The Texas Trost Society, along with others, is taking applications for a juried Urban Transformations Exhibition. I have some ideas, and they start with photos. I'm not sure I'll be able to get my ideas to implementation stage in time to enter, but I'm going to try. I started with the most endangered buildings downtown.
love, sara
I really, really like the pie crust recipe from the America's Test Kitchen Cookbook. The vodka evaporates, leaving the crust super flaky. But I still can't, for the life of me, figure out how to make my pies look pretty. Pretty or not, this was awesome with Blue Bell vanilla bean ice cream (alongside pie or cake is the only way to eat vanilla ice cream).
By the way, this is kinda torture becase this pie is long gone. I made it last weekend with peaches I brought from Kansas (that came from Georgia). The filling recipe was also from the America's Test Kitchen Cookbook and it was awesome (though I think 3 pounds of peaches would have been better than 2.5). I like that cookbook, but I prefer the latest Cook's Illustrated cookbook for most other things (even though they share a lot of recipes). This weekend, maybe cherry (that would be a first too)...
For fun, my chocolate pie recipe (it started as Emeril's Chocolate Meringue Pie):
Mix the sugar and salt and cornstarch in a pot over medium heat. Then slowly poor in the milk. Whisk constantly until it starts to get thick. Add the eggs. Once it's as thick as it needs to be, turn off the heat and add the chocolate and butter. Poor into the pie shell and refrigerate. I top with homemade whipped cream (1 cup whipping cream, a half teaspoon of vanilla, a half teaspoon of almond extract, and 2 tablespoons of sugar: whipped).
I did take a few portraits in Kansas. My other girls...
ari and brynnon
ari 2016
throwback ari: 2011
and with their mommas...
I drove to Kansas on Monday, saw Dr. Winter (and Ali and Michaela) at Downtown Dental Group on Tuesday, and drove back on Wednesday. I took my camera with me, fought my never-stop-on-a-roadtrip tendencies, and took photos on the return trip. I had a lot of time to think (26 hours), and came to the realization that I only rarely like taking portraits. My first love is my true love: buildings and signs.
My favorite part though was hanging out with Becky, Dralinn, Brynnon, Katherine, and Ari. I've missed you all. Love, sara
About five months ago, I started worrying a little about Emme. She wasn't holding up her head yet. Most everyone said not to worry, she would do it at her own pace. I was still worried, so we had an occupational therapist check her out. She diagnosed Emme as having low muscle tone... and told us not to worry. It wasn't just the missed milestones, she was also tiny. Again, everyone just said I shouldn't worry. Then, at Emme's six month check up, she failed a hearing test. Further testing confirmed she is profoundly deaf. The doctor was finally concerned, and referred us to a neurologist.
The neurologist ordered an mri, a ctscan, an echocardiogram, and bloodwork. We saw him for the results last month and he diagnosed Emme as having leukodystrophy. He ordered another mri (spectroscopy) and more bloodwork to determine which leukodystrophy she has. We see him again in about two weeks for those results.
I had never heard of leukodystrophy before so I googled, probably excessively. I have a pretty good guess as to how the test will turn out. I think it's Canavan Disease. Basically though, leukodystrophy is a degenerative brain disease that will take her away from us long before I'm ready. I really am doing well most of the time; I'm ready to enjoy what time we do have with her...whether that's days or years. We don't get to choose who our kids will be or how long we get them for, but each one is a blessing. I love that I get to be her mom. She's so sweet, full of smiles, and absolutely beautiful, isn't she?
