Kira's Place

Kira's Place http://kira.lightsphere.com/ Kira's Place My Weight Loss Story http://kira.lightsphere.com//weight_loss.html I've been overweight most of my life. When I graduated college and got a desk job, I ate a lot of restaurant meals and packaged food, and got no exercise at all. I was 50 pounds overweight at one point. I never liked it - after all, nobody *wants* to be fat - but I never had much success with dieting. I could count calories for a while and lose some weight, but eventually I'd get tired of it and quit. In recent years I'd managed to lose a little, but was still 30 pounds overweight. I'd quit trying to diet, and was just resigned to being a bit plump for the rest of my life. Unfortunately my bad eating habits finally caught up with me in the last year. I started feeling bloated all the time, and having vague pains in my stomach and side. I told my doctor about it at my annual checkup in May. He thought it could be gallbladder related, and told me to eat low-fat for a few months, and exercise. At the time it seemed like a tall order. I like cheese, Tex-mex (particularly chips and queso) and fried food, and ate all of those pretty often, even though I knew it wasn't healthy. I was also a complete couch potato. Could I change? After all, I've tried (and abandoned) so many diets over the years. But my stomach pains were a motivator, so I decided to try. I stopped eating the bad stuff: no more cheese, chips, or fried food. I ate lots of salads (dressing on the side), light sandwiches or wraps, and fruit instead of ice cream or sweets. I also threw out most of the packaged food I had, and quit eating processed food as much as possible. I still have treats now and then, but much less often than before - maybe only once a month. (For example, I love chocolate ice cream, but I no longer keep a tub of it in the freezer at home. Now it's a rare and special treat. I love to go to <a href="http://amysicecreams.com">Amy's</a> when I'm in Austin and have a tiny cup of Belgian Chocolate. Pure bliss!) Exercising was a little tougher. When you're in the habit of NOT exercising, it takes some discipline to set aside time for it and actually DO it. And since I was completely out of shape, I got pretty tired after only 10 or 15 minutes of walking. I ended up writing a little <a href="http://www.lightsphere.com/iphone/fitlevel/">fitness app</a> for my iPhone to help me stick with it. And it's worked: now I'm up to a regular 20-30 minute walk-jog workout every other day. And I can actually run for short distances... that would have been impossible a few months ago. I've been at it for 3 months now, and I've lost 20 pounds. I still have 10 more to go until I get to my "goal" weight, but I'm sure I'll get there; I continue to lose a pound every week or so. Sometimes I'm surprised that I'm still losing, because it doesn't feel like I'm dieting at all. The changes I've made to my diet don't feel like stop-gap measures I'm doing to lose weight; they're permanent changes to my way of eating. And I feel a lot better now too; no more stomach pains (except when I splurge on Mexican food). Here are some suggestions if you're trying to lose weight: <ul class="spaced"> <li>Start by making small changes. Replace some of the high-fat, unhealthy foods in your diet with healthier choices. Make small changes, and commit to sticking with it for 30 days. After then, you may find that you've developed the habit of eating that way, and won't miss the old foods at all. (And if not, you can re-evaluate things after 30 days.)</li> <li>Eat more of the fruits & veggies that you like. Whole foods are so much better for you than all that processed junk. But healthy or not, if you don't like brussels sprouts or cauliflower, there's no point in trying to force yourself to eat it. Pick the fruits & veggies you do like, and eat more of them. </li> <li>Occasional treats are ok. You're less likely to feel deprived if you can still enjoy your favorites now and then. But not too often, and not too much. The first few bites of anything are usually the best, so have a small amount... and savor every bite. </li> <li>Exercise. You might be able to lose some weight by cutting calories, but it'll probably be difficult and slow going if you aren't exercising too. Exercise primes the body's weight-loss engine; it keeps your metabolism revved up when calorie-reduction would otherwise slow it down. And exercising is pretty easy (walking is good, and it's free); the hardest part is often just putting on your shoes and starting. </li> </ul> Of course, there are easily as many successful diets as there are dieters. You have to find what works for you. Here are a couple of other sites I found inspiring: <ul class="spaced"> <li><a target="_blank" href="http://zenhabits.net/zen-to-slim-a-simple-5-step-weight-loss-plan/">Zen to Slim: A Simple, 5-Step Weight Loss Plan</a> <li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/04/30-days-to-success/">30 Days to Success</a> <li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/www/hackdiet.html">The Hacker's Diet</a> - it's a bit of a long read, but it might appeal if you're a geek and/or like to crunch numbers. Don't miss the part about <a href="http://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/www/subsection1_2_4_0_3.html">trends</a>; this shows how you should ignore daily fluctuations on the scale, and instead pay more attention to the overall trend. </ul> I also used several iPhone apps to help me lose weight: <ul class="spaced"> <li><a href="http://lightsphere.com/iphone/fitlevel/">FitLevel</a> is the one I wrote. It's basically just a workout timer, but you earn points as you work out, and can