May 2012
1 post
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Food: AQ, San Francisco
Ryan took me to AQ to celebrate the end of 1L year and our first wedding anniversary. We had a reservation for 8:15, and when we arrived our table was not yet ready. Since the bar faced the entrance to the restaurant, we wandered over to wait. I ordered a Verdant Fields cocktail, a deceivingly smooth cocktail with white oat whiskey (the first white whiskey I’d tried), with muddled...
March 2012
1 post
13 tags
Food: A Day for Seafood
To celebrate the start of my spring break for my 1L year, Ryan and I took a scenic drive to Half Moon Bay to have Barbara’s Fishtrap for lunch. The drive was beautiful, the weather was perfect, and even the slow cars in front of the small road couldn’t dampen our spirits. We arrived in time for lunch at noon, and I snapped a few photos while we waited to be seated.
There was a small...
January 2012
2 posts
9 tags
Amanda's Damson Shawl and my Swallowtail Shawl
I finished Amanda’s Damson Shawl a few days ago, and now it’s dry and ready to mail off!
I also got around to taking some photos of the Swallowtail Shawl I finished last year.
For larger images, click here.
13 tags
White Christmas in Fort Collins, CO
After the holidays have settled down, I had a chance to go through my Christmas pictures. Ryan and I went to Fort Collins, CO to visit our friends Tyler and Amanda, who hosted us for Christmas. We had the most wonderful time, and spent it with awesome friends!
We got there the night of the 23rd, and the next day went to Lucile’s for breakfast. Fort Collins has a good-sized tech industry...
December 2011
1 post
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APT Holiday Party, 2011 @ Saison!
After taking some more finals, I’ve gotten around to sorting through the Saison pictures and posting! The dinner was fantastic and it made my mouth water reviewing the pictures.
We started the night off with some bubbly and yummy h’orderves, which included delicious oysters that matched the champagne well.
After greeting all the APT employees and chatting, we sat down for our meal....
October 2011
1 post
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From My Kitchen: Food Update!
I’ve been so crazy busy lately I’ve inadvertently taken a hiatus from food photos. Here’s an update of what I’ve been cooking lately! (which isn’t much, sadly)
Ryan has been so very sweet and really has been my savior when it comes to food. These days I really haven’t had the time to cook something special so he’s taken it upon himself to make sure we...
August 2011
3 posts
7 tags
Ready for Picking!
So I stand corrected — the tomato plant that sprouted from seed is a yellow cherry, not red cherry. Oops!
7 tags
Gotta Keep the Hands Warm, Too!
I finished these cabled mitts a while back, and as usual, didn’t get around to taking photos until today. I used Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran yarn in an ivory/creme color. I bought the yarn years ago in Oregon when I visited a yarn store for the first time and learned to knit. After a long hiatus, I picked up knitting again last year but I still couldn’t decide what to knit with this...
9 tags
Loafers and Hot Cocoa
After purchasing the suede bottoms in the wrong size and having to re-order, I finally sewed on the bottoms. This project was much easier to complete than I originally imagined — I got some practice picking up stitches and using short row shaping. These loafers knitted up very quickly and turned out great, although they’re slightly loose on the foot without socks on. Supposedly...
July 2011
3 posts
7 tags
Some More Requisite Yarn Photos
I finally finished knitting the Katarina sweater, but I have yet to take a picture of me wearing it. At times like these I wish I had a dressform to model my pieces, but you can’t have everything! For more details on the sweater, click here.
I did, however, have a chance to finish the Ishbel shawlette and take a couple photos. I made the small version of the shawl as I figured that if I...
7 tags
Time for Bourbon
Lately I’ve discovered a love for bourbon! I’ve always loved wine and beer, but shied away from the strong liquors as I didn’t like the strong flavors. Last weekend I found a bourbon that tastes quite nice — a bit sweet with some honey and caramel which hid the whopping 45% alcohol content. It’s nice just to have a couple sips after a long day.
7 tags
Home Garden: Thar Be Tomatoes!
My cherry tomato plant is fruiting!
My other plants and my mom’s lavender plant are flourishing as well!
I dried the lavender and made some fragrant sachets to keep the bugs from my knits. Now it’s time to finish knitting that sweater :)
June 2011
3 posts
21 tags
Beijing, China: Part 2
On June 8th Ryan and I accompanied his grandparents for a trip to the Summer Palace. It was originally part of the Old Summer Palace, which was quite a bit larger, and was rebuilt after a massive fire. It was situated mainly around a large lake, with the Buddha Incense Tower overlooking it. Apparently the Tower sits on a hill built entirely from the extra dirt when excavating the lake! I had a...
