Open Window

Rome

The art ......!

The Ecstasy of St. Teresa by Bernini in Santa Maria della Vittoria, Rome, Italy

Sent from my iPhone
Claudia Danforth Ward

Photo Exhibition at Ashawagh Hall

The photo exhibition at Ashawagh Hall last weekend, sponsored by Hampton Photo Arts and curated by Laurie Barone-Shaefer, has been deemed a success by one and all. Over 50 photographers, ranging in ages from 9 -81, exhibited a wide range of images and a number were even sold  - including Laurie's. 

SOLD: Towd Point ©2012 Laurie Barone-Schaefer

Peter showed two of his architectural HDR images, one of the New York Skyline and the other of Montparnasse in Paris. 

"New York Skyline" © 2009 Peter Tooker

"Montparnasse, Paris" © 2010 Peter Tooker

I exhibited "Spring", a flower photograph printed on metallic paper, and "Montauk - Post Hurricane Bill", two images framed together of a Coast Guard Cutter braving Bill's waves and dodging surfers off Montauk Point.

 "Spring" © 2009 Claudia Danforth Ward

"Montauk - Post Hurricane Bill" © 2009 Claudia Danforth Ward

 

Once again it was great fun to see everyone's work and to get to know some of the other artists first hand. 

Thanks again to Dave, Ben, and everyone at Hampton Photo Arts, and of course, the indefatigable Laurie. 

 

Photo Exhibition - February 25th & 26th

Peter and I have been invited to participate in a photo exhibition this coming weekend at Ashawagh Hall. The exhibition has been curated by Laurie Barone-Schaefer and is hosted by Hampton Photo, Arts and Framing. If you recognize the name Schaefer from a previous post, you may recall that Laurie is not only an accomplished photographer unto herself, but she is also the mother of the three boys, ages ranging from 3½ to 9, who exhibited their paintings at the Thank You Art Show in January. This show however, is photography-centric and will showcase the images of over 50 local photographers. This is exciting for us all and we hope, if you are near East Hampton and/or Ashawagh Hall, that you will come to see the show:

           Saturday February 25th 5:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
           Sunday February 26th 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

You can check out more details about music and food, etc. by going to the Hamptons Photo Arts website by clicking here. 

In January, we were all really pleased with the turn out at the Thank You Art Show but we all thought it might have been even better if the weather had not been so cold, and the roads so snowy and icy. Well the weather forecast for this weekend is balmy by comparison - no precipitation and highs in the 40s. So take a break from your chores this weekend and come see some amazing images.

 

The Thank You Art Show

Ashawagh Hall, Springs, East Hampton, NY

Last weekend, Hamptons Photo, Arts and Framing sponsored the 3rd annual Thank You Art Show at Ashawagh Hall in Springs on the east end of Long Island. This is their way of thanking their customers for their patronage over the years. More than 100 artists showed their paintings, photographs, sculptures, and more. There was even edible-art in the form of cupcakes for sale, with the proceeds going to charity.

Edible Art Cupcake

The turn out on Saturday night was excellent despite the snow and slippery roads. The hall was abuzz with people enjoying refreshments, music by William Falkenberg, all of the art work, and each others' company; and, Sunday was equally as rewarding for the artists, as there was a constant flow of visitors right up until the show closed at 4:00 p.m. Live music by "Icepack" Jackson and friends provided a lively background to this day's event. Although the primary intent of the show was to provide a venue to display artists' works, several were also fortunate enough to sell their pieces too. At the end of each day, the hall was filled with a resounding "Thank You" from all of the artists to Dave and Ben, from Hampton Photo Arts.

 

"Duck" © 2008 Peter Tooker

I've created a brief slide show of photographs I took of just a fraction of the art that was on display to share with you the variety of art that was there. Peter and I each displayed a photograph, he displayed "Duck" and I displayed "Timeless", a photograph of a 1957 Flame-Red T-Bird.

 

"Timeless" ©2010 Claudia Ward

I must say, I would be hard pressed to say which pieces in the show were my true favorites, although I had a real soft spot for the acrylic paintings of three young brothers, Andrew, Charles, and MJ Schaefer, who range from 9 to 3½ years old. Their pieces were displayed together, vertically, in order of oldest to youngest. I think you'll agree that there's just a little bit of artistic talent in that family!

Paintings by the Brothers Schaefer
  

So The Thank You Art Show is Hampton Photo Arts and Framing's way of thanking the art community on the east end of Long Island, and this post and slide show are my thank you back to them.

