tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333097674603050902024-02-07T03:26:10.879-05:00phthalo-bluePhthalocyanine Blue, also called phthalo blue, is a bright, greenish-blue crystalline blue pigment from the group of phthalocyanine dyes.
It was first developed as a pigment in the mid-1930s. Its brilliant blue is highly valued for its superior properties such as light fastness, tinting strength and covering power.
A common component on the artist's palette, Phthalo Blue is an cool blue with a bias towards green.Rita Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907097647672560848noreply@blogger.comBlogger558125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833309767460305090.post-82775996424618335722014-09-03T21:10:00.001-04:002014-09-03T21:10:33.935-04:00Vermont: Food<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of my favorite things about visiting family in Vermont is the way people fall into a rhythm of preparing and eating food together. There's something magical about how the ritual seems to enable quiet conversation while hands busy themselves with chopping, shredding and mixing ingredients, everyone loosely working towards a common goal. <br />
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My mother has always kept a rather healthy, varied garden. You might try to explain this farm-to-table trend to her by saying, "You know, what you've always done." Every Labor Day, she prepares a feast consisting of tomatoes, carrots, onions and potatoes from her garden. And dessert consists of some baked dish including her blueberries or apples from the neighbor's tree -- because he doesn't pick them, and that's not stealing, is it? I love the experimental nature of it all. If you have too many zucchinis, they just might end up in your morning pancakes. Rita Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907097647672560848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833309767460305090.post-19174689060586921082014-09-02T10:17:00.001-04:002014-09-02T10:17:30.821-04:00Climbing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have taken the top picture before. My sisters and I have made it an annual tradition to climb Wheeler Mountain. It is not the tallest mountain in Vermont, by any stretch, but that is not to say it makes for easy climbing. I have the same reaction every time I reach the base of the granite peak. I don't know how to do this. I could take the easy path to the left ... but no. Taking the easy way would be to deny myself something. And then you start, and find it gets easier as you learn to negotiate the smooth slope. When you get to the top the view is magnificent, and you feel grateful for challenging yourself to do something hard -- and succeeding. You find that this, THIS, is where life is really happening, and where you can find the answers to some of life's more difficult questions.Rita Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907097647672560848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833309767460305090.post-21797529521504068902014-07-09T17:09:00.000-04:002014-07-09T17:09:45.180-04:00The Bourbon Trail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had the privilege of visiting the Bourbon Trail (a trail in central Kentucky that stretches from Lexington to Louisville and the surrounding areas) this past weekend. I've given plenty of thought to how I might talk about it. I could explain in detail how bourbon is made, even why it is called bourbon, but lot's of good folks have already done <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourbon_whiskey">a much better job than I can do</a>. I learned a lot about the differences between whiskey, bourbon, scotch and brandy. I learned about oak barrels that have been scorched on the interior to create a nice flavor. I learned to appreciate the finer points of a good bourbon, even if I don't have the palette to appreciate top shelf quality. I learned that Kentucky is perfect for distilling bourbon because of the changing temperatures throughout the seasons, as well as the limestone that Kentucky water flows over which makes for ideal fermentation. I'd rather not tell you all that. Kentucky is beautiful country, and bourbon provides only one aspect of the state's rich history. <a href="http://kybourbontrail.com/">Do go. See for yourself.