book report [february+march]

Here's a quick roundup & review of the last few books I've read...

The last book in this nautical series...there are 3 chapters of an unfinished twenty-first book, but this ended nicely enough, so I'm going to leave it at that.  I can't believe I read all of them!

Woah.  A story about a horrific situation (woman+child held hostage) that draws you in and even makes you smile sometimes.  It's actually a fascinating adventure tale...both heartbreaking and amazing.

Everything in the universe is made up from a 100 or so elements...this book is full of stories about how interesting those elements can be, how scientists figured out what and where they all are.  If it's been awhile since you've taken basic chemistry, you might need a quick brush-up on electron shells and chemical bonds to follow the science. 

I really enjoyed this slightly creepy, creative, quick page-turner...has anyone else read this? How is the movie version?

A journalist embeds herself in 7 different situations in the "art world" (an auction, an art school critique, a dealer/collector fair, a magazine, an artist's studio, a prize, and an expo). In these particular situations it's all about who's-who, who has money, and people acting according to a contrived "art world" etiquette/stereotype.  Bleh.  I know it's not all that way, thank goodness. Weird what media and money do, isn't it? 

Anyone have any good book recommendations? As you've seen, I'll read almost anything...

[FYI, I link to

Green Apple Books

in San Francisco and/or

Powell's

        in Portland because they are my favorite bookstores...local,        independent, and awesome.  They have no idea who I am, nor do they  give       me anything for linking to them. Where you buy your books is your       business.  I also advocate the public library [and the  library  didn't      waive any fines or give me anything to say that]

rgb

This post originally appeared on Photogwife in October 2011

Last week I ordered some 'designy temporary tattos' from Tattly.  The first one put to use? RGB 

Go check it out...there are quite a few photo related choices. You usually get two of every tattoo you purchase, so you can share (yep, Scott put on RGB too...we're temporary nerds!).  

(This post was definitely not sponsored by Tattly, FYI)

halfway, baby!

Today I am forcing you to look at my offspring. Look at that cute little nose! I am halfway through my pregnancy (20 weeks..go baby, go!), so here's 20 random pregnancy thoughts: 

1) Pregnancy so far has been mostly uneventful...let's hope it stays that way.

2) People have all kinds of opinions and advice...even if they've never had a kid.

3) Thinking of names is hard.

4) I already feel like an ancient fertility stone carvings...curvy & getting curvier.

5) Pregnancy makes you obsess about all parts of the digestive process.

6) Pregnant bellies are not squishy.

7) Pregnancy books and Google can be as stressful as they are helpful.

8) I used to not even fill an A cup...what do I do with all this boobage?

9) I haven't really had cravings...if anything, I've lost part of my sweet tooth.

10) I think we might have to move.

11) Time is flying.

12) I cry every Saturday. It just happens.

13) I'm glad we're waiting to find out girl/boy: less pink+ruffles or blue+trucks.

14) So much is happening to my body, I forget to appreciate not menstruating.

15) I miss soccer. And sushi.

16) I'm nervous about all this. More about the pregnancy than being a mama.

17) I keep wondering about pregnant women in different time periods & cultures.

18) Babies are wiggly. Their hearts beat fast.

19) I'm only drinking one cup of coffee a day, so it better be a good one.

20) I love this kid.

getting girly

Are you tired of the photogwife posts? Too bad, I like them. There's a few more archives to post and then I'll be posting brand new photo stories mixed in with the usual Sara mish-mash.  How's your weekend going? Mine's okay...feeling a little under the weather, and there's plenty of weather to feel under here in the Bay Area. It's been awfully wet out.  I needed a bright little pick me up yesterday after getting caught in a downpour in yoga pants and fleece, so I picked up some new nail polish...

...essie polish in 'splash of grenadine' and a new essie luxeffects topcoat in 'pure pearlfection.' Somedays you just need pink glitter, I guess ♥

photo 101

This post was originally published on Photogwife in July 2011

After being around photographers for almost 10 years and having a photo-heavy job myself for almost 3 years the technical details of taking a photograph are finally starting to sink in...but you can bet that I'll still be consulting this beautiful cheat sheet created by Miguel Gantioqui.  Do you have someone in your life whose eyes glaze over when you start talking f-stops and depth of field? Show them this!

19th century adventures

This post was originally published on Photogwife in July 2011

Recently our home has been filled with activities related to Scott's alternative photo process projects.  It started last fall when he was browsing the bookshelf at home at picked up this book...

