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eat retreat – get in it.

Today I’m here to sing the praises of Eat Retreat! Eat Retreat is a creative retreat for leaders in the food community that will soon be gathering for it’s fifth year – this time in the Pennsylvania countryside. In their words, “Eat Retreaters arrive with curiosity and something to share and leave with a strong network of friends, supporters, and collaborators for future projects.” I can tell you, from personal experience, that this is true through and through. I was lucky enough to be included in Eat Retreat 2014 in the lush Anderson Valley and it was a downright fantastic experience. I urge anyone who works in food to apply for this year’s retreat!

There are so many stories to tell, foods, drinks, experiences that took place over our three day weekend late last Spring. Here are just a few…
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We built mud ovens with Roger and Olivia of West Coast Mud and cooked in them for the rest of the weekend (oh those wood-fired pizzas!).
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I don’t think Dafna of INNA jam sat still for one moment, always pulling yet one more delicious morsel out for everyone over and over again (this hella-peño relish was for the fresh oysters that Anna brought along).
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There were MANY spectacular presentations and demonstrations and mini-classes while we were together but only one of them made me cry. Jana’s passion for bees, their honey, but mostly their plight, was incredibly inspiring and moving – please do everything you can to support and save the bees, people. It is vital.
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Jonathan brought along some of his (cough cough) “medicinal” hooch (along with endless amounts of his amazing cheeses and butter). I may or may not have actually slugged some of this from a water bottle that was NOT marked (ouch). Speaking of hooch…
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I headed off to one of four field trips to Craft Distillers along with (shown l-r) Jesse, Megan, Laura, Erin, Olivia, Michael (hidden), Rick, Jonathan, and Nic to get a tour from one of the founders, Ansley Coale.
er2014_031_lslphoto We got to taste some amazing brandies before heading back to camp with a trunk full of spirits for the next two nights’ cocktail hours.
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I volunteered myself to head up one cocktail hour. What you see here are the makings of the Ms. Ginny Leslie. I pulled this drink together for the weekend (Jeffrey helped me name it – after his middle school teacher, Ms. Ginny Leslie! And I had an awesome sidekick/barback/volunteer Clare). Here is how to make one for yourself…
The Ms. Ginny Leslie
2 oz. dry gin (we used Russell Henry London from the Distillery – crisp and delish)
the fresh juice of 1 lime
a few hearty dashes of your favorite bitters (I like Miracle Mile Bitters Co. yuzu bitters)
2 oz. DRY brand cucumber soda – this is the only VITAL on brand ingredient you must have. It is not widely carried but SO worth ordering online.
3 oz. tonic (I use Fever-tree Indian – the quality of your tonic ALWAYS matters, friends)
fresh cucumber spear
thin round slice of lime for garnish

Fill 2/3rds of your glass with ice, pour in all of the above, give it a good stir, stab it with your cucumber spear, lap it up.

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My cocktail was a tasty sip but, the next night, I got SMOKED (pun intended) by Dafna and Alyson’s Mezcalrita at their Riverbed Bar cocktail hour.
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These are the makings of the hands-down-BEST cocktail I have ever tasted. Holy moses was that good.
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See how excited Jen and I are about it?
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I cannot thank Heather, Nate, and Kathryn enough for making Eat Retreat 2014 so unbelievable.

And the thing is, these are just a few visual snippets of a much larger experience. I could tell you a funny, wonderful, delightful story about every single person that I met, laughed with, ate with, washed dishes with, danced with, taught a few tips to, drank with, philosophised with, started a new friendship with over this weekend (or have worked with since). I am not able to attend Eat Retreat 2015, but you can! I urge any/all far/wide food people to GET IN IT. The deadline to apply is Sunday, February 22nd so don’t delay!

P.S. I taught some tips on mobile photography at the retreat. Bop over to instagram and search #eatretreat2014 to see more snaps from everyone!

P.P.S. Go listen to Kathryn and Heather give you a bunch more of the downlow on Eat Retreat 2015 with alum Sari on her podcast.

February 10, 2015 by leslie

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hey, I shot another book! paper playhouse by katrina rodabaugh :)

paper playhouse cover

Today I am happy to share this wonderful book written and created by my lovely and talented friend, Katrina Rodabaugh and illustrated from front cover to back and nearly all of the pages in between with over 240 photos taken by yours truly!

The Paper Playhouse: Awesome Art Projects for Kids Using Paper, Boxes,and Books is filled with projects that use up-cycled paper materials to make exciting contemporary projects for, or with, children. That said, I find so many of Katrina’s projects quite useful even if you don’t have a child or one to create for (hint hint, EVERYONE surely deserves a birthday crown!). The 22 projects range from simple printmaking to a Mid-Century Modern dollhouse to a tricked out lemonade stand. There is also a sweet gallery section including artwork by over 20 leading contemporary artists.

