Foodie Friday Bring on the Turkey OOPS I mean Brining the Turkey

Did I already tell you this?  I need to keep better track of things now that I'm going in some sort of order.  Almost a whole month and I pretty much stuck to a plan.  That's a big WOW!

 

Monday Delaware Hues of Red

Tuesday Delaware Clues or just Common Cents

Wednesday Delaware Views Anew

Thursday Delaware News

Friday Delaware Chews or Foodie Friday

Everyone needs a rest

Sunday Funday

 

Turkey Tendernan Roast

 

1-2 pound Boneless Turkey Breast

 

 

4 cups water divided

1/3 cup salt

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 c apple Cider Vinegar

1tsp each dried, sage, rosemary, thyme, & parsley

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1 cup ice

 

Dissolve sugar and salt in 1 1/2 cups water.

Add remaining ingredients cooling with the ice.

Place Turkey in deep container or ziplock bag.

I do all this in the morning.

An hour before dinner rinse the turkey.

 

Remove Turkey from brine and rinse. Slather with oil and the same proportions of herbs as above.

Bake at 350 20 minutes per pound.  Test for doneness.

 

I like to mix my herbs up a batch at a time in a mortar and pestle and store in glass jars.  This way I can just spill out a tablespoon or so in the brine or in my palm with oil to rub my meat before roasting.

 

 



 

 

 

 



Delaware Views

For real. 

The river has frozen and defrosted and frozen so many times that now it is just backing up with big chunks of broken ice....

 

 

Close view

All the way across

Delaware Views Anew Birds in Winter

I took the pic of the Robin with my 70-300, hand held from my porch a few days ago.  That Robin was grabbing winter sustenance from the Crab Apple tree during a freezing snow.  The geese in the background were taken with my 35-100 early in the morning yesterday, when the river still had a watery pond for them to float in.  It wasn't snowing but it sure was cold.  My battery was starting to act up and my fingers were starting to freeze.  I had to shovel snow from a few of the steps down to the river to get close but not so close that I might disturb the birds.  I thought they might look cool layered.  The Robin in the tree with the berry in it's beak and the geese hovering around a small pond of water in the ice.  Two different breeds of avian trying to make it through this cold winter.

 

Delaware Issues Common Cents

Everybody has a little spot of sunshine somewhere.  It could be in a backyard garden, a flower pot, or even on a window sill.  Herbs are some of the easiest things to grow.  I have fresh parsley, thyme, sage, and cayenne pepper, along with some others, growing all summer long.   I get little potted plants in the beginning of the growing season and transplant them into large pots or directly in the ground. I like to keep the parsley in a pot by the back door so I can grab a few leaves after a meal to freshen my breath.  At the end of the season or during, if a particular plant is abundant, I bunch them up and hang them to dry.  For just a few dollars each, I can have fresh herbs all summer long, dried herbs throughout the winter, and I can mix them up to my taste for almost any recipe I wish to make.  Maybe Ill share with you some of these concoctions on Foodie Friday.   

 

Delaware Hues of Red

There are so many nice restaurants within a few miles from my home and with New Hope, PA and Lambertville, NJ within 10 miles to the north the selection increases dramatically.  Still we find we head to the Full Moon Café in Lambertville (click link for Zagat Review) at regular intervals and here is why.

 

 

First of all the food is always good.  Second they have some of the best creative draws around.  We receive in the mail, buy one breakfast get one free, birthday and holiday coupons.  When we visit in December we receive a RED gift envelope that we can open on our January visit.  Last week our envelope entitled us to one free breakfast, lunch or brunch.  That would be the second time we got a really nice gift as one year we won the free full moon dinner for two coupon in our RED envelope.

The third reason to visit is the service is excellent, ALWAYS.

Finally, the Full Moon is community oriented and offers its walls in a town of galleries, for free to local artists to display their work. 

Mine will be hanging during the month of April and that means SHAD FEST. 

Sunday Funday

Nice to be able to pick a day during the week and review it on Sunday Funday, when lounging around on this frigid winter day.  Hubby and I went off to Lambertville to enjoy lunch at the Full Moon Café and get an update on the dates I'm expected to set up. Then went visiting a friend who has river front property and got another view of the Delaware and the ice building up on it.

