New York, I Love You....

One of my summer projects was to physically inspect 24 reels of 16mm film that was recently acquired by the archive. Salvaged from a New Hampshire dump, the donor was uncertain of the film's content. So, I was able to live the life of a detective and film archivist, learning more about this family with each new can. Ultimately, I was unable to crack their entire story, but I enjoyed crafting plenty of possible family narratives. Below is a beautiful example of film decomposing, which depicts "my family" in New York in the early 1930's...

Blueberry Pancakes

I nearly forgot! Recently, I also whipped up some pancakes, using picked-with-my-very-own-hands wild blueberries. I usually love a light, buttermilk pancake, but prefer to integrate a portion of whole wheat flour. I feel this recipe does a good job of keeping the 'cakes light yet giving them a little more substance.

(adapted the Tassajara buttermilk pancake recipe)

1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. white or pastry flour
1/2 t. salt
1 t. baking powder
1 c. buttermilk (or 1 c. milk + 1 T lemon
1 egg
3 T. butter
berries

mix all the dry guys. then add wet. heat butter over low-medium heat. use ladle to form pancakes. keep them separated: add berries once the batter has been added to the pan & not before, so as to protect the lil' berries from too much heat and keep the operation neater. makes about 20-24.

Notes: They were definitely tasty. I always forget, though, that when a recipe calls for melted butter, one must wait for it to cool -- adding it too warm/hot will actually start to cook the egg. Be warned! Also, I didn't have any baking powder, so I just skipped it, which I think compromised the texture. Next time, I'd definitely separate the egg...adding the yolk to the dry mixture and then whipping the white until peaks form and then, gently, adding the egg white to the mixture. A dash of vanilla is nice, too. Yum!

My Numbered Days

The week has been so fun & exhausting. Not only did I host visitors, but I also participated in a Summer Symposium that delivered over 30 film archivists and historians to our tiny port town. This year's theme, City & Country, seemed particularly in sync with my own life of late. For an academic "conference," it felt really comfortable and provided a ton of opportunities to casually chat with many of the scholars we've read in class. Trying not to spurt lobster juice everywhere when cracking the tail off a lobster at the big dinner was the hard part. Ah, Maine...

Now, it's hard to believe my little stint is wrapping up. I can count the days that remain on just two hands! I now find myself plagued by questions impossible to answer: did I take advantage of my time here enough? Did I savor the smells and sounds of the country? Did I really explore the rich film collection that's housed here to the fullest extent? Will I ever finish my internship project that's dragging on and on? I dunno. All I know is that I've really enjoyed my time, but find myself itching for the inspiration that's inherent in city life. Once I'm back in the land of concrete and steel, I know I'll crave that smell of pine and the feel of the cool ocean breeze.

All About the Fend(i)s

It was the best of times, and then it was the worst of times for a visit from Alana. The rain had not poured so hard in all my weeks in Maine, and the lightning was seriously out of control. But, we had one another during the tornado watch and it was crazy to see the bay illuminated by bolts of lightning throughout our restless sleep.

The next day, our plans to do summer-camp-kid-things could not be realized during the storm's tumult. So, we embraced Maine's best indoor activity: thrifting. We hit up a couple stores, the best of which was the Belfast Goodwill. At the day's end, we had purchased 3 belts and 5 pairs of shoes, the most noteworthy of which were a pair of early 80's Fendi pumps that Alana literally walked away with for $2.99. I picked up a pair of red loafers and these t-strap Hush Puppies sandals:


Our time together was pretty legendary, vacillating between 4th grade slumber party and Foodies Gone Camping. We jointly prepared a dinner of Maine scallops with garlic scapes, tomatoes and capers, accompanied by quinoa and red chard. Post-dinner we attempted to ward off our increasing fullness by just drinking more beer out on my deck. Crafty Alana then tailored our newly-purchased wolf-printed t-shirts, reinventing them from boxy bores to official cutewear. Bret beware! We capped the night with some ice cream eating and fell asleep to the dulcet tones of Paul Rubens in "Pee Wee's Big Adventure."