 

Slide Show by Claudia Ward
Music: Woodstock's Theme from the soundtrack of Snoopy (The Musical) 

Art Show at Ashawagh Hall

Hampton Photo, Arts and Framing is a small shop in Bridgehampton but one that supports the art community all over the east end of Long Island. They provide art supplies of all sorts, printing services of nearly every kind, and of course framing, and have been doing so for over two decades.  This coming weekend this local business is saying a big thank you to the art community they've come to know so well. For the third year in a row, Hampton Photo, Arts & Framing is sponsoring THE THANK YOU ART SHOW at Ashawagh Hall on Springs Fireplace Road in East Hampton. Over 100 artists will be displaying their artwork which will vary from painting to sculpture, from origami to photography, and Peter and I are participating. This is my first foray into the art community of the Hamptons, so I'm both nervous and excited. I can't wait to see the variety of art that is going to be on display and to meet the artists and creators.

THE THANK YOU ART SHOW begins at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday January 21st and will run until 11:00 p.m. with music, food, and art in abundance. The show will also be up for viewing on Sunday January 22nd from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with music and refreshments available as well.

This should be a fun event and we encourage you to come to say hello, if you're in the neighborhood. We'd love to see you and we know you'll enjoy the variety of the show.

 

Beach Weekend

Beach Weekend  painted by Barbara Andolsek

I get such pleasure out of seeing Barbara Andolsek's paintings of my photographs, and if I were to be quite candid, I often prefer the painting to the photo. I truly believe there's a frustrated painter inside of me and her only means of expression is through photography - thank goodness! - but this painterly side of me gets immense satisfaction from seeing Barbara's paintings. 

Thank you so very much Barbara, I'm so glad we met.

 

Tomato Art

 "Meaty Tomato" painted by Barbara Andolsek

If you've followed me for any period of time, you know I love the paintings of a California based artist named Barbara Andolsek. Despite the fact that we've never met, we've become quite good friends over the internet, one of the delightful and rewarding benefits of the 21st century. Barbara sources the subjects of her paintings all over, as she has a keen eye and a life-loving spirit, and I'm hugely complimented by the fact that she has chosen to paint a number of my photographs. I'm always surprised and thrilled to see them on her blog, which I encourage you all to follow.

Once again Barbara has painted one of the images posted to Open-Window just last month. She calls it "Meaty Tomato" and rightly so because that's exactly what that beautiful heirloom was. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.

Heirloom Tomato photograph ©2011 Claudia Ward 

Roasted Shrimp with Feta

We stumbled across this recipe a few weeks ago and thought ..."Why not?" We don't have shrimp very often and, true to The Barefoot Contessa, this looked easy and flavorful - and it was! I assembled it before we went out to shoot a horse show, and then just threw it in the oven when we came home. So I did steps 2-5 and 8 early in the day and then covered everything. When we returned, I turned on the oven, and assembled and cooked the dish according to the rest of the directions. Does it get any easier than that?

The wine, garlic and tomatoes complement the shrimp without diminishing its role completely, the herbal bread crumbs add texture, and the feta cheese added a surprisingly pleasant tang (along with the lemon). This is a repeat for us, how about you?

Roasted Shrimp with Feta

 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1½ cups medium-diced fennel
1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
¼ cup dry white wine
1 (14½ ounce) can diced tomatoes
2 teaspoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon Pernod (we use Anisette)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1¼ pounds (16-20 per pound) peeled shrimp with tails on
5 ounces feta cheese, coarsely crumbled
1 cup fresh bread crumbs (4 slices of bread run through a food processor)
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
2 lemons
====================================

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a 10- or 12- inch heavy oven-proof skillet over medium-low heat. Add the fennel and sauté for 8 to 10 minutes, until the fennel is tender.
3. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
4. Add the wine and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned buts. Cook for 2 or 3 minutes, until the liquid is reduced by half.
5. Add the tomatoes with the liquid, tomato paste, oregano, Pernod/Anisette, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 15 minutes.
6. Arrange the shrimp, tails up, in one layer over the tomato mixture in the skillet.
7. Scatter the feta evenly over the shrimp.
8. In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs, parsley, and lemon zest with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and sprinkle over the shrimp.
9. Bake for 15 minutes, until the shrimp are cooked and the bread crumbs are golden brown.
10. Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon over the shrimp.
11. Serve hot with the remaining lemon cut into wedges.