level up if you get enough points in one week. <li><a target="_blank" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id293642937?mt=8">WeightBot</a> is a cute weight-tracking app by the guys at <a href="http://tapbots.com/">Tapbots</a>. Tap to record your weight each day; rotate the phone to view progress charts and extra info. <li><a target="_blank" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lose-it/id297368629?mt=8">LoseIt</a> is a free calorie-counting app, which I didn't use much (I didn't count calories), but it has a built-in nutrition database that I sometimes found useful. (And if you want to count calories, LoseIt is the app for you.) </ul> There are also about a bazillion weight loss books on the market, which I won't even go into. :) I didn't use a book, although I have an old copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0618340556?ie=UTF8&tag=lightsphere-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0618340556">Thin for Life</a> that I enjoyed re-reading; it's full of inspirational stories from people who lost weight and kept it off. Sat, 28 Aug 2010 16:42:24 CDT Spring Wildflowers 2010 http://kira.lightsphere.com//spring_wildflowers_2010.html I visited the Wildflower Center in Austin again this spring. The first trip was for the Center's Artisan Festival on March 13th. I'd always wanted to go to the art show, and this year I finally did. It's a small show, about 20-30 artists displaying a variety of art - jewelry, paintings, woodwork, etc., mostly in flower-related themes. I snapped a few pictures of some giant bug sculptures around the center grounds. The giant dragonfly peers down at all guests who enter. :) Unfortunately the show happens about 2-3 weeks too early to enjoy any blooming flowers at the wildflower center. But there were some spectacular blooming trees, here and around town. <div class="gallery"> <a href="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/artshow1.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[spring_wildflowers_2010]" title="Booths at the Wildflower Center Art Show"><img src="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/artshow1_t.jpg" border="1" alt=""></a> <a href="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/artshow2.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[spring_wildflowers_2010]" title="Booths at the Wildflower Center Art Show"><img src="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/artshow2_t.jpg" border="1" alt=""></a> <a href="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/dragonfly.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[spring_wildflowers_2010]" title="Giant dragonfly sculpture"><img src="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/dragonfly_t.jpg" border="1" alt=""></a> <a href="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/giant_ants.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[spring_wildflowers_2010]" title="Giant ant sculptures"><img src="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/giant_ants_t.jpg" border="1" alt=""></a> <a href="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/giant_spider.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[spring_wildflowers_2010]" title="Giant spider sculpture"><img src="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/giant_spider_t.jpg" border="1" alt=""></a> <a href="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/mexicanplum.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[spring_wildflowers_2010]" title="Mexican Plum"><img src="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/mexicanplum_t.jpg" border="1" alt=""></a> <a href="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/possumhaw.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[spring_wildflowers_2010]" title="Possumhaw"><img src="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/possumhaw_t.jpg" border="1" alt=""></a> </div> I made an unplanned trip several weeks later, over Easter weekend, and this time I got my wish: wildflowers everywhere! Saw tons of bluebonnets, and some sort of yellow flower that looked like yellow clouds in the fields. Everything is green and beautiful and a joy to see after the dreary months of winter. <div class="gallery"> <a href="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/bluebonnets.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[spring_wildflowers_2010_1]" title="Bluebonnets!"><img src="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/bluebonnets_t.jpg" border="1" alt=""></a> <a href="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/bluebonnets2.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[spring_wildflowers_2010_1]" title="More bluebonnets!"><img src="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/bluebonnets2_t.jpg" border="1" alt=""></a> <a href="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/columbines.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[spring_wildflowers_2010_1]" title="Columbines"><img src="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/columbines_t.jpg" border="1" alt=""></a> <a href="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/yellowColumbine.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[spring_wildflowers_2010_1]" title="Yellow Columbines"><img src="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/yellowColumbine_t.jpg" border="1" alt=""></a> <a href="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/crabapple.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[spring_wildflowers_2010_1]" title="Crabapple flowers"><img src="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/crabapple_t.jpg" border="1" alt=""></a> <a href="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/horsetail.