their balance as they walk on the metal rail like gymnasts on a beam.

During my recent trip to Germany I was lucky enough to finally get on a train and for a rather lengthy trip as well. We rode the train from Germany to Paris, France and then took the metro from Paris’ Gare de l’Est to Disneyland Paris. I was both anxious and excited for this trip– we were a tad bit worried about the itinerary or rather the logistics of our trip but it all worked out beautifully in the end. Originally, because my friends and I booked the train tickets at different times we were on different cars but once we were on the way we sorted that out. After Strasbourg there were no more stops until our final destination and because there was room where my friends had their seats I went and joined them. I captured the following sequence of photos along the way.

It has taken me longer than I wanted to share these– and indeed all my other vacations photos, which will come I promise– as I’d intended originally to post a set each Friday as per the system I seem to have established. However, now that I see just how long that will take I plan on posting the ones that I find worth sharing as I see fit. Once I have exhausted my supply of travel photos I can return to my original system but until then I will share them at will 🙂

For now I leave you with the following series of photos documenting my rail travel between Germany and France.

Enjoy!

~Ines 🙂

***

Going fast… The German and French countryside streamed past the window as we sped along the tracks. Our top speed, at least the highest I saw, was about 315 km/h which is about 195 mph. The ride was incredibly smooth and quiet. I know I probably have an idealized view of things, but I would much prefer being able to take a nice train to work instead of commuting on a freeway that much more closely resembles a parking lot than a street…

We arrived safely at Gare de l’Est in Paris and rushed downstairs and through the passages to find the right metro to take us to our next destination. We worried much too much beforehand about finding the right line and getting the right tickets– everything was easy to figure out, especially since our goal– Disneyland– is a very common destination.

To be honest I always thought the idea that people are packed like sardines inside of metros, as seen on cartoons like The Flintstones and many others, was a joke, an exaggeration. Turns out it isn’t. When we came back from Disneyland with our luggage and souveniers we found ourselves in the middle of rush hour on the Paris Metro back to Gare de l’Est. We missed the first metro that pulled into the station, partly because we were so awestruck at how many people there were and we hoped the next one might have more space. (One person actually almost lost their lunch when the door closed on their bag but luckily it opened again and they got their arm–and food– in safely.)

When we saw that the next metro was as full as the first we changed our attitude and knew we would just have to face the crowd and rush in right after the others got out so that we wouldn’t miss it. Thankfully a new car pulled in about every two minutes so we would have had plenty of chances, but why wait when things won’t get any better or easier by waiting? Each stop along the way was the same: people rushing in and others rushing out. Of course that meant that we were shuffled further and further into the car with each stop so we had to wiggle our way back out when we finally arrived back at Gare de l’Est. I have to admit it was quite an experience and actually in a way exciting. Most importantly though it was a mission accomplished 😉

Au revoir Paris! We arrived to  our train platform early for fear that we might miss it somehow if we waited too long. I bought a delicious brioche with sugar inside the station from a lovely French gentleman. It was actually the only time where I really made use of my French. My friends wanted macarons and though the man at the counter spoke English very well (he said he was just learning) my friend spoke too quickly for him so I stepped in and tried helping him our by repeating her order for “un macaron framboise s’il vous plait” (a raspberry macaron, please) before asking for my “brioche avec sucre.” I know it was just a little thing, this ordering pastries in French while in Paris, but I was quite proud. After all I’ve never been able to use my French before so every little opportunity counts 🙂

This little train is probably one of the cutest things I have ever seen so I couldn’t resist taking a photo of it and sharing it here– it smiled down from a decorative strip that extended along the length of the train car just above the windows and below the overhead storage. It’s a sweet little thing and so happy!

 

California Moon

After the last photos I took of the moon, and finding out just how great the zoom capabilities of my new camera are, I decided to take some more.

