Pinhole camera experiment

Awhile back I found a pinhole camera kit in the toy section at TJ Maxx. It was less than $5, so without hesitation I bought it. Oddly enough, my initial excitement over finding such a contraption was not enough to keep me from setting it aside and forgetting about it for a month or two. Whoops. This morning I decided to assemble it:

The camera pieces + a needle and roll of film

The camera body all snapped together and the assembled ''lens''

A glimpse through the pinhole before I snapped the lens cover into place

Spring-loaded shutter shaft
(excuse the change in lighting and those pesky flecks of dust!)

Voilà!

Loading the film into this pinhole camera is very similar to loading a conventional camera. In theory it should be fairly simple, but I struggled a bit getting the film to stay wound around the winding knob axle. In the end I got it (I think) and speedily worked my way through a trial roll of film. My plan is to drop the film off for one-hour processing tomorrow. Depending on how that goes, maybe I'll share some results of this pinhole camera experiment in a few days.

Have you ever used a pinhole camera before?

Snow and squirrels

The snow has finally started to pile up on our doorstep. The outside world is coated in white and boasts a brisk wind. I've been snow-gazing from the warm interior, sitting by the wood stove and drinking tea. Here's an activity appropriate Polyvore to share:

Tea Time by TranquilEmily featuring ankle booties

Yes, friends, that is a squirrel cardigan and that is an acorn-print dress! You don't know how much they begin to excite me. Okay, well maybe my sister does (Hi Sister!) and Erin does (Hi Erin!). Ooh ooh, and wearing them together? It's perfection! If I had an extra $708 lying around that entire outfit would be mine. But, alas. A girl can dream!

Tell me, what are you doing to stay warm in the wintry weather? Or if you're in the Southern Hemisphere, what are you doing for fun out in the sun?

Back at the homestead

I mulled over the idea of buying orange-y rust colored tights for about a year or so. My hesitancy stemmed from the worry they'd be too loud or crazy. Yes, this is coming from the girl with bright kelly green and colorful floral tights. I am a strange fickle thing. This is probably why I still haven't shown the world my Capri-blue tights. Someday, someday. Haha, anyway. Earlier this week I came across this fine little pair and decided they had to come home with me. The color is so wonderfully rich and terrifically autumn-esque. I want to wear them with everything! How silly I was for not getting rust colored tights when the thought first entered my head.

Blouse: Metropolis Vintage in Albany, NY/ Skirt and tights: Forever 21
Belt: vintage/ Shoes: Aldo

Here's a thumbs-up for Sufjan Stevens and his latest release! I can't stop listening to it. It's pure Sufjan genius. I don't fully understand why some think it was a difficult listen the first time around. Sure, it isn't exactly the folksy banjo-driven stuff Sufjan fans know and love, but it isn't any less brilliant. I like this direction he's taken- synthesizer, filtered vocals and all. My favorite track by far is the last one, "Impossible Soul." All 25 minutes of it.

What have you been listening to lately?

Film photos from Chincoteague, Virginia

Assateague/Chincoteague Island vacation photos Part Two (Part One found here)

Chincoteague Island film photos:

While visiting Chincoteague, we climbed to the top of Assateague Lighthouse. This was after we poked around outside a bit admiring the scenery and reading about the island.

I'm not going to lie, I got a little panicked while ascending the stairs. I got through it, though, as I was determined to see the view from the observation deck!

Graceful egrets

Camera: Nikon FM 10
Film: Fujicolor Superia X-tra 400

Chincoteague Island digital photos:

If you're ever in coastal Maryland or Virginia, do yourself a favor and visit Assateague. There's lots to do in terms of recreation, but, above all the awesome ecosystem will really take hold of your heart. I can't wait to return.

The rest of the photos from this vacation can be found here, here, here, here, and here.

Film photos from Assateague, Maryland

Here is the last handful of photos from my September vacation. I'll be splitting this group into two posts. The content is similar, but there's a lot of it.