In this post I have included some of my most favorite selects from the many, many images we captured of Katrina’s inspired creations over our several months working together… be sure to scroll to the end of this post for details on Katrina’s book events in the East Bay this weekend and for your chance to win a copy of the book!

dreamy modern dollhouse details.
for Quarry Books: title, Paper Play for Kids by Katrina Rodabaugh photographed by Leslie Sophia Lindell

tiniest toy bed, sweetest little hands.
for Quarry Books: title, Paper Play for Kids by Katrina Rodabaugh photographed by Leslie Sophia Lindell

max peeking out of his cottage.
for Quarry Books: title, Paper Play for Kids by Katrina Rodabaugh photographed by Leslie Sophia Lindell

early stages of the rosette award.
for Quarry Books: title, Paper Play for Kids by Katrina Rodabaugh photographed by Leslie Sophia Lindell

the inking and…
for Quarry Books: title, Paper Play for Kids by Katrina Rodabaugh photographed by Leslie Sophia Lindell

… the wearing of z’s crown.
for Quarry Books: title, Paper Play for Kids by Katrina Rodabaugh photographed by Leslie Sophia Lindell

these two lovelies with their mini-book.
for Quarry Books: title, Paper Play for Kids by Katrina Rodabaugh photographed by Leslie Sophia Lindell

accordion book adventures.
for Quarry Books: title, Paper Play for Kids by Katrina Rodabaugh photographed by Leslie Sophia Lindell

I mean, come on, would you LOOK at this peanut?
for Quarry Books: title, Paper Play for Kids by Katrina Rodabaugh photographed by Leslie Sophia Lindell

celebrating!
for Quarry Books: title, Paper Play for Kids by Katrina Rodabaugh photographed by Leslie Sophia Lindell

You can win your very own copy of The Paper Playhouse: Awesome Art Projects for Kids Using Paper, Boxes,and Books by popping on over to this instagram post where I am hosting a giveaway of one copy – you will find all of the details there!

For you Bay Area locals… be sure to pop by Bella Vita in Oakland this Saturday, February 7 from 3-5pm to visit with Katrina and have your book signed. She is also co-hosting a craft party/class at Handcraft Studio School in Emeryville this Sunday, February 8 from 2-4:30pm if you want to roll up your sleeves and get to crafting with the author herself 🙂

February 2, 2015 by leslie

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the pocatello days.

I pulled into Pocatello, ID late on day three, promptly made cocktails* for my illustrious hostess of the next five days, and settled in for some Idaho-ing. (before heading off on this journey, I snapped up a Klai cup* for Jillian to thank her for having me and, well, one for me too – masked sister cups for us to celebrate our time together.)
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The next days were less action packed…
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Jilly had to work some. I needed a good soak and some words to rest my eyes on.
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Lots of lazy click clicking of the camera to ease off of the many-miled happy chaos of the previous days.
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I napped some (and antique/thrift-shopped some – YAY!).
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I love how a little tangle of my own treasures fit right in with her house full of beautiful treasures.
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One of our evenings was spent on a mountaintop beading necklaces… and eating sausages with sauerkraut… and drinking whiskey. Ain’t she something, this
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sweet fellow clicker?
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When she, I, and her sweet dogs
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headed back down the mountain
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I was reminded – inspired – to let the dark guide my shots.
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And just that hint of light.
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A perfect end to a perfect day.
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One of my days with Jillian was particularly special… stay tuned for a big fat powwow post!

In the meantime, here are some instagram shots of my days in Pokie:
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l to r, top to bottom: first sight, this morning., Jillian was called to SLC for the day…, Two full hours were spent here, once full., gooooood morning., Damn fine vintage finds in Pocatello, I tell ya., saturday coffee, out back., Pocahontas with a Gin & Tonic., … so many things about my trip can be summed up in this one photo 🙂, we decided to bead in the forest.

October 9, 2014 by leslie

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day three.

I awoke in Cedar City, Utah. The not-very-well-thought-through plan was to head over to Bryce Canyon and then drive on to Pocatello, Idaho in one day. I quickly called uncle upon realizing that this plan would require ten hours of driving, not taking hiking time into account. And I was tired this morning. If I drove straight to Pocatello, I would reduce my driving hours to seven. But this day still needed an adventure… ahhhh, yes, my handy hot springs book! I thumbed to the pages that held my options between point A and B. Well then, this spot sounded promising – Meadow, Utah. A bit over an hour north of me, just off the freeway, at the end of a five mile, unmarked, private gravel road …
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A pool. Bathtub warm. Crystal clear. Fed from an underground cave.
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All to myself.
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I happily sunk down into the blissful water with my new Optrix waterproof encased iphone* in hand….
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bliss.
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Land mermaid.
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This place will have me back one day, as well. I am taking y’all with me.