13 tags
China Trip: Part 1
After our night at the Fairmont, Ryan and I flew directly to Beijing, China, the next day. It wasn’t quite a honeymoon for us, but it was a wonderful trip! I met Ryan’s extended family, most of whom are in China, and his dad put on a tasty banquet to welcome the two of us. After getting acquainted with Ryan’s relatives, we set out to see some sights the day after.
On the 6th we...
10 tags
Got Married!
Ryan and I finally got married on Thursday June 2, 2011! We went to the San Francisco City Hall for the marriage license registration and ceremony, then stayed at the Fairmont.
That night Ryan took me to the most amazing dinner at Saison :)
Saison opened in what used to be a stable, which the restaurant owners decorated nicely. The entrance opened to an outdoor patio with open hearth,...
May 2011
4 posts
10 tags
Knitting: Adrianna's Birthday Mitts
Here’s a much-delayed photo of Adrianna’s birthday mitts. I wanted to knit her something pretty and functional, as well as fun to make, and here it is! I’ve wanted to knit with this yarn and pattern for a while, and it seemed the right occasion. I hope she likes it!
5 tags
Exploring SF: Castro
On our Wednesday jaunt Lucy and I explored the Castro! It was a beautiful day with great weather, perfect for some wandering in the city. Hungry as usual, we stopped at Blue Restaurant for some Monte Cristo sandwiches.
Savory, cheesy, fattening, and all-around good, especially when dipped with their strawberry jam! It was a yummy and relaxing lunch. We then wandered over to some shops and...
9 tags
Knitting: Honeycomb Hat & Kate's Brambles
I finally took some pictures of the honeycomb hat I finished months ago, just in time for summer when it’s too hot to wear.
Here is also Kate’s brambles, the third in line for what seems to be a brambles dynasty.
7 tags
Home Gardening: First Harvest
Yesterday I eagerly selected the mesclun greens and parsley that were ready for dinner. We started off the meal with the greens and then I garnished the spaghetti with the fresh, chopped parsley. So delicious! There’s nothing like enjoying the food I grow :)
April 2011
5 posts
7 tags
Home Gardening: Mesclun Greens & Cherry Tomatoes
My mesclun greens are almost ready to harvest! After some tending to, they really picked up and are doing well. My 1 cherry tomato plant that survived my naive gardening skills is also toughening up as the weather gets nicer. Hooray!
5 tags
Exploring SF: The Ferry Building
Yesterday Lucy and I went to the Ferry Building to grab lunch and browse around at the shops. It was a relaxing, fun day!
We started off by grabbing lunch at the Cowgirl Creamery. I had the grilled cheese sandwich with soup and vanilla bean cream soda. I’m a huge fan of all things bread and cheese, so it was a nice treat for me.
We then browsed around some shops before heading home to...
8 tags
Exploring SF: Visit to Alcatraz
Lucy and I made it to Alcatraz yesterday! After grabbing a quick bite, we boarded the ferry and wandered around the island. We’re not crowd people, so we just took our time and explored on our own. It was fun and eye-opening to visit the prison-turned-tourist trap. It also made me think more about the US prison system and the overhaul it’s going to need. But anyway, here are some shots...
12 tags
Home Cooking: Chicken and Shellfish Paella
For Friday Ryan and I decided to stay in and enjoy some home-made paella. I added in brined chicken wings and drumsticks, Littleneck clams and mussels, Romano beans and roasted piquillo peppers. With the addition of spices and stock, this wonderful rice dish came together nicely, and will make great leftovers!
8 tags
Exploring SF: Cafe Des Amis and The Embarcadero
For Wednesday’s photo trip Lucy and I had a scrumptious lunch at Cafe Des Amis, a cafe at the Marina that Lucy introduced me to. We each started off with a delicious and superbly mixed Greyhound’s Tooth cocktail, a mixture of grapefruit juice, vodka, and bitters. The citrus flavors masked the vodka’s strength, so sip slowly!
Next I had truffled gnocchi with hedgehog mushrooms...
March 2011
5 posts
10 tags
Photo Trip: The Mission at San Francisco
Today Lucy and I went to the Mission to take some photos of the area. Lucy decided to start taking photos of different parts of the city to capture it’s spirit and the people in it, and invited me along. We got off BART at 16th and Mission and had Pancho Villa Taqueria for lunch — we shared a super naches and enjoyed some agua fresca. We then walked around the neighborhood, taking...