</a>Rita Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907097647672560848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833309767460305090.post-37438013385252616032014-05-27T20:57:00.000-04:002014-05-27T20:57:04.573-04:00Decay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Every few Saturdays, I visit the <a href="http://400westrich.com/the-market-at-400/">400 West Street Studios</a> for market day. You never know what vendors you'll encounter, and it could range from handmade soaps to pulled pork, wild mushrooms, and always herbs. BUT. Across the way is an old warehouse that has seen far better days. There is something compelling about the scars, rust, and weeds that embellish this structure. The roof is all but missing, and chains prevent you from climbing the rusty metal stairs, but like people, a building with a messy story is far more interesting than one with none at all.Rita Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907097647672560848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833309767460305090.post-69914138850350940982014-05-11T20:12:00.000-04:002014-05-11T20:12:12.195-04:00You Are Beautiful<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<blockquote class="medium" style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px 0px 0px; word-break: break-word;">
"My wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be who and how you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness. Continue to allow humor to lighten the burden of your tender heart."</blockquote>
<div class="source" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 25px; position: relative;">
<em>~ Maya Angelou</em></div>
<br />Rita Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907097647672560848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833309767460305090.post-5404632250154222412014-04-29T12:22:00.000-04:002014-04-29T12:40:09.131-04:00Flaneur<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWFJcxCEJUQZ_4iGZPgwEPa4gxU_IW7pC2LhZ9LXdEgYQOhhYg8SY_8OWhGYeshgevQ89cwRm8GF-RB_mjbJs2aIYkhf1WtXnCvG2Y64jbWp1vahx3c_etzjU4AhQ-FwZalE-QvY4uMtW/s1600/089c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWFJcxCEJUQZ_4iGZPgwEPa4gxU_IW7pC2LhZ9LXdEgYQOhhYg8SY_8OWhGYeshgevQ89cwRm8GF-RB_mjbJs2aIYkhf1WtXnCvG2Y64jbWp1vahx3c_etzjU4AhQ-FwZalE-QvY4uMtW/s1600/089c.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a>Having recently seen <a href="http://youtu.be/2o2nBhQ67Zc">Finding Vivian Maier</a>, I find myself asking a lot of questions about where chronicling the human experience intersects with the responsibility of the artist. If you have not seen the movie, I won't spoil it for you, but Ms. Maier was clearly a damaged person, and as a very private person, photography allowed her to participate in life on terms that she could negotiate. Obsessed with "the folly of humanity", she photographed prolifically on the streets of Chicago, taking the children in her care (she was a nanny) into stock yards and dangerous parts of town. Most of her work remained unprinted, and much of it wasn't even developed, until after her death. And it can be argued that she currently enjoys the greatest popularity of any street photographer. What would she say? Rita Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907097647672560848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833309767460305090.post-88553559371882258232014-03-10T14:15:00.001-04:002014-03-10T14:15:51.662-04:00Remembering<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When I was little, I remember telling myself occasionally that I would remember "that" particular moment always and forever. While I can't remember the details around any of those times, I have been revisiting that feeling, but with greater cognizance.<br />
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I locked myself out of the house one day this winter. Well, not just any day, but one with sub-zero temperatures. My phone, and easy help, was inside the warm house. For the first forty-five minutes, I convinced myself that I just needed to find the right tool of destruction in the garage to jimmy my way back into the warm house. I checked and double-checked every window to see if it was locked. I abandoned that plan when my fingers went numb, and I sat in a wicker chair to create a mental will of who would get my shoes, who might wear my scarves and shawls, and what might happen to my lip balms scattered in various bags. Help eventually arrived, and I can laugh at it now because I still have my fingers, my shoes and shawls, as well as my lips balms. <br />
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A small lesson for humanity. When you need help, ask for it. When you have the opportunity to return the favor, return it. And you will remember that moment always and forever. Rita Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907097647672560848noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833309767460305090.post-62032785989611254932014-02-26T21:57:00.000-05:002014-02-26T21:58:26.369-05:00Bruce Munro<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm late to the show, but I saw <a href="http://www.fpconservatory.org/light/about-light">Bruce Munro's</a> exhibit at the Franklin Park Conservatory over the weekend. There's something endearing about his simple appreciation of light and color. From his Giant Snowballs to his Light Shower, the spaces just pulse with an energy. The Field of Light reminds me of John Singer Sargent's painting of the Victorian children in the garden with Chinese lanterns. <br />