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[spring_wildflowers_2010_1]" title="Horsetail"><img src="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/horsetail_t.jpg" border="1" alt=""></a> <a href="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/pricklypear.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[spring_wildflowers_2010_1]" title="Prickly pear cactus, just starting some new blooms"><img src="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/pricklypear_t.jpg" border="1" alt=""></a> <a href="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/turtle.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[spring_wildflowers_2010_1]" title="A red-eared slider turtle, hanging out in the pond at the wildflower center"><img src="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/turtle_t.jpg" border="1" alt=""></a> <a href="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/bluebonnet_closeup.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[spring_wildflowers_2010_1]" title="Beautiful bluebonnet"><img src="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/bluebonnet_closeup_t.jpg" border="1" alt=""></a> <a href="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/flower-tree.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[spring_wildflowers_2010_1]" title="Fields of bluebonnets"><img src="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/flower-tree_t.jpg" border="1" alt=""></a> <a href="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/colorfield.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[spring_wildflowers_2010_1]" title=""><img src="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/colorfield_t.jpg" border="1" alt=""></a> <a href="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/colorfield2.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[spring_wildflowers_2010_1]" title=""><img src="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/colorfield2_t.jpg" border="1" alt=""></a> <a href="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/pinkflowers.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[spring_wildflowers_2010_1]" title="Pink Drummond Phlox"><img src="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/pinkflowers_t.jpg" border="1" alt=""></a> <a href="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/purpleTree.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[spring_wildflowers_2010_1]" title="Texas Redbud"><img src="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/purpleTree_t.jpg" border="1" alt=""></a> <a href="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/trumpetfish.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[spring_wildflowers_2010_1]" title="One of the funny sculptures around the wildflower center"><img src="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/trumpetfish_t.jpg" border="1" alt=""></a> <a href="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/wyvern.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[spring_wildflowers_2010_1]" title="Wyvern made out of driftwood?"><img src="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/wyvern_t.jpg" border="1" alt=""></a> <a href="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/kira.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[spring_wildflowers_2010_1]" title="Kira at the Wildflower Center, 2010"><img src="/photos/2010/spring_wildflowers_2010/kira_t.jpg" border="1" alt=""></a> </div> Sun, 30 May 2010 10:35:29 CDT PMC http://kira.lightsphere.com//pmc.html I took a PMC (<a href="http://www.silversmithing.com/1clay.htm">Precious Metal Clay</a>) class over the weekend. I'd been meaning to do this for years; I've always been good at sculpting small objects, but bridging the gap between my original sculpture and metal has been an often-frustrating experience of dealing with casting companies. Though I finally did find a caster I like a lot, metal clay takes the caster out of the picture entirely. PMC lets me sculpt an original, pop it into the kiln, and get a pure silver piece soon after. No wait, no mess, and no real cost (other than the cost of the clay itself). It's fantastic. Working with the clay was a little different for me; I'm more used to polymer clay, which can be worked for a long time without drying out or getting messy. PMC dries out pretty quickly, but water moistens it up again (and also makes it messy). The trick seems to be "add water, but not too much" to keep it workable. I might buy an atomizer to see if that will help. I'm also delighted to find that the dried clay is very carveable, using small carving tools and an exacto knife. Anyway, I really enjoyed the class. Working with PMC really seemed to click with me, and I'm looking forward to doing more with it. (Once I acquire all the tools and materials needed, anyway.) <div class="gallery"> <a href="/photos/2010/pmc/pmc_tools.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[pmc]" title="Some of the tools used for working with PMC, plus two of the unfired pieces I was working on."><img src="/photos/2010/pmc/pmc_tools_t.jpg" border="1" alt="PMC tools"></a> <a href="/photos/2010/pmc/pmc_pieces.