A Sick Day

Had to take a sick day this week... this is my living room window.

A Visit To Emily's!!!!!!

I was so excited to take a much needed vacation just recently. I went to Arizona to visit Emily... pretty much my oldest friendship. We lived in the little town of Van Meter when we were just little girls. I have known her since I was born really. She moved right before we turned 4, but we kept in touch through letters, then later e-mails. We even lived together twice in college. There is something so wonderful and familiar about meeting up with a friend like her. It is like there has been no lapse in time between up... we can still talk the night away ;)

She got married the week I moved to NYC a few years back, and so we both started very different adventures at the same time. I pretty much have had my heart stolen by her little girl Heidi!

It took her a bit to warm up to me... but I was soon followed around by the little one calling for Babby (gaby with a b) when I left the room. We went to a park one night and showed her how to run in the soccer field. A difficult task when you aren't even two yet and your shoes are a bit too big!


Such a fun break from my usual hustle and bustle in the city.

Pumpkin Goodness

So last Sunday I made a really yummy fall dinner you should try.  However, I have to say the actual assemblage of the ravioli was a lot more complicated than I anticipated.  After a much too long attempt I came up with a better solution.. I boiled pasta and went all mormon casserole on the dish.  Pasta, and filling all in one dish baked it... then poured the sauce over the top. I love the fall and pumpkins!

Ingredients:

2-1/2 cups all purpose flour

5 eggs

1 tablespoon olive oil

Filling:

1 small pie pumpkin

4 teaspoons chopped shallots

1/3 cup butter

2 teaspoons minced fresh sage

3/4 teaspoons minced fresh thyme

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

2/3 cups heavy whipping cream

1 small bay leaf

1 egg beaten

Sauce:

1 cup heavy  whipping cream

3 tablespoons butter

2 teaspoons minced fresh sage

Directions:

Place 2- 1/2 cups flour in a bowl; make a well in the center. Beat eggs and oil; pour into well. Stir together, forming a ball. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 min, adding flour if necessary to keep dough from sticking. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, in  a large skillet saute pumpkin and shallots in butter until tender.  Add sage, thyme, salt and pepper.  Transfer to a food processor; cover and process until blended.  Return to the pan; stir in cream and bay leaf. Bring to a boil stirring constantly.  Reduce heat; simmer, uncovers for 15-20 minutes or until thickened. Discard bay leaf.

Divide pasta dough into fourths; roll one portion to 1/16 in thickness.  working quickly, place rounded teaspoonfuls of filling 1 in apart over half of the pasta sheet.  Brush around filling with egg. fold sheet over; press down to seal. cut squares with a pastry wheel.  

Bring a soup kettle of salted water to a boil.  add ravioli. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer. cook 1-2 minutes

In a small saucepan, bring cream to a boil, cook uncovered until reduced by half.  Stir in butter and sage.  Spoon over Ravioli.

Picture it.....

The benefit of having so many photographer friends is getting some really great pictures occasionally:)  These are more pictures for the mock-tail party that Ty took.  I kind of love them, and really love how he pushed the exposure and contrast.

Tag I'm It!

Five Things:

10 years ago I

1. got my drivers license

2. Went on my first date

3.  Woke up at 5 every morning for seminary

4. had my first plane ride

5. Was altogether awkward and 16 ;)

Five things on todays to-do list:

1. FHE/ lesson- activity- treat

2. Send page files for holiday catalog to press (YEAH!!)

3. Figure out my speed to market report (numbers.. argh)

4. Call LPK

5. Retouch a snowman photograph

Five Snacks I enjoy:

1. apples and Peanut butter

2. hummus and pretzels

3. Dill pickles

4. Pistachios

5. Ummm.. chocolate anything!

Five Places I have lived:

1. Van Meter, IA

2. Provo, Utah

3. Mapelton, Utah

4. Springville, Utah

5. New York, NY

Five Jobs I have had:

1. Olan Mills Photographer

2. Dry cleaners (front desk - night manager)

3. TA photo BYU

4. Special Collections BYU (restore and preserved old glass plate negatives)

5. Photographer UncommonGoods

Five Pet Peeves:

1. When people sit in-between two seats on the subway

2. Back door Compliments ("oh I have a hard time watching American Idol because I have perfect pitch")

3. getting to a movie theater after they have dimmed the lights

4. Cell phones in Bathrooms.... sick!

5. The teenagers at my works subway stop  

Five things that bring me joy:

1. Spending time with great friends

2. A walk in the fall (preferably through a farm area)

3. Pumpkins!!!!!

4. a good rainy day on the couch with a book and coco (or a movie)

5. The Midwest

Five People I tag:

1. Brenda

2. Britta

3. Capree

4. Megan

5. Mark

Orchid

Sometimes, I just want to take pictures of pretty things.