His artist's statement is the least pretentious one I have ever read. "It's a privilege to exhibit at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. I hope that work I create, which is but a fleeting intervention in the gardens calendar, leaves those who experience it with a smile and a positive spirit." is his final explanation of why he creates what he creates. "You need a medium to find yourself and to explain things to other people. Mine happens to be light."<br />
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The show is open from dusk to 11:00pm until March 30. Do go see it.Rita Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907097647672560848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833309767460305090.post-29622109468795072072014-02-25T21:27:00.004-05:002014-02-25T22:31:28.474-05:00Looking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I recently took a walk in the neighborhood, and my eye was drawn to a number of things, how even neglected buildings have some beauty to offer in the advanced stages of decay, how frail a dry leaf is on a frozen pond, and how reflections offer a milky veil for an old typewriter. <br />
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I'm about to read a book called <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Looking-Eleven-Walks-Expert-Eyes/dp/1439191255/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393381613&sr=1-1&keywords=on+looking">On Looking</a></em> (Alexandra Horowitz), a record of walks around her own neighborhood. She admits, before her first walk, that her dog experiences the world in a vastly different way, with his quick eyes and superior nostrils. We have five senses, but if we were to use them each at every waking moment, we'd probably go insane from sensory overload. Our brains protect us by prioritizing our experiences as we make our way through each day, but that doesn't mean we should be numb to the array of colors, textures and sounds around us. If we unplug our devices for a moment, we might find that we still have uses for those senses. Stuff you can't look up on the internet.Rita Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907097647672560848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833309767460305090.post-43209609819127485132014-01-17T10:46:00.002-05:002014-01-17T10:46:36.705-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I spent New Year's day walking around a beautiful park and found myself marveling at the rich colors and textures to be found in the heart of winter. While the sun was out, there was a richness to the colors that you don't find in warmer seasons. </div>
Rita Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907097647672560848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833309767460305090.post-7492005222067519592014-01-17T09:30:00.002-05:002014-01-17T09:30:56.512-05:00Christmas in Vermont<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I know, I know. I've been dreadful at this lately. I'll try to fix that in short order. For now, let me share a few shots from my visit with my family over the holidays. Vermont is cold in Winter, but it is also beautiful. Only then do you se the branches, heavy and glistening with ice, arched over roads. And there's something magical about the smell of baking ginger bread when the outside world is shrouded in white. Rita Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907097647672560848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833309767460305090.post-8958894958903296242013-09-18T20:19:00.001-04:002013-09-18T20:31:47.076-04:00Elegance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDIFp8PvKiti9Vq3d6J2xxx4X9Yb7blWarQsQCyBXgMywl_rFYYyVXTdfZ67LTVj9Myaml7nZ9J-KbiYXRKQPqV-zrnrJxFGor3aZl8oFITGlaRKYtJ4A1nwcYav0zmE9FoI02_gSPxkn/s1600/198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDIFp8PvKiti9Vq3d6J2xxx4X9Yb7blWarQsQCyBXgMywl_rFYYyVXTdfZ67LTVj9Myaml7nZ9J-KbiYXRKQPqV-zrnrJxFGor3aZl8oFITGlaRKYtJ4A1nwcYav0zmE9FoI02_gSPxkn/s1600/198.jpg" /></a></div>
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I had the privilege of working with Regina of <a href="http://www.bleuandfig.com/">Bleu & Fig</a> this past weekend for a tour of homes fundraiser with the <a href="http://ww5.komen.org/">Susan G. Komen Foundation</a> to raise money for breast cancer awareness and prevention. While I only shot in one home, it was impressive to see the amount of care put into making a house look its finest for visitors. It was nice to see how even small details can make such a nice impression with Regina's talented eyes and hands.</div>
