Bokeh, Baklava And Super Raw Life Magazine

This "Apple Baklava" was made for three reasons. #1. I wanted some. #2. I wanted my new buddy, the fabulous photographer, Shawn Carrasco to taste it. (He'd never had a raw dessert before.) #3. I wanted to learn how to photograph using the 'bokeh' technique (out-of-focus areas).


                                        

Shawn gave me a photography lesson and this was my first attempt.

Heeere we go...

 Bokeh, baby!!




                                        
                                      Gimme some!




                                        
 Oh, yeaaah!!

    

 

    

   

    

 Wheeeee.

    

    Please bear with me here...

      

 I couldn't decide which photos to choose.

     

So I pretty much chose them all.

      

      

      

     

Shawn showed me how to use a different setting to make the photos lighter. SO much to learn!!

      

By the way, this thing was SOOO dang good!!!!

 This is my favorite magazine of its kind, "Super Raw Life Magazine".  I'm in this issue! (Yay me!!)

                                                     
Here's the silk scarf I painted for, Founder/Editor in Chief of "Super Raw Life Magazine", my friend, Michele Marie Jeppson. I looove that magazine! (And her!!)
Here she's wearing the scarf at the "Sundance Film Festival". How cool is that?!! :)




                                            
I'm in this issue too!! :)

Here's a link to the magazine.

You can download the current and past issue of Super Raw Life magazine for
free at www.superrawlife.com

This issue features friend, Chef BeLive, the awesome raw food chef!!!!

 Don't know this dude, but if I wasn't happily married and older than dirt, I'd probably like to.

This is the issue that has the "Apple Baklava" recipe in it. That delicious recipe is by, Cherie Soria.

I love that I know all of these wonderful people and that I'm learning so much from their talents! Raw food recipes, photography techniques, how to be great friends long-distance... and so much more!

Thank you for allowing me to feature you in my blog!!

~~~~

                                     



                                             
Hey!! Hands off the Baklava, Shawn!!!! ~





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Signing off for now,
gabriele

The Blue Bathing Suit

Many, many years ago, I lived in a place that didn't have air conditioning. In the summer months and the sweltering heat, the only way I could keep cool and semi-comfortable, was to wear a bathing suit all day.

On one such day, my little girls were at their father's house and I had a date that night. In late afternoon I was really uncomfortable from the heat, so I laid down on the couch, with a little fan pointed at me... and promptly fell asleep.

When I woke up it was already dark, but I could see the little orange light from my boyfriend's cigarette, glowing in the kitchen. I found my way over to him and gave him a kiss. His mustache grazed my upper lip.
My boyfriend did not have a mustache.
To this day I don't know why I didn't panic. Here I was, in the dark, with a stranger... but I was calm.

When he started talking, it was obvious that he was drunk, or high, or both. I can't remember what he said, but he talked for a long time. Just babbling, slurring his words. I answered when I could. But the words I will never forget him saying are, "Girls like you shouldn't live.".
It was time for me to make a move!

I told him that I wished I had a drink, but that I didn't even have any beer, hoping I could talk him into offering to go and buy some! As luck (and his drunken stupor) would have it, he said that he had some bourbon in his car and did I want him to go get it. Yes please!!
As soon as he went outside, I locked the door behind him...
And for the first time, I turned on the light.

Now I was shaking and my heart was racing! I called the operator to please connect me to the police, it was an emergency! She gave me the number and said I had to dial it myself. I called the number, but it was busy! There was no 911 in those days, and if the line was busy, it was busy. When I finally did get through, she had to transfer me!!
By then he was banging on the door and yelling! The door had a big glass window and I was afraid he would break it and force his way in!

The police finally came and took him into custody. I didn't see it, I heard it. I stayed inside.
I didn't want to see his face.

One of the police officers came inside and and told me that the guy thought he was at his ex girlfriend's house and that I was her roommate. He said that I really shouldn't press charges against him, since it was just a mistake.

Then, as he was leaving, he turned around, pointed at my bathing suit and said,
"You shouldn't dress like that."

Seriously?! In my own house?! With closed curtains?! Are you kidding me?!
Lucky for him I was meek & mild in those days and hadn't found my "voice".  ;)
Or lucky for me!! Had it been today, I'd probably be sitting in the back of that squad car!

I still think of that sometimes. I'm very proud of myself for staying so calm under pressure,
but mad for not telling that cop what he could do with his finger.


I loved that blue bathing suit.  ~ ~




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Signing off for now,
gabriele

Footsteps In The Snow

 I love this ethereal photograph. It's of my father's and grandfather's final resting place.

It was taken on a rainy day. With a phone. With a wet phone.

And this is my paternal grandmother's grave.

 They're in a cemetery in Europe, so I can't visit them.

But this wonderful man does! Our "angel-on-earth"!
Here he is tending to my grandmother's new grave.
We found each other years ago, on a genealogy site, when I was looking for information about my European family. (He's also the guy taking pictures with the wet phone.)

He's taken it upon himself to visit the graves... leaving flowers, candles and prayers, in my name.
Here he is tending to my father's and grandfather's grave.
(His beautiful wife goes along sometimes and takes the pictures of him. Thank you!)

This was my grandmothers grave, forgotten and hidden for many, many years.
Until our angel-on-earth found it!! He searched that huge cemetery from all sides, looking for the correct number. There was nothing! But he didn't give up! He rolled up his sleeves... and on his knees, began moving shrubbery and weeds around. And there it was!!!! 
I cried my eyes out when he sent me this picture and the great news!!
(She's since been moved to that other location.)

My father passed away before my grandfather, at the too, too young age of thirty-seven.
I can't even tell you how that breaks my heart.
My grandfather commissioned a sculptor to create that beautiful piece... a head of a weeping angel.

 I'm fascinated with the way the elements have changed its look.

 Getting darker and darker with age.

But it's all well taken care of. And they're not forgotten by me.

 I send him little love-notes to put on their graves. On those pink, paper hearts. :)





Thank you for all that you do, for my family and myself!!!! 
You have changed our lives!!!!

(He even translated all of their letters, which I couldn't read!! But that's another story for another day.)







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Signing off for now,
gabriele

Smoothies, Gojis, Ice Cream And Donuts. Yum!

As most of you know, I'm all about eating healthy. Well, sometimes that thought goes right out the window.
During Thanksgiving (after the pies were all gone!) somebody had the bright idea of going to a famous, local donut shop, for a "bucket" of donuts. I kid you not. Did I protest? Yeah, right!!

Told ya!

Everyone ran to pick their favorite one. I cannot tell a lie... I did too!

Here ya go, Dude. How about a donut as big as your head?! ( Kids on a sugar-rush! We all paid the price later!!)

The oldest grandbrat picked one that looked like a creepy guy, with a stake in his chest.
Her sister wasn't feeling well, so there are no photos of her. She did, however, grab a donut and run. :)

I have to admit, writing this post right now and looking at these photos... well... makes me want a dang donut!!!!

The little one liked hers too.

A lot.

She also likes playing with food.

Like tiny pieces of a toy pizza.

As it turns out, she loves Goji Berries. Loves them! It started out as a game, because I was trying to get her to eat something healthy.

I'd lay them out in a line and she'd pick them up, one by one and shove them in her mouth.

And there they are.

I also showed her big sister how to make healthy ice cream, from frozen fruit.

Big brother knows how to do it too now.

And here's she is... the food critic. It was a big hit!!

But what she reeeally loves are my green smoothies!!

Daddy's fruit smoothie... not so much. ~





There are SO many things to love!
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Thank you.




Signing off for now,
gabriele