Balloons

I love, love, love this picture.  It was taken in the elevator in my building.  I was on my way to Ashley's farewell party from the city... she asked me to do decorations, and well what party is a party without some balloons.  Pretty much everything about this photo makes me happy!

Leaf

A Rainy Saturday Drive

Deer

This is my favorite new product at work.  You put it together yourself. It is made out of cardboard. 

Welcome to the 50's

I attended a mock-tail party. The theam was the 50's.  It was about 100 deg in the appartment... good thing my dress was made of wool.

I am bit disappointed I didn't get really any other pics of my hair. This one does not do justice to the back combed, twisted, sprayed massiveness that it was.

Labor Day Coney Island

Just enjoying the life.. and a day at the beach.  This was taken pretty early on.. the beggings of freckles are just starting to take a hold of my face.

Aja came too!  She had never been to Coney Island. I am glad we got one last chance to see it in all it's splendor

Ok, so as we left for the day we rode the Wonder Wheel.  In case you were wondering... When they say swinging baskets they DO NOT mean rocking, they most assuredly mean swinging.  Somehow I was mistaken in my assumption of this.  I don't think I took my grip off that cage door the entire time.  Somehow I love days like this one!


 

Where did you go Joe Dimaggio?

Ok so once again I have had a laps in my blogging.  But I have a good reason... really.  

So come to find out you can get kidney stones if you are dehydrated and exhausted.  This was the only reason the doctor could give me after a battery of questions about my alcohol, tobacco, coffee, drug,.... and soda habits. (of which I only occasionally dabble in the latter ;)  And I would like to go on record as saying the test for exhaustion is not scientific enough to convince me of its merits... I don't know a single sole who could have answered any of the questions in the positive.  

Thankfully I live so close to wonderful friends who helped me get to the hospital and kept me sane in a truly painful moment.  Brenda... bless her heart... stayed with me the whole day in the ER, and was even the voice of reason when I felt this strong need to talk to my boss about why I wouldn't be at work... She took my phone away from me for the entire day!

And in truly "Gaby" fashion The day wouldn't have been complete without a bizarre moment/ story.  I was in a cab (next time ambulance.. I know James) and everyone was getting me a wheel chair when the driver says to me,  "you have to get out of the cab I can't park in front of the hospital.. there is a street cleaner coming behind me..."  yes, I was kicked to the curb (which was scrubbed by the cleaner)  Funny now, but at the time I was so angry and unable to express it due to a more pressing pain... once the pain killers kicked in, it was all I could mumble about... that, and how my doctor looked like the woman I did my internship for... and I was afraid that it was her, and I didn't want her deciding what drugs I was getting.. Lol!

The picture is from brenda who braved watching me get the messiest IV ever!  She pulled out her camera and I made her promise not to take a picture of my face:)  

Fall Catalog 2008

So after much work the Fall 2008 catalogs are finally finished... well almost I have to go back to press the end of August for one more quick press run... but still I am pretty much mentally over the books.  These area a few of the images I am especially proud of.  This first cover was shot with natural light (thanks to my great new studio space!)

I am especially pleased with how this one turned out.  And let me tell you chain in sand.. it was a rough day on set.

Not to be out done by this one which was a bit of a rougher day for me.. but thankfully my boss was around to help me think through my mental block... ok so this one maybe took three days;)  And there is a possibility that I bought all of the olive branches that one store in the flower district had!

All and all I think it was a good book for me..... on to the next!

Oh How I love the Train

Tonight on the train ride home this little girl started throwing fish and chips at me (covered in vinegar of course... the only way to eat them really)  Anyway I told her to stop when from behind me I hear...

"What are you saying to my girl?!"  I turned around to see a woman in pink scrubs with little balloons all over the top holding a plastic baseball bat that she was taping not so gently on the car's floor!

"mama," I stammered.  "She was throwing food on me so I told her to stop."

"Don't you talk to my girl!  I am the only one who tells my girl what to do!"  she screamed.  "she can pee in this car if she wants and you can't say nothin' about it!  There are crack heads who live here so she can toss anything she want!"  (I am editing the language for my younger audience)  "you don't hit my girl I hit my girl!  I don't want you talking to her ever!"

I started to pull away towards the other side of the packed train as she swung her bat at the pole in the middle of the train. I jumped and moved faster. The seemingly packed people parted for me.  

"why you leaving... you are acting like you are afraid of me," she bellowed after me.

I said the only thing that came to my mind, "I AM afraid of you" (plastic toy bat or not I really had no desire to find out how bad it would bruise me)  The train broke out into laughter and she steamed in her seat.  I stayed on the far end of the train waiting for that seemingly endless stretch between 59th and 125th to be over. The whole while she just kept looking and yelling in my direction.  