11 tags
Home Gardening: Hopefully the start of something...
With the encouragement from my friend Lucy, I decided to start a little garden on our new patio. She got me started on planting French beans and cherry tomatoes, which both germinated earlier this week. I decided to transplant them to larger containers and also purchased some Italian parsley, sweet basil, and rosemary to start my own herb garden. I haven’t planted anything since my high...
14 tags
Penne Pasta with Mushrooms in Bechamel Sauce
Several days ago I made a penne pasta casserole-type dish with crimini, shiitake, and hedgehog mushrooms, baked in a bechamel sauce with Fontina and Parmesan-Reggiano cheese. It was surprisingly light and delicious to eat, with a pleasant meatiness from the mushrooms. It wasn’t too difficult or time-consuming to put together, which is always welcome on weekdays!
I got the recipe from...
15 tags
Knitting Update: Rasta Neckwarmer & Lucy's...
Finally got some pictures in :) Enjoy!
8 tags
Knitting: Northumbria Cowl + Rasta Neckwarmer
Oh man, it’s been a long time since I’ve posted! February was such a hectic month — after finally being able to relax after the stressful Patent Bar Exam, I spent my time looking for apartments. Ryan and I found one earlier than expected, and with immediate move-in, so we jumped on it. This past weekend was so incredibly hectic with packing, moving and unpacking that I only could...
February 2011
2 posts
10 tags
Home Cooking: Beef Meatball Tagine with Pearl...
I came upon this recipe while searching for healthy and delicious food. It looks like I’ve been on a Moroccan food spree in the past couple of weeks and I finally got around to taking a pic of something I made :)
I used pearl couscous instead of the traditional as I liked the flavor and texture better.
12 tags
Knitting: Noble Cowl
I first spotted this pattern as I was knitting a basket weave scarf for a friend, and loved it so much I took on some lace projects so I would be familiar with lace knitting. A few weeks ago, I took this on and it’s done! I actually finished last week and only got around to posting a picture now.
I used the Malabrigo single ply in color pale khaki. It’s beautiful to work with,...
January 2011
5 posts
8 tags
Knitting: Swirly O Socks, Finally Finished!
I finally finished this pair of socks! It took me quite a while as it was my first real pair of socks and I had been studying for the Patent Bar. I passed my test, and commemorated by finishing up this pair :) It was fun to knit, but I really, really disliked the short row heel. I’d make this again with a regular heel flap and gusset and it’ll be great.
This project made me realize...
8 tags
Red Orchid
Another of my mom’s orchids were blooming, so here it is!
10 tags
Tasty Finds: The Musical Offering Cafe
For lunch today Ryan and I went to our old haunt, The Musical Offering Cafe. They have a nice lunch selection of sandwiches, salads, and soups, as well as a great collection of classical CDs to peruse. The cafe has a nice vibe: lots of students go there to study, grab lunch, and browse the CD collection further back of the store.
I had a chicken foccacia sandwich with provolone, tomato, and...
7 tags
Road Trip: Yosemite National Park
To celebrate the end of an era at Berkeley, Ryan and I visited Yosemite National Park to see the sights and hike around. Here are some highlights from the trip!
As the days were pretty short in the mountains, I took some long exposure shots. The moon was waxing so I set everything up by moonlight. It was pretty awesome, but I was getting pretty cold standing out there for 3 hours!
Check out...
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Home Garden: Orchids
My mom’s orchids always bloom during Christmas and New Years. This particular Cymbidium got a late start!
December 2010
2 posts
11 tags
Knitting: Brambles Beret
I finished the Brambles beret a few days ago, and I finally took pictures today :)
It’s cute and warm, just what I need to keep my silly head warm in the winter :)
10 tags
Knitting: Just Enough Ruffles Scarf & Yarn!
I finished the Just Enough Ruffles Scarf (which has a LOT of ruffles) and I finally got a chance to take a picture. I’ll take another one of me wearing it once I have the time :)
I also got around to taking some pictures of unwound yarn for my next couple projects or so. I’m going to make the Brambles Beret with this yummy yarn.
I’ll also be knitting a pair of Vivace socks,...
November 2010
5 posts
12 tags
Home Cooking: Mushroom Pate with Chard Pasta and...
Today I decided to make a nice 2-course dinner, starting with a mushroom pate I found in Food & Wine, Nov. 2010. The pate was good on its own, but was even better with anchovy on top and served with fresh baguette. I paired it with a 2009 Carma Camenere, a smoky, oaky red that matched the umami flavor of the anchovy nicely.