Eventually I’d like to take a series that documents the moon as it waxes and wanes but for now this is my newest addition. I went outside last night– we had a beautiful clear sky here– and set up my tripod to get as clear an image as possible. It was actually quite fascinating doing these photos because when I zoomed in this much (50-100x) I could watch the moon travel across the screen on my camera as the self-timer counted down before taking the photo.

I’ve never been able to take such detailed and clear photos of the moon before– this is so exciting! Hopefully this image will bring a smile to you as it has to me.

Space is so cool!

Trips and Travel

Travel through the air
Over land and over sea
Airplanes, trains, and cars

I was a few weeks old when I boarded my first airplane. Until recently planes were the only major public transport system I’ve used. (As a little girl I’d been on trains or buses but I can’t remember these trips so I don’t really count them.)

My friends and I just returned from a trip to Europe. We had a wonderful time, made lots of memories, and tried to see all that we could. In addition to having ample opportunities to take photos (I took over 1500 in total) I also learned how to use trains, the Straßenbahn, and the metro. It sounds lame, especially to anyone living in a big city, but Southern California doesn’t really have a great/extensive public transport system and I don’t live in a major city so I’ve never had to concern myself with reading train timetables and route maps. Where I live, if people want to get around they use their cars or might carpool, but other options are rather limited.

Our small group of three worked well together and we could pool our knowledge to get around safely: my friend knew the area (in Germany), I spoke the language (German and a little French for our trip to Paris), and our third friend knew about public transport (from her experiences living in larger cities worldwide).

Since we traveled quite a bit I’ll be sharing some of the best photos that sum up all the modes of transportation we used throughout our trip. The first set of photos will be up in the next few days.

Ciao!
Ines

Overlooked

There are so many beautiful and interesting things in the world around us. I think it is a shame that so many people walk around looking down at a little screen in their hands, missing it all, instead of enjoying and seeing the things that are within reach.

Try it, keep the phone away and out of sight, so you can look up and down, left and right, and see the things you’d have otherwise missed.

These are just a few little sights I caught while I was in Sydney.

P.S. I might not be able to post for the next three weeks, but as soon as I am back I’ll catch up for sure! Ciao until then!

Colors and Angles

When I took my black and white 35mm film photo class in high school we spent a great deal of time learning the elements of art and principles of design so that we could better understand the art of photography and subsequently compose better images.

Yesterday when I was at the mall I was looking around (as I always do) and chanced upon this lovely sight above me. The color of the sky through the windows and the repeating rectangular shapes struck me immediately, as did the sense of emptiness, so I did what anyone would do in the situation: I pulled out my iPhone to capture the image.

There is something quite modern about this shot that appeals to me a great deal and the solitary orchid behind the glass lends a feminine elegance to the scene that is complimented by the warm yellow tones of the walls.

I am quite proud of this photo and I think it would look great printed on a canvas. Maybe I’ll get that done soon so that I can hang it up somewhere.

Anyone else care for a print? 😉

Waffles anyone?

I’ve been meaning to make waffles for the longest time and I finally got around to it the other day. Years ago we used to make waffles quite a lot– we have a nice waffle iron and a whole cookbook dedicated to different recipes, plus they’re super easy and versatile.

My About page mentions that I enjoy cooking and since food is awesome I wanted to share a photo of one of the waffles I made the other day. This one is filled with Nutella, strawberries and whipped cream.

Tasty, right?

I’m going to have a waffle day soon where I’ll invite a couple friends and have a selection of toppings– it’ll be awesome 🙂

Blank Canvas

In a way there’s nothing both more exhilarating or more intimidating than a blank canvas, a white sheet of paper, a digital white screen with a blinking cursor, or a folded length of fabric just waiting to be marked, cut, and reshaped into something new. The possibilities are endless, the potential unmeasured and immeasurable. However, there is that little bit of fear, that doubt, that nagging worry that somehow this potential could be wasted or spoiled by using the wrong color, drawing the wrong line, writing the wrong word, typing nonsense, marking the fabric wrong or cutting the pieces just to find out you’ve made a mistake that sets you back or ruins the project.