He built his own box camera based on a project in this book.  The camera is made for a 6x6 inch negative.  He even built a beautiful carrying case.

And of course, you can't build your own camera and not also build your own film...so a few weeks ago the book came out again and the next phase of what I'm calling The Old Timey Photo Project began. The book Primitive Photography is a little strangely worded at times, so while building the camera and preparing the negatives Scott has been juggling information from it, his own brain, and another book on alternative processes. He's trying a few different techniques for making paper negatives...some with wax, some without, some with extra silver nitrate...

Our bathroom now converts within a matter of moments into a darkroom capable of supporting a variety of photographic processes of the last 150+ years...which of course requires a variety of chemicals...

...and safety equipment too. The fun/interesting part of this project is that it follows the ancestral roots of photography...a slow, complicated, and somewhat unpredictable process. What an interesting challenge for a modern photographer and an opportunity to more fully understand the subject he is so passionate about. And then there's me...I've been having fun jumping in with my iPhone and taking photos in an instant which I convert to 'Old Timey' with the flick of a finger (all the pics here are via my iPhone, converted with the Sutro filter on Instagram).

The first round of exposures yielded some promising results when they were developed (above) and Scott will try making prints from these in the coming weeks.  The second and third rounds have been an exercise in problem solving (too much gallic acid? not enough contrast in the scene? ...?). I'll keep you posted. 

If you'd like to read more about this project from Scott's perspective (and see his self-portrait wearing safety gear) check out his blog Mountain Over Water under the category "Projects" or feel free to drop me a comment or email with your questions.

night moves

This post was originally published on PhotogWife in June 2011

Awhile ago Scott came home from Yosemite with this stunning night shot: 

Scott Mansfield Photography

I fell in love with the colors and the cool, quiet feeling of sneaking around a meadow at night. Ever since, I've been seeing night-photography related items on the interweb.  Coincidence? Hive mind? I don't know, but I like it! 

Another thing about Scott's photo above...no star trails. It makes it feel more like you're there, don't you think? If you're thinking about doing some night shots, HERE's a link to a nice little video tutorial we saw on Petapixel...including a nice trick to figure out a no-star-trail exposure

saturday as it should be

I love it when a Saturday turns out just right. We started out with coffee+pastry at a new cafe in our neighborhood called Cassava (if you go: go for lunch & get it to go. Cassava is adorable & so very yummy, but TINY...plus the park being 2 blocks away = picnic!).

Mid day I've been tinkering with my blog a little (new header + updated 'clicks' page).

And this evening we're having dinner with friends, making Ad Hoc fried chicken...yum.

What did you do today?

wooden legs

This post was originally published on PhotogWife in April 2011

Buy the The Expedition Wooden Tripodat the Photojojo Store! My Mr. M built himself a box camera (see details HERE on his OLD blog).  This would be a mighty fine tripod to hold it, don't you think? 

(This post was definitely NOT sponsored by Photojojo or anyone else!)

from the desk of...

This post was originally published on PhotogWife in April 2011

This was posted the other day on Letterheady. I'd never seen it before...but it's nice visually, as you'd expect.  And not too different from Scott's brand i.d., ha ha! Well, his old branding, his recent revamp has tweaked the design a bit (font, size, etc). People still need letterhead you know...which reminds me to ask the Husband if he's redone his letterhead and mailing labels yet ;)

bricks & butterflies

In December we took a quick little trip to Santa Barbara. We lived there for a couple of years when Scott was in school at the Brooks Institute of Photography and it was fun to see how things have changed and visit some old favorite places. Our BFF Jenny Kim came up from L.A. too (yay!) and we stayed with another good friend who was working in town. One stop on our nostalgic tour was Samy's Camera, where I looked at everything 3 times and played on my phone while Scott and Jenny shopped and chatted with their old favorite Samy's guy (ask for John, he'll take good care of you!).  They were each gifted an Argus...the first camera that was mass produced in quantities over a million. We nicknamed it The Brick...can't wait to see the pictures come out! We also went out to Ellwood Mesa...a preserve of beautiful bluffs above the ocean where thousands of monarch butterflies overwinter each year. We were there just when the sun was hitting the orangish clumps of cold butterflies and it was cool to see them slowly start fluttering and flying.  If you're near Santa Barbara, you just might see a few still there (this is the time of year they mate and migrate). Besides that we rolled by our old apartment and the old and new school campuses, wandered and had dinner on State Street, and watched The Change-Up (way funnier than the previews suggest). It was a great weekend!   

november flashback

I know it's February, but I still have things to document & remember from the end of last year. Today, just a few snaps from our Thanksgiving adventures in Yosemite.  After our fab dinner at the Ahwahnee we spent the rest of the weekend hiking and exploring.