 

Chatham Band Concerts

"Chatham Band" Watercolor by Debbie Hearle 

Every Friday evening between July 4th and Labor Day you will find the town of Chatham, on Cape Cod, chockablock full of people, all ambling toward Kate Gould Park in the center of town for the 8:00p.m. start of the Band Concert. This truly is a page lifted from Norman Rockwell's America and is a much cherished tradition of locals and tourists alike. In the center of the park is a real band stand, like the kind you remember from The Music Man.

When I was growing up in Chatham, Whit Tileston was the band leader, in addition to being the middle school music teacher. Every 4th of July, the parade down Main Street was always started with Chatham's Marching Band. Mr. Tileston, dressed in white from head to toe and decorated with gold braid, led the band who were all decked out in neatly pressed bright red jackets with navy lapels, pockets and cuffs, navy trousers with a red stripe down the side, and navy, red and gold caps. We welled with pride when we saw the band crest the hill at the edge of town, with Mr. Tileston tilting his tall white hat to the crowds and moving his gold baton to lead the music. We all knew the summer had just begun.

Chatham Band Stand in Kate Gould Park

So on Friday nights, we would pack blankets and sweaters in a sailbag and head to the park. A big decision had to be made at the entrance to the park. We each had a quarter held tightly in our fist which we were told we could spend on anything we wanted. My decision always fell between a big cloud of pink cotton candy attached to a paper cone or a brightly colored helium balloon which would be tied off on my wrist for the rest of the night. Believe it or not, the balloon usually won.

Early in the summer the sun was just setting as we got to the park, so twilight lit the path we traversed behind the band stand to get to "our place" on the far hill. The anticipation in the air was palpable and the only relief for it was Mr. Tileston's enthusiastic and familiar "Hi-de-ho!". For the first hour, the band played lively music and folk dances for the kids. We all have lasting memories of doing the "Bunny Hop" and "Here We Go Loopty Loo" around the band stand on those warm summer nights. For the last hour, the band played dance music for grownups, and sentimental sing-alongs. When we were old enough to stay for the second half of the concert, we were thrilled when Dad joined us after closing the store. One by one he would ask us to dance, with the younger ones usually doing so standing on top of his feet. Exhilarated and exhausted, we'd leave just before the concert's end, stumbling over the roots on the path behind the band stand and dragging our blankets behind us. As we exited the park, we could hear in the distance the lilting melody and soft sounds of voices singing Old Cape Cod. (Note: Click on "Old Cape Cod", to be able to download/hear Patti Page sing that song.)

 

Barbara Andolsek - Artist

Barbara Andolsek's art is special in my mind and I thought that long before she began using some of my photographs as material. She has an ability to convey in paint - light, water, texture, and sentiment - an ability I envy. She conveys an intelligence and sometimes humor - about life and light - that I enjoy and I hope you may too. Her paintings are often small, which makes them all the more amazing to me, they capture my eye and imagination ... within a small frame. Without boasting (but wanting too), Barbara painted these three paintings from photographs that I've taken. I love her renditions! 

 City Softness

Sisters

 

 

 

 

 

Beach Blanket 

 

Please visit her website and blog, it's a journey and delight - each painting a little bit of magic. You should see what she does in her still lifes!

 

Homemade Chicken Stock

 
Homemade chicken stock is wonderful and an essential part of our "pantry" these days. It's the linchpin for most of the soups we make - and let me tell you, we never have canned soup anymore. Why would you? They're bland, poor representations of the original products used to make them, and more often than not over-salted for preservation. Homemade soup, made with homemade stock ... there's no comparison, and once you begin making soup at home, I'll bet you'll never stop.

We made Artichoke and Parmesan Soup for the appetizer for Thanksgiving dinner last year, the base of which was homemade chicken stock, and the Italian Wedding Soup posted earlier this year shouldn't be made without homemade chicken stock. Making stock is practically effortless, you don't even have to peel the vegetables, and it pays dividends the entire time it simmers. The aromas that float throughout the house are subtle yet divine.

Most of you know by now that I attended cooking classes with Patricia Wells on her farm in Provence. You also know that I have a sizable library of cookbooks - a number of which (7) were written by Patricia. In each cookbook, she always includes a recipe for chicken stock and in each there are always variations, which really tells you the flexibility there is in making stock. Why did I gravitate toward Patricia's recipes versus others? Her clear instructions and tips, like using a pasta pot fitted with a colander which makes it easy to remove the ingredients and start the straining process, putting the bouquet garni in a wire mesh tea infuser, and always starting with cold water for a clear stock - all invaluable tips. And, her recipes for stock generally yield 2-3 quarts which "fits" my kitchen and freezer.

