Monday, March 25, 2013

Panda Love In Canada. Welcome!



Purchase your own PANDA here.(I loved creating this decorative art!)

After months of much anticipation we are happy to announce that Er Shun and Da Mao, our breeding pair of Giant Pandas, will be arriving to Toronto, from Chengdu, China, on Monday, March 25, 2013. This is an exciting next step in this historic Canadian milestone.

Toronto Zoo
Panda News
Panda Shake



Patti Friday, Photojourno, reporting from inside 'The Art Dept.' at the international 'Embassy of Ideas'.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Gales Point Belize
















Gales Point is a village in the Belize District in the nation of BelizeCentral America. The village is on a peninsula in the Southern Lagoon. In 2000 Gales Point had a population of about 500 people, most of whom subsist on fishing and farming.
Gales Point Manatee is the local name for the village. The village is located in the Southern Lagoon, which is a Manatee reserve. The Southern Lagoon's water is brackish. This lagoon connects directly to the Caribbean Sea through the Manatee Bar River.
The village of Gales Point has some tourism, mostly for those interested in seeing the rich ecosystem of the area, including a large West Indian Manatee population. The village has a bar called 'Gentle's Cool Spot', a shop called 'Martha's Shop' and a Creole drumming school where drumming lessons are available from Emmeth Young. It is also possible to camp at Methos Campsite near the end of the point.
And Zoo!
At the end of the point is a lodge called Manatee Lodge, which offers hikes, manatee spotting trips and snorkelling in the Caribbean Sea at nearby islands and cayes.
Also...the Blue Hole...stunning!


Patti Friday, Photojourno, reporting from inside 'The Art Dept.' at the international 'Embassy of Ideas'.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Lens Review


Ask a bunch of photographers what their favorite lens is - and you will likely hear the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Lens mentioned. It is sharp, small, light, inexpensive and with an f1.4 aperture, fast. The 50 f/1.4 finds a home with many photographers - from pro to casual - for several reasons. Read more....



Patti Friday, Photojourno, reporting from inside 'The Art Dept.' at the international 'Embassy of Ideas'.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Tall Gold Birthday Candles


So classy.  So perfect.  Via A Cup of Jo. Available here. 

Patti Friday, Photojourno, reporting from inside 'The Art Dept.' at the international 'Embassy of Ideas'.

The Complete 'Leaves of Grass' Walt Whitman




Come, said my soul,
     Such verses for my Body let us write, (for we are one,)
     That should I after return,
     Or, long, long hence, in other spheres,
     There to some group of mates the chants resuming,
     (Tallying Earth's soil, trees, winds, tumultuous waves,)
     Ever with pleas'd smile I may keep on,
     Ever and ever yet the verses owning--as, first, I here and now
     Signing for Soul and Body, set to them my name,

     Walt Whitman


Read the entire book here.

Buy a hard copy here.

Gutenberg Org alternative copies. (Kindle etc)


Patti Friday, Photojourno, reporting from inside 'The Art Dept.' at the international 'Embassy of Ideas'.


Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Oriental Swing Booty Swing


Now, Arab sheiks on the burning sands,
Come into their harems and clap their hands,
Said, "Come on, girls, are you ready to play?
Let's have a little more of that swingin' today."
Now, geisha girls in old Japan,
Wink behind their peacock fans,
Since they learned to say, "Yeah!
Let's swing it like Amelican's swing swing dance!"
Now, in the land of Fu Manchu,
The girls all now do the Suzie-Q,
Clap their hands in the center of the floor,
Saying, "Ching, ching, chop-suey, swing some more!"
Now, Gypsy caravans have changed their mode,
They truck down the Romany road,
With their hi-de-hos, and their hey-hey-diddle,
Doin' the swing on the Gypsy fiddle.
Them eastern wisemen know the story,
Of the swing with Oriental glory,
They stroke their beards and grin,
Sayin', "Swing, little children, till the dawn comes in!"