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[pmc]" title="Three PMC pieces I made during class - a granulated pyramid, a silver fish, and a horse head. (I didn't make the dime - that's just to show scale.) :)"><img src="/photos/2010/pmc/pmc_pieces_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Finished PMC Pieces"></a> </div> Wed, 3 Mar 2010 08:22:36 CST Quotables http://kira.lightsphere.com//quotables_feb10.html Some new quotes I saw/read this week: Everyone is going to face challenges. What defines you is how you overcome those. -- <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JR_Celski">JR Celski</a> Did you do every single thing you could today, to be your best? -- <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apolo_Anton_Ohno">Apolo Ohno</a> When you are young, you worry about what people think of you. When you are middle aged, you don't worry about what people think of you. When you're old, you realize nobody was ever thinking about you anyway. -- <a href="http://www.misscellania.com/">Miss Cellania</a> View more on my <a href="http://lightsphere.com/kira/quotes.html">quotes page</a>. Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:59:19 CST Winter at the Wildflower Center http://kira.lightsphere.com//winter_wildflowers.html I visited the <a href="http://www.wildflower.org/">Wildflower Center</a> while I was in Austin last month. Most things were brown and dead - this is winter, after all - but there is beauty here, even now. I'm hoping that all the rain this winter will mean a bumper crop of bluebonnets this year. I'll be going back in March to find out. :) <div class="gallery"> <a href="/photos/2010/winter_wildflowers/sungrass.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[winter_wildflowers]" title="Sunlight filters through the grass, turning everything golden."><img src="/photos/2010/winter_wildflowers/sungrass_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Sunlight in the grass"></a> <a href="/photos/2010/winter_wildflowers/bluebonnets.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[winter_wildflowers]" title="Bluebonnets under construction."><img src="/photos/2010/winter_wildflowers/bluebonnets_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Bluebonnet leaves"></a> <a href="/photos/2010/winter_wildflowers/plant.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[winter_wildflowers]" title="One of the plants blooming at the top of the stone tower."><img src="/photos/2010/winter_wildflowers/plant_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Atop the tower"></a> <a href="/photos/2010/winter_wildflowers/sedums.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[winter_wildflowers]" title="Another tower plant, these tiny sedums hug the ground between cacti and larger plants."><img src="/photos/2010/winter_wildflowers/sedums_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Shy Sedums"></a> </div> I took these pix with my iPhone, since I didn't have my good camera with me. I think they turned out pretty well! Fri, 5 Feb 2010 10:34:56 CST Machinarium http://kira.lightsphere.com//machinarium.html <img src="/photos/2009/machinarium/machinarium.gif"> I've been a fan of <a href="http://www.amanita-design.net/">Amanita Design</a> ever since discovering their first Flash game, "Samorost". They make point-and-click adventure games, featuring quirky characters, hand-drawn art, and ethereal sound effects. Each game gets better than the last, and <a href="http://machinarium.net/">Machinarium</a> is definitely their best game yet. I'd describe this game as a sort of Steampunk Myst: it's a Myst-like adventure game set in a somewhat run-down old city populated by robots. I'm also reminded a little of Wall-E, especially by the opening scene where the flying junk-ship swoops in and dumps the game's main robot character onto the junk heap. <img src="/photos/2009/machinarium/robot.gif" align="right" hspace="10"> You play the game by helping the robot find his way through the city. Along the way you'll learn why he's there (via his thought-bubbles/daydreams). Each level or screen in the game usually has a puzzle to be solved. Some puzzles are easy, some are difficult, and some are games-within-a-game. If you get stuck, there's a help book in the top right corner with the solution for that level... but you'll have to play a little mini-game to unlock the book. If you idle a while, the robot will cross his arms and tap his foot impatiently. :) He also has several other "bored robot" mannerisms that are quite cute. It's an incredibly artistic game. The graphics are all hand-drawn; there's no 3d here. The game also has its own full soundtrack, with music that really evokes the feeling and atmosphere for each level. In fact, as with some great movies, the soundtrack is a character of its own, an essential part of what makes this game so great. Screenshots don't do the game justice, so I won't post any; instead I'll just recommend the <a href="http://machinarium.net/demo/">Demo</a>. Machinarium is a delightful game. I haven't played many games that brought me joy, but this one definitely has. Big thanks to the folks at Amanita for creating such a fun game! Wed, 2 Dec 2009 09:47:52 CST Houston Quilt Show 2009 http://kira.lightsphere.com//quilt_show_2009.html I visited the International Quilt Festival in Houston last weekend. I don't make or own any quilts, but I admire the artistry in these, and I love all the colors. Here are photos of some of my favorites. I like nature themed quilts, as well as bright colors and anything sparkly. :) The photos are mine, but the quilt designs are copyright their respective artists. (Mouseover the image to see the quilt and artist's name.) <div class="gallery"> <a href="/photos/2009/african.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="African Adventure, by Janneke De Vries-Bodzenga (Netherlands)"><img src="/photos/2009/african_t.jpg" border="1" alt="African Adventure"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/african_closeup.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="African Adventure (closeup)"><img src="/photos/2009/african_closeup_t.jpg" border="1" alt="African Adventure (closeup)"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/crossing.