Please excuse the outbreak of black box exclamation marks! Apparently joining Google+ came with a fee of several hundred blog photos that all of a sudden went missing for many bloggers. Not cool.
I am now in the process of re-uploading the missing memory-gems.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
The neighborhood time forgot
pictured: Mission Creek floating neighborhood // private boat home community garden //
modernization takes over (and thus a freeway looms)
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Dear Dolores Park 'Kite Guy' - you rule!
San Francisco is a small town. People stick to their neighborhoods. Faces are seen over and over again. I see people running into each other on the street, in shops, and on the bus more often than I can remember in any place I've ever lived before. And it's weird, but I do find myself liking the idea of neighbors and shopkeepers exchanging friendly smiles, serendipitous rendezvous, and a strong, tight knit community. And while I too have accidentally run into the few people I do know here, it's one guy who really, REALLY, makes me happy that San Francisco is so dang tiny.
Meet Kite Guy - Dolores Park's gem of a person that's constantly tinkering and evolving homemade kites. I first noticed Kite Guy on a much too windy day for picnics in the park wearing a 49ers jacket, brown bagging it, and attempting to fly what I like to call his "recycle kite" - a simple, classic diamond shaped kite made of sticks and a blue recycling bag. From this first spotting, I was impressed and intrigued - not because of his kite making skills, but rather by his attitude - he was creating...not just reading, daydreaming, or eating in the park.
After Kite Guy decided it was time to head home, I never expected I'd see him again. But about a week later, I spotted Kite Guy - this time with the 49ers jacket thrown to the side (it was much warmer) and outfitted with some cheap work gloves - something I'm sure really increased his kite-flying pleasure since he appeared to be using some thread on what looked like an empty toilet paper roll. The fact that this guy had gone home, contemplated his kite flying, and improved upon the design impressed me. But it gets better. Kite #2 seemed to fly better - the shape was the same, but the material used around the wooden rods appeared to be cloth. This kite had a nice tail, too, helping it take to the wind and climb high into the sky. But beyond functional design, kite #2 had a face - two blue circle eyes and a blue smile. It was amazing. As the Smiling Kite danced around people in the park - flying over soccer players, frisbee throwers, and hipster drinkers - I couldn't stop smiling right back it.
A few weeks passed before I was able to picnic in the park, but Alex reported back to me that Kite Guy was out in full force, with a new kite each day, in his same spot.
And just this past week, on a pleasantly warm day, we headed to the park for some afternoon reading, only to discover Kite Guy (and when Kite Guy is around I can't read, enthralled by the kite experience). On this day, he had TWO kites - one was blue, made with some fancy holographic wrapping paper and the other red. The Blue Kite was the first to take to the air with a tail made of sparkly decorative garland, which looked great in the sky - a genius design move. Eventually the blue kite got so high, you could hardly see it, and it stayed there for a good hour, tied to a backpack as Kite Guy savored a sandwich and sipped on a juice box, enjoying the company of his dancing blue kite.
I was left wondering what Kite Guy was like beyond the park, when he knew to call it quits on a day of kiting, and what he'd think of my dream kite design - an earthworm shaped kite flown with a fishing pole. Perhaps one day I'll talk to Kite Guy, but I worry if I do he might not live up to the kind of guy I've imagined he is...
pictured: Kite Guy and the Blue Kite // the Blue Kite really high up //
the Red Kite // the Smiling KiteI really wish these pictures had come out better, but they didn't
...so to see more, click the image to zoom in
Meet Kite Guy - Dolores Park's gem of a person that's constantly tinkering and evolving homemade kites. I first noticed Kite Guy on a much too windy day for picnics in the park wearing a 49ers jacket, brown bagging it, and attempting to fly what I like to call his "recycle kite" - a simple, classic diamond shaped kite made of sticks and a blue recycling bag. From this first spotting, I was impressed and intrigued - not because of his kite making skills, but rather by his attitude - he was creating...not just reading, daydreaming, or eating in the park.
After Kite Guy decided it was time to head home, I never expected I'd see him again. But about a week later, I spotted Kite Guy - this time with the 49ers jacket thrown to the side (it was much warmer) and outfitted with some cheap work gloves - something I'm sure really increased his kite-flying pleasure since he appeared to be using some thread on what looked like an empty toilet paper roll. The fact that this guy had gone home, contemplated his kite flying, and improved upon the design impressed me. But it gets better. Kite #2 seemed to fly better - the shape was the same, but the material used around the wooden rods appeared to be cloth. This kite had a nice tail, too, helping it take to the wind and climb high into the sky. But beyond functional design, kite #2 had a face - two blue circle eyes and a blue smile. It was amazing. As the Smiling Kite danced around people in the park - flying over soccer players, frisbee throwers, and hipster drinkers - I couldn't stop smiling right back it.
A few weeks passed before I was able to picnic in the park, but Alex reported back to me that Kite Guy was out in full force, with a new kite each day, in his same spot.