I also made fresh pasta today for the first time in who knows...
13 tags
Thanksgiving Weekend Update: Food, Knitting and...
Going home to hang out with my sister for Thanksgiving proved to full of fun, food, and waaay too many cupcakes. We couldn’t wait for Thanksgiving before digging into some cupcakes from Sprinkles. We tried the red velvet (always my favorite), chocolate with vanilla frosting, maple sugar, and pumpkin spice. While all were good, my must-haves were the red velvet and chocolate; I’m a...
7 tags
Knitting: Leaf Lace Scarf (In Progress)
As this leaf lace scarf takes 600 yards (!), it’s taking me a wee bit longer to finish than for my other, smaller projects. I figured I’d take a picture so far of my progress to share. The lace pattern will be more apparent after washing and drying flat.
For all interested knitters, you can find the pattern here.
7 tags
Chez Panisse Cafe 2
We spent yesterday night dining at the Chez Panisse Cafe with our good friends Tam and Lucy. I had quail for the first time yesterday and it was wonderful, although my one quibble is that the brussels sprouts were too salty. We started off with oysters and some salads to share, and the highlight was the spicy broccoli salad. The rest of the salads were good, but did not stand out as much.
Below...
10 tags
Knitting: Legwarmers
A couple of my knitting books have listed legwarmers as easy projects for double pointed needles, and I’d been meaning to make a pair for a while. Luckily, my sister requested them to match the garter stitch scarf I made for her. I had enough blue yarn to make a set, so here they are!
I added a lace pattern trim to the top and a ribbing to the bottom so the stockinette stitches...
October 2010
5 posts
9 tags
Knitting: Garter Stitch Scarf
Today I finished my 3rd scarf; this one is for my sister for her upcoming birthday. I knitted 2 yarns together, one a blue superwash wool/acrylic blend in blue, and one a silver with a mix of rayon, silk, linen, and acrylic. Fun and easy, this scarf knitted together faster than I thought it would. I also learned how to knit with 2 yarns, which I had never done before, and I got to add fringe,...
14 tags
Home Cooking: Winter Squash Soup with Swiss...
More and more I’m trying to cook with fresh, seasonal food, and squash is no exception. Tonight I made a squash soup with butternut and acorn squash, both of which I roasted until soft before putting in the soup. I have to say, getting those squash open was half the work! I’ll have to purchase a sharp cleaver for my future squash endeavors.
The soup came out really nicely —...
8 tags
Knitting: Fingerless Garter Mitts
I finished my fingerless garter mitts a couple days ago and finally got around to taking and posting some photos. I liked the Koigu yarn a lot for this project, but unfortunately the yarn store didn’t have the ecru color I was looking for. I decided on a lavender variegated, which turned out quite pretty although not the look I expected. I like these gloves a lot — they’re nice...
10 tags
Still Life: Happy Autumn!
October rain, squash and wheat harvest season, changing daylight hours… happy autumn everyone!
Also, I’ve added a “Knitting Projects” gallery to document my knitting. I’ve moved the basket weave scarf pictures there, and I will post knitting projects in that gallery exclusively from now on. Enjoy!
10 tags
Still Life Update!
It’s been a hectic couple months, and I’ve been too busy to pause and look for inspiration around me. Well, despite the stress and ups and downs Ryan and I have been experiencing as we decide on our futures, one thing that’s kept me sane and upbeat is knitting. I discovered knitting several years ago while we were on a trip to Ashland, OR for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and...
September 2010
2 posts
11 tags
Napa Tasting 2: Pride Mountain, Bouchon Bakery,...
Yesterday, Sunday, was the best conclusion to an overall amazing and fun weekend. Ryan, our good friend Neil, and I got up early to drive to Pride Mountain Vineyards, a winery located on the border of Sonoma and Napa Valley County. It was up an unexpectedly long, winding road, but the experience was well worth the drive.
We first tasted a 2007 Viognier, which was wonderfully fruity, before...
8 tags
Tasty Finds: Yojimbo Sushi
In our quest for awesome Japanese food, Ryan and I visited Yojimbo Sushi last weekend on a friend Neil’s recommendation, and we loved it so much that we went again tonight for dinner. It’s a tiny restaurant located in Downtown Alameda. The entry opens into the open kitchen on the left, and a narrow corridor straight ahead leads to a set of tables in the back. My favorite part about the...