Miss · Fae's · Adversaria

*
*

On my trip to San Francisco, I had a run in with a bear and got to know some monkeys.

(pics by Moira)

I've been home for a week and it already seems like forever ago that I was waking up to my love in a borrowed bed. Mornings drinking really amazing coffee, brunches, and sometimes we went on adventures and sometimes we had lazy days inside.

Millennium Restaurant, Burma Superstar, Zona Rosa, Ti Couz, Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory.

For more pictures, check out flickr

*




It took me a few moments to realize that the colors I saw from the plane announced autumn. Shades of autumn. Out my window the green has turned to yellow, to red. But just yesterday, just Sunday, I was having another summer in San Francisco. It was green and lush and that fabulous October weather in California. In 2 months, I'll get a third (?) summer in New Zealand. Now I am back in NYC and yes, it's autumn.

It's raining outside in a romantic fall way. There are those colors, and down the street, I know there's coffee and a muffin to be purchased.

It's somehow been so long since I posted here, and I feel like I don't know what to tell you. Have I said this before? I like writing here, though.

The late summer and early autumn season have been a lovely time for cooking and baking. I bought pizza dough in the neighborhood....

It's a lovely thing, living in NYC, and being able to go to any pizzeria and asking for a lump of dough--enough to make five of the best tasting pizzas. Basil and fresh mozz. Vegan cilantro pesto, roasted eggplant and chilies.

The best thing, though, was a plum crumble. My Community Supported Agriculture prune plums made this magic.

I ate it with sour cream, right out of the oven.

*


*

-my roommates
My roommates are so great.  I like them a lot.  They're quiet and clean and friendly, but not overly so.  They say they cant hear me when I wake up early or am on Skype til the wee hours of the morning.  They're good for conversation and respect my vintage aesthetic.  Last night, roommate S said she cannot wait to throw wine and cheese parties.  My other roommate G has free passes to BAM cinema to share with me.  I hope they stay for a long long time.

-Good Mail Day
Kids! I'm in a book! Good Mail Day.  You should order it here.  I'm really excited to have my mail art featured in a book written by lovely friends.  community and network and all. 

-feeling aware of what's happening on the other side of the world
The weather in Brooklyn has changed and the end of summer is clearly here.  In the next few days, I'll take a bike ride around the park and look for the early signs of autumn.  Last week, riding my bike, I felt like it was the first day of school and I was playing hooky.  The air is crisp. There's a chill.  I'm going to get a black sweatshirt--my second skin.

But I'm also aware that in the Southern Hemisphere, Spring is approaching; really, it's here.  Trees are starting to bloom.  I know what time it is in New Zealand whenever I look at a clock.  My brain calculates.  This time here.  This time there.  And then the feeling that I might get another summer, come December.

Also, my zine. I'm so excited by every one of you that ordered my zine.  You can get it here if you don't yet have a copy.

(ps. planning on updating my craft blog later. Check it out if you want to read about quilts and love)

I seriously have never enjoyed August so much in my life. It's one for the record books. Good luck, Augusts of the future. You will have August 2009 with which to compete.

Evidence:

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Incomplete summary: quilting, toni morrison, edward gorey, road trips, providence, montauk, cape cod, dc, brooklyn, friends from near and far, bike rides, kayaks, museums, flea markets, cemeteries, kisses, letters, seaside, staycation, really.amazing.food, art, robots, and love.

I'm the luckiest girl alive.

i find faux topiary upsetting.

(photo by M)

can we have a moment for today's trip to the co-op?

( cut as a courtesy for those who don't care about what groceries I bought )

I'm pretty excited by the contents of my fridge/pantry, at the moment. I've been doing a lot of simple foods since moving to this apartment, and I miss making complicated/semi-complicated recipes. A few weeks ago, I made an amazing cucumber soup and was reminded how much I enjoy a) preparing food b) having multi-part meals. Long-time readers will know that I've always had a bit of a passion for cooking & baking, so it's nice to be getting back in the habit. Being a member of my local CSA helps, too.

Today, I took my copy of the Millenium Cookbook with me to the co-op, and chose a couple of recipes to guide my grocery purchases. I decided on red lentil, lemon and rosemary orecchiette and curry-crusted tempeh in pom sauce. I had some amazing crusted tempeh and tofu at candle 79 and candle cafe while Moira was here, and I wanted to learn how to make it, myself. I'm going to have to check the Candle Cafe Cookbook out of the library.

So yes, food! Glorious delicious food. Also, I'm catsitting for whimsy & spice's cat, and they're paying me in brownies and cookies. Lucky Fae.