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="Crossing Over, by Cookie Warner"><img src="/photos/2009/crossing_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Crossing Over"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/coral_reef.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="Coral Reef, by Jacqueline Compton"><img src="/photos/2009/coral_reef_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Coral Reef"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/unopened.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="Unopened, by Roxanne Lessa"><img src="/photos/2009/unopened_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Unopened"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/reflections.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="Reflections Along The Chattahoochee, by Ben Hollingsworth"><img src="/photos/2009/reflections_t.jpg" border="1" height="150" alt="Reflections Along The Chattahoochee"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/reflections_closeup.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="Close-up of Reflections. The artist used Angelina fiber for the sparkling water."><img src="/photos/2009/reflections_closeup_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Reflections close-up"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/puzzled.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="Puzzled, by Ruth Bloomfield (Australia). This really is a quilt!"><img src="/photos/2009/puzzled_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Puzzled" height="150"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/84_carrots.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="84 Carrots, a mini quilt by P. Susan Clow (Canada)"><img src="/photos/2009/84_carrots_t.jpg" border="1" alt="84 Carrots"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/iguana.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="Iguana, by Carol Morrissey"><img src="/photos/2009/iguana_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Iguana"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/calm_after_storm.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="The Calm After The Storm, by Inge Mardal and Steen Hougs (France)"><img src="/photos/2009/calm_after_storm_t.jpg" height="150" border="1" alt="The Calm After The Storm"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/fire_and_ice.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="Fire And Ice, by Claudia Pfeil (Germany). This quilt has 55,000 Swarovski crystals in it!"><img src="/photos/2009/fire_and_ice_t.jpg" height="150" border="1" alt="Fire And Ice"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/three_roses.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="Three Roses, by Charlotte Hickman"><img src="/photos/2009/three_roses_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Three Roses"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/fabric_forest.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="Fabric Forest, a series of hanging quilts by various artists."><img src="/photos/2009/fabric_forest_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Fabric Forest"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/beyond_city_light.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="Beyond CIty Light, by Sally Atkinson"><img src="/photos/2009/beyond_city_light_t.jpg" height="150" border="1" alt="Beyond City Light"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/spring_encounter.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="Spring Encounter, by Ruth Powers"><img src="/photos/2009/spring_encounter_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Spring Encounter"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/fiesta.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="Fiesta, by Norma Schlager"><img src="/photos/2009/fiesta_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Fiesta"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/tropical_radiance.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="Tropical Radiance, by Rachel Wetzler"><img src="/photos/2009/tropical_radiance_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Tropical Radiance"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/wheatfield.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="Wheatfield-Morton, by Camilla Watson (New Zealand)"><img src="/photos/2009/wheatfield_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Wheatfield-Morton"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/sentinel.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="Sentinel, by Patty Van Huis-Cox"><img src="/photos/2009/sentinel_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Sentinel"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/into_the_woods.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="Into The Woods, by Charlotte Hickman"><img src="/photos/2009/into_the_woods_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Into The Woods"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/fields_of_gold.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="Fields of Gold, a mini quilt by Sarah Ann Smith"><img src="/photos/2009/fields_of_gold_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Fields of Gold"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/twister.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="Twister, by Romy Buegers (Germany)"><img src="/photos/2009/twister_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Twister"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/3color_study.