Delaware Chews at the Glass House Tavern in NYC

My good friend Patti and I decided to subscribe to the Manhattan Theatre Club and had the good fortune to brave the frigid temperatures to get to the matinee last Wednesday.  I can assure you it was freezing.  We got out at Penn Station and rather than risk freezing to the ground as we walked, we took the subway up to 50th leaving us just 3 blocks to get to the theater on 47th. 

The Glass House Tavern was right  across the street from the theater and coupled with the recommendation of a friend I made at the Edison earlier this month it was a no brainer to go.

It shouldn't surprise you that I dug into my Tomato Fennel soup so quickly that it was gone before I thought to take a picture.  And then those three delicious raviolis also found their way into my tummy...oh darn.  So best I have for you is the recommendation to go and an Iphone pic.  Neither of us had a cocktail making the bill rather reasonable for a theater district lunch.  $23 pp including a generous tip. There was a nice bar and booth seating downstairs and also a large dining area upstairs where we were shown to a table



Delaware Views News

I think I have a nice selection of Delaware River Views to present to the Full Moon.

They require 25 4x6 table toppers to show.  

 Every time I do one I include a full moon.  This one from a recent

 winter's night.  

 I'll be hanging my work in April so if you go to SHAD FEST stop in and buy one.

 

Delaware Views Anew

Kaleidoscopes have always fascinated me. It's like looking through a magic telescope and seeing the world change in front of your eyes.  When I learned how to make them in Photoshop Elements it took me a long while to stop playing.  I do find it difficult to remember how to spell it, so I like to go with KALIDE...and in some cases Kalidea- something, and in this case, Kalidea Frame!
I found  Marilyn sitting on Milton Berle's lap while walking the Madison Square Garden Tour.  The guide knew nothing about the photographers of the many images hanging on the walls.
I cut and pasted her out of that image and onto my Kalidea Frame...I think they are way Kool.

Delaware Clues

You know it is cold out, when you go out. 

 You know it is snowing, when you see it falling from the sky. 

 It is cold out and it is snowing.

 

 

 

Delaware Hues of RED

Good Morning

 

 

Foodie Friday

Spent a whole week in the city and even though I had breakfast and dinner out, I somehow did not manage one picture of food, with the exception of one on my Iphone of a delicious bowl of New England Clam Chowder I warmed myself with at Carves.  (click the link for my Trip Advisor review)   Otherwise, your not really missing anything.  I ate a sandwich from Subway, had breakfast at the hotel, and had a terrible Chinese meal near the New Museum.   I was attracted to enter the Rum House located inside the Edison Hotel by the soft and bluesy piano music drifting into the lobby.  One Cosmo $13.00 plus tip, and a tip for the man banging the keys.  

 

 

 

 

 

Shooting inside like this is difficult due to the low light conditions and hard to hold the camera steady after that Cosmo.

Delaware Views in Black and White

I'm still working on my daily views! Pretty much have it down to

Monday: Hues of Red

Tuesday: Clues & Common Sense

Wednesday: Views Anew

and Foody Friday when Delaware Chews

So what about Thursday?  Views in Black and White?

Business News?

There is only one way to do this and that is to do it!

Only one way to go and that is forward.

Up or down it is still moving forward. 

 

 

Staircase at the New Museum

New York lingers on my mind.  Things I learned in the Travel Photography: Making it Work" class at ICP keep rolling around in my head.  Little pieces of information that must be organized, categorized and prioritized. 

NYC Architecture

 

Thank you Sharon Collins,  for kicking me into gear. 

It is my 2014 goal to create a personal webpage, only post referring images on Facebook, add exif data to every image I post, sign and copyright each one.

 

Empire State Building

 

Now I just have to find enough good ones to do so!

 

 

 

Delaware Views Anew

This from a ceiling light fixture in the Times Square Visitor Center.

Had to go back to a PSElements8 to get the effect I wanted.  I think I'm going to print this one.

 

Common Cents and Getting Around in NYC

Once in NYC, there are many ways to get yourself from one spot to another.  I first saw the citibikes or something like it while in Israel, then London.  Last time I was in New York I did take notice of the bicycle paths marked out on the streets and this past week I notice the row of citibikes.