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<br />Rita Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907097647672560848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833309767460305090.post-26489766477697430722013-09-17T15:32:00.002-04:002013-09-17T15:32:52.362-04:00Vermont IV<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSixiesKPrXbuSaECu8cTNw-x-Eoku444FpqnslUt13dyK4cQsFDcXOQ4hT4sv-1jWzPefn6-UFw04gQVuVOKDuBaoTYnp9bowrFqydvG4s8g4H0EZ86lgbYjiVWSkD8wGgCPbpgPrD0X7/s1600/047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSixiesKPrXbuSaECu8cTNw-x-Eoku444FpqnslUt13dyK4cQsFDcXOQ4hT4sv-1jWzPefn6-UFw04gQVuVOKDuBaoTYnp9bowrFqydvG4s8g4H0EZ86lgbYjiVWSkD8wGgCPbpgPrD0X7/s640/047.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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One of my favorite places to visit in "the kingdom" is Wheeler Mountain. A large structure made by Mother Nature of solid granite, it is at times a very gentle hike, and at other times a formidable crawl. Trying to figure how to tackle some areas on the way to the top is half the fun of getting there. Two observations that I came up with a long time ago come to mind every time I see Wheeler Mountain. These observations extend far beyond climbing a mountain. <br />
1. When you are walking in the woods, stop and look around. You will almost always find a mushroom nearby if you look hard enough.<br />
2. What I have learned from my camera lens is that something is always in focus, you just have to point it in the right direction. Rita Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907097647672560848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833309767460305090.post-91991477169882653582013-09-13T21:49:00.000-04:002013-09-13T21:50:01.548-04:00Vermont III<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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These are some shots from my visit to Vermont when a few of us went apple picking. There was an assortment of apple varieties, and some of the trees have been around for decades. It's nice when you can pick an apple from each tree, taste it, and marvel at how very different each tastes. This is obvious, to those who make apple pies regularly. Some apples are best for eating, while others stand up well in pies. Either way, this is one of those moments in the year you wish you could press the pause button for weeks. Rita Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907097647672560848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833309767460305090.post-40050405263298222013-09-12T19:57:00.001-04:002013-09-12T20:02:02.721-04:00Vermont II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When you visit Vermont in the summer, there is one thing you must do a lot. Walk. And when you do walk, around every corner waits a small surprise, a little gift. Apple trees punctuate the roadside, weathered barns with rusted hinges can be found on any dirt road, and dandelions are making their last proclamations before the maple leaves turn gold and red. This is summer's last sigh for you to witness. But it's not just in Vermont. It's everywhere, so go, listen to it sigh.Rita Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907097647672560848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833309767460305090.post-85074252644913755932013-09-11T20:52:00.001-04:002013-09-11T20:52:59.766-04:00Vermont I<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am fortunate to have grown up in a beautiful place. The rolling hills, the abundance of food fresh from the garden, dew that covers everything in the morning, the way people move to the rhythms of the seasons ... it's all rather bucolic and somewhat removed from ordinary life as I know it. I think people, urban and rural, are beginning to appreciate these things more and more. While urban tastes and lifestyles are taking root in unlikely places, so are rural values. Stop. Breathe. Look.</div>
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Stay tuned for more from a visit to my childhood home. </div>
Rita Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907097647672560848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833309767460305090.post-26927141843033020992013-08-13T19:58:00.002-04:002013-08-13T19:58:49.433-04:00Flaneur<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you look up <em>flaneur</em> in a French dictionary, you might come across a definition that seems less than flattering, making reference to someone who likes to loiter, stroll, loaf or lounge. When I was taking my last photography class, I was invited to be a <em>flaneur</em>. To loiter, and stroll. To loaf and lounge luxuriously. The idea was to slow down, stop even, and notice the little things around you. Depending on where you choose to loiter, you are going to notice very different things. A busy city street will yield something very different than a country lane or a farmer's market. Either way, it's worth checking out. The things that buzz and hum, or blare and trumpet. Go ahead, loiter. Let me know what you see.Rita Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907097647672560848noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833309767460305090.post-63198790985203052032013-06-27T20:59:00.000-04:002013-06-27T21:00:12.287-04:00Seventh Son Brewing Co.