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="Three Color Study, by Alice Heckman"><img src="/photos/2009/3color_study_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Three Color Study"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/taylors_creek.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="Taylors Creek, by Eileen Williams"><img src="/photos/2009/taylors_creek_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Taylors Creek"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/in_hiding.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="In Hiding, by Barbara Shapel"><img src="/photos/2009/in_hiding_t.jpg" border="1" alt="In Hiding"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/love_of_trees.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="For The Love Of Trees, by Sylvia Naylor (Canada)"><img src="/photos/2009/love_of_trees_t.jpg" border="1" alt="For The Love Of Trees"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/love_of_trees_closeup1.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="Closeup of For The Love Of Trees"><img src="/photos/2009/love_of_trees_closeup1_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Closeup of For The Love Of Trees"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/pirates_treasure.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="Pirate's Treasure Maze, by Cathy Wiggins"><img src="/photos/2009/pirates_treasure_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Pirate's Treasure Maze"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/pirates_treasure_closeup.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009]" title="Closeup of Pirate's Treasure Maze"><img src="/photos/2009/pirates_treasure_closeup_t.jpg" height="150" border="1" alt="Closeup of Pirate's Treasure Maze"></a> </div> There were also some art dolls on display: <div class="gallery"> <a href="/photos/2009/dolls3.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009_1]" title="Art Dolls by various artists"><img src="/photos/2009/dolls3_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Art Dolls"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/dolls4.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009_1]" title="Bella (Art Doll), by Deanna Hogan"><img src="/photos/2009/dolls4_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Bella"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/dolls2.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009_1]" title="Enchanted (Art Doll), by Angela Jarecki"><img src="/photos/2009/dolls2_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Enchanted"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/dolls.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[quilt_show_2009_1]" title="Art Dolls by various artists"><img src="/photos/2009/dolls_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Art Dolls"></a> </div> There were hundreds of other quilts that I didn't get photos of. There's also a separate exhibit hall *filled* with vendor booths (I didn't even go in there this time, since my feet were hurting after walking around for hours looking at quilts). This is a huge show, and you really need at least two days to see the whole thing. But it's an amazing show, well worth the visit if you like quilts or fabric arts. Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:05:05 CDT Austin in October http://kira.lightsphere.com//austin_oct2009.html I have a love-hate relationship with Austin. I love to visit, but I hate living there. This works out ok, though, because a) I don't live there now, and b) I've had some really enjoyable visits. Last weekend was one of those. Friday I visited the <a href="http://www.wildflower.org/" target="_blank">Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center</a>, which is one of my most favorite places on Earth. It's always beautiful, regardless of what time of year it is. I've been many times and never tire of it. Wildflower Center: <div class="gallery"> <a href="/photos/2009/silver_sage.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[austin_oct2009_gallery]" title="Silverado Sage, in bloom"><img src="/photos/2009/silver_sage_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Silverado Sage, in bloom"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/grass_and_echinacea.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[austin_oct2009_gallery]" title="Echinacea flowers peeking out from the grass"><img src="/photos/2009/grass_and_echinacea_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Echinacea and grass"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/spikey_flowers.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[austin_oct2009_gallery]" title="Purple Liatris flowers"><img src="/photos/2009/spikey_flowers_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Liatris"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/stone_window.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[austin_oct2009_gallery]" title="Stone window"><img src="/photos/2009/stone_window_t.jpg" border="1" alt="The stone window"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/butterflies.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[austin_oct2009_gallery]"><img src="/photos/2009/butterflies_t.jpg" border="1"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/butterfly.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[austin_oct2009_gallery]"><img src="/photos/2009/butterfly_t.jpg" border="1"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/damianita.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[austin_oct2009_gallery]" title="Damianita daisies"><img src="/photos/2009/damianita_t.jpg" border="1" alt="Damianita daisies"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/lilypond.