i literally gasped as these film scans downloaded. these were the first images i saw from my new pentax and i couldn’t believe how well they turned out. the camera is a bit of a beast and i felt really clumsy handling it and when the shutter goes off it feel like the earth moves ! i was honestly expecting a blurry mess .i am still having some technicall issues and i am not sure if is the camera or me but i can’t wait to try some more.

“The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It’s the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows & the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years.”
― Audrey Hepburn

the winter is so dreary and long. days seem to stretch out forever it seems and there are times that I ache to take my camera in my hands and shoot… but what . every year I say to myself , I need to take more photos in the summer ,even stock pile some to work on in the winter.  then spring comes and the world warms and comes to life and i look up and a month has passed . days are spent going for runs and walks, gardening and just enjoying the moments in the sun and i realize i am letting it pass by again.

 “Came the Spring and all its splendor, All its birds and all its blossoms, All its flowers leaves and grasses.”
― Longfellow Hiawatha

21/52

this little bundle may have been boy #3

but i wanted to make sure that this session for my lovely friend was as soft and gorgeous as she is ,

after all pregnancy is a decidedly feminine time.

“ Beauty and femininity are ageless and can’t be contrived,

and glamour, although the manufacturers won’t like this, cannot be manufactured.

Not real glamour; it’s based on femininity.”
― Marilyn Monroe

minolta maxxum 700 50mm 1.8

pentax 6×7  105mm 2.8

kodax portra 35/120

and one digital shot , can you pick witch one ?

“There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won’t cure, but I don’t know many of them.”
― Sylvia Plath

13/52 weeks

“As before the collapse, the setting sun brushed the tiles, brought out the warm brown glow on the wallpaper, and hung the shadow of the birch on the wall as if it were a woman’s scarf.”
― Boris Pasternak, Doctor Zhivago

12/52 weeks

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart”
― Helen Keller

“ Her arms quiver from holding the bowl. She must truly love him to hold that bowl for so very long. There must be something inside of him that is worthy of that kindness”
― Carrie Jones, Endure

11/52

Perfect Party Cake
from Baking: From My Home To Yours by Dorie Greenspan

2 1/4 cups cake flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups whole milk or buttermilk
4 large egg whites
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon pure lemon extract

Center a rack in the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 9-x-2-inch round cake pans and line the bottom of each pan with a round of buttered parchment or wax paper. Put the pans on a baking sheet.

Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.

Whisk together the milk and egg whites in a medium bowl.
Put the sugar and lemon zest in a mixer bowl or another large bowl and rub them together with your fingers until the sugar is moist and fragrant.

Add the butter and, working with the paddle or whisk attachment, or with a hand mixer, beat at medium speed for a full 3 minutes, until the butter and sugar are very light. Beat in the extract, then add one third of the flour mixture, still beating on medium speed.

Beat in half of the milk-egg mixture, then beat in half of the remaining dry ingredients until incorporated. Add the rest of the milk and eggs, beating until the batter is homogeneous, then add the last of the dry ingredients.

Divide the batter between the two pans and smooth the tops with a rubber spatula.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the cakes are well risen and springy to the tough – a thin knife inserted into the centers should come out clean.

Transfer the cakes to cooling racks and cool for about 5 minutes, then run a knife around the sides of the cakes, unmold them and peel off the paper liners. Invert and cool to room temperature right side up.

While still warm, poke each layer all over with a fork, and pour over lemon glaze (recipe follows). When cool, frost cake with black tea frosting & garnish with candied lemon slices.

Lemon Glaze

1/4 cup sugar
3 Tbs. fresh lemon juice

In a small bowl, combine the sugar and lemon juice, stir with a fork.

Black Tea Frosting

2 large egg whites
1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/3 cup strongly brewed black tea
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup strongly brewed black tea

Beat egg whites in a mixing bowl until foamy & thick, they should mound, but not peak.

In a saucepan, combine the sugar, cream of tartar, black tea & salt. Bring to a boil. Boil for 3-4 minutes, or until a candy thermometer reads 242 degrees F and all sugar is dissolved.
Begin beating the egg whites again and slowly pour in boiling sugar syrup in a slow steam. Continue to beat on high for 7 minutes or until stiff peaks form.

Add 1/4 black tea by the tablespoon, beating after each addition.

Continue beating until frosting reaches desired consistency, about 2 minutes. Use immediately.

this is my new toy !!!!

i can’t even begin to tell you how long I have wanted a medium format camera and how thrilled I am to call this one mine. I sold one of my digital lenses to buy it but i am sure i will never regret it ( unless it turns out to be an expensive decoration ) it will be another challenge to master i am sure but I can’t wait to get at it.

10/52

7/52