And, then, I headed off to commune with my noisy plume.

*It is worth noting that every one of these images was taken with my iphone 5s. All but the first with the wide 165° lens I selected to go with my new case. About this, I am well pleased.

October 3, 2014 by leslie

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day two, the zion half.

I drove and drove and drove and made it just in time for my favorite time of any day.
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Except this day I got to spend golden hour in Zion National Park.
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(… wow with that Petzval lens again… soft, filmic, vignettey – unedited …)
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I had three hours amongst this.
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I could have, should have spent three days.
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… but here is the thing, Zion is now under my skin.
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Permanently.
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I will return.
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And do Southern Utah properly.
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Dedicatedly and very, very soon.

(p.s. a bit south of Zion I drove through the very upper left corner of Arizona and there – big surprise – is where I hit the highest temp of the trip. All 108 dumb degrees of it.)

September 25, 2014 by leslie

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day two, half one.

Day two began in room 512 of the Mizpah Hotel in Tonopah, Nevada (that one, top/middle/fire escape). The hotel has been restored to it’s old time saloony mining town glory and was really quite sweet.
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I’d like to say nice things about the town – picturesque as it was – but I got a speeding ticket as I pulled from the gas station (30 in a 25 sheesh) and…
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… apparently they don’t like dogs …
no dogs
so I hit the road.
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I was pretty excited at the corner of Hwy 6 and The Extraterrestrial Hwy.
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Especially when I heard some unknown burbling sound across the road and went to investigate… see that KEEP OUT sign? Guess what I found inside that fence….
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That’s right. This abandoned warm spring pool… water gurgling from underground, through a pipe, and into a private bliss. Rules be damned.
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Boots off in a flash. Pants to follow. Thrilled to have my waterproof iphone case. IN. I wish y’all could have been there.
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And that there was more time to luxuriate but Zion at golden hour was the day’s end goal. So back on the road for some yucca, yucca, yucca all the way to the Park (if you know anything about Zion, you’ll understand why it deserves it’s own post).
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day two, half one’s instagrams …
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l to r, top to bottom:round two begins…, Tonopah yeehaw., 30 in a 25 $115 eff eff eff., back to the beauty!, The sign … said KEEP OUT. I did not listen., take me to your dorky roadside attraction. – note: the yuccas and mountains and skies along the extraterrestrial highway were far more worthy of having their photo taken than the silly aliens – Area 51 adjacent or not.

September 24, 2014 by leslie

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day one.

In early August, I headed off on a personal much needed clear your head and see some nature while you are at it photo project adventure. The first day saw me leave San Francisco in the rearview, head out east over the Sierras, whip down around Mono Lake and off into Southern Nevada. Tonopah is where I decided to rest my head that night. Because I was solo, I stopped A LOT. To take any old photo that I wanted, to dip my feet in cold water, to drink rain, to pick sagebrush near a dead lake, to take a photo of closed hot springs… to breathe.wilderness_sierra

The all time low temp I recorded on this nine day journey was here – at the top of the craggy, shrouded, rainy top of the Sierras. 43 degrees and delicious.
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This is what I call the perfect rest stop (there was even a real bathroom – points!).
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can you spot the happy gnat?
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oh boy – this one… this is a sneak peek of what the Petzval lens can do for you, your selective focus, and your bokeh (I have MUCH to say about this lens but I’m saving it up for it’s very own post – please do stay tuned).
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mono lake is right behind me… who knew dead could be so damn gorgeous.
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I like to think that, here, mono lake is pretending it is in iceland.
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the auto repair shop in benton hot springs… ironic much?
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damn them for being closed but bless that sky, bless it.
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And, here… the day as told via my instagram shots (I think it’s quite fun to compare the big girl camera with the playfulness of the iphone/IG stuff)…
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should you want a closer look…
l to r, top to bottom: pit stop 01., The almonds aren’t ready yet., lady of the corn., loaded., Delicious downpour in the Sierras today., Just chillin at 9000′, And then, down into the meadows., a few more (mono lake), Mono Lake, August 4.2014, they were closed … who wants to go back with me?, this one’s for the Lakes., and finally day one ends in room #512.

September 22, 2014 by leslie
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