Try it, you'll find the assembly a snap, the aromas divine, and the clean up easy, especially if you use the pasta pot with a colander. It's fall. It's soup time. Start a pot of stock, take a long walk in the crisp fall air with all of those crunchy leaves, and come back to a house that smells of love - for surely you're making this for those you love.

Homemade Chicken Stock*
Makes 2+ Quarts

4 pounds raw chicken parts (I use chicken wings)
2 large onions, halved but not peeled
4 cloves
4 carrots, scrubbed but not peeled, cut into 2-inch pieces
4 ribs of celery, with leaves cut into 2-inch pieces pieces
1 head of garlic, halved but not peeled
1 leek, white and tender green portions, halved lengthwise and rinsed, cut into 2-inch pieces
Pinch of salt
12 whole pepper corns
Bouquet garni: several bay leaves, fresh celery leaves, sprigs of fresh thyme, and parsley, encased in a wire mesh tea infuser
===================================

• Place the chicken in a pasta pot fitted with a colander and fill with 5 quarts of cold water.
• Add all of the remaining ingredients, ensuring that the water covers them. If not add a little water.
• Bring to a gentle simmer, uncovered, over medium heat.
• Skim to remove any scum that rises to the surface. Add additional water if necessary to replace the water removed. Continue skimming until the stock is clear. (This can take up to an hour.)
• Continue to gently simmer the stock for another 2 ½ hours.
• Lift out the colander with all of the ingredients, allowing the stock to drain from the ingredients but do not shake. Discard ingredients.
• Line a large colander with a double layer of dampened cheesecloth and place it over a large bowl. Ladle - do not pour - the stock into the colander to strain off remaining fat and impurities. Measure the stock and if it exceeds 2-2½ quarts, return to moderate heat and reduce. 
• Place stock, in a bowl, in the refrigerator. When it is chilled, spoon off all traces of fat. Transfer chilled stock to covered containers. The stock may be refrigerated safely for 3 days or can be frozen for up to 3 months. Do not forget to label the containers with the date.

Tips for Stock Making from Patricia Wells:

✓ For a clear stock, always begin with cold water and bring it slowly to a simmer. Never allow a stock to boil or it will be cloudy, since the fat will emulsify. Cold water also aids in extracting greater flavor.

✓ For the first 30-60 minutes of cooking, skim the impurities that rise to the surface of the stock as it simmers.

✓ Use a tall pot, for it will limit evaporation. I always use a large pasta pot fitted with a colander, which makes it easy to remove the stock ingredients and begin to filter the stock.

✓ Once the stock is cooked, strain before cooling. Allowing to cool with the vegetables and herbs will darken and cloud the stock.

______________________________________

* This recipe is an amalgamation of a number of Patricia's Chicken Stock recipes with reliance on those in Patricia Wells At Home in Provence (New York, NY: Scribner, 1996), The Paris Cookbook (New York, NY: HarperCollins, 2001), and Vegetable Harvest (New York, NY William Morrow, 2007). 

 

 

Sculpture-Scott Partlow-Bridgehampton

A friend introduced us recently to a neighbor who just happens to also be an incredible sculptor. His name is Scott Partlow and he sculpts wonderful things out of huge pieces of black walnut, poplar, mahogany, sugar maple and cherry. He recently showed three pieces at a show at Ashawagh Hall on Springs Fireplace Road in East Hampton (Vito Sisti Presents Painting and Sculpture).

Dancer carved from cherry wood is sleek and has the angles and outstretched limbs of an Alvin Ailey dancer. Whelk is the most incredible and breathtakingly beautiful shell - all carved and sanded from spalted maple. And, Dawn is simply spellbinding - the form of a naked woman revealed in cherry wood. The latter he just recently completed and Partlow laments that he won't be able to get to know her better as she sold during the show.

Partlow rents an old house in the village of Bridgehampton and has lots of space to store (and age) his raw materials in the yard. Each sizable piece of wood will become something quite special in Partlow's hands. Chain saws, grinders and sanders may not be considered the typical artist's tools, but the results are pure art. He finishes each piece with tung oil which provides a wonderful sheen to the wood that just beckons you to touch it, and Partlow encourages that at every turn. In fact, each piece is irresistible whether it's the incredibly smooth surface of Flame or the carved outside shell of an Acorn - you want to know what it feels like which engages the viewer even more.