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DsZCGpcHtxzpsc1VhL8zON2rD94JHgMyT1ojv_wMJOPXzBeuSqDUU_fMVjqBOQrxIEfbSYZhPcUSM85HZ7zs9iL9X4gZRDfDqFKf_V7Ba04kFjpl9ZHMb6kORkfj-czsKd8GDIWntzIc/s900/007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DsZCGpcHtxzpsc1VhL8zON2rD94JHgMyT1ojv_wMJOPXzBeuSqDUU_fMVjqBOQrxIEfbSYZhPcUSM85HZ7zs9iL9X4gZRDfDqFKf_V7Ba04kFjpl9ZHMb6kORkfj-czsKd8GDIWntzIc/s640/007.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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There's a new place in town, called <a href="http://seventhsonbrewing.com/">Seventh Son Brewing Co</a>. If you live in Columbus, Ohio, you'll find it on the corner of 4th and 4th. (If you don't live in Columbus, you will still find it there, you just have to come to our town.) It is housed in what used to be a car garage for most of the 20th century. It's not like a dark bar, but a light place with big windows, places to sit in front, and a patio in back. They don't really serve food, but they invite a food truck to park in the lot where patrons can enjoy delicious Indian fare. The beer? That's good too. If you have difficulty deciding, order the flight of five beers and you're going to strike gold with one of them. My favorite for now is the American Strong. Come thirsty. Puppies permitted. Rita Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907097647672560848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833309767460305090.post-31374247454075273402013-06-26T18:40:00.000-04:002013-06-26T18:40:16.471-04:00Clintonville Farmers' Market<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqtM6VRIBg_awD2vvC3rJPVtkBS2U_J9oHNgdqX4lgqeGphlaan_xd7KmSOS70hyphenhyphen8fdaVLpq4saT_1kA5MdX-8pnNPKvxYLERLvU0bA65DYTJ86ce9gAEBzG_8p1hU_6ZZQ7WWp9d0M9P/s1600/003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqtM6VRIBg_awD2vvC3rJPVtkBS2U_J9oHNgdqX4lgqeGphlaan_xd7KmSOS70hyphenhyphen8fdaVLpq4saT_1kA5MdX-8pnNPKvxYLERLvU0bA65DYTJ86ce9gAEBzG_8p1hU_6ZZQ7WWp9d0M9P/s640/003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I went to the Wednesday Clintonville Farmers' Market today, which I haven't been to since I took my nephew Will when he was visiting. It's a reduced market from the Saturday one, but with the sun shining, everybody seemed relaxed and happy. Everyone wants you to sample, from ten different kinds of bread, to olive oil and balsamic infused with herbs, to preserves and hot relish made yesterday. The fella striking a pose for me offered me a sample of his pineapple cucumber juice from "pressed" fruits and vegetables. I'm not sure what pressed fruit entails, but it was actually pretty tasty. The man in the ball cap explained to me how he finds fallen trees on his property and turns them into beautiful chopping boards. He had the calm demeanor of a man who likes to work with his hands. The smiling lady with freckles sold me a bar of lavender soap, while her son explained to me which ones smelled best. What a nice way to spend a late Wednesday afternoon.</div>
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Rita Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907097647672560848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833309767460305090.post-36351486376007564832013-06-12T10:33:00.000-04:002013-07-09T17:58:04.277-04:00“Beginner” Ballet Class<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Many ballet academies have a summer program of classes meant
to fill your need for disciplined dance when the company is taking a break from
their usual rigorous studies. If you’ve ever taken an introduction ballet
class, you might be accustomed to a collection of people who either took ballet
as a child twenty years ago, or some mature students who just seek a means of
staying fit, toned, and mentally challenged. But when I walked into the ballet
on Tuesday night, two students from my winter introduction class were coming
out of the first class of the evening, looking a little shell-shocked. When I
indicated I was taking the next class of the evening, I was wished good luck.
Good luck? I gripped my pink leather slippers tighter in my hand and marched
forth. Upon entering the studio, I noticed triple the attendance I was
accustomed to. Upon closer inspection, I noticed some “students” had their
pointe shoes. Huh. Then I noticed some faces that I recognized from the stage at
recent performances I’d attended. “Oh, hi,” I said to my instructor from my winter
course. And then I realized. She was there as a student. The piano player was
poised to nimbly move her fingers across the keys to deliver allegretto and vivace.