Maybe you’re lucky enough not to be bothered by these anxieties, but I know I often experience them. It’s odd; before I actually think of the logistics of a project, before I stop to think how I’ll actually proceed, I’m filled with a sort of limitlessness, the confidence that I have the skill necessary to pull it off exactly as I’ve imagined it. I wave my hand casually at the little voice that asks “Can you do it?” and respond with a simple and dismissive “Ye of little faith—of course I can. Why shouldn’t I be able to manage? Can’t be that hard.”

It usually takes me a little while to discover that I am lacking in some way, whether it be a certain color of paint for an autumn painting I did a few months back, the skill/technique to paint something “properly,” or the technical capabilities to construct a garment as I’ve envisioned it in my mind or on paper. It’s almost without fail that I stumble into these sorts of issues. Sometimes it’s an easy fix, something I can just purchase (like a specific color of acrylic paint or a thing like a zipper), other times it takes some research or improvisation that may or may not work exactly as I wanted. In any case, I can usually overcome the hurtles, even if it takes me a long time to get back to a project once I’ve hit a wall.

I actually looked through all my sewing materials that I have stored in my dress form’s box and realized I have so much more than I seem to acknowledge; among the pristine lengths of fabric that await their turn to become dresses or skirts are the projects I’ve started but for one reason or another have not yet completed. It’s not that I’ve quit or given up or that I’ve forgotten what I wanted to do with the yet untouched fabrics I’d been so keen on using right away once I returned from my Joann’s trip—on the contrary, I remember what I wanted to do with each of them— I just got sidetracked somehow.

Bottom line is that I ultimately get back to what I started, even if it takes a little longer than I’d intended (which sometimes can be annoying), and I usually finish it. I think maybe I am somewhat afraid of finishing my projects (irrational, right?) because then what am I supposed to do with my time? Start something new I suppose… But maybe that’s why I have many things running simultaneously: so that I use different skills for each and can vary my tasks and keep from getting burned out or bored? Seems possible, but then again why should I get bored doing something I like?

Anyways, sorry for that tangent (maybe I’ll return to this topic more fully at another time haha) back to something more immediately pertinent.

I bought a pattern for a summer-type dress a long while ago and haven’t used it until now; typical of myself, as I am want to do, now that I’ve started using it I have 4 projects going simultaneously: two for myself and one each for two of my friends (or rather one for sure and the other potentially). Here’s a muslin mock-up of the dress pattern I’m working with.

I actually quite like it in this creamy color and think it would make a cute summer picnic dress, especially with some navy or dark green accents or a ribbon and bow at the waist. This is a slight variation on the pattern that I bought — I dropped the back neckline to a V because I like that better than having a high neckline for both the front and back, plus I’ve shortened the skirt so it ends above the knees rather than below them.

I mentioned in a previous posting, I went and got more fabrics. These are the ones I am currently using. Basically I’m adding color and embellishment to the “blank canvas” of the muslin dress you see on Holly, my trusty dress form. It’s almost like I’m cutting and pasting different fabrics for the different panels of the dress, as if using Photoshop or like filling in the blanks in a children’s coloring book. It’s fun!

Below you can see the fabrics for the current projects I’m working on. I’ve finished a summer dress for myself using the red and floral fabrics and I’ll be altering the pattern a little more for the blue and white fabric; right now I’m thinking I’ll drop the front neckline to a V to match the back, but I may also see if I can manipulate it enough to make it a sort of wrap dress so the front panels overlap (to maintain a V-neckline) and are fastened with a ribbon or bow at the waist. I may also bring the back neckline up higher again so only the front has a V… We shall see which version I end up choosing.

Below are the fabrics I’m using for the dress for my good friend. She loves space and anything intergalactic so we had fun choosing fabrics for her dress. I’m sure it’ll look out of this world when it’s done!