© 2010 Peter Tooker - Photos & Digital/HDR Processing

Music: A New Day (The Guitar Song) by Michele McLaughlin

Check out Partlow's website to view more of his art and jewelry, and seek him out to see his sculptures first hand, in the Hamptons.

Note: The colors of each sculpture may vary from the original due to digital/HDR processing of the photographs. 

HDR Photography - Vermont

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range and it's a very exciting part of photography these days one that Peter has really gotten in to. 

Ever taken photos of a sunset at the beach or in the mountains and found that in the picture you have very dark areas showing none of the details that your eyes saw and very, very bright areas, also revealing little that you could see? Well, your eye saw much more, and a camera has limitations. However, processing digital photographs these days provides such exciting opportunities to reveal that which could not be revealed before .... ergo HDR photography. 

In its basic form, it can be defined as taking a photograph at "zero exposure" and then auto bracketing so the camera will then take another photograph at +2 exposure and another at -2 exposure. What this does at the end of the day (thanks to Photomatix Pro) is merge all three so what's in the shadows is revealed and what's in the bright lights is not lost. I think it's truly breathtaking, and after all of that, you can then begin to have fun ... it's all art.

On our way to a wedding in northern NY state recently, we stopped in Vermont to see friends. Peter shot these in HDR, and we'd be very interested in what you think - of the photographic technique, of the picture, of the location, ...

© 2010 Peter Tooker ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Sisters - The Painting

My new and special friend Barbara Andolsek is a painter and she's paid me, yet again, a wonderful compliment, she's painted one of my photographs. I never know which, if any, photo she might decide to paint - which is wonderful. When I opened her blog this morning I saw "Sisters" which just happens to be one of my favorite photographs from 2008, and Barbara was able to express even more of what I saw in their movement and their relationship. The photograph was taken on a magical day in the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris in early October - a day I will remember forever for it's incredible blue sky and fall colors, and the bustling of every corner of the parks and gardens in Paris. Everyone seemed so happy to be where they were, including these young sisters. 

Sisters, Painted by Barbara Andolsek, July 2010

Sisters in the Luxembourg Gardens, Photo by Claudia Ward, 2008, All Rights Reserved

Please visit Barbara's website as well as her blog, I think you'll enjoy the experience as much as I have.

Getting Out of Dodge

A year ago today Peter and I took the ferries to get off Long Island and at the end of the day we saw the sun set on Martha's Vineyard. Well we're on the ferries once again, this time heading to Cape Cod. Nickerson Art Gallery is having an opening on Friday evening and we're going to be there.

Sent from my iPhone

The Open Window

When I began this blog six months ago today, the first post was called An Open Window and I explained that I'd been "downsized" like so many others and that Peter and I were looking at this like the open window that Maria spoke of in the Sound of Music, 

    "When the Lord closes a door, 
somewhere He opens a window",

thus, the name of this blog. 

Many blogs you see will show a photo of the writer on every post. I started this way too, but could not fathom seeing my "mug" that often, so I changed the Userpic to the painting that you see on every post. In all this time, only one person has asked me about the painting (thank you Ally). So for all of you who may or may not be curious, allow me to explain.

 

The painting, by Henri Matisse, is called The Open Window, a.k.a. Open Window, Collioure. Matisse painted this, the view from his apartment window in Collioure on the southern coast of France, in 1905. Somehow I felt this was a perfect fit - another Open Window for the Francophile in me - one can never have enough, wouldn't you agree?

Smiling Faces

We found smiling faces in every state over the last three weeks and thought we'd share these three with you today. (You may recognize a couple of them.)

Happy "Auto Art" near Michigan City, Indiana

 Two happy desserts from Co Co Sala in Washington D.C.  

Dancing with Daffodils -The Slide Show

Spring and flowers, what a glorious way to come out of winter's doldrums - I find it intoxicating. Sunday morning was lightly overcast, with little to no wind - perfect conditions for photographing flowers. So if you were in the vicinity of Sagaponack on Long Island yesterday morning and saw a woman sitting cross-legged on a plastic tarp around 6:30 a.m. in front of a diamond of daffodils ... that was a very happy me, despite the damp and chill in the air!

The results are assembled in this slide show - as you all seem to respond most positively to them. "Dancing with the Daffodils" was a wonderful way to spend the day and I hope you enjoy the music as well. It's a song called "Si Do Mhaimeo" sung by two members of a group I adore called Celtic Woman.

