Back to Blogging

This may not come as a surprise, but I have been getting some grief about my lack of blog posts lately. The other day someone was telling me that the construction of certain gargantuan seagoing freight ships takes about six months. My brother turned to me and said, "Hey Elizabeth, that's about how long it takes you to write a blog post."

Point taken.

And there is plenty to share, so I have no excuse. There are photos being processed and posts in the works, and you will be seeing more of me here very soon. Truly. Cross my heart.

Things That Make You Go "Hmmm..."

The Google search terms that lead people to my blog. That is something that makes me go "hmmm...."

I use Google Analytics to track my blog's statistics, and I always get a good chuckle out of the things people are searching for that somehow lead them here. These are some of my favorites from the past few months. Knowing what's in my archives, I have a feeling these Google searchers may not have found what they were looking for.

• chicken footprints (um, what?)

• women with power (should I be flattered that this led to my blog?)

• Montreal without gloves (I can respond to this: BAD BAD IDEA)

• yellow kitchens fight more (Is this a Feng Shui thing? Like blue bedrooms are calming?)
  

• barbie kebat (some variety of international Barbie?)
  

• Arthur Ashe nosebleed photo (lots of photos here, but not that one)

• banana sabzi (a fruity twist on the savory Persian stew, qormeh sabzi?)
  

• new apartments on the beanstalk (Jack? Is that you?)
  

• i need Korean chef (me too, my friend, me too)

Happiness is a Warm Puppy

When Sarah over at Pink of Perfection suggested, as a July project, creating a "happiness list"--an exercise in remembering what happiness is for each of us (and hopefully an inspiration incorporate more of those things in our lives)--I thought it was a lovely idea. A little cheesy perhaps, but just the thing to counteract the big city cynicism I've been feeling lately.


I made a mental 'note to self' that at some point in July I would sit down and make a list of happy things. Really, I would. Then I promptly forgot all about it. Until this past weekend when I took a few days off and went to visit my grandparents. And what should I find on my grandpa's bookshelf but a book I loved when I was a little girl (and perhaps a cosmic reminder that it's time to devote a little thought to happiness).

The book, just a little booklet really, is called Happiness is a Warm Puppy and was written and illustrated by Charles Schultz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip. And though it is ostensibly written about the little joys of childhood, its sweet statements and charming pictures still strike a chord with me. After all, who doesn't love a brand new box of crayons?


I was re-inspired. Reminiscing as I paged through the book led to more happy thoughts, and all of a sudden I had the beginnings of a list. So, in addition to warm puppies and new crayons, for me happiness is . . .

• a really, really good book (like this one)
  
• coming home to my wonderful husband
  
• summertime
• a tidy apartment
• old photographs of family
• jasmine, lilacs, sweet peas, and gardenias
• dancing
• studying Farsi
• sleeping in
• trying out a new recipe, successfully
  
• the smell of snow in the air
• swimming
• Ariana smiling at you
• a great cup of coffee, and the time to enjoy it
• riding roller coasters
• picking fruit off the tree and eating it right then and there

• spending time with my brothers
• seeing the mountains
  
• planning a vacation
  
• going on vacation
• basically anything to do with vacation
  
• popsicles
• eating something you have grown yourself (even if it is just herbs)
• reorganizing
  
• going for a walk with my camera simply to take pictures
• a packet of wai wai
  
• the smell of basmati rice cooking
• flying over terraced fields into Kathmandu Valley
  
• family
• seeing other people happy
  

Even though it is late in the evening and I have just returned home from a trip, I find that now I have begun my list, it is hard to stop. But it's time for bed, and I think the project has already worked its happy magic on me. I know I'll be going to sleep with a smile on my face. In my own bed.

Happy Birthday Blog

Today my blog is a year old.

A little over a year ago I remember telling my husband that I felt like any creative side I may have once had was long buried and not likely to resurface any time soon, and it made me sad not to have that as part of my life. Not long after that he gave me a digital SLR camera, "to help you rediscover your creative side," he said. I think that may have been the best gift ever.

When I started this blog (at a friend's urging) my intention was to post a photo every day, which would encourage me to take photos every day with my new camera. I plunged in without much thought, chose the title "Under Consideration" because I couldn't be bothered to think of a proper title at the time and figured I had better consider it for a bit, and started uploading the photos.

Life gets in the way, as always, and my 'photo a day' plan did not last very long. Instead the blog somehow morphed into a chronicle of my efforts to add a little bit of creativity to my life, not just through photography, but also through cooking, writing, reflection, and maybe even a bit of arts and crafts.

Along the way I have been amazed by my discovery of "the blogging community"--a community I did not even know existed. Unknown strangers giving me photography tips? Suggesting recipes? Becoming friends via the Internet? People around the world inspiring one another to thought, art, spiritual development, and positive change? Incredible.

What a nice year it has been. Happy Birthday blog.

Seeking Paparazzi?

I find it to be such an odd, odd concept that people would seek out the experience of being followed by paparazzi. Granted, I am a little camera shy (getting in front of one, anyway) but it seems like we may have taken our obsession with celebrity culture a little too far. We can now hire paparazzi to follow us around, pester us, and make us feel just like Brad and Angelina.

I was so bemused by this article in TIME a couple of months ago, I tore out the page and stuffed it in my bag, thinking I would mention it to my husband or maybe share it with you all. I just rediscovered it there this morning, slightly crumpled and still just as incomprehensible to me. Apparently hiring paparazzi is a happening new trend for birthday parties and people out for a night on the town. According to the article, at Celeb 4 A Day for one low price of $1,499 you can hire "six paparazzi for two hours, a publicist to tell them to stop bothering you, a bodyguard to protect you from the crowd, limo service, a glossy MyStar magazine cover [with your picture on it] and a CD containing 10 photos."