- Lil Hardin Armstrong (listen to 1936 original)

- Parov Stelar and her Website

"China Girl" print and poster available HERE.

Patti Friday, Photojourno, reporting from inside 'The Art Dept.' at the international 'Embassy of Ideas'.
 


Now, Arab sheikhs on the burning sands,
Come into their harems and clap their hands,
Said, "Come on, girls, are you ready to play?
Let's have a little more of that swingin' today."
Now, in the land of Fu Manchu,
The girls all now do the Suzie-Q,
Clap their hands in the center of the floor,
Saying, "Ching, ching, chop-suey, swing some more!"

Now, geisha girls in old Japan,
Wink behind their peacock fans,
Since they learned to say, "Yeah!
Let's swing it like Amelican's swing swing dance!"

Now, Gypsy caravans have changed their mode,
They truck down the Romany road,
With their hi-de-hos, and their hey-hey-diddle,
Doin' the swing on the Gypsy fiddle.

Them eastern wisemen know the story,
Of the swing with Oriental glory,
They stroke their beards and grin,
Sayin', "Swing, little children, till the dawn comes in!"
Now, geisha girls in old Japan,
Wink behind their peacock fans,
Since they learned to say, "Yeah!
Let's swing it like Amelican's swing swing dance!"

Gypsy caravans have changed their mode,
They truck down the Romany road,
With their hi-de-hos, and their hey-hey-diddle,
Doin' the swing on the Gypsy fiddle.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Lime Pound Cake












Lime Pound Cake:
(From the Home Ec Dept., Embassy of Ideas)
For the cake:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
5 large eggs, at room temperature
Finely grated zest of 1 medium lime (about 1 packed tablespoon)

For the glaze:

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice (from 2 medium limes) and lime zest
1/4 cup granulated sugar

Directions for the cake:

Heat the oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the upper third. Coat a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan with butter and flour; set aside.
Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl and whisk to break up any lumps; set aside.
Beat butter at medium speed until creamy and smooth, about 1 minute. Add sugar and continue beating until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes more. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture in two additions, mixing each until just incorporated. (Do not over mix, or your cake will be tough.) With a rubber spatula, fold in lime zest. Spread batter into the prepared pan and place in the oven.
Bake until top of cake is puffed and golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 60 to 70 minutes. Meanwhile, make the lime glaze.

Prepare the glaze:

Combine lime juice and sugar in a small bowl, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
Remove cake from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes; remove from the pan. Stir lime glaze again, then brush top of cake with glaze (use it all). Cool completely before serving.

Patti Friday, Photojourno, reporting from inside 'The Art Dept.' at the international 'Embassy of Ideas'.

St. Francis of Assisi Jewelry






Pope Francis. Simplicity. Poverty. Love. More selections here. St. Francis of Assisi. 





Patti Friday, Photojourno, reporting from inside 'The Art Dept.' at the international 'Embassy of Ideas'.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

China Girl, NEW


Her reflection. Her past. Her future. What is she thinking?  She's BIG. 32x36! In the Embassy shop now!


Patti Friday, Photojourno, reporting from inside 'The Art Dept.' at the international 'Embassy of Ideas'.

Canada's Patrick Chan Wins World Figure Skating Championship




LONDON, Ont. -- Patrick Chan is golden once again.  The 22-year-old from Toronto won his third consecutive world figure skating title, becoming the first men's singles skater in 13 years to win three straight.



Patti Friday, Photojourno, reporting from inside 'The Art Dept.' at the international 'Embassy of Ideas'.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Boho Orchard Living with Julie B. Montgomery










































































You have to sleep on it. Perhaps you have to sleep on 'it' for many nights and many moons.  You wish for a clue, an answer - a message from the universe. You ask, 'Tell me what I should do? What should I do?'. Nobody answers. You wait some more. And then. You see a glimpse of what might be possible for you. 

Patti Friday, Photojourno, reporting from inside 'The Art Dept.' at the international 'Embassy of Ideas'.
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