High but Dry

Color me ecstatic. Two visitors in one week! A gal really couldn't ask for much more.

A lightning and thunder storm last Friday wiped out our water supply here in Cabinville. My friend, Erin, who traded in SF for some East Coast adventures, landed here in Maine just in time for my drought. She wanted to spend some time in nature and ended up getting more than she signed up for. We didn’t let it get us down or hold us back – no siree, Bob. Our laundry list of weekend activities reads like a list of my all-time favorite Maine things: strolling through the farmers market while nibbling samples, leisurely coffee-sipping at the Co-op, hiking to the top of Blue Hill, riverside lobster roll-eating, and a nice, long scenic drive for ice cream. Oh, and wine sipping while watching a movie on my 12-inch Powerbook -- can't forget that one. There are few people I know who can relay stories and anecdotes as descriptively (and entertainingly!) as Erin. It was such a treat to have her here, as we usually only get to spend time together in Telluride.


It was Erin’s enthusiasm to swim Sunday morning that lured me into the 50-degree bay for the first time. She’s a crazy and strong swimmer (sooo not me) who’s accustomed to cold water swimming. Though chilly, the water is super clear and super calm. It was beautiful and a far superior way to bathe than in my outdoor, spider-infested shower.


My next cabin guest arrives in just over an hour! Alana has signed up for some QT with KT here in Maine. She and I have one (somewhat failed) canoe ride under our belt from last summer's adventures on the North Fork. I'm hoping we'll get the chance to reinvent ourselves as kayakers this time 'round.  Oh, and the plumbers resolved the water issue so we'll even get to brush our teeth.

Pitchfork

I'm really bummed to miss out on this summer's Pitchfork Music Festival, which starts today. Last year, we had such a good time hanging out with friends and family in good ole Chi-town. And, it's just so damned cheap! I would love to see Fleet Foxes, my latest obsession, live. Sigh....


Using Imeem, Pitchfork has put this nifty set of playlists featuring songs from this year's line-up. [Oh, and y'all have met Imeem, right? It's the place to go and make & share playlists, and basically listen to any/every song. I guess it's legal cuz it's streaming and not downloadable?]

Improv Eats

My kitchen is tiny, but I am making the most of what I have. Focusing on super fresh produce and whole grains, I'm not only eating healthfully, but also rather inexpensively. I'm usually married to recipes, but I've been trying my hand at a more spontaneous, improv-style preparation, tasting as I go. Following my hankerings and using what I have on hand has been fun. Here are some of my creations from the last week...

Roasted Beets, Quinoa and Walnut Salad
Inspired by an Amy's Breads salad, I love tossing this together whenever I get my hands on beets. If you haven't tried the mineral-rich seed called quinoa (it's really not a grain), then you're missing out. Preparing quinoa is so, so simple and does not require the lengthy cook times, like rice or barley. My tip is to boil 2 parts vegetable broth with one part quinoa, which really seems to add some depth to it. Cook until liquid has been totally absorbed on the little quinoa guys appear to have a ring around them. Allow the quinoa to cool. Ensure to wash your beets thoroughly (remove beet greens for some future sauteeing), drizzle olive oil over them and roast for 35-45 minutes at 400 degrees. (roasting time varies depending on the size of the beet). Next, just toast some walnuts. (Watch them so they sure they don't burn.) In addition, you can incorporate whatever else tickles your fancy. This week, I added chickpeas and red pepper, as it's what I had on hand. Toss all ingredients together with a simple citrus vinaigrette and place over arugula or mixed greens. So good and super filling!