My other friend has been looking for a simple and elegant dress and asked if it’d be possible to make her an all-black dress (can totally do it!). For hers I am planning on using a black peach skin fabric (same type I used for the red panels on my dress), overlay the side panels with lace and have the back be just all lace. I love lace– it’s elegant and feminine and stunning. That last project isn’t for sure yet since we haven’t bought fabrics for it (and I really need to finish what I’ve got going before I go get more fabrics) but I’d be excited to do it and see the finished product. I have checked out the fabrics I could use for the project though, so I’m a step ahead for when it does come to fruition.

Well, I think that’s all I have to say for now. Keep checking back for updates on these projects— can’t wait to share photos when they’re all done! Until then (or the next post on something completely different 😉 )!

Ciao!

Nighthawks in 2016

It was a quiet evening at In-N-Out, the lull before the imminent dinner rush. There were only a few patrons in the restaurant but that wouldn’t last much longer so I knew my moments to snap this picture were numbered.

I’ve always found the decor and feel of In-N-Out charming and when I looked over at the empty tables to my left I was able to capture it in a way that I am quite pleased with. It’s a simple shot with simple colors and no gimmicks, but I love the sense of space and emptiness.

As I looked through my photos to choose one to post today I realized why this image appeals to me so much and why I needed to share it– it reminds me of Edward Hooper’s painting Nighthawks. It’s odd, I haven’t thought of or seen this painting in years, but the name of the painter suddenly came to me and I was happy to rediscover it.

Hope you like my 2016 version of Nighthawks 😉

Meanwhile

***

Meanwhile

I’ll grow to resent you. That’s what some people have told me.

Meanwhile though, take my hand.

I’ll start to hate the things about you that I used to love. Like your charm; that same quality that led you to me might also lead you astray. If not astray then perhaps you’ll just offer your charms elsewhere as I watch. It was your bait and it might be my bane.

Meanwhile though, kiss my neck.

With time I’ll notice things about you that I’d been blind to before, might find little ugly or irritating things that my mind will magnify so that they’ll eventually be all that I can see.

Meanwhile though, open my blouse.

Your hands and fingers that I love now, whose touch I crave and need, will someday hold me captive. The warm embrace of your arms will fade and feel like a cold prison cell, guaranteeing my safety through captivity instead of comfort.

Meanwhile though, lay me down.

One day I’ll start to hate the way you eat your food and I’ll stop eating the leftover bits on your plate, the bits you didn’t finish, the ones that would otherwise be wasted down the sink.

Meanwhile though, whisper in my ear and sigh in my hair.

In the future I’ll begin to loathe your smell and the way it clings to your clothes and marks everywhere you’ve been. There won’t be anyplace I can go where I couldn’t sense your presence even in your absence.

Meanwhile though, I’ll relish your scent on my skin like perfume.

In a while from now I might wish you would disappear, that I’d never see you again, that I could erase you from my mind, forget the sound of your voice, and pretend that you never existed.

Meanwhile though, drive safe and promise me you’ll come again soon.

One day in the future I may wonder where you are and who you’re with. I’ll wonder who I missed out on because I was blinded by you. I’ll entertain thoughts and dreams I’d long forgotten and hate you for tying me down and keeping me from reaching them, no matter if it was your fault or not.

Meanwhile though, let yourself into my empty room, sit on the edge of my bed, and anticipate my arrival.

Your hair and mine will eventually turn grey or silver, depending on our mood, and we will look back at what we’ve done together. I’ll wish you’d have been a bit different. You’ll wish I’d been a bit different too. We’ll wish some things had been different for the pair of us.

Meanwhile though, I’ll rush to meet you and fall into your arms once more.

Someday I’ll know you so well that I can anticipate what you’ll do and say and I’ll be bored. There will be little left that you can do to surprise or excite me. I’ll wonder why you add salt to foods you’ve not yet tasted and I’ll be annoyed. I might give you a look that you’ll roll your eyes at and I’ll stare out the window instead of looking at you.

Meanwhile though, I’ll forget all that; I’ll walk to you slowly, determinedly, and say “I do” with utter confidence.

***