She got off at the 125th stop with the warning that she had her eye on me... and I looked at the spot of vinegar on my shirt.... totally worth it.. how many times in your life do you get to make a whole train of people laugh because you are just being honest!

Indulge me please....

I was home about a month ago and have to admit I love Iowa and my family:)  Please indulge the me with the amount of images I am loading.. and don't mind all the different sizes.

This is one of my favorite views (the field behind our backyard)

My brother Drew leaves on a mission in less than a month.  I can 't even tell you how much we will miss him.So this is kind of amazing.  We went bowling at a little town alley and this was an actual sign on the wall there... and yes that is a saw hanging above it!

And this is the hallway to the Banquet room.. yes the carpet is printed with treasure chests overflowing with gold.... lol

The look on grant's face when he realized there was room for him in another car... but it was too late he was stuck with the girls.

Have I mentioned that Grant is pretty much awesome?!

Abbie's bowling shoes were the cutest things ever!

Erica.. remember that great game of air hockey?.... I am pretty sure I cleaned the floor with you;)

Me and all the nieces and the nephew

So basically it was so much fun....

I love the Mail Man

So this week the mail man brought me two of the greatest things ever!  First off my new camera.  This is my first Digital SLR camera.  I can hear my canon AE sighing in the closet.  I don't know why it was such a huge decision.... but somehow I managed to make it one.  Either way I am glad I bought it and  stoked to use it!

And then speaking of photography...  I finally bought this print!  I have to say that I have some amazingly talented friends.  I remember the first day I ever saw this image in class.  I knew I needed to own it. I mean seriously look how the light hits her lips, and her gesture.. amazing!  One day I plan to own it huge.. but until then I bought a little one from Capree's etsy store Capree's Curiosities

If I didn't take pictures...

I can't tell you how many times when I was in school the teachers would tell me and my classmates "If you could do anything else besides photography and be happy... do that"  I never really agreed with that.  I think they were just trying to prepare us for how hard it can be to get work and all.... but I could do at least 15 things to support myself and be happy.  I chose photography because it is difficult and makes me stretch and grow.  And honestly can be insanely fulfilling and rewarding.  (not to mention just fun:)   

So what else would I do...

Teach art

write childrens books

Work for a museum

make things to sell 

Become a Librarian

do set design (location scout)

Cook cook cook.... This was the whole point of this entry.  I made a great diner the other night that made me think  "Why don't I do this for a living?"  lol... probably cuz I never follow a recipe so the things I make are always a bit different each time I make them.  I made this Roasted chicken with rosemary and sun-dried tomatoes.... yummy (the picture is the uncooked version)  I paired it with a yellow squash soup I made... (a bit to peppery this time, but next time it will be perfect I think)

An Old Friend

Today on the train, admits the drudgery of packing into the crowd and trying not to fall asleep from exhaustion, I flipped through a poetry book I had on me... not really reading, just mindlessly turning pages.  I came across this poem by Emily Dickinson. I had forgotten how much I love it.

I measure every grief I meet

With analytic eyes;

I wonder if it weighs like mine,

or has an easier size.

I wonder if they bore it long,

Or did it just begin?

I could not tell the date of mine,

it feels so old a pain.

I wonder if it hurts to live,

and if they have to try,

and whether, could they choose between,

they would not rather die.

I wonder if when years have pilled-

Some thousands - on the cause

of early hurt, if such a lapse

Could give them any pause

Or would they go on aching still

Through centuries above,

Enlightened to a larger pain 

By contrast with the love.

The grieved are many I am told;

The reason deeper lies, -

Death is but on and comes but once,

and only nails the eyes.

There's grief of want, and grief of cold, -

A sort they call "despair";

There's banishment from native eyes,

In sight of native air.

And though I may not guess the kind

correctly, yet to me

A piercing comfort it affords

In passing Calvary,

To note the fashions of the cross,

Of those that stand alone,

Still fascinated to presume

that some are like my own

Things I love

It may seem silly and I may be exposing myself as the girly girl I truly am.... but I can't help it.  I LOVE flowers.  Over the last month I have been buying myself a bouquet every Saturday.  But I have to say the prize goes to the one I just got.  Lilacs and Freesia!  So beautiful and the apartment smells wonderful.

Sound bites;)

The last few days of work have been wrapped up in recording sounds for the website (if the product is a wind chime or toy with noise etc.)  It has been an extremely frustrating process.  I mean I know patience is not one of my stronger virtues, but this experience has felt like something that could best be described by Dante.  Fitting probably in the seventh circle's middle ring.  Anyway in my frustration I came to discover what an amazing tool one's G-chat status could be.  

