Spotted this lovely flower at the Arboretum this weekend.  I have never seen a tiger lily like this before.  Isn’t nature amazing?

Another shot from the twin shoot I did.  I’ve always loved the small details.

If you missed the other shots, look here

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I’m shooting my good friend’s four year old tomorrow at the Arboretum.  I can’t wait because he just loves to smile and his lashes go on foreva!

Have a great weekend.

Keeping you updated on the belly.  I’m 30 weeks tomorrow and feeling great.  Passed all those dreaded tests (like the glucose one – blech!) and the Doctor said everything is doing just what it is supposed to be doing.  That’s always nice to hear.

OT (off Topic) -

Jules comes home from Spain on Saturday after being there since July 1st.  Can’t wait to have her back on LI land.

Celebrating lots of Birthdays this week too – Cousin Jazz was yesterday, Aunt Les and Marcia today and Grandpa DS Fla. on Friday. 

Happy Birthday to ALL!

First flower to bloom from a box of seeds I sprinkled by the pool fence.  I go out to look at it every morning and to see if any friends have joined him.  So far…..nothin’

I had the pleasure of shooting my friend’s nieces yesterday.  It was a difficult task I must say being that it was my first time with two.  They were 15 days old and fussy.  I managed to get a few single shots but the together ones were…… really difficult.  I know for next time to get them in their first week of life.  They are pretty much ALWAYS sleeping and much easier to pose.  I had a blast though and can’t wait to see them in about 6 months to do another session.  Thanks Bea and Maritza!

This past Wednesday was the first night that my Mom (Sherry Palencia) was teaching at Jones Beach Bandshell.  She didn’t think we were coming but we ended up surprising her.  She was thrilled!  She had a fantastic turnout.  About 400 people came out to dance with her.  There was a full moon and the weather was perfect.  Everyone was so happy to see her there.  My cousins that I don’t see very often were there so that was really great too.  Ben stood on stage most of the night.  He was directing people where to go and holding the mic and dancing around.  It was pretty cute to see.  We have video of him but I couldn’t get the card to download the files for some weird reason.  Maybe Craig can figure that one out.

 Last night after we put the monsta to bed I spotted the bunnies.  They were out.  I got a pic and here it is.  Can  you believe that they are this BIG?  I can’t…what is it, two weeks?

We just had a wonderful holiday weekend and I hope you did too.  Craig took Thursday off so we had four days together.  We basically stayed home and played around in the pool.  I worked in the garden and Craig cleaned the garage.  We attended a beautiful wedding on the Fourth of July and had a great time.  Ben had spent the night at my inlaws, so we had Sunday to relax.  Now that the garage was clean, I spotted my pottery wheel.  I got inspired to sit down and throw.  It has been a year since I’ve stopped going to class and I miss it terribly.  It was rough at first because I have a kick-wheel and it took quite a bit of effort to get the wheel going the speed I wanted.  I’m 27 weeks now and my tummy was definitely in the way a bit.  I managed and enjoyed.  I wasn’t rushed so I decided to make a nice salad bowl.  You can never have too many of those.  It felt really good to get back into the clay and the process.  It is also nice having my own wheel because I can just leave my work on it till the next day.  A luxury you don’t have when you have to work at a studio.  I was really pleased with my bowl so I will share:

                                   It will stay as greenware (unfired) till I find the time to get back to the studio.  Who knows when that will ever be.  I already have an office full of stuff that needs to be fired, glazed and fired. 

I also mentioned that I spent a lot of time in the garden.  The bunnies are doing great.  The Mommy sits close by under our hydrangea now keeping her babies protected. 

                          I even spotted her nursing in the nest the other day.  Couldn’t get those pictures though – sorry.  We peeked at the babies and they are so much bigger now.  They have fur and their eyes open.  It is really amazing.

The garden has been doing great.  Things are just growing and growing, even the weeds.  I pulled about 50% of them but jeez, it is hard.  My pole beans are the BIG show right now.  I never planted them before and don’t even know how large they are supposed to get.  Does anyone know? 

                          It really has been a lovely Monday so far.  Ben has been sleeping since 2pm (4:30ish now), I was able to trim (finish off the bottom) of my bowl and reflect on the nice weekend.  Getting back to throwing is huge for me.  It makes me feel good.  I suggest you all find something that you have dropped and try it again.  It does wonderful things for the body and soul.

One of my Flickr contacts posted a picture of a bread that she had made.  She also included the link to the video on how to do it.  I watched and was amazed at how easy it seemed.  Could it be possible?  I tried it because I had all four ingredients in the house and I had nothing to lose.  It took me five minutes, that’s right, 5 minutes to prepare the dough.  Then it sits for at least 12 hours.  The next day it took me another five minutes, that’s right, 5 minutes to get it ready for the oven.  It baked for about 45 minutes and then I looked at it.  Holy Mackeral – REAL bread.  It probably didn’t taste too good, let me try it…..HOLY, IT TASTES AWESOME.   You have got to try this.  I already made 2 loaves this week.  The second one even better than the first.  I’m psyched over the simplicity and the deliciousness. 

No-knead bread

3 cups All purpose flour

1/4 tsp. instant yeast

1 tsp. and 1/4 salt

1 and 1/2 cups warm water

Combine dry ingredients and then add the water.  Stir it with your hands just till it comes together.  Cover with damp cloth and let it sit for 12-19 hours. 

The dough should be loose and stringy.  Lay a dishcloth down and dust it with something.  (I used corn meal).  You can use flour or wheat bran.  Experiment.  Transfer the dough onto cloth and fold it (you will see what I mean when you watch the clip).  Dust the top with more of whatever you used.  I put sesame seeds and sea salt on top of mine.

Oven is really hot at 500 degrees and the cast iron pot is in there.  Plop dough into HOT pot and cover for 30 minutes.  Then uncover for another 15-20 minutes.  You won’t believe how good this is. 

Enjoy!

Outtake:

THE VIDEO