American Avatar

Another post on inspirational Woodstock images. Dig it.

What about this awesome clip from the happening itself:

For more inspiration, you might want to check out favorite director Ang Lee's new film Taking Woodstock. While it has barely enough story to keep you enticed for the entire length of two hours (in spite being penned by my favorite Lee collaborator James Scamush), it offers plenty of eye-candy, and a little insight into what it may have been like to have an entire generation "turn on, tune in, and drop out", on a dairy farm in Bethel, New York.

Here's a related entry in my other blog. Peace out, brothers and sisters!

My Hummingbirds and Meadowlarks

Another week, another summertime activity package. Like you don't have anything better to do, than to hang out by the computer...

First off, I hate to brake it to you, but fall is just around the corner. To ease the pain, I recommend looking for some key pieces for an autumnal wardrobe. Here's some of my current favorites:

(bellevue vintage)

When I was just a wee lass, my auntie had a camel fur coat, which at the time seemed to me to be height of sophistication.

(Trush)

Stripe-y dress in the style of Marimekko, is a must.

(Trush)

As is a velvet-y vest, in true hippie fashion.

But for now there is still summer to enjoy. Speckled sunshine, butterfies flitting, giant squash growing with reckless abandon. That's right. Make some zucchini bread.

3 eggs
1 cup olive or vegetable oil
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 cups grated zucchini
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
1 cup dried cranberries, raisins or chocolate chips or a combination thereof (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Grease and flour two 8×4 inch loaf pans, liberally. Alternately, line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs with a whisk. Mix in oil and sugar, then zucchini and vanilla.

Combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder and salt, as well as nuts, chocolate chips and/or dried fruit, if using.

Stir this into the egg mixture. Divide the batter into prepared pans.

Bake loaves for 60 minutes, plus or minus ten, or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Muffins will bake far more quickly, approximately 20 to 25 minutes.

Sweet, now that you have that covered why not catch up on some reading (preferably in your hammock). I recommend the Book of the Week:

Finn Family Moomintroll.

Clouds to ride, beach treasures to be found, and jungles to be grown in your house, a visit to Moomin Valley is exactly what you need on a hot summer's day.

And take with you your pocket knife for whittling is the craft of the season, pointless and fun, and surprisingly artistic. I give you whittling:

And to neatly cap things off I give you this inspirational whittling outfit.

Brought to you by the most inspirational Brownie of all, Missa. Now get to working on that bird calling whistle!

Psylvia Gest Psychedelic

Inspirational Woodstock photos, from the Life archive. Makes me wish my old man and I could go to this awesome festival. The Man is getting us down, man. Not cool.

For those rainy summer days

Welcome to summer session part two. In this issue we look at oldies-but-goodies, do rainy day activities and let them eat cake, or plum preserves, rather.

First off, I would like to share some of my all-time-favorite Hel-looks summer looks. Some of them maybe from way back when, but none are so-last-season. That's the beauty of individual dressing: real style never gets old.

Andreas and Tanja summer 2006

Jenni (the summer of 2007) (so Scandahuvian!)

Wigolf and Karin (summer 2006)

Annette (summer 2007)

Sara (summer 2008)

Julia (summer 2008)

Kiira (Summer 2009)

Looking for something (other than tie-dye, obviously) to do on rainy summer afternoon?

Check out Amy Karol's wicked awesome website for easy sewing projects, such as this 5 minute skirt. If I can do it, you can too (even if it takes you 27 minutes instead of 5, like it done for me)

Or why not make plum preserves?

Making Jams and Jellies

Plum Preserves

• 5 Cups pitted, tart plums (about 2½ pounds)
• 4 cups sugar
• 1 cup water

Yield: About 5 half-pint jars

Please read Using Boiling Water Canners before beginning. If this is your first time canning, it is recommended that you read Principles of Home Canning.

Procedure: Sterilize canning jars. Combine all ingredients. Bring slowly to boiling, stirring until sugar dissolves. Boil rapidly over high heat, about 15 minutes, almost to the jellying point (which is 8°F above the boiling point of water, or 220°F at sea level). Stir frequently to prevent sticking or burning. Pour hot preserves into hot jars, leaving ¼ inch headspace. Wipe rims of jars with a dampened clean paper towel; adjust two-piece metal canning lids. (recipe from here)

All-time-favorite rainy day activity is obviously curling up with a good book. Like this one for instance.

This Morning I Watched the Deer

This morning I watched the deer
with beautiful lips touching the tips
of the cranberries, setting their hooves down
in the dampness carelessly, isn't it after all
the carpet of their house, their home, whose roof
is the sky?

Why, then, was I suddenly miserable?

Well, this is nothing much.
This is the heaviness of the body watching the
swallows
gliding just under that roof.

-Mary Oliver-

Inspirational image of the the week:

Who doesn't love Siri of Ringo, Have a Banana!, who is a Bust writer, 70s girl and a former/future Island dweller? (by love I mean, of course, practise dark magic rites to become her, even if it in exchange means the loss of a limb, ear, or one's wits entirely)