I changed my status to "I need someone who knows how to use pro-tools"  and within minutes friends were sending me messages saying that they knew how and I could call if I needed help or that they have a friend I could call.  I received so many offers to help.  It made me happy that I have so many cool friends that are only a g-chat status away:)

But I have to say by far my favorite message came from my sister.. who wins the award of the day for catching me so off guard and making me laugh.  this is the message she sent me:

"... everyone has their own criteria.  He must be able to sing, be tall, have a good job, etc.  But I like that you are specific on your interest in men: "must be able to record sound using pro tools"  I like that about you."

Well Cat, I think that earlier today that would have even been more important to me than someone who remembers my name..lol  Thanks for the laugh and thankyou to all for helping me out and your quick g-chatting responses!

125th Street Stop....Ugh

So for whatever reason the 125th street stop for the A train is destined to be the stop that crazy things happen it seems.  A couple of weeks ago there was this.. I guess preacher... yelling into the train "God Loves You"  over and over again.  I was waiting on the platform and he seemed to feel it a necessity to be sure I personally understood this.  

"Do you know God loves you? God loves you? God loves you?"  He said to me over and over again.  I kinda chuckled and told him I was in fact aware of that.  He continued to ask me this question. 

A young man in pinstripe suit and wingtips walked up to him and stood between us.  "Mister," he said.  "That is not nice to be in her face.  She could get offended.  "I mean what if she was someone who didn't believe in God like a Muslim or Catholic."  

It took every bit of self control I had left in me not to bust up laughing.....   Well I hadn't thought about this for a while, until today as I waited on the platform my old friend showed up.  This time however he was not telling me that God loved me.  Today he wanted me to acknowledge that I was a sinner.  He said "you swear, you drink, you are an adulator. Do you know you are a sinner" I wanted to say "well actually...... " but decided against arguing my morals with the crazy on the platform.  And I have to say I think I liked his first message better.

And am starting to think I should transfer from the D to the A train at West 4th instead:) 

Nicknames and Gabitron

So the last few days the topics of nicknames has seemed to come up a bunch.  Which has lead me to thinking about the many I have received over the years.  I have to say the high school years were not kind on my name:)  But that aside, there have been many that I now use and respond to quite regularly.  

Gab or Gabs being the most common.  Although I should warn you if you are not a good friend of mine and you call me Gab or really even Gabs it kind of irritates me. (and if you have to ask yourself "am I a good enough friend to call her that" then you are not:) And for those who are not, I would like to point out that really the name Gaby is a nickname altogether... short for Gabrielle. So don't feel excluded, we are still friends.

I think my Favorite nickname of all time I owe to my dear friend Capree..... who coined the name early on in our time in the BYU photo program "Gabitron"  It was just one of those things that has stuck and really become so much a part of me now that it doesn't really even feel like a nickname at all.  It is scribbled on my notes books as "this book belongs to..." it is on all kinds of boxes of film and paper.. and has earned the honor or being laser scribed onto the back of my ipod.

But there are other acceptable nicknames too. Gabers (only my sister Catherine, However, can call me Gabers McDabbers, and not end up punched in the arm... so don't try it!) GiGi (preferably said with some little french accent) and Red. 

As far as unacceptable nicknames go.. only the mildly bad one will be shared. One for example, I thought had died after I left college and was no longer around a certain friend of mine by the name of fletcher :)  Graby, is and will never be something funny or cute to call me.  Like I said I thought that this one had gone the way of the wind, but somehow it has lived again with the help of my friend Ty. Who I must also add is responsible for a great deal of the nicknames that won't be mentioned here;)  But who so kindly reminded me last night of the halloween nickname gaba gaba doo!  Not really a recommended name either.

Oh and while we are on the topic of my name. Jokes about me talking a lot 'cuz you know my name is gaby, were not even original when I was 9 so don't try:)

Batteries Not Included

Yesterday I was waiting for my connection on the A train at 42nd street.  And looking down on the track I expected to see the usual garbage and perhaps a creepy rodent... but instead I saw a bunch of AA batteries.  In the ten foot section in front of me I counted 42.  Where do they come from?  and why do they stay there?  And why AA?  Why not a 9v or two?

Peek A Boo... I'm still here

So I am sure many of you have stopped even checking my blog and are convinced I have fallen off the face of the planet. It is not so much the planet as much as it is Brooklyn.

After surviving the press run that went on for years I made it back to the city just in time to celebrate New Years with some of my dearest friends.






And then the move that I have been anxiously awaiting happened. My work relocated to the Brooklyn Army Terminal (from here on out to be refered to as BAT).

I don't know how many of you have ever tried moving a studio... but what a pain. I spent nights dreading and fearing the loss of equipment, or the damage of the digital back! Pretty much everything made it here fine though. There was an issue with a mirror that made it all the way and then I dropped it as I unpacked it... but really what is 7 years more bad luck (this is the third mirror I have broken in a years time alone:) Here is my new space.. don't mind some of the clutter, I am still unpacking.

and then of course you don't want to miss out on the view....


all and all I am glad the move is over and ready to get back to work.