 

 

The most expensive way to get around in the city is a Limo, I suppose, but let's start with the more reasonable; the taxi.  Now this is well worth it if you are coming in with luggage.  I find the subway system to be safe and generally quite entertaining. For $2.50 you can get yourself a ride almost anywhere.  Subway art is worth taking notice of and often there are musicians that add to the ambience.  As far as I know, you can use the same ticket for a connecting bus ride.   I'm not sure about these bicycles and I'm not even sure I would want to try one.  They are purposed for short runs, not more than 1/2 hour at a time, but seem pretty reasonable if you have to make a few runs a day.

No doubt, the very best way to move short distances around the city is to walk.   Wont have to spend a cent and you might even loose something....like an inch around your waist. 

And I Thought Friday Came Fast

Monday smacked me in the face hard as the Arctic Blast that blew me around NYC.  Have not picked up my camera or blogged for two days.  Maybe it is a good idea. Make it a five day blog with weekends off?  Any suggestions from my 39 readers?  

Turned out the Edison was a great choice for location and amenities.  It was pretty cold on Wednesday and I had already been through the short line at the TKTS booth, had a slice of pizza, and returned to the hotel.   Before I ventured back to the theater, I figured I would ask the concierge about the shortest route around the block.  I know! It sounds ridiculous,but when I say cold I mean single digit cold, so it was great to know that I didn't have to walk around a city block at all.  I was directed straight through the Marquee and Pippen was waiting right there. 

RED, as always present, this time big, bright and loud in NY,  bouncing all over bringing its warm glow and sense of danger in  flashing lights.  Then the scene calms in the demeanor of a passerby and the NYFD, and I hustled on through to the Music Box Theater.

 

Friday Came So Fast

Wow, this week really flew by.  Despite the frigid temps and todays fine mist and fog, it has been an exceptional week of learning and fun.  My class at the School of the International Center of Photography is turning out to be all I had hoped for.  I have learned so much and met some wonderful people.

 

 

There is always so much to photograph here. 

 

 

Heating Up to 18 Degrees

 

I finally have discovered something I can really enjoy about this frigid weather we are experiencing in the north east.  The lines at the Times Square TKTS booth are short.  I don't think I waited more than a minute. My plan was to see Newsies but I learned that Disney rarely offers discounts and, well, I'm partial to a discount.  I don't think I ever noticed the assistants available to help you near the booth.  So when help was offered I availed myself to it.  As a result, I went to see PIPPIN and PIPPIN was HAPPENEN.  Good fun story with a happy ending.  The music, dance and acrobats were my style...kinda fossyish.  Every now and then a circus stunt would take my breath away.  Lots of action color and flash. More good news: It was only a block from the Edison, where I am staying.

 

 

 

 

Too Cold to Play Outside

My class at the International Center of Photography starts at 6PM so I have all day in the city by myself.  It was way too cold to wonder around out there.  Just 5 degrees when I woke  and I don't think it ever hit 2 digits today.  I had the pleasure of meeting a member from the UglyHedgehog forum who provided me with a tour of B&H and the back story too. 

After, I walked over to Madison Square Garden and hopped on the tour.

I'm not much of a sports fanatic and quite frankly don't remember what team's lockers these are...but I liked the sneaker.

 

 

The tour guide gave us a lot of information and made the time go by like a SWISH...hahahah

Every now and then something just cries to be worked up in Black and White.

 

 

Delaware Clues: Shoot with what you got!

Arrived safely in the city and got myself all settled into my room at the Hotel Edison. 

 

It is just a short walk to my class at the International Center of Photography.  I don't know why I decided to go without my camera.  Perhaps because I had just given myself enough time to get there.  But when I saw the lights on the Empire State Building I couldn't resist.  So I pulled out my
I phone.  I have heard it said that the best camera is the one you have with you.  I'll go back out another night with Olympia Omde, ...but not tonight...its way to cold.

 

Delaware Hues and a RED hot idea

It is a gift to have good friends and I feel so grateful for mine.  I would like to offer thanks to Ruthy, who took the time to consider my post regarding viewers and make such a great suggestion.  Take notice, my friend, as I have changed the name of my blog as a result of your thoughts on the matter.  Meanwhile...since we talked another has come on board....one more til 40. 

 

I cannot wrap this up in a pretty red bow without a shout out to Kathy, Jess and Patti for your unwavering support and friendship.

Sunday Funday and Oh So Cold.

