PRAYERFUL SIMPLICITY

from watching & waiting, a photography collection by steve mccurry. these are prayer flags in amdo, tibet. at odiyan, they used to hang the old worn-out prayer flags on a barren, lighting-struck tree that used to stand on the property where the new cintamani temple was built. prayers are not directed towards a god but rather generally aimed at the welfare of everyone, including enemies.

here's the link to more of mccurry's pics:
http://www.soulcatcherstudio.com/exhibitions/mccurry/index.htm

TONIGHT'S DESSERT

APPLE & CHERRY PIE

LAST NIGHT'S DINNER

HALIBUT W/SHORSHE BATA MAACH(BENGALI MUSTARD SEED SAUCE), ROASTED MAITAKE MUSHROOM, CASTELFRANCO GREENS W/AVOCADO,PARSLEY ROOT

FAVORITE 2011 MUSIC

here's my list of favorite music from 2011 that i posted over at the no depression site just before c'mas. this does not include new jazz or new classical. it would have included the black key's el camino but it came out after i'd drawn up the list.

in no particular order:

1) bonnie "prince" billy: WOLFROY GOES TO TOWN

2)tab benoit: MEDICINE

3)the low anthem: THE SMART FLESH

4)gillian welch: THE HARROW & THE HARVEST

5)tom waits: BAD AS ME

6)tom russell: MESABI

7)jeffrey foucault: THE HORSE LATITUDES

8)jessica lea mayfield: TELL ME

9)malcolm holcolme: TO DRINK THE RAIN

10)wilco: THE WHOLE LOVE

honorable mentions: the decemberists, jason isbell, gregg allman, monk boudreux, willem maker(agapao), austin lucas, slackeye slim, hellbound glory, glossary, the bo-keys, big harp, the deep dark woods, mike doughty, john hiatt, joseph arthur, dave alvin, buddy miller.

re-release of the year: mickey newbury, an american trilogy.

& i have to mention my new orleans friend, the great transcendent coco robicheaux. rip

A PERFECT BOWL

RANCHO GORDO BEANS, BRAISED PORK BELLY, GARLIC PEA SPROUTS,& A FRIED EGG

"YOU LET THE DEVIL IN YOUR HOME..."

the new millenium's version of spector's wall of sound but now they just bring all the instruments onto the stage & do it live. this is a portland band. if they don't go the pompous route, they could be very good.

enjoy.

"OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND..."

today would be smithson's 73rd birthday if he hadn't been accidently killed back in 1973. this is a recent picture, taken by greg lindquist during a winter pilgrimage out to the remote area of smithson's spiral jetty. i've always loved everything about the jetty: the conception, the realization, the end result which is in constant flux while seeming to be immutable. i was struck by the beauty of this particular picture.

here's a link:

http://hyperallergic.com/16412/winter-spiral-jetty/