(below: fair trade quinoa producers in Ecuador )

Salmon with Roasted Fennel
I was really in the mood for salmon and was happy to find some wild Atlantic locally. For this dish, I didn't really follow a recipe, but rather took into consideration a few (like Barefoot Contessa and Jamie Oliver) ideas and kinda improvised. You really can't go wrong with: salmon + fennel + citrus (orange preferably, but lemon works well too). This time, I sliced up one fennel bulb, flat leaf parsley and the fennel sprigs. Placing the salmon in a baking dish, I surrounded the fish with my fennel mixtures. Be sure to add salt and pepper, a drizzle of olive oil and place thinly sliced citrus on top. Roast at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish.

I just actually turned down a free work lunch, as I would prefer to eat my salmon leftovers than have a blah sandwich and make awkward conversation with work people and consultants!

Big Wheels Keep on Turning

Many of you have asked what it is I exactly *do* here at this film archive. In addition to a lot of griping, I've actually learned a ton. I've had a chance to inspect new film acquisitions, plus transfer the films to video for researcher access, and digitize the content. On top of that, I get to curate the weekly "Archival Moment," a short from the collection that precedes our weekly first-run feature. I am also trying to mastermind a way for them to manage their digital assets, but that's a longer and less exciting story.

What I'm most proud of to date is transferring my family's 24 reels of Super-8 films. I was able to push hard to get the job done pre-trip to California, and presented my mom with our family movies (1977-1986) on DVD for her birthday. Some real family legends were actually captured on film! (Like my brother Kevin's first birthday party, in which he promptly bites attendees with whom he does not want to share.)

Below is just a lil' taste of Kim circa January 1984. Although it doesn't look it, our driveway was quite steep back in the day -- the steepest on Layton Street. Riding down was truly a feat to be proud of, even for a little show-off like me.

Our beloved first dog, Toby, is featured in a rare, on-screen appearance. Rest in peace, Toff (1980-1992).

Farm Fresh

Because my co-workers are borderline socially-retarded (a quote from Matt), and the social calendar of my only family friend in Maine (who BTW is 75 y.o.) is booked solid through July, I take delight in the smallest of social interactions. That's why I love my friends the farmers so much. They're always pleasant, always chatty and seem to delight in the simplest of life's pleasures.

Haight Farm is across the road from my cabin and the patriarch Court is just as sweet as his hydroponic tomatoes. My predecessor, former cabin dweller, and a MIAP alum, Sean gave me a head's up back in May about the tomatoes, claiming they're the best he's ever tasted. For me, they're definitely up there.

A recent discovery was the Homewood Farm, where I was lucky enough to buy a huge bag of super-sweet sugar snap peas for half the prize of what they're going for at the local store. The drive to this farm is quite precious, as you pass baby goats and lambs along your way. And their strawberries are to die for!
Last week, I also made it over to the Belfast Farmers' Market. There, I bought some great golden beets, summer squash, and the real coup de gras was the garlic scapes. Maybe you saw the recent NYT article that discussed these graceful guys, which are young stalks of garlic? (They're not green garlic, which usually emerges in early spring with tiny little bulbs on the tips.) I've yet to actually cook with them, as I'm so taken with their striking beauty. Their wild unwillingness to conform comforts me as they stand pseudo-erect in their temporary mason jar home.

My weekend was filled with solitary delights, like the discovery of blueberry barrens along my hike on Caterpillar Hill. This city girl was elated to pick her own wild blueberries. I may just have enough to get baking... I want to make a pie but lack a food processor for crust-making. Oh, well...vamos a ver.

Feliz Cumpleaños, Mr. White

Many writers have sought inspiration and refuge along Maine's craggy Central Coast. Two beloved children's authors, E.B. White and Robert McCloskey, spent large chunks of their lives in the area -- North Brooklin and Deer Isle, respectively. McCloskey's iconic Maine, as depicted in Blueberries for Sal and One Morning in Maine, first introduced me to the peninsula over 20 years ago. [On a recent trip to Boston, I was reminded again of McCloskey, as his now-famous (bronzed) ducklings have made their way to a permanent home in Boston Commons.]