We walked the 13 mile Valley Floor loop. The trail is in the forest most of the way...where we saw a zillion different mushrooms. The next day wehiked about 13 miles again while trying to get to a place called the Diving Board It has no marked trail and is on the 'shoulder' of Half Dome. This famous photo was taken from there. We didn't have precise directions or a lot of daylight, so we didn't quite make it, but had a pretty little corner of wilderness all to ourselves and are looking forward to going to the Diving Board sometime this year...well, one of us anyway...we'll see if this little mama feels up to it. Because of the weird warm weather, bears were still out and about. We didn't see one, but found evidence. I was looking at some of the pictures of me from this trip and I look a little beat up in every one...a combination of miles of walking, no makeup, and, as we later found out, my body starting to switch to pregnant mode. Our last morning we hiked the Mirror Lake loop...scrambling over a huge rock slide on one side. Have you ever noticed that going on a loop in the opposite direction than the one recommended is often more interesting? Try it next time you're hiking.

book report [a list to finish up 2011]

I'll never catch up writing a post for each book I read since the beginning of November...and I've only just finished writing about them in my reading journal (crap entries because I let finished books stack up)...so I'm going to post links here and call it good.  

All I'll say is that if you haven't readThe Hunger Games Trilogy, do it! American Gods was creative, interesting, and good. The Living was not good. There's one more book I finished but I think it deserves it's own post...at some point.  That's it for 2011... I read 23 books.

[FYI, I link to Green Apple Books in San Francisco and/or Powell's in Portland because they are my favorite bookstores...local, independent, and awesome.  They have no idea who I am, nor do they give me anything for linking to them. Where you buy your books is your business.  I also advocate the public library [and the library  didn't waive any fines or give me anything to say that]

and furthermore...

Last night I welcomed myself back to my blog and just wanted to elaborate on "other tidbits soon to be revealed"

temp knuckle tats from Tattly

temp knuckle tats fromTattly

I'm building a new little person inside of me! I'm nearly three months pregnant :) 

Don't be scared...this is not going to turn into an all "Mommy Blog" all the time...I'd like to stay well rounded...and I'd like to try to be sensitive to people around me who are not/cannot/choose not to have kids. We're all friends here. But it's also true that this is a pretty big deal and I'm pretty excited, so of course it's going to come up from time to time. And it's my blog.

Eleven and a half weeks in...I've been very fortunate to have had it pretty easy.  Digestion is harder, crying is easier. Sleeping is up and down (get used to it). I've had a few scattered days where I felt sort of dazed and worried and scared by it all. I've had a few scattered days where I've decided I'm going to be a kick-ass mom (i.e. awesome, not literally kicking my kid's ass...geez.). In between I've been waiting for the everyday changes and effects...such as yesterday when my pants became uncomfortable. So I think pregnancy is really a game of constant re-adjustment and self pep talks. I'm grateful for our wondrous and understanding family and for how lucky I am in life and love.

large land mammal

american bison, antelope island UT

Well...life just got in the way of blogging like a big ol' bison. This and that, work, Flora, holidays and family time, and other tidbits soon to be revealed, have occupied my brain and my time. Sagebrush Coast's one year bloggyversary came and went (cake, fireworks, etc. yay!) I'd been stressing out about my lack of posts and I realized:

A) I've been really busy and preoccupied.  Maybe not in comparison with some people, but it's all relative, right?

B) I had strayed from my blogging philosophy: that my blog is for me.  Obviously it's waaaay more fun when people read and comment and enjoy, but when it comes down to it, I do my best writing and posting and documenting when I do it for myself, not for a target audience. And thinking about a target audience is what sometimes stops me from blabbering away here.

C) People are not beating down my internet door breathlessly awaiting my words. There might not even be people out there...I know of 4...sometimes 5. Hullo?

D) Sort of related to B, I am a person and I have opinions and feelings, too. I'm just not always sure how or when to share them. I don't want to come across as someone who is not nice or who is fishing for sympathy/comments/questions or  who is being a Negative Nancy. Hmm, perhaps best to keep some thoughts to myself...