And just this past week, on a pleasantly warm day, we headed to the park for some afternoon reading, only to discover Kite Guy (and when Kite Guy is around I can't read, enthralled by the kite experience). On this day, he had TWO kites - one was blue, made with some fancy holographic wrapping paper and the other red. The Blue Kite was the first to take to the air with a tail made of sparkly decorative garland, which looked great in the sky - a genius design move. Eventually the blue kite got so high, you could hardly see it, and it stayed there for a good hour, tied to a backpack as Kite Guy savored a sandwich and sipped on a juice box, enjoying the company of his dancing blue kite.
I was left wondering what Kite Guy was like beyond the park, when he knew to call it quits on a day of kiting, and what he'd think of my dream kite design - an earthworm shaped kite flown with a fishing pole. Perhaps one day I'll talk to Kite Guy, but I worry if I do he might not live up to the kind of guy I've imagined he is...
pictured: Kite Guy and the Blue Kite // the Blue Kite really high up //
the Red Kite // the Smiling KiteI really wish these pictures had come out better, but they didn't
...so to see more, click the image to zoom in
Friday, May 6, 2011
A year in between
It's hard to believe, but a whole year has passed since we left New York, started WWOOFing in Sweden, and embarked upon a journey filled with uncertainty. And in a year we've experienced so very much and learned even more about ourselves, life, and all the stuff in between. A few highlights that I'm most proud of:
pictured: Urnatur (top) inspired the building of a mini house/loft (bottom)
Tiny living is better - from rooms in other people's houses to trailers infested with hornets, WWOOFing definitely taught us that we can live in a place half the size of our old Brooklyn apartment and be quite happy. And Sweden surely inspired with all those tiny garden houses and too cute for words shops - obvious in the look of the mini house I built inside our room. Tiny living keeps you from being sucked into the world of buy, buy, buy because really, you physically just can't fit all that stuff into your house that is really just a room.
pictured: Alex cooking at Appelfabriken last May // me recipe-less at Barenfang in July
recipe-less cooking is real - since I was little I liked cooking - and more so baking - with my mom. But it wasn't until WWOOFing that I realised I was just a "follow directions" type of cook. I hardly ever veered from the recipe and lacked the confidence to create an entire meal (beyond spaghetti or side dishes like mashed potatoes) that was totally my own. In Sweden and Germany it seemed like nobody even knew what recipes were or why you would need them - this impressed (and stressed) me from day one. But, as days turned into months I was forced to cook for large groups of hungry people with name-less, euro-exotic produce and couldn't rely on my trusty Tastespotting.com for support. Sure, I nearly had a breakdown in Treplin, Germany after our host left me alone in a veggie patch with orders to come up with a great dinner - but it was worth it (and the dinner was delicious). Oh "learning the hard way", how I love thee.
pictured: A poo this big, this close, at Die Grune Ecke smells like roses
compared to CAFO's in Iowa
Sorry Iowa, but you're bringing me down - a trip cross country and a night stop in Iowa is all you need to realise how gross CAFO are and how poo so thick can't be healthy for anyone or anything. Maybe the entire of Iowa isn't like this, but the stretch we went though was just down right foul and makes you never want to eat beef again.
pictured: We biked it to Poland // We biked it to Regensburg //
Alex broke his hand on Market // and went to the hospital for the first time in 26 years
Bike riding rulz - city-to-city, country-to-country biking is amazing, it feels awesome! Even on hot, hot days, it's the best feeling to make the trek from countryside to city and back with some fun in between. Of course, Sweden and Germany had amazing off-road bike roads that connected city to city - something the US is seriously lacking in - which make it a breeze and didn't make you feel like you needed to wear layers of protective gear to make it back alive. Which brings me to another lesson learned, that of safety first! Alex having an accident on San Francisco's crazy Market Street was definitely a wake up call that we aren't in Regensburg anymore. Be careful out there kids!
pictured: the rubber-boot-slinging-kids of Tretorn // me, one year later, using my WWOOFing skills for some volunteer work during the Earth Day-Weekend
Part-time is pretty awesome - just like the name implies, part-time jobs don't consume your life! It's amazing really. Working 4 days a week - just one day less - feels like you've gained 32 hours versus the actual 8. Those 8 precious hours allow for creativity to once again flourish, personal projects to exist, volunteering for great organizations to occur, and picnic parties to happen as often as they should. While having a full-time job does have the perks of security, insurance, blah blah blah, I like knowing that while I keep a pirate's eye out for the full-time position of my future, in the meantime I'm quite happy with the part-time way of living.
pictured: If only it were this easy
(courtesy of google)
Teeth are expensive bones that people can see - I've had my fair share of teeth problems from the beginning. I was born into a set of pearly whites that don't want to ever be straight even after 4 years of braces. I've accepted that. Then, my low blood pressure and love for being silly and stupid caused me to fall face-first into a tiled floor around age 17, requiring me to get a fake front tooth - meaning I won't ever bite into an apple ever again. I've accepted that too. Then, nearly 7 years later that age-old fall started to cause me some serious pain and required that I have a root canal - tuning me into the financial costs of teeth and causing me to appreciate the ideals of dental insurance - yet, I still didn't get any. And then just this past year I thought I was tricking the dental system and bought a Groupon - because $60 for a $300 check up sounded like a good deal. Too bad that $60 has now resulted in a $3000 wisdom tooth extraction (something that really should have been done when I was 18 and on my parent's insurance) and a $850 filling extravaganza which then turned into a $1350 root canal. Oh, and it hasn't stopped. Little did I know that when I signed up for this most recent root canal, I was also signing up for a pricey crown (price yet to be disclosed, which I've learned can't be good). You better believe that one of the those two fake teeth in my mouth are going to be gold - cause that ALMOST makes it all worth it.