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[austin_oct2009_gallery]"><img src="/photos/2009/lilypond_t.jpg" border="1"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/yellow_spike.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[austin_oct2009_gallery]"><img src="/photos/2009/yellow_spike_t.jpg" border="1"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/lilypond2.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[austin_oct2009_gallery]"><img src="/photos/2009/lilypond2_t.jpg" border="1"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/fence_lizard.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[austin_oct2009_gallery]" title="A fence lizard"><img src="/photos/2009/fence_lizard_t.jpg" border="1" alt="A fence lizard"></a> </div> Saturday turned dreary, but I had plans to visit the hill country with a friend. So we ventured out into the drizzling rain and drove to Fredericksburg for some late afternoon shopping. I had to go to <a href="http://www.chocolat-tx.us/" target="_blank">Chocolat</a>, a chocolatier that makes bite-sized liquid-filled chocolates. I've never had anything like these anywhere else. It's not like the chewy caramels you get at the store, or even like (most) chocolate-covered cherries. It's genuinely liquid-filled. When the shopkeepers give you a free piece, they warn you to put the whole thing in your mouth. (If you don't, you'll soon have filling spilling down your chin and onto your shirt...) Anyway, the free bribe always works; I left with a box full of Cappuccino-filled chocolates. :) We peeked into shops until after 6pm, when most everything (except restaurants) closes up in Fredericksburg. There are several interesting eateries in town that I've been meaning to try, but when I'm in the hill country I just have to have dinner at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.silverkcafe.com/">Silver K Cafe</a> in Johnson City (between Fredericksburg and Austin). The outside is rustic, but the inside is spacious, with soaring ceilings, orange walls and upscale Texas decor. And the food is spectacular. I had one of the specials: red snapper with tomatos and artichoke hearts on top. They also have a fantastic "peach cobbler", which is more like peach bread pudding than cobbler, but it's oh so good. The whole meal was fabulous. Saturday night's lodging was a little cabin just outside of Johnson City. It's the kind of place that you only hear about by word of mouth, and it's off a back road where you'd never find it if you didn't know where it was. But it was cozy and comfortable and mostly quiet, aside from acorns going *thunk* on the tin roof all night long. Scenes from the Hill Country: <div class="gallery"> <a href="/photos/2009/hill_country_view.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[austin_oct2009-2_gallery]" title="Hill Country View"><img src="/photos/2009/hill_country_view_t.jpg" border="1"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/trees_knees.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[austin_oct2009-2_gallery]" title="Ent's Feet. Maybe."><img src="/photos/2009/trees_knees_t.jpg" border="1"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/trees.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[austin_oct2009-2_gallery]"><img src="/photos/2009/trees_t.jpg" border="1"></a> </div> Sunday we returned to Fredericksburg, with a stop at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.wildseedfarms.com/">Wildseed Farms</a> along the way. Wildseed is more marketplace than farm, but it's a plant-lover's dream. They have a huge array of seeds, live plants, pots, and garden decor, and this time of year they had a bunch of odd gourds and pumpkins on sale. It's always a great place to visit: Wildseed Farms: <div class="gallery"> <a href="/photos/2009/wildseed_lilypond.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[austin_oct2009-1_gallery]" title="Lily Ponds"><img src="/photos/2009/wildseed_lilypond_t.jpg" border="1"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/pumpkins1.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[austin_oct2009-1_gallery]" title="Pumpkins"><img src="/photos/2009/pumpkins1_t.jpg" border="1"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/pumpkins2.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[austin_oct2009-1_gallery]" title="More Pumpkins"><img src="/photos/2009/pumpkins2_t.jpg" border="1"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/pumpkins3.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[austin_oct2009-1_gallery]" title="Even More Pumpkins"><img src="/photos/2009/pumpkins3_t.jpg" border="1"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/passionflower.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[austin_oct2009-1_gallery]" title="Passionflower"><img src="/photos/2009/passionflower_t.jpg" border="1"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/wildseed_garden.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[austin_oct2009-1_gallery]" title="Amid the gardens"><img src="/photos/2009/wildseed_garden_t.jpg" border="1"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/wildseed_market.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[austin_oct2009-1_gallery]" title="Plant market"><img src="/photos/2009/wildseed_market_t.jpg" border="1"></a> <a href="/photos/2009/mandevilla.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[austin_oct2009-1_gallery]" title="Blooming Mandevilla"><img src="/photos/2009/mandevilla_t.jpg" border="1"></a> </div> Anyway it was a great trip. I look forward to the next one, probably in the spring for wildflowers. Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:40:27 CDT