The dance instructor, whom I also recognized from the stage, walked in and
announced that the class was scheduled to start at 7:15, but she was greedy, so
we would start immediately. No stretching? I found a place at the bar, in a
corner where I’d hoped no one would pay much attention to me, but the lighting
was not in my favor. The instructor took position at the barre, with her long,
messy blond hair already showing signs of effort. She rapidly went through a
number of moves in ballet shorthand, indicating what phrase we would start with,
yadda, yadda, yadda. I absorbed nothing. I began daydreaming of cheese. I
looked to the young woman to my right and judged her a fairly good person to
imitate, but when the music started, I realized the human body isn’t entirely
equipped to move in that way, at that pace. After a number of tendus, pli<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">é</span>s, and grande pli<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">é</span>s, I wiped my brow, while the instructor
indicated that she wasn’t pleased with the lack of articulation. ‘I can do
this,’ I said to myself. I stretched my ronde de jambe further, dropped my
shoulders, and tried to make a perfect curve with my right arm, when I noticed
my grip on the barre would cause an injury if it were a partner. The instructor
continued to rattle out instructions at machine gun speed, while I did <span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">relevées</span> and fondus. I wiped my
brow again. I tried to remember the fundamentals I’d learned in earlier
classes, of posture, and of a string extending from the top of my head pulling
me towards the ceiling, but I still felt 5’4”. The instructor, I began to refer
to her in my mind as Madame Satan, asked us to move to the middle of the room,
without the support of a barre. I’d hoped that all my crunches in the past few
months would pay off with some real balance. (What kind of cheese, though? A
cave-aged Manchego, drizzled with truffled honey?) A dancer from the corps de
ballet took up position next to me in the back of the room. Really? Do you just
want me to make you look better? We pirouetted. Or it might be more accurate to
say that Miss Fancy Feet next to me did her pirouettes <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> mine, which gave me a better appreciation for her taking
position next to me. We arabesqued. We did our pas de basques and our balanc<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">é</span>s, and I wiped perspiration from
my eyes. We moved to the part of class where we executed a phrase that would
take advantage of the diagonal distance from one corner of the room to the
other, four students at a time. Then we moved to the other corner to execute
the same phrase starting with the left foot, which is to say, do everything you
just did, but the other way around. This would have been fine had I gotten the
first round correct. (How about a Neufchatel with strawberries?) Did someone
give the piano player espresso before class? At this point, I’m certain I
merely looked like I was sleep-walking. The names of positions and movements
had stopped having any meaning. I was grateful, when we finally assembled in
the middle of the studio, to perform our ritual reveré. </div>
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My advice to you; if you are taking a “beginner” ballet
class, and notice some students sporting pointe shoes, gather your things and
back out of the room, slowly and quietly. And go eat cheese.</div>
Rita Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907097647672560848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833309767460305090.post-4283501570286499222013-05-23T20:05:00.000-04:002013-05-23T20:05:58.402-04:00Porch Flowers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I went for a walk today and noticed how many people have potted flowers on their porches. I tried to deduct certain things about the inhabitants by their choices of flowers, pots, and placement. Some were simple and elegant, others were elaborate and formal. All were sweet ways of welcoming visitors. </div>
Rita Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907097647672560848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833309767460305090.post-33725955094701807622013-05-22T18:45:00.000-04:002013-05-22T19:05:25.388-04:00Granola Recipe<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I got a surprising amount of requests for my granola recipe yesterday, so I thought I might share. My idea of granola is to look in the pantry and see what I have on hand. Change up the nuts, fruits, and flavorings as you wish, or use what’s available. The oat base stays the same. Once you pick up the spirit of experimentation, and keep volumes the same, you’ll notice how many directions you can take granola. So, get creative!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Ingredients</strong><br />3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick-cooking) <br />1 cup raw hazelnuts, or slivered almonds or sunflower seeds<br />1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (could be replaced with vegetable oil or peanut butter)<br />1/3 cup packed dark-brown sugar (or maple syrup, or honey, or any flavor of preserves)<br />1/2 teaspoon cinnamon<br />1/2 teaspoon coarse salt <br />4 teaspoons instant coffee (optional)<br />1 cup coconut flakes (optional)<br />1 cup dried raspberries (or dried cranberries, or dried blueberries) (optional)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Directions</strong><br />Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients. Mix them well with your hands. Add moist ingredients and continue to mix with your hands until all ingredients are well combined. Transfer to a baking sheet and spread in an even layer. Bake until oats are lightly golden, 25 to 35 minutes. Let cool completely on sheet on a wire rack, 20 minutes.</span>Rita Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907097647672560848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833309767460305090.post-60334868976086367692013-05-21T18:28:00.002-04:002013-05-21T18:30:18.507-04:00What Defines You?<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