Real update coming soon. Keep an eye on flickr machine, as there are quite a number of photos that will go up in

Moira is visiting from New Zealand. She's never been to the US before and we'd never met in person until she showed up at my door Thursday with her suitcase and her lovely smile. We've known each other online and through the post since around 2002 or 2003, though we mostly just traded zines. It's so exciting! It's great to get to see the place I live through her eyes, to ask each other what's typical or atypical, is there here, everywhere, there, home?

On Thursday night, we climbed up onto my roof at twilight and watched the Manhattan skyline. At first slowly, the city turned on. Light light light. Then, all at once, someone flipped the switch on Manhattan, and the rest of the city lit up.

Hi LJ friends,

Did you know I also maintain a craft blog? Or at least, I recently restarted my craft blog. I've set the personal goal of updating it once a week, and I would love to share it with you.

http://twineandpostage.blogspot.com

or you can read it via lj syndicate: http://syndicated.livejournal.com/twine_post/

in reverse order













pictured and not: random mailboxes, (the very best) housewarming party (ever), Smith Street Bastille Day, out-of-town visitor, waiting for godot with nathan lane, Brooklyn Flea, aerialists, unlimited mimosas at brunch, and a secret.

also, how many people have a picture of themselves and their landlord, let alone a coconut?

(kohlrabi adventures coming soon)

ps. buy my zine!

As many of you already know, I spent a the later half of June creating a new zine. I finished it just in time for the NYC Zine Fest, only making photocopies a few hours before the doors opened at the Brooklyn Lyceum. The first run of the zine completely sold out at the fest. A pure delight, but it did mean that it took me a little while to make new copies to share with all of you. The wait is over, you, too, can get your own copy of Imaginary Windows no. 4.

This issue is a perzine about my bicycle, gender, inheriting stories, amazing art, Brooklyn, recipes, and my heart. It's been many years since I put out a copy of IW, and I must say, I feel that this is my best zine ever. I'm so proud of it.

*40 pages, quarter size / Cost: $2 (paypal fees added, alas)
buy now with paypal:

international orders:

or you can send $2 concealed cash & $0.44 stamp to: PO Box 350, NY, NY 10013 (FYI: I only check my po once a week)


nevers and I tabling the NY Zine Fest a few weeks ago
image by sr_alecthompson

.
.
.

.

.


So, my landlord is nancy drew.

After I came down to find Petal gone, I called the cops. My landlord informed us that there is video surveillance of the building. it was something: more than most have when a bike gets stolen. He had to call the company to get the tape. Everything is digital now, after all. The reason that my landlord has video is that he owns the bodega on the corner. This business also means that he has a pretty good feel for this part of the Brooklyn. Starting that sad Saturday, my landlord began asking store patrons: "Hey. Do you know anyone with a green bike for sale? I know this girl. She just loves those old bicycles. A girl bike. She'll pay anything." People often come in trying to sell him things, so he knew who to start questioning. He'd been calling me pretty regularly to give me updates. We were still waiting for Friday night's video to be reviewed by the surveillance company. On Monday, he calls, but I don't pick up. I was making zine photocopies and figured I'd just call him back. He leaves a message: "Some guy, eh, maybe he has a bike like you like, you know. come look." He calls back, again, and I figure I should pick up this time. He'd gone to the back of the bodega to phone me: "Come now, get here now. Your bike is here. Call the cops. Have them meet you." I get in a car and give the driver $10.

When I walk into the bodega, Petal is inside, by the door. "That's my bike!"

I pick her up and take her home.

It's no small miracle.

I am tabling at the NYC Zine Fest today and tomorrow, at the Brooklyn Lyceum in Park Slope. 12 - 7 both days. You can find all the information here: http://www.nyczinefest.org/

There's a new zine, it's true! I will have all the info here on Monday. It's my first issue of Imaginary Windows since 2005. I want to write more about the process of making a new zine, but for now, I have to get ready to go to Office Max to make photocopies.

If you live in NYC, please come by the fest and say hello. Oh, and be the first to get your hands on the new zine.

question: what do you do when you buy a dresser and the drawers smell musty?

answer: make quick sachets

1) crush some lavender to release the scent
2) get a dryer sheet
3) put lavender on top of dryer sheet
4) fold dryer sheet around lavender
5) staple.

Viola. Leave a sachet in each drawer overnight, and by morning, you can put your clothes away without worrying about smelling like art deco moth balls. Leave the sachets in your drawers to make your bloomers smell sweet.