Whimsey

What’s Behind the Blue Door?

New York City 2009…on a walk with my daughter

This is an old factory or office building, maybe from the 1900’s, and still in use. I did change the colors to emphasize the doors and the architectural design. This is one of the shots I use for note-cards.

Mamma Mia!

California 2010…my kitchen 

These are a few of my cookbooks. They are on my kitchen counter. I’ve got so many now that I am having trouble finding a place for them. I have them on top of the frig, next to the frig, in a basket on the breakfast bar, and in 4 bookcases. No matter whether I use them or not, no matter if I’ll never use them, I keep them. They are my friends!! 

I discovered the world of cookbooks with my first pregnancy. In those days, we were limited to gaining 20 lbs. We were weighed at each doctor’s visit and scolded if we didn’t keep to the weight-gain schedule. I was ravenous after the first trimester. All I could think of was food. Even Campbell’s soup and an American cheese sandwich, grilled, sounded like heaven to me.

I sublimated by going to the library and borrowing cookbooks. I’d pore over them and copy out the recipes that I planned to try once my baby was born. I still have that little notebook. Thus began my cookbook collecting. It became an addiction. I couldn’t go into a bookstore without going over to the cookbook section and it was rare that I would leave without a new cookbook. Now, when I look through my books, they bring back memories of special meals and of family meals that blur together in my mind because I used the recipes so often. BTW, I still buy cookbooks, but not as often.

You notice the can of Cento tomatoes? It’s empty, but makes a colorful bookend. And if you want you can fill it with your pie weights. Not only do I like those tomatoes, but Cento is where my mother’s family came from. I remember Mama when I look at that can.

You can find some memories of your own around your home and photograph them for notecards or maybe for prints. Your son or daughter who lives far from you might appreciate a print for their kitchen or family room. I did use a free software from Adobe on the photo of the cookbooks, but you don’t have to. The software can be found on Adobe’s website, but I think you need CS5 to use it. Now, in CS6, a version is incorporated in the oil paint brush.

Ciao, cara!