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I start a new job on Tuesday, which is to say it’s a
freelance gig, but I am so excited nonetheless. Some of you may know that I’ve
been out of work for north of six months. A lot can happen in six months. An
unbelieveable lot. When you are working full-time, sometimes the idea of being
unemployed even for a short time takes on a rosy, sort of romantic glow. It
seems delicious, doesn’t it? But no, it isn’t what you imagine. I did not once,
contrary to one thoughtless question, spend my days eating bon bons and
watching soap operas. I worked full-time, and then some, at networking and
finding a new place to hang my hat. I went to the gym almost daily where I
learned that Regina Spektor’s complex song ‘All The Rowboats’ deftly synchronized
the movements of everyone in the gym, from people on ellipticals and bikes as
well as weight-lifters. When you are a designer, you impose patterns where they
are not always evident. I went to my ballet and modern dance classes, where I
made progress, and made friends. I became a human rolodex, having coffee,
lunch, dinner and wine with acquaintances and strangers alike, listening and
sharing bits of myself, and gaining a little from each person I met. I went to
networking events at 7:00am and at 9:00pm. I wore nametags, and shook hands
with authors as well as young women in high school. I memorized my elevator
speech better than Prospero’s final speech in <em>The Tempest</em>, which I had to learn
in high school English class. I weeded my closet. I weeded my closet again. I
helped a friend conceptualize a bridal show. I renewed and nurtured a
friendship with an old colleague who was also recently displaced. I hung a
painting in a gallery, with their permission no less. I interviewed for jobs I
did not want just for the experience of interviewing. I built an online <a href="http://ritafinn.wix.com/design">portfolio</a>.
And then <a href="http://ritafinn.wix.com/photography">another</a>. I participated in a hundred webinars, on networking, resumes,
professional marketing plans, and interviewing. I learned who my friends are. I
do not mean that as a sideways slur against anyone who might not be a friend. I
got more encouragement and support than I deserve, and people came out of the
woodwork to introduce me to someone who might be helpful to know. Friends went
on walks with me, and took me out for pizza and beer and let me ramble. I sent
more ‘thank you’ chocolate through the US Postal Service than any non-commercial
enterprise in US history. I ran in the Komen Race for the Cure for the first time (Thank you
Stephanie and <a href="http://www.komencolumbus.org/komen-race-for-the-cure/teams/team-awards.html">Team Perez</a>!), after working at the event for several years. (Okay,
“ran” is a misleading, but I gave it an honest go.) There were small miracles
around every corner, opportunities for me to grow and to learn humility. I
learned that, while I love what I do, my job alone does not define me. I have green
eyes, a quirky sense of humor, and can make a meaner granola than the gal who
works at the health food store. I like lavender, chocolate and singing in the
car. Orange is currently my favorite color. And I can do hard things. These are
the things that define me.</div>
Rita Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907097647672560848noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833309767460305090.post-47536640266153916952013-04-27T22:13:00.000-04:002013-04-27T22:13:35.912-04:00Blossom to Impossible Blossom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had to send my go-to lens to the doctor this week. I decided that maybe I should make friends again with my 50mm lens. Guess what? We got along great. I took it for a walk, and we agreed that since blossoms are abound, that we should really celebrate them. <br />
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This poem fragment from Li-Young Lee pretty much sums up our adventure;<br />
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There are days we live </div>
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as if death were nowhere </div>
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in the background; from joy</div>
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to joy to joy, from wing to
wing, </div>
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from blossom to blossom to </div>
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impossible blossom, to sweet
impossible blossom. </div>
Rita Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907097647672560848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833309767460305090.post-73928433007977742542013-04-09T18:12:00.001-04:002013-04-09T18:12:37.793-04:00Yellow Springs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Have you ever visited Yellow Springs, Ohio? If you haven't, you should do so. Right now. The town itself is packed with charm. There are numerous cafes, book shops and galleries. Spending a day strolling around the brick buildings and stopping when the spirit strikes, and sipping iced coffee at an outdoor table seems a perfect Spring day, in a lazy, non-committal way. Stop at a healthfood store and buy crystallized ginger to snack on. It's also worth hiking through John Bryant State Park (Clifton Gorge). The hike will do you some good.Rita Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907097647672560848noreply@blogger.com0