During our stay in Ocean City, my friends and I took two separate day trips to Assateague Island. One day was spent on the Maryland side, the other on the Virginia side. Assateague Island is well known (famous, really) for its wild ponies. Unfortunately, we didn't see much of the horses during our visit. I caught a quick glimpse of one from the car in Assateague. Then, while we were in Chincoteague (the Virginia side of the island), we did see several grazing in a pasture. Living in the country I see horses almost everyday, so what makes the horses on Assateague/Chincoteague so special? The unparalleled beauty of the island! You're surrounded by it all here: a coastal bay, beaches, salt marshes, and maritime forests. It's stunning. Moreover, the island is a wildlife refuge. The horses and other wildlife are a beautiful bonus to what nature has already provided.

Here are some glimpses in and around Assateague!

Camera: Nikon FM 10
Film: Fujicolor Superia X-tra 400

Remember when I said I went a bit camera crazy on this trip? Well, here are a few digital pictures to round out the trip to Assateague!

Wooly warmth

Jacket: vintage, Sweater: TJ Maxx, Skirt: Tucker for Target, Pin: Gap, Tights: Hue, Shoes: Macy's

Sometimes I like to call this vintage green jacket my ''Elizabeth Bennett jacket.'' When I last shared it on the ol' blog two years ago (wow!), I stated that it's the closest I've come to finding something that really resembles those sweet Spencer jackets Regency-era ladies wore over their empire-waist dresses. Mine is a little longer in length and appears more Edwardian inspired, so perhaps I should call it my ''Anne Shirley jacket''? Whether it's a Lizzy or an Anne, it's high ranking on my ''favorite vintage finds'' list. It's also wool which makes it the most perfect of top layers when the temperature hovers around freezing - brr! My sister braved the cold with me to snap these pictures yesterday, so I must extend another ''thank you!'' her way.

Okay, I am officially finished peppering this post with quotation marks. Moving on.

It's no secret that I'm a big cardigan fan. Heck, I even created a blog-label for the things. This sweater had me fooled into thinking it was a cardigan at first. See those pretty little buttons? They are just decoration and serve no other function than that. Sneaky! This might be the prettiest sweater I own with its bow collar and vintage inspired embroidery and bead work. I felt pretty wearing it. Raquel touched on the whole feeling pretty/dressing pretty bit today, too. Go check out her post if you have an extra minute. Her outfit is all kinds of wonderful.

Pumpkin Scones

My mother and I tend to go all out when it comes to baking with pumpkin. We love the stuff. Apart from the traditional pumpkin pie, bread and muffin, we dive further into the realm of baked-good bliss with pumpkin pancakes, waffles, cookies, and our recent favorite: scones. Maple glazed pumpkin scones, to be exact! Oh my, they are delicious! Enjoyed with a cup of coffee or tea, they make for a perfect little breakfast or dessert. Would you like to try them? Here's the recipe!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour

• 1/3 cup brown sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 cup butter (cut into very small pieces)

• 1/4 cup nuts (optional)

• 1/3 cup half & half

• 3/4 cup pumpkin

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees (F).
   
   
2. In a large bowl mix the dry ingredients. Add butter to flour mixture and mix with hands. In a separate bowl, combine the pumpkin, half & half, and vanilla; mix well and then add to the flour mixture. Stir, but do not over-mix.
   
   
3. On counter or table, lay out a sheet of wax paper sprinkled with flour. Take the scone dough and form a 8'' round 1.5'' thick disc, making sure there is flour on both sides so it does not stick. Cut into 8 pie-like slices.
   
   
4. Carefully places scones on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake for 13 minutes. Rotate the pan and bake for an additional 13 minutes.
   

Maple glaze:

Mix 1 cup of confectioners (powdered) sugar with pure maple syrup until it reaches a consistency that will allow you to drizzle over the scones (best done with a spoon). Note: scones must be cooled prior to being topped with maple glaze.

Recipe adapted from several sources.