Celebrity Photo Gone Wrong

Garrison Keillor of Prairie Home Companion performing in Scottsdale, Arizona

From a row far far away in another galaxy comes this photo of Garrison Keillor of A Prairie Home Companion fame. Caroline and I had to peer through a telescope to watch Garrison during this performance at the Scottsdale Center for the Arts here in Arizona. I shot this image without flash at 6400 ISO with a 14000mm lens, but shooting under such poor conditions I was only able to capture this blown-out featureless blur. Next time I’ll bring my 4 billion candle-power flash. Regardless, we truly enjoyed hearing a feature-length presentation of the news from Lake Wobegon.

Juniper Ridge Soap

Five of the six available natural fragrances of soap from Juniper Ridge

Another order of soap arrives except this time I don’t just order three or four, I go for a dozen. Juniper Ridge makes wildcrafted natural soaps using wild harvested plant materials to fragrance their soaps. My favorite is the Coastal Sage. If you have never been along the Pacific coast or you now live far away and would love a reminder of a spring going into a summer day, try buying a couple of these and see if you too don’t keep coming back for more. You’ll also find their products at the Muir Woods National Monument in Northern California if you can drop by, mail order though will probably be easier. Juniper Ridge is a small company that has terrific customer service. Call them at 1-800-205-9499 or visit their website.

Nuts and Seeds

Two jars of nuts and seeds soaking for a day so I can make homemade living granola

I’m soaking walnuts, oat groats, sunflower seeds, almonds, pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds to make homemade living granola. After 24 hours of soaking, I grind the nut and seed mixture, mix in rolled oats and then add coconut oil, honey, vanilla, raisins, and coconut. This mixture is then dehydrated for 48 hours before Caroline and I sit down for a breakfast of granola with homemade almond milk. Yep, you don’t get much more hippy than that.