Photos by Claudia Ward 2010 All Rights Reserved

Note: Change to 480 to maximize quality; click on the four arrows to enlarge the show.

Please leave a Comment here and let us know what you think, or how you spent your Sunday, or just say "Hey!" We love hearing from you, as always.

Public Trust, Broken

There are several documentaries that I've seen this winter that I believe you should seek out and place on your "Must See" list. Without exception, each is thought-provoking and disturbing, and has made me shake my head and ask, "What has the world come to?" These four documentary movies are about: Food, water, dolphins and a trust, all based on public trust and all broken.

    "Food, Inc."

 "Tapped"

"The Cove"

"The Art of the Steal"

Each has sparked lively conversation within our four walls. The first two have made us change our behavior of purchasing food and water. The latter two are "just not right", and in a world where I was taught that wrongs will not prevail ... their wrongs continue to disturb me as they will and can never be made right.

"Food, Inc", "Tapped", and "The Cove" all involve the abusive use of food, water and animal resources - precious resources we should be protecting for the generations to come. "The Art of the Steal" is about The Barnes Collection, arguably the finest private collection of impressionistic and post-impressionistic art in the world, one protected by a private trust, and broken by public and political figures breaking a basic public trust - that the law will protect our wills and trusts after we are gone.

Let us know what you think on any of these topics.

Note: The Barnes has not yet been moved to Philadelphia and can be seen, by reservation, in its original venue in Merion, PA for a few more months. Peter and I are thrilled, we have tickets to see The Barnes in early May!

Someone Painted My Picture!

One day when I was reading Comments in my favorite blog, French Word-A-Day, I read about an artist named Barbara Andolsek. Intrigued, I clicked over to her blog, then on to her Fine Art website and thus began "a beautiful friendship". I love Barbara's paintings and began leaving Comments on her blog, which led to email exchanges and my buying one of her paintings. Barbara and I have been "chatting" almost every day since giving each other support, encouragement and advice as well as sharing our respective passions ... painting for her and photography for me. The result has been rich and rewarding for both of us and I hope it will continue for a long time to come. And, I sincerely hope you find the results of this new friendship as delightful as we do.

Photograph by Claudia Ward, Child in the Luxembourg Gardens, Paris 2008

Painting by Barbara Andolsek, 2010, Urban Innocence, Oil on Board, 8 x 10 x 1

I have never been so proud. Let us know what you think! Click here to leave a comment.

Click here to reach Barbara's blog and to enjoy her paintings. 

Art or Photography?

It's a busy week for us with lots of "to-ing and fro-ing". Head in to the city, New York City that is, several times so posting every day will be a challenge. As we all seem to have a good case of spring fever, we'll be sharing "spring photos" this week and hope you find them a pleasure to look at and maybe even inspirational.

 

Crocus Photo by Claudia Ward 2010 All Rights Reserved

 

Snowdrops Photo by Claudia Ward 2010 All Rights Reserved

So, what do you say, art or photography? Let us know your thoughts.
  

Our Oscars Anniversary

Peter and I have two anniversaries: the anniversary of when we began our relationship and then our wedding anniversary - and these two dates are almost five years apart. Today happens to be the first anniversary, when Peter and I watched our first Oscars together. As the story goes, I invited Peter for dinner and he never left, and here we are happily celebrating 20 years later. My how time flies.

Peter and I generally create a celebration with food, which we'll have to do this year as there will be no Oscars, at least on television. I can hardly believe that ABC has been removed from our cable company (Cablevision), as of midnight last night. Money disputes they say. I say it's a clash of the titans - huge egos - and we the people are the pawns. I hate being held hostage in someone else's war and would seriously like to find another mode of receiving television services. This is the second time this has happened in the last several months. The earlier instance concerned the Food Network - one of our favorites of course. What did they say in that movie, "I'm mad as h... and I'm not going to take it any more." Enough sour grapes; this is our anniversary!

We'll have sweet grapes please ... Red Grapes - Oil Painting by Barbara Andolsek*, commissioned by her friend Ramona

with our lobsters, oysters, california caviar and Gewurztraminer, which we'll enjoy this evening at The American Hotel in Sag Harbor - where we met. Now that sounds like a proper celebration!

* Barbara kindly gave her permission to use this image. I love Barbara's paintings and think you will too. Please check out Barbara's blog as well as her website, Barbara Andolsek Fine Art. It's a great way to spend Sunday morning! 

Have you got anything to say? Let's hear it. Leave a comment.