laureltree’s blog

I've been watching a lot of Top Chef lately. Probably once a week I develop an idea for a new recipe. Usually  I cook it once, and even if Roberto and I really like it, 90 percent of the time it doesn't get written down. Sometimes I jot it down on a post it and stick it in a greeting card I keep, and sometimes I write them on a virtual post it on my laptop. Because I cook intuitively, I almost never write down amounts (unless I'm giving the recipe to someone) but just lists of ingredients and generally what I did.

Today I sorted through all my notes, re-wrote and sorted them. I found some recipes I had written and never even cooked, and a lot of funky concepts. Mostly a lot of simple, vegetarian soul food. One note was so confusing I had to look at it for a half hour before I remembered what I meant by it. But it's done, and I have a stack 26 original recipes, that I'm thinking of expanding upon and binding into a book.

I have some original recipes of Roberto's, and am hoping that Mom, you will send me some of yours and your mothers favorites, and that you, David and Adriana will send some of yours too. I am working on getting some from Roberto's sister and mother. I would be happy to make enough copies of this book for all family members involved.

Roberto and I both got jobs as dorm parents for the Cranbrook Summer Art Program. I'll be running the program, and he'll be watching over the boy's dorm. The program starts June 20th, and runs through either August 1st or 22nd, depending on whether we get more boarders.

 We finish working at our current  jobs the end of May.

June 1-3 Kris comes to visit so we can celebrate his graduation and meet his lady, Abby

Wednesday, June 4th Roberto and I drive down to DC. We both have interviews scheduled, and hope to have more. We are also thinking of driving my car down loaded with stuff, leaving it in DC and  flying back, so when we move we only have the one car to worry about. We won't be driving pretty much at all in the boarding program.

June 12th through the 15th  I go to teach at MAPS Meet (my wilderness skills meet) in Virginia, and Roberto gets to take classses.

Around the 16th we come back up here to get ready for dorming and move out of our apartment into the dorms by the 20th. The program will keep us until either August 1st or 22nd, depending on if the third session runs
 
So either the beginning or end of August we move down to DC and in with Jeff and Lucy. I start at Marymount and hopefully NOVA and Torpedo factory in the fall.

We were hoping to be in DC mid summer instead of late, but the summer will be good experience and necessary for our budget. I'm also really excited that Roberto will be working one job, instead of picking up a third, which was what he had been thinking. We are both hoping that the third session fills, keeping us here until August 22nd.

Yesterday was Beltane, or May Day. Roberto and I celebrated by getting handfasted, or engaged. 

Handfasting is a rite where two people decide to become bound to each other. The rite lasts for a year and a day, and no matter what happens with in that period, the two have to stay with each other to work it out. After a year and a day, the two either renew their vows (for death till they part) or seperate. The ceremony involves feeding each other food and drink, an exchange of vows, and the tying together of hands with a ceremonial rope. Handfasting is a private ritual, only performed by the couple, as opposed to a wedding, which is really more about the community.

We got handfasted on the red bridge at the Asian garden in Cranbrook's woods, at sunset. We used honey apricot wine, rosemary and salt foccacia with truffle butter, and strawberries. We each wrote our own vows. The rope with made from several blue and green ribbons we chose together. Pictures will follow.

After we went to Little Tree Sushi for an amazing dinner.

We are thinking about a wedding Fall of 2009.

Christina and Danny Flores drove an hour and a half to be at my opening, which rocked. After we went out for food together. Danny always makes funny faces in photos. Roberto's behind the camera. Pictures of the art to come.

With flores sibs

November 30 I'll be in a New York gallery show. It's called Postcards from the edge. I sent in a postcard sized work, which will be put up for sale, all the benefits will go to AIDS research. The gallery is the James Cohan Gallery, at 533 West 26th Street. To read more, go here:
http://www.jamescohan.com/news/postcards-from-the-edge/
http://thebody.com/visualaids/current/postcards2007.html

Here is what I sent in

Postcard1

Postcard3

Are people still on vox? It seems that every few weeks some one posts something...have the Jacobses jumped ship?

Roberto's mother gave us a pumpkin from her garden, so I've been cooking with it. Last night for dinner I made Pumpkin Risotto with sage, garlic, onion, and about half vege broth versus half honey wine. Today for brunch I made us Pumpkin Challah French toast of my own recipe for those interested in trying at home. This morning we didn't have the orange juice or nutmeg, but the recipe is how I'd do it next time.

Alright, I've made a few improvements. Now you can go to GraduallyGreen.com/Leaves to read about the current project with the questions I'm gathering answers of. That being said, I really really need more responses. It would rock if you guys could go to the web page, and answer some, or even one. I would really appreciate it. Also any advice on getting the word out on this, so I can get more responses would be great.

Also, I revised my artists' statement again. It's on gradually green's homepage, or laureltreearts.com/Artists_Statement.htm . I also got business cards made up, and have been handing some out at the museum and around at events.

I'm starting to collaborate with the science institute at Cranbrook, and hope to have an exhibition there. more on that as it develops. Also, I'm entering the Postcards from the Edge event, which will take place at James Cohan Gallery In NYC. "Postcards From the Edge is a show and sale of original, postcard-sized artworks on paper by established and emerging artists. All artworks are $75 and sold on a first-come, first-served basis. The works are signed on the back and exhibited so that the artists' signatures cannot be seen. While buyers have a list of all participating artists, they don't know who created which piece until it is purchased and the signature is revealed. A collector might end up with a work by a famous artist or one they don't yet know. Either way, they walk away with a great piece of art while supporting Visual AIDS's important work."