Anyway, long story short, I'll be frequenting this area more again... when I can. I may do a little catching up on the last couple months...I've got more pics to share from our Thanksgiving in Yosemite, a getaway in Santa Barbara, our holiday adventures in Salt Lake City, a couple of Museum Love posts, a word for 2012, and much more.

A very happy new year to you. I hope this finds all happy and healthy and warm ♥

say something nice

I really liked this note on

Post Secret: 

So...Happy Winter Solstice!

Attic Whispers

We all know that pictures tell stories...but what if the stories get lost? Well, you just have to invent new ones.  My dear mother-in-law Sam's new blog called Attic Whispers does just that...she has a collection of old family photographs that no one knew the details about anymore, and she writes new short fiction stories about the people in them. She's found a new antique store photo-hunting hobby too! Sam's stories are delightful, with just the right vintage tones to go along with the photos. I love that she has found this new creative outlet. If you have a moment do stop by and take in a story or two...you'll be hooked!

Thanksgiving

Hey guys...how was your Thanksgiving holiday? I know I was already supposed to ask you that LAST Monday...I lost a week somewhere, have you seen it? 

We had the best Thanksgiving! I knew a few weeks ago that we would be tapped out from launching Flora and that we probably wouldn't be traveling to see family...so I semi-surprised Scott and got us Thanksgiving dinner reservations at the Ahwahnee Lodge in Yosemite National Park.  We had a lovely fancy prime rib+yorkshire pudding dinner and spent the long weekend camping and hiking in the beautiful late autumn weather. It was definitely a little strange having non-homemade Thanksgiving, but what a good meal!

I still have some pics to download from my camera (mushrooms & bear tracks!) and stories to tell, but thought I'd share these iPhone snaps...the few I got before my battery was drained by the frozen night!

katherine and simon

I know a lovely painter named Katherine Lewis.  I've known Katie for a few years now and am always delighted by her sweetness, her positivity, her adventurousness, and especially her artistry.  Whether she's painting, pursuing beekeeping, or studying abroad in France, she puts her whole heart into what's in front of her. I'm pleased to share the news that she has written and illustrated her very own children's book, Simon and The Orange Scarf

This book would make a lovely holiday gift for anyone, yes? You can see more of Katherine's artwork on her website. Bravo, Katie! I can't wait to read your book and get lost in the artwork. 

[FYI, I link to Green Apple Books in San Francisco and/or Powell's in Portland because they are my favorite bookstores...local, independent, and awesome. They have no idea who I am, nor do they give me anything for linking to them. Where you buy your books is your business.  I also advocate the public library [and the library didn't  waive any fines or give me anything to say that]

meet beatrice

I want to introduce you to Beatrice, my pretty yellow bicycle, mon petit velo jaune...

Back in June I thought about my bike (who was going by the name Trixie back then...you'll see why in a moment) and decided it was time for a change...a new phase of our relationship and a new phase of her life.  We met 3 years ago at a garage sale when I was looking for a blank canvas to prepare for the Playa. We'd had some good times...

But she was getting a little out of shape.  I didn't spend nearly enough time with her...any time at all really.  I thought about breaking up with her, but decided to help her adjust to San Francisco life...get out there and roll around together.

So...I started with this Black Rock City beauty, Trixie (reflecty tape, EL wire lights, fuzzy orange handlebars, sun-brella holster, pink bucket, dust dust dust)...

...transitioned through this...

And we've now arrived at this...

Isn't she pretty? Doesn't she look all grown up? Beatrice's paint job is called Easter Yellow...which is basically the color of a marshmallow Peep, or a legal pad. At first glance you might think I took away all her personality, but oh no.  She's still got some sass. I'm going to find her some sweet reflectors and repaint her bell. Maybe I can find a way to put her pink EL wire lights on again?

I'm so proud of finishing my goal...I understand bike mechanics so much better now after taking her apart, cleaning her, repainting her, and putting her back together (only a couple of washers and one bolt leftover, ha ha). She still needs a little fine tuning, a little paint touch-up, and a new saddle (she's actually kind of small for tall me)...but we went for a ride on Friday night and had a great time. Now that I can rider her, I kind of like that there will always be some little thing I can work on to make her better (a hobbyist is born?). I definitely got discouraged and frustrated and overwhelmed...but I just took my time (5 months!) and worked on her when I really really wanted to. And I asked for help...Thanks to my friend Aaron, the dudes at Roaring Mouse Cycles, and Scott, The Husband.