The girls kicked my butt yesterday out cross country skiing.  Left me in the dust huffing and puffing and sweating in way too many clothes.  Not to mention I was scared to bring my camera with me lest I fall.  WHICH I AM PROUD TO SAY I DID NOT.  Had to get my fun playing around with images I took already.  I'm really starting to have an appreciation for sepia and color filters.  Every time I learn something new in Photoshop CS3, I realize just how little I know.  Every menu seems to open up more opportunities for modifications.

 

 

Ice and Fog on the Delaware River

I looked out the window this morning and saw the sun just above the trees and ice crystals growing on the window.

 

Went downstairs to check the thermometer. It was reading 5 degrees.  Took me a few minutes to make the decision to go out there and brave the cold and another few minutes to put on some warm clothes.  I even donned earmuffs.  The fog was coming off the river in the strangest formations, like smoke coming from a chimney.  That is ice in the foreground, looking southeast.

Looking north.

Looking down.

 

Then I ran inside to get warm.

 

 

 

Delaware Chews: Foodie Friday brings Mace's Crossing in Philadelphia

Already showed you a little from our visit to the Franklin Institute.  Here is a little more from that day.

Before leaving the museum we asked a volunteer at the front desk for lunch recommendations and he recommended the short walk to Mace's Crossing.
Upon arrival we were quickly seated at the late lunch hour of about 1:30, downstairs in the bar area.  We had a window view of the Ben Franklin Blvd.  Our waitress happily greeted us and brought us our drinks and took our orders.  Hubby quickly gobbled down the burger she brought him and I struggled with the size of my sandwich.  It was steak just the way I like it, thinly sliced as opposed to the more frequent chopped on the grill style.  It had onions and mushrooms and melted cheese and looked so good but when I picked it up it fell apart.  A gift!  I put half the roll and a pile of meat to the side and ate the cheesy, meaty, vegie mix on the bottom half of the roll with a fork and knife.
Our waitress Michele gave us excellent attention when needed, which means on this  very cold and windy day she brought me a Kahlua and Coffee.  We were warmed up just right for the walk back to the car.

Olympia Omde

I cant say enough about the Olympus OM-D EM5, from here on in referred to as Olympia Omde.  Up until now I can't say any camera I ever owned has stood up to my Vivitar, but Olympia is working her way in to my heart.  Light and compact and now that I have a new 35-100mm f2.8 lens she is even more fun to hang out with.  I haven't tried the filters that the lens came with yet.  Ill let you know when I do.

 

I do have one minor issue with her.  She is like a little kid who constantly looses her glasses. The eye cup has a tendency to pop off and disappear.  I was lucky when my hubby found one on my car seat.  A very nice lady picked one up off the floor of a craft show I was visiting and returned it to me. It has been suggested  that I glue one on but I cant imagine crazy gluing it to the camera body. I ordered 2 from Adorama at 9.99 a piece.  Then I got two emails in as many weeks saying they were on backorder.  So I ordered ONE from B&H.  Now wouldn't you just know it.  As soon as I did, I got an email from Adorama saying theirs were on their way.  Guess I wont have to worry to much about loosing one for a while.

 

In addition to the eye cup that has two itty bitty teeny parts, not shown because I was scared to remove them there are also three small parts associated with the flash.  One little piece comes off the flash when it is in use and 2 even smaller pieces come off the camera when the flash is in use.  I cant believe I haven't lost one of them yet.

 

Happy New Year

I did not  reach my goal of 50 followers to Delaware Views.  Bah Humbug...oh right that's Christmas.
But I did add two more and I did make a nice connection with the Bucks County Herald.  Unlikely to result in an increase in my personal economy but fun to see my images in a newspaper I enjoy reading. 

Another goal I failed to achieve was seeing 139 on the scale.  I started with Georgiann about a month ago at 149.7...YOW.   Lucky for me I can set this goal anew. Have I told you about "Loose It"? Maybe in a review.

My goal for the blog is to organize my days in views and chews and news and hues and clues and things anew, all for you.

It is with this sentiment that I offer you a greeting.  The colorful background is Christmas lights on a tree, taken with Olympia Omde  set with a very slow shutter speed and some intentional camera motion.  Font in CS3

 

May you be healthy and full of joy today and tomorrow and every tomorrow after that!