So yes, this year there's been lots of learning going around, with some of the most important ah-ha's of May 2010-May 2011 listed above. It's been a crazy year for sure.
pictured: Urnatur (top) inspired the building of a mini house/loft (bottom)
pictured: Alex cooking at Appelfabriken last May // me recipe-less at Barenfang in Julyrecipe-less cooking is real - since I was little I liked cooking - and more so baking - with my mom. But it wasn't until WWOOFing that I realised I was just a "follow directions" type of cook. I hardly ever veered from the recipe and lacked the confidence to create an entire meal (beyond spaghetti or side dishes like mashed potatoes) that was totally my own. In Sweden and Germany it seemed like nobody even knew what recipes were or why you would need them - this impressed (and stressed) me from day one. But, as days turned into months I was forced to cook for large groups of hungry people with name-less, euro-exotic produce and couldn't rely on my trusty Tastespotting.com for support. Sure, I nearly had a breakdown in Treplin, Germany after our host left me alone in a veggie patch with orders to come up with a great dinner - but it was worth it (and the dinner was delicious). Oh "learning the hard way", how I love thee.
pictured: A poo this big, this close, at Die Grune Ecke smells like rosescompared to CAFO's in Iowa
pictured: We biked it to Poland // We biked it to Regensburg //Alex broke his hand on Market // and went to the hospital for the first time in 26 years
Bike riding rulz - city-to-city, country-to-country biking is amazing, it feels awesome! Even on hot, hot days, it's the best feeling to make the trek from countryside to city and back with some fun in between. Of course, Sweden and Germany had amazing off-road bike roads that connected city to city - something the US is seriously lacking in - which make it a breeze and didn't make you feel like you needed to wear layers of protective gear to make it back alive. Which brings me to another lesson learned, that of safety first! Alex having an accident on San Francisco's crazy Market Street was definitely a wake up call that we aren't in Regensburg anymore. Be careful out there kids!
pictured: the rubber-boot-slinging-kids of Tretorn // me, one year later, using my WWOOFing skills for some volunteer work during the Earth Day-Weekend
pictured: If only it were this easy(courtesy of google)
Teeth are expensive bones that people can see - I've had my fair share of teeth problems from the beginning. I was born into a set of pearly whites that don't want to ever be straight even after 4 years of braces. I've accepted that. Then, my low blood pressure and love for being silly and stupid caused me to fall face-first into a tiled floor around age 17, requiring me to get a fake front tooth - meaning I won't ever bite into an apple ever again. I've accepted that too. Then, nearly 7 years later that age-old fall started to cause me some serious pain and required that I have a root canal - tuning me into the financial costs of teeth and causing me to appreciate the ideals of dental insurance - yet, I still didn't get any. And then just this past year I thought I was tricking the dental system and bought a Groupon - because $60 for a $300 check up sounded like a good deal. Too bad that $60 has now resulted in a $3000 wisdom tooth extraction (something that really should have been done when I was 18 and on my parent's insurance) and a $850 filling extravaganza which then turned into a $1350 root canal. Oh, and it hasn't stopped. Little did I know that when I signed up for this most recent root canal, I was also signing up for a pricey crown (price yet to be disclosed, which I've learned can't be good). You better believe that one of the those two fake teeth in my mouth are going to be gold - cause that ALMOST makes it all worth it.
So yes, this year there's been lots of learning going around, with some of the most important ah-ha's of May 2010-May 2011 listed above. It's been a crazy year for sure.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Another blog?! That's right, introducting Muffin+Cupcake
I know, I've neglected poor Olika Gronsaker a little bit since my return to the states. Without Swedish pastries, German pretzels, and afternoons of physical exhaustion, it's just harder to write. Not to mention, it's more fun to write about lambs, pigs, and poo than the everyday shenanigans of the city.
But, all this time away from my different greenthings hasn't been a total waste - as a new blog has been born, one I am excited to share, but that is still in its early stages.
Muffin + Cupcake is a blog created by myself and my dear east-coast friend, Valerie. Together we are crafting the odds and ends of a story about two young gals - Muffin and Cupcake. Though very different from each other, Muffin and Cupcake complement each other like any good friends should. Muffin is a bit of a tomboy, into her studies, and admires Macgyver. Cupcake is more of a girly girl, a true sweetheart, and crafty in her own way. It would be lovely if you'd follow us along on our journey of creation.
Monday, February 14, 2011
That's books for ya! - An Edible History of Humanity
...coming soon...okay maybe not as soon as I thought, but if you're in the market for a book to read, are interested in food, and want to discover how humanity was shaped (hint: by food) then give this book a read!
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