Today is the birthday of E.B. White, who passed away 23 years ago. White, one of the New Yorker's first editors, and a contributor for the subsequent six decades, is the celebrated creator of Wilbur, Charlotte and the Zuckerman farm gang. Apparently, the fair in which Wilbur wins first prize at the end of Charlotte's Web was drawn from White's summers at the Blue Hill Fair.


I'm bummed to miss out on this year's fair & the concomitant piglet races (I'll be in Telluride, CO), but I'm heartened to know that some things seem to stay the same.

"The Blue Hill Fair (8/28-9/01) is still the major local happening each Labor Day weekend; rereading White's description of it, I don't think it's changed at all in the intervening decades, a charming fact that turns unnerving when you're seated atop the creaky Ferris wheel. White's book is so closely associated with the actual fair that the livestock area is called Zuckerman's Farm. There, you can see tragically fat pigs, tawny patchwork cows, and fluffy, topiary-like alpacas. Between ogling the animals in their stalls and the cabbages in the vegetable hall, you can watch the horse pull or the piglet race or the lumberjack show. Adults can play bingo in the smoke-filled "over 18 only" parlors while kids loop jerkily through the twilight on the spinning-teacup ride.

The fair, in other words, is a quick way to dip a toe into a culture where the past and the present, the fictional and the real, the delightful and the tragic, are intertwined. The midway lights and "the crackle of the gambling machines and the music of the merry-go-rounds and the voice of the man in the beano booth" announce the shuttering of summer. As White so aptly puts it, "The crickets sang the song of summer's end...'Summer is over and gone,' they sang...Summer is dying, dying.'" Whether you're a native contemplating the frigid months ahead or a summer visitor facing your return to the real world, this is a moment as nostalgic and fun as it is quietly heartbreaking." (excerpted from a piece by Heidi Julavits)

Following a cross-country flight, the four-hour drive back to Bucksport reminded me just how far away I am up here in Maine. I had true pangs of envy as Matt boarded a flight to JFK and I veered off toward the BOS gate. Damn, I even tortured myself by watching "Flight of the Conchords" on the plane and catching up on my back issues of TONY.

Alas, I shall not resort to a woe-is-me mentality; after all, many people would kill to get out of NY for the summer and hang in Maine. I'm trying to remember my original desires for leaving...immersing myself in this strange world of archiving, doing some of that hiking + swimming stuff, practicing yoga, and cooking up a storm. The never-ending options in NY tend to overwhelm an inveterate multi-tasker like myself, so the downtime really is good for my soul. Sure, there are a slew of things I'd like to be doing back in my 'hood (like this and this), but I've only 4 weeks left and I need to curb my FOMO (fear of missing out) aches and aprovechar this opportunity.

Two dear friends have claimed to be making imminent journeys to visit. Seriously, any one who makes the lengthy sojourn shall be duly rewarded with lobster and wild blueberries.

3 in 4

Having attended three weddings in four weeks, I can safely say I'm exhausted. It was really important to me to be a part of these weddings; all three of the couples are so well-suited for one another. The three ceremonies and receptions were so different and it's nice to see that nowadays cookie cutter affairs are eschewed for parties that reflect personalities. One "nautical casual" wedding took place on a boat in upstate NY (and the reception was in a bowling alley!); Megan's brother (having recently become an ordained minister through the Universal Life Church) officiated the ceremony at an citrus grove-lined historic park in Riverside, CA; and Alexis and Mike's party was in this awesome California Mission revival building, formerly a library.

Now, I'm back in Maine. It took a long time to make it back from the country's southwest to the oh-so-very northeast, but I'm here. And, now that I'm halfway done with my internship, I really need to hunker down and get busy.

In the meantime, here are some photos from the adventures...

Pre-Wedding 4th Celebration: Me & Alexis
Matt may never want to see a paper lantern ever again, but I know Lex & Mike appreciated all of our diligent reception set-up work...


Rio Reunion: Matt, Alison & me
I heart photo booths! Ali was actually traveling with me when I met Matt in Rio in April 2005 -- it was the night we arrived in Brazil.