You hire paparazzi to bother you and people to get them to stop bothering you? Is this stuff for real?

Links, links, and more links

The problem with reading lots of blogs is that it makes a person feel slightly envious of the many talents of others, and also quite ambitious to improve oneself by learning new things and undertaking new projects. To that end I have been assembling a list for some time of places to go, recipes to try, things to learn, and craft projects to attempt. I thought I might share them here in an effort to give myself a little bit of accountability--sort of like New Year's resolutions or 43 things. So please don't hesitate as the year goes on to check in and ask me, "have you finished knitting that cowl?" or "whatever happened to those caramels you planned to make?" I'll appreciate the encouragement!

Projects on the Agenda:

• Felted nesting bowls:Amy turned me on to these cute bowls that were showcased on Design*Sponge, and I already have some bulky navy blue yarn bought just for the purpose.
• Building a light box: SouleMama posted about this recently and got me thinking about how easy it would be and how useful for taking flash pictures--the question is, where would I keep it?
• These before and after shots of refurbished furniture from Design*Sponge and How About Orange have inspired me to try refurbishing a homely little chair that floats around our apartment.
• This cashmere cowl from Purl Bee has been on my mind for a while, and now that I've seen this sample on MamaCraft, I can't wait to get started on one. I'm thinking I will do it in a nice lightweight baby alpaca yarn.
• Recipe Greeting Cards: I saw these on Steamy Kitchen--what a cool idea!

Things to Learn:

• What del.icio.us is all about (from Unclutterer): I am forever printing out web pages and bringing them home, and then losing them in our clutter. Del.icio.us is just what I need.
  
• How to graft two pieces of knitting together (via Not Martha)
• How to make stretchy bind-offs (via Not Martha): I found this just in time to finish the ribbed scarf I'm working on.
• How to get rid of junk mail forever (from Unclutterer): I think about this every time I pick up the mail.
  
• HDR Photography: I have been browsing the HDR pool on Flickr lately and feeling inspired, but after speaking with Christian last night, I am ready to take the plunge and try it out.
  

Places to Go:

• Brooklyn Flea: Amy first turned me onto this exciting Brooklyn development, and I have been following it on Brownstoner. Doors open on April 6th!
• Bust Magazine Craftacular: I found out about this crafts show coming up in Williamsburg in April from Not Martha.
• New York Transit Museum: It's right in my own neighborhood, and you get to sit in old-fashioned subway cars! What could be better?
• Tenement Museum: I have been wanting to visit ever since I read Five Points by Tyler Anbinder.

Recipes to Try:

• Hazelnut Brown Butter Cake (from Smitten Kitchen): Doesn't it just sound like something to swoon over?
  
• Tuscan Bean Soup (from Start Cooking): I would like to add a few new hearty soups to my repertoire, and this one seems quite easy.
  
• Baked Scallops (from Simply Recipes): I am looking for things to do with scallops. I have never tried cooking them this way before.
  
• Lightest Chocolate Mousse (posted on Gothamist by Danielle of Habeas Brulee): It looks melt-in-your-mouth amazing.
  
• Spiced Eggplant with Peas and Yogurt (from Orangette): "Spiced" and "eggplant" in the same line means it's a recipe for me.
  
• Crispy Skin Chicken (from The Paupered Chef): If I could ensure crispy skin on my roast chickens, it would be life changing.
  
• Quick Pickled Cucumbers with Chili Bean Sauce (from Habeas Brulee): A perfect next step in my pickling journey.
  
• Hot Fudge Pudding Cake (from Nook & Pantry): I'm a sucker for any of those gooey-in-the-middle chocolate cakes.
  
• No-knead Nutella Challah Bread (from Jaden's Steamy Kitchen). I have been wanting to try the no-knead bread for a while. A swirl of Nutella may be just the thing to get me to do it.
  
• Roasted Feta Cheese (from MattBites): Matt's description won me over, it sounds so delicious.
  
• Red Velvet Cupcakes (from Vanilla Garlic, via Simply Recipes): The last dessert I made inspired by these two amazing food blogs was such a success, I hope this will be the same.
  
• WHO Bread (from SouleMama, also via Tea and Cookies and Love This Life): It has already been made by (at least) three of my favorite bloggers. Clearly that's a sign.
  
• Pecan Maple Caramels (from The Chocolate Gourmand): We are suckers for caramels in this house. They also sound like they would make a nice gift.
  

International Women's Day

Typically I like to keep things light here on the blog. But what is the point of sharing things with family, friends and strangers in cyberspace if I don't share the things that matter?

This evening I was pondering this quotation from the Baha'i Writings:

There must be an equality of rights between men and women. . . For the world of humanity possesses two wings: man and woman. If one wing remains incapable and defective, it will restrict the power of the other, and full flight will be impossible. Therefore, the completeness and perfection of the human world is dependent upon the equal development of these two wings.

Today is International Women's Day. The fact that we need a special day in the year to remind us to celebrate women seems an indication that we still have a long way to go before we reach that ideal of equality we aspire to.

Statistically women in the United States still earn only 77% of what men do for the same jobs; 1 in 3 women worldwide will be a victim of physical abuse during her lifetime, most likely at the hands of an intimate partner; all over the developing world women's literacy rates are significantly lower than men's; and women are many times more likely than men to suffer forced prostitution, rape, trafficking, and indentured servitude, and in many countries these crimes go unnoticed and unpunished.

I hope that anyone who stops by to read this will give a thought to those statistics and agree that they are unacceptable. No matter where we live and what we do, every one of us can make an effort to become informed about the issues that uniquely impact half the inhabitants of our planet, be a voice for equality when the opportunity presents itself, and strive to change the attitudes of those around us. We don't want to hand those statistics down to our daughters and granddaughters.