ElegantKB

Newman’s Own Balsamic, KB loves this Oscar Winner!

I have to rave about my favorite salad dressing.  This is the best light dressing out of a bottle I’ve ever tasted.  And it’s from an Oscar winning elegant person, Paul Newman.  This dressing tastes great with almost any salad combination you come up with.  I took a picture of my spinach, red onion, feta, pecans and dried cranberry salad.  The dried cranberries are coated with omega-3 oils.  I’m trying to incorporate the omega-3’s since I hear they are excellent for good health.  If you haven’t tried the Newman’s Own Light Balsamic Vinaigrette yet, I truly recommend it.  You can find it at all the major grocery stores.   Once I had to ask the local grocer, Apple Market, to bring in the light version for me.  They were happy to do it.  They’ve had it ever since.  I learned a while back the only way to get what you need is to ask for it!  So when they ask you – Did you find everything you were looking for?  Be sure to answer honestly so you get the products you want.

I’m going to watch the Oscars tonight.  I’ve been calling it the Oscars forever, even though the official event is the Academy Awards.  I enjoy watching the stars, the speeches and especially the glamorous fashion statements.  I also love the snippets of old Hollywood that sometimes come up.  My family has roots in old Hollywood.  I’ll have to go into the details of my artistic, talented and complicated family tree some other time.  So try the dressing!

Brilliant Sunset with Trees from KB

Here’s a radiant picture of a northern California sunset.  The White Oak and Redwood trees add some texture. One of the simple pleasures of the day that I enjoy is to catch a sunset.  I like to sit and spend some time watching the colors of the sky change.  They pass so quickly.  I’m fortunate because the back of my home and my kitchen window faces to the west.   When I saw this one I grabbed my camera and my family out on the deck.  I also have my bed facing east, I have no idea if this is the lucky direction but I feel happy when I see the sunrise too.  I found a great site that calculates the sunrise and sunset on a calendar so you can plan to catch one soon.  Here’s the link.   I was asked once to remember a time when a peaceful feeling came over me.  My memory took me back to a rock on Mount Tamalpais and a sunset over the Pacific Ocean. The idea was to call upon the thought whenever I needed it to calm myself.  I think it does work sometimes. It’s just a simple idea to try.

Happy St. Valentines Day!

Here's a pretty picture of a vintage greeting card that I like.  I hope you enjoy the spirit of the day!  Smell a rose, eat chocolate and make someone smile.  That's my kind of day!

Black and White Photography and KB's Paperwhites

It’s not too late to mention this calendar featuring black and white photography by Marty Knapp of Pt. Reyes Station, CA.  This calendar was designed by my mother, who is a graphic artist.  Thanks mom, for sending me a calendar.  This is called Wind and Water patterns 2008.  I think the calendar, or Marty's book, or any of his prints make really nice gifts. Here's a link to his secure web site. Black and white photography is an elegant art in itself.   I can appreciate it, especially in these 12 images.  I like it so much I’m not even going to write on the calendar.  I don’t want to ruin the creamy pages with my scribbles. 

 

These delicate paperwhite narcissus are coming out in my front bed and all around the neighborhood here in Northern California. They used to come out earlier, around the New Year but I think they needed a nice freeze or something.  My garden is good to me.  I haven’t put in much time gardening lately.  Plants and bulbs established years ago are still happy to grow and bloom and move the season along.

   

KB’s YouTube channel includes Women in Art!

I voted today!  I handed in my absentee ballot at the polling place and got my sticker.  That was easy.

I finally set up my youTube channel.  I haven’t made any videos yet but I have some ideas for them.  Here's the link.

In the meantime I’m adding Favorites to my channel including this one.  I’m looking for elegant videos without cheesy music.  I like videos that entertain, inspire and reminisce. And they should be pretty. It takes time to dig them up since many of the you tube videos are silly and bad- that’s bad in a lame way.  If you come across any videos that you think I might enjoy leave me a comment here.  You can check my channel to see my taste.  Enjoy!

Winter 2008 Buttons at Armchair Auctions- Classic!

I just received my postcard for Winter 2008 buttons from Armchair Auctions.  The post card has so many wonderful buttons pictured on it.  I want to share it with all you antique button fans.  The last day to bid is February 16^th.  I like to pick a favorite on the post card each time it comes.  I’m having a hard time narrowing my pick down to just one button.  As I’ve mentioned before on my posts, I find faces intriguing and there are so many styles of faces on this one little card.  So my top three: The Japanese woman, the profile of the Persian looking Prince, the woman on a bicycle.  I might have a new top three tomorrow….

Blueberry Puff Pastry too Pretty!

Today I stopped by my local bakery to buy a latte before work.  It’s kind of a Friday morning treat for me.  My local bakery is over the top- heavenly!  This morning I found this perfectly lovely blueberry puff pastry calling to me.  It looks too pretty to eat.  It might be good for me after all.  The baker uses all natural and mostly organic ingredients and the blueberries have antioxidants and fiber- but who cares!  After taking a photo I tasted it – Let me tell you....  The puff pastry was crisp, flaky and melted in my mouth.  The blueberries were not too sweet but juicy and delicious!  Thanks Flour Chylde! You made